Most personal care products are mundane, but as we age, certain items make life easier. Menopause brings changes to active women over 50 that can be annoying, such as a pervasive growth of chin hair, accidental leakage, or narly teeth.
I’ve been lucky to be relatively healthy at 72. My cholesterol is slightly high, but so far, I haven’t needed meds and can control it with diet. It could be luck, but I believe my good health stems from my strong determination to avoid taking pills at all costs. I am even reticent to take supplements, mostly because I hate swallowing them.
I’ve had a little trouble with my knees, but my physical therapist is convinced, and I believe him, that it originates from my hips. He tested my knees, and they were strong. My hips, not so much. Glute exercises are helping me immensely, and I am glad to hear I don’t require knee surgery.
Apparently, there is a theory that menopausal women develop a condition called gluteal tendinopathy. It is often diagnosed as arthritis or bursitis, but it’s actually weak hip muscles that cause hip pain that radiates to other parts of the body, like the knees.
One of the most important body parts for older women to focus on is the buttocks and hips. It’s where your core strength and balance come from. Sometimes it’s overlooked or ignored during exercise routines.
Watch my video below about 5 aging hacks I found
(some are rather funny)
Below are items that I’ve found helpful as I age. You may find them useful as well.
Good dental hygiene
For the longest time, dental hygienists have been yelling at me because I had built up tartar on my teeth, and my pockets were too large. However, I believe some dentists were trying to upsell me unnecessarily. I became suspicious of their motives.
“You need a deep cleaning,” or “Try this laser treatment.” I know “old-fashioned” dentists exist. My sister-in-law is a top dentist in Sonoma, California, who still performs a manual 45-minute cleaning. However, most dentists here in Los Angeles have high-tech equipment that can take about 15 minutes to complete.
The first item I bought was an Oral-B electric toothbrush. I know that doesn’t sound unusual, but for the last 71 years, I used a plain old brush. It wasn’t expensive, but when I first tried it, I thought I was going to vibrate my brains out. Now I can’t imagine using anything else.
But I didn’t stop there. A brand called Bitvae reached out to me and wanted me to try out their water flosser. At first, I was squirting water all over the place, but I finally got the hang of it. I was amazed at all the gunk coming out of my mouth after flossing with picks and water flossing. Now I never go to sleep without using it.
When I went to my next dental cleaning appointment, I was expecting my hygienist to scold me, but all she said was that my mouth looked good. I was elated!
Novaalab, a brand that sells red light therapy devices, sent me their Oral Care Pro Gum and Periodontal Therapy Kit. It’s a red light device you use in your mouth for 10 minutes a day. The device restores your gums and reduces inflammation. The best part is that you can use it at home instead of paying for an expensive laser procedure.
I wouldn’t use it every day, but if your gums need help, you may want to try it once a week or so.
Watch my video to see how it works.
Controlling urine leakage
If you are a woman who has had children, you may have experienced urine leakage when you sneezed or coughed, especially if you had vaginal births, as I did. After giving birth twice, I would leak a little from time to time, but as I’ve aged, it’s gotten worse. I had to resort to wearing panty pads.
My doctor told me to do Kegel exercises. She suggested stopping my pee once it starts to flow and holding it for a few seconds. She even offered to set up a physical therapy session for it, but I didn’t think it was necessary.
I tried several brands of panty pads. One was made of unscented organic cotton. It sounded good, but it stuck to my hair down there and stank.
Next, I tried pads with wings, but they didn’t work for me at all. They had a strong scent, which I didn’t care for, and I felt like I was going to clog up the ecosystem.
I accidentally ordered pads made for older women, but they turned out to be so thick, they were almost like diapers.
I finally settled on Poise Ultra-Thin Incontinence & Postpartum Pads for bladder leaks. Like in Goldilocks, they were just right.
I hate having to wear them, but they are saving my underwear. One thing I noticed is that cotton underwear works much better with pads than skimpy synthetic panties. They stay in place much better.
Clean your bottom from anywhere
My favorite personal care item so far is a portable electric bidet. It has been a game-changer for me. I was having a hard time getting clean after going number 2. A few hemorrhoids made it more difficult, as the surface wasn’t smooth like it was when I was younger.
Sorry, I know this is gross.
Then I found a portable travel bidet that works like a charm! It charges with a USB cable and is super easy to use. Just fill the tank with water and press a button to spray. What I love is that I no longer need wet wipes, which not only saves the environment but also my plumbing. It’s fantastic!
Watch my video demo to see how it works.
I will never understand why bidets aren’t popular in the United States. They are so practical and eco-friendly!
Other items I love for personal care
My doctor told me to take calcium and D3 supplements even though I don’t have osteoporosis. I have osteopenia, which is common in most older women. It means my bone density is a bit low (caused by age), but not dangerous.
I discovered a natural remedy for an upset stomach, which seems to be more frequent as I age. My sister turned me on to Papaya Enzyme tablets, which are chewable. I was surprised at how fast they worked, and now I would never go anywhere without them.
I don’t like swallowing big capsules, and gummies are too sweet for me. I found Caltrate 600 Plus D3 Calcium Chewables, which I take twice daily. They provide the necessary 1200 mg of Calcium Carbonate a day + plus D3, which is what most women need, and come in cherry, orange, and fruit punch flavors.
I have never had time to go to nail salons, so I take care of my nails myself. For a while, I was filing them and applying a clear gloss from a French brand called Manucurist, which is a brand I love. But my cuticles were suffering, and I didn’t trust myself to cut and remove them myself. That is, until I bought a bottle of Londontown Kur Fresh Glow Cuticle Remover. Apply it for 15 – 30 seconds, push the cuticles back with a cuticle tool, and voila! Your cuticles disappear!
I believe I already mentioned chin hairs. As women get older and certain hormones decrease, chin hairs grow in almost like beards. I haven’t found the perfect solution for that other than tweezers, but I occasionally use a tiny facial hair shaver, which works in a pinch.What are your go-to personal care items? Please leave a comment below.
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