How I Healed My Menopause Lashes and Got My Femininity Back.
PS: Now I Flutter with the Best of Them.
Charlotte Wilkes’s perimenopause dryness affected her hair, brows, and lashes. Read how she upgraded her mascara and got her bedroom eyes back.
I Was No Longer a “Careless Beauty”...
Every time I go to the hairdressers, we lament the ruthless onslaught of perimenopause, half laughing, half crying. She despairs of her bone dry skin; I despair of my watery eyes.
Our waistlines have gradually thickened (as a freelancer, you are always too close to the fridge), and my skinny jeans look lumpy.
Let’s just say that my days of rocking a boob tube are over.
But there was one change I wasn’t ready for: both my hair and lashes started to dry out and lose their curl, and my eyebrows looked sparse.
As a beauty therapist, I knew that estrogen levels drop during menopause and hair growth slows down, but it was still a shock when it happened to me.
My long flowing waves used to be my crowning glory; now, spiky hairs stuck up along my parting, and my curls were replaced by frizz. My mascara no longer went on smoothly and was smudged and crispy by the end of the day.
I had to put in a LOT of effort.. and I (still) never managed to look just right!
Can you Choose Between your Waistline and Your Lashes?
At the end of my last appointment, my stylist turned to me and posed a dilemma:
“What do you miss more, your thinner waistline or soft, curly hair and lashes?”
We both decided we wanted our slimmer waistlines back if it came to a choice.
But then two things happened to make me change my mind.
I saw an old photo of myself on a night out with friends. Where did that girl with mermaid hair and bedroom eyes go?
Then I got lash-shamed by my 13-year-old niece:
“Why have you got spiders on your eyes, Aunty Charlotte?”
Ouch. Is there anyone more cutting than a teenage girl? Time to upgrade my mascara.
Fake lashes were never my thing- they can look so ageing, and what if they fall off? So I tried a lot of expensive mascaras and got a lot of expensive smudging. I was angry at myself for falling for the marketing – as a therapist, I should have known better. I should have followed the science.
Mascara for Women over 50 - Who Knew?
When I heard about Prime Causemetics, I baulked at the idea of using a pro-age mascara for women over 50. (I am 51, but I still feel 17 at heart!). Then I realised I was being ridiculous (and slightly vain). I’d adapted my skincare to my changing hormone levels, so why hadn’t I adapted my make-up?
When my skin became sensitive, I’d replaced chemical-laden skincare with healing anti-inflammatories to calm and repair my skin. So why hadn’t I removed harsh chemicals from my make-up routine? No wonder my lashes weren’t happy.
Prime specialises in lash products, and I felt reassured by their expertise. (The founder came from a family of oncologists, and PrimeLash was initially designed for women who had undergone chemo and lost their lashes or had become super-sensitive).
They offer a 100% no risk money-back guarantee, so I decided to put their impressive claim to the test:
“We’ve made the mascara that gives you 10x elongation without clumps and smears.”
Only one way to find out!
My Review of PrimeLash Mascara
Water-based vs oil-based
My trusty old mascara was oil-based (like most on the market), which is fine for 20-year-olds. But thick, oil-based mascaras clump and dry out mature lashes, so no wonder Prime Lash opted for a lighter, water-based formula. One coat defined my lashes beautifully for the daytime, and two coats went on smoothly for the night without any clogging or dryness.
Where have my smudges gone?
Did you know that dry, flaking mascara is one of the main causes of eye irritation? Water-based mascaras have a neutral pH, so PrimeLash is gentle on the sensitive skin around your eyes. Smudges have become a thing of the past!
Mature lashes need a mature wand.
A wand can make or break mascara. The medium-sized sized silicone brush is slightly tapered to grip hard-to-reach fine, mature lashes. No more spider lashes for me –just perfectly combed and separated lashes instead.
Conclusion: Time to Upgrade to a Lash Treatment.
PrimeLash is a treatment, not just a mascara – it more than lives up to its bold claim.
The natural, moisturising formula fed my stubby lashes everything needed to grow back strong and healthy – I have my old lashes back! The black/brown pigment is beautifully soft against my complexion, and my sensitive eyes have stopped watering – they love the chemical-free formula. I can’t remember the last time I found a broken lash after removing my mascara at night – yay!
I was so impressed that I became a Prime Ambassador, and I am now a proud member of the Pro-Age Movement.
Did PrimeLash Pass the Teenage Niece Test?
I smiled inwardly as my niece tried to figure out what was different.
“You look….pretty good.”
My heart melted - high praise indeed from a teenager. I didn’t tell her about my new mascara – I have done enough makeovers to know that good make-up should be invisible.
“Thanks, my love. I feel pretty good as well.”
Thank you, PrimeLash
Eyelash Grooming Tips from Me to You:
1: Don’t be afraid of good fats. All my clients on low-fat diets have thin, dry skin and frizzy hair. We need to lubricate our skin, hair and lashes from the inside out.
2: Sorry to nag – but never go to bed in your make-up. Dried mascara will make your lashes go brittle and break off. (Lighter water-based mascaras are much easier to remove – so no excuses!).
3: Avoid waterproof mascaras: they contain harsh chemicals that dry out menopausal lashes and are hard to remove without stretching the skin.
4: Eyelashes start to flatten with age, so invest in good quality eyelash curlers or get them permed. (Not as scary as it sounds).
5: Lash regrowth after chemo can be painful, so try applying a warm compress several times a day to relieve itching. 6: Your lash & brow care deserve centre stage in your grooming routine – they are just as important as skin and hair care. Show them some love!