The Self Care Conversation – From Puberty to Perimenopause

Hello Summer! Oh, and hello to the new dark hairs that decided to pop up unexpectedly on my chin and lower back. Perfect timing since it’s swimsuit season. Let’s also give a warm welcome to the sweat “stache” I can’t wipe away fast enough, and we definitely can’t snub the ‘innovative’ new scents that act as imposters to cover up the smell of body odor, salt water, and dirty socks.

What happens when we, as parents, and our teen kids dive into perimenopause and puberty simultaneously? Some, may say it’s a very cruel joke, but I’m going to say it’s a family bonding opportunity.

Entering perimenopause is like stepping into a rainstorm without an umbrella. Things can get messy. It resembles the “blindsidedness” a teen feels when puberty comes knocking at the door. Things pop up, forward, and out without any warning, but we’re all in this together.

Unwanted facial hair, hot flashes, and mood swings remind me of the dread my kids are experiencing with pimple breakouts, raging hormones, and emotional rollercoasters. We feel that no one understands what we are going through, but in reality, we can all relate to it in one way or another.

It feels like just yesterday that I was a teenager, okay, three decades ago, but given my Gen X-pertise, I can serve as a valuable resource to the younger generation, and they can help me out as well. I’m not going to pass around the vintage wellness essentials that made our nose hairs burn, like aerosol deodorants and straight-up alcohol astringent for the face, but I do know of a good tweezer for that extra long nose hair. Open conversations about personal hygiene habits, skincare routines, and mindfulness can help both generations deal with these turbulent transformations in an honest, healthier, and even more humorous way. Because let’s face it, if we don’t laugh, we might just have a meltdown, and we can’t give in to those hormone imbalance stereotypes, can we?

Let’s Support Each Other

For some reason, when we were told in health class that keeping our bones strong was important, most of us took it as a suggestion (we heard this between drawing hearts and writing our first name with our crush’s last name) and still expected to maintain the same muscle strength and tone in middle age as we had in our physical prime. However, we learned that our bone density decreases over time. Kudos to those who paid attention in health class and developed strength-training tools to help women combat bone loss, tighten their core, increase endurance, and improve posture. This weighted vest is a perfect resource for mothers and teens to take walks together while reaping the same benefits at both ages.

Take Action Against Acne

Celebrate Zit Solidarity! Remember those “pizza face” days when you and your friends had zits the size of pepperoni? Growing up in the 80s was brutal, especially before we understood how toxic chemicals, additional fragrances, and hormonal imbalances contributed to our connect-the-dots insecurities. This antimicrobial product made of hypochlorous acid has paved a fresh, clean, and gentle path to minimizing pores and treating all sorts of pimples (even the oozing ones).

Best news: Everyone, regardless of age, can use it. This must-have product easily protects you from excessive oil, bacteria, and dirt. No longer can these irritants mess with your complexion or confidence at any age.

Turn That Smirk Into A Smile

Have you ever noticed none of the 80s movie icons were smiling on the Breakfast Club poster? Sure, maybe it’s because they were all serving detention on a Saturday, but what if they were just annoyed teens who couldn’t be bothered to maintain their dental routine and didn’t want their parents to find out.

Gorgeous, clean teeth are the key to healthy living. As we’ve witnessed with the Gen Z population, if something isn’t digital, robotic, or electric AND simple to use, then they won’t bother using it. That’s why this brilliant Quip toothbrush is designed to help improve oral hygiene and appeal to the most temperamental person. Its modern structure and powerful electronic brush provide a pristine punch for your teeth, making it easier to crack a smile.

What The Pluck?

One of the simplest and most universal tools for maintaining your self-care sanity is a good pair of tweezers.

Whether it’s your sweet teen discovering their first surprise brow sprout before school or you catching a glint of gray sparkling in the sun as you snap a selfie at the beach—these little self-esteem wreckers always show up at the worst time.

Being able to pluck the moment you spot one can be the difference between carrying on with your day—or spiraling into wondering how many people saw it before you did.

Trust us: tweezers deserve a permanent spot right next to your keys and phone. Don’t lose it or leave home without it.

Probiotics: Your Gut’s Bestie

Probiotics might sound like a trendy buzzword, but they’re kind of the gold standard for keeping your gut health in check.

I get it. If you’re Gen X like me, and you’ve never tried this supplement, the idea of taking anything at face value feels… “sus”. We were raised to question everything or risk losing our street cred. But these bacteria-battling chewables are the real deal. They help restore balance to your system, reduce bloating, boost your immunity, and make you feel better overall.

Join the Glow Team

If your teen is going to roll their eyes at you anyway, wouldn’t you rather them do it with hydrated and smooth skin?

These Augustinus Bader hydrogel eye patches are basically a middle-aged mom’s secret weapon to always looking youger than they are—and honestly, they’re the kind of thing you can pass along to your kid, even if their attitude screams, “My mom is so cringe.”

Once they see their sass still shines through without dark circles and dry skin they’ll be begging you for more beauty tips.

Keep It Clean

Puberty and perimenopause can’t play your hair dirty no more!

Your child might be battling an oily scalp —but this shampoo can help. If you and your mini-me want hair looking oil-free, shiny, bouncy and smells amazing, Masami—meaning “Truly Beautiful”—is a “mood changer!”

The secret? Mekabu, a nutrient-rich botanical from the seas of Northeastern Japan.

Masami is gentle enough for daily use and is free of sulfates, parabens, and completely safe for color-treated hair. Cleaning your hair with clean shampoo—can it get any better than that?

In conclusion, here’s what we can non-grumpily gain from the rapid and unpredictable changes our bodies undergo.

Find inspiration in the idea of turning growing pains into an opportunity to build a strong family foundation. Next time your teen slams her bedroom door in your face or you go to cool off in front of the window AC, ready to rip the paperboy to shreds for throwing your paper in the wrong spot, grab a face mask or a tinted moisturizer. It’s a cathartic way to tighten our skin and our relationships. All joking aside, going through body changes can be frightening and nightmarish (think about all the wrinkles that appear on your forehead as you get mad), but having someone to experience it with and talk it through can help us handle the aging process with a bit more calmness and closeness.

The Self-Care Shopping List

Hope Daniels humorously wrote about marriage, motherhood, and now middle age. She sounds exactly like the woman you just met at a party—and actually liked. With an honest voice and a refreshingly real take on life (the gifts and the slips), she embraces each new chapter with grace. She’s excited to see what she will grow up to be during this stage, knowing the best is yet to come. Hope has written about lifestyle topics and trends, including parenting, fashion, decor, and fitness, for 20 years. Her work has appeared in Scary Mommy, Reader’s Digest, WeTv.com, MSN.com, and Best of NJ, to name a few.