Menopause

What they are: Facial moisturizers are designed specifically for use on delicate facial skin. Some may be designed for specific areas of the face, such as around the eyes or mouth.

Why to buy: Facial moisturizers are the right option to properly hydrate facial skin and keep it supple. Hand creams and other body moisturizing products tend to be too heavy; resist the temptation to use these instead of face-specific products.

Things to consider: Pay attention to labels and use only as directed. For example, many products are not designed for use on eyelids or close to the eyes, and will sting if applied to these areas. Pick products to meet your needs. Facial moisturizers range from items to treat very dry faces to light moisturizers for acne-prone skin. Expensive may not be better. Ask your doctor or friends and family members for suggestions.

What they are: Body moisturizers come in lotions and thick creams and tend to be heavier than facial products and lighter than hand and foot moisturizers. They often contain humectants—substances to seal moisture into skin, and come with or without fragrance.

Why to buy: Body moisturizers provide the right weight to keep you feeling soft and velvety all over. Many like to keep a good body moisturizer around so it’s always there to use when needed. Some people use them year round, while others only need them during specific dry seasons.

Things to consider: Fragrances in lotions and creams are the most common culprit for allergic reactions. If you’ve had problems with moisturizers in the past, try a product formulated for sensitive skin or that is fragrance-free.

What they are: Moisturizers for hands and feet tend to be the heaviest, most moisturizing products available. Skin on hands and feet is thicker, tougher, and may be more exposed than other areas; these body parts may need a heartier product.

Why to buy: These products are reasonably priced and can address serious dryness, such as cracked heels and chapped, irritated hands. They provide the deepest moisturizing for the areas that need it.

Things to consider: These products are best for thicker, tougher skin, so avoid using on the face or other sensitive body areas where they may clog pores.

What they are: Specialty moisturizers for dry patches are formulated to address a specific concern, such as dry elbows or knees. These products may contain substances that speed up cell turnover in the skin, so the outer layers of dead skin are shed more quickly. This allows the moisturizer to penetrate to where it is most needed.

Why to buy: If you have a very dry body area, especially elbows, knees, heels, or hands, a specialty product can help get the problem under control.

Things to consider: As with hand and feet moisturizers, these products are formulated for very tough, dry skin. They often do not work well on delicate facial skin.

What they are: Prenatal vitamins and multivitamins are specially formulated for women, packed with nutrients such as vitamin E, calcium, folic acid, and iron. Based on where you are in life, look for multivitamins with targeted nutrient combinations for teens, pregnant women, and seniors.

Why to buy: A simple way to supplement your diet, women’s multivitamins contain a cross-section of the most important nutrients you need each day, generally in one or two easy-to-take doses. Most women’s formulas include calcium and vitamin D, both vital for bone health, as well as vitamin B6 and folic acid for heart health. During pregnancy and breast-feeding, many doctors recommend taking a prenatal vitamin with supportive nutrients for both mom and baby.

Things to consider: Talk with your doctor before adding supplements to your self-care routine, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or currently taking medications. Vitamins should be taken with food and water to avoid stomach upset and help your body best absorb the nutrients. Be sure to read product labels so you know exactly what you’re taking and how best to use it. Vegetarians should note that capsules are often made from animal gelatin, so look for vegetarian capsules or consider hard tablets as a better option.

What they are: Over-the-counter menopause formulas include various combinations of vitamins and herbs shown to be helpful for managing menopause symptoms. Tablets, capsules, and even chewable formulas are available.

Why to buy: As women’s bodies change, their nutritional requirements do too. Explore phytoestrogens found in soy and flaxseed, soy and red clover isoflavones, evening primrose oil, black cohosh, and other nutrients shown to be helpful for reducing menopause symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings.

Things to consider: If menopause symptoms are keeping you awake, look for nighttime formulas that include melatonin, valerian, and other naturally calming ingredients.

What they are: Creams and lotions offer women nourishing and moisturizing ingredients like Aloe vera and lanolin—often enhanced with nutrients like vitamins A, C, and E, lycopene, and green tea.

Why to buy: Keep your skin hydrated and healthy with a variety of moisture-rich lotions and creams. Experts believe certain nutrients and antioxidants may help slow the effects of aging on your body. Most anti-aging products claim to support healthy tissue growth and help fight off free radicals.

Things to consider: Keep in mind that vitamins are better absorbed through the digestive system rather than the skin and there is little evidence to support the benefits of directly applying vitamins to the skin. Most anti-aging claims are not backed by much science. If you have sensitive skin, try hypo-allergenic and unscented creams and lotions.

What they are: There are two over-the-counter medications approved for use as sleep aids to manage occasional insomnia:

• Diphenhydramine. The active ingredient in the antihistamine Benadryl, this medication also is found in brand name sleep aids such as Tylenol PM and Sominex, as well as numerous generic sleep aids.
• Doxylamine. The active ingredient in Unisom, doxylamine also is found in generic sleep aids.

Why to buy: Diphenhydramine and doxylamine effectively induce drowsiness and lead to uninterrupted sleep for many people. These products come in many forms, including soft gels, tablets, caplets, and chewables. Soft gels and chewables are faster acting than tablets.

Things to consider: You should not take diphenhydramine or doxylamine if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, or if you have glaucoma, heart problems, enlarged prostate, or ulcers. Additionally, do not take doxylamine if you have or have had asthma or bronchitis. Some people feel groggy the next day after taking these medications. For very few people, especially children, diphenhydramine and doxylamine may cause agitation and alertness, which will not help insomnia!

What they are: Natural sleep aids include dietary supplements, herbs, and other non-medication substances. Common natural sleep aids include:

• Melatonin. A hormone naturally produced by the body to induce sleep, which can be taken as a dietary supplement as well
• Valerian, chamomile, lemon balm, and passionflower. Herbs believed to have sleep-inducing and relaxation properties
• Kava kava. An herb with relaxation properties, which is no longer recommended by many health care providers due to potential problems with liver toxicity
• Theanine. A substance found in green tea that can promote relaxation and sleep.
• Magnesium. A mineral that the body uses to relax muscles
• Lavender. An aromatherapy herb (smelled, not taken orally) that may promote relaxation and restfulness
• Hops. A plant best known as a flavoring component for beer, which can be used as a dietary supplement to manage insomnia
• L-tryptophan. An amino acid (a building block for protein) that may improve sleep for some people

Why to buy: Some of these herbs and dietary supplements have research to support that they may be helpful for managing insomnia, including melatonin, valerian, chamomile, passionflower, theanine, magnesium, hops, and L-tryptophan. They may be less likely to cause next-day grogginess than over-the-counter sleep medications.

Things to consider: Natural does not always mean safe. All dietary supplements and herbs should be carefully reviewed with your healthcare provider or pharmacist. If you are managing a health condition, this will help to ensure a supplement is safe to combine with medications you are using. Use plant- and herb-based natural sleep aids with caution if you have hay fever or seasonal allergies; some of these products may cause allergic reactions in susceptible individuals. Natural sleep aids may not be safe for people with a history of mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression. If in doubt, talk to your doctor first. Magnesium can have laxative effects, so start with a low dose to assess your tolerance to this mineral.

What they are: Stop-snoring products are designed to decrease bothersome snoring, either through physically opening breathing passageways, or by changing how the muscles in the mouth and throat are contracting or relaxing. Mouthpieces and nasal clips and strips are used to open breathing passages. Homeopathic, herbal, and other natural substances are taken orally or sprayed into the throat to ease snoring.

Why to buy: Some people find stop-snoring products to be helpful. They are relatively inexpensive and the products designed to physically open breathing passages are safe for nearly everyone.

Things to consider: Snoring can signal a serious health condition, such as sleep apnea. If you’ve developed snoring recently, if your snoring is severe, or if you are groggy most of the time during the day, talk to your doctor before you try to self-treat snoring.