Wrapping up Women’s Month: My personal favourite wellness products for women
Yeah, I chickened out of sharing this in a video. I guess I felt a bit shy to be chatting about my favourite personal products, because it is quite personal after all. I also believe there’s still a bit of stigma around certain topics like sexual wellness - particularly in the Muslim community - but I’ve had a chance to see and hear what women in my community really want. I shared a quick poll on my stories to gauge whether the ladies would be interested in a spicy version of my personal fav products, and 99% of them voted in favour. Shocked, but also not - it’s an indication to me that women are wanting to have more of these conversations, and I’m happy to get things going.
So, I’ve sat and compiled a brief list of my top favourites over time. Most of them have something to do with hormones and feeling good, because many of the concerns we share are as a result of hormonal shifts and changes. And I love it that there are multiple ways to support those changes naturally and holistically.
(P.S. It goes without saying but none of the following products have been sponsored by the brands mentioned in this newsletter. In fact, I intend the newsletters generally to be clean from sponsorships unless explicitly shared as a sponsored issue).
PMS/Period cramp support
OG followers will already know that I’ve been an essential oil girly since 2019. Doterra is my ultimate EO brand choice when I feel indulgent, and their unique ClaryCalm blend tops the list of functional blends that I still use every month when Aunt Flo visits. It’s a blend of Clary Sage, Lavender, Bergamot, Roman Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, Geranium, Fennel, Cedarwood, Palmarosa, Carrot & Vitex – all working together to balance and stabilise the hormones. I find it particularly helpful for PMS symptoms (mood swings) and full-on “day 1” period cramps. I typically apply it from Day 1 of my cycle, by swiping my roller bottle over my lower abdomen, back of my neck and under my feet. It instantly eases the cramps.
Another function of ClaryCalm is menopause support. Someone I helped personally used it for hot flashes she experienced as a pre-menopause symptom, and used ClaryCalm as a last resort before turning to hormone replacement therapy. Her experience was that the hot flashes settled within just days of using it.
Admittedly, it is a bit pricey at around R525 for a 10ml bottle, and your best bet is to order it via a Doterra member (unfortunately I’m no longer a member myself). It does however last a good couple of months though, especially if you’re using it only a few times per month. I’ve kept my current bottle for over two years (I took a break during pregnancy though, this cannot be used during pregnancy).
Ashwagandha
You may already know I loooove ashwagandha. If ever I changed my pseudonym (which I am thinking about to be honest), I’d consider “The Ashwagandha Mama”, lol. I genuinely feel a big difference in my mood when I’m taking it, in the sense of feeling less snappy, I am more focused and feel like I have more capacity and patience to deal with life.
I am confident that I’ve trialled enough forms and brands to know which one is my holy grail. My personal collection that I’ve accumulated over the last two years is pictured below. Amongst the four, my personal favourite has got to be Softi (linked via Vitasoul), and I’ll tell you why: ashwagandha works to support the nervous system and promote calmness, so many people find it makes them sleepy during the day. Softi’s formula contains vitamin b12, which instead gives a simultaneous burst of energy. I also found it to be effective within as little as three days of taking it, whereas the tincture (Phytoforce) and Natroceutics took a bit longer to kick in. With Softi I felt upbeat and ready to tackle life. I was not expecting results this great from a “gummy vitamin” which is Softi’s main feature.
Everybody would have their own preference on how to take it, and mine is to take either two in the morning OR one in the morning and another in the afternoon. Softi’s Ashwagandha can be purchased via Vitasoul (linked) / Takealot (linked) / Faithful to Nature (linked). Things to take note:
Most wellness enthusiasts recommend taking a break from ashwagandha every 6 - 8 weeks for between two weeks and one month before continuing again.
Please ensure you consult a functional doctor before taking ashwagandha, particularly if you are living with an autoimmune disease. I found a super useful FAQ about ashwagandha KSM-66 (which is the standard of ashwagandha used worldwide) via Tribe Organics, a US-based wellness brand who sells a range of their own ashwagandha products - scroll right to the bottom of this webpage (linked) to locate the FAQ section.
Natural low-tox Perfume
I haven’t worn perfume since my 30th birthday in 2019. I felt sad giving up my favourite Chloe Eau de Parfum but quickly learned it was aggravating my chronic hayfever and sinusitis. I think it’s mostly public knowledge by now that perfume contains hundreds of toxins, irritants and endocrine disruptors, and perfume manufacturers are not legally required to list every ingredient since it’s considered proprietary information. So my choice for perfume is (surprise) another essential oil and another Doterra blend, called Whisper (linked). Whisper contains hormone supporting oils, so it also has the benefit of improving libido, balancing hormones and supports hot flashes. (The beauty of essential oils is that they always have some sort of functional benefit for the user.) I haven’t found a clean perfume yet in South Africa, and until I do, this is my top choice. There are numerous clean brands available abroad, when I get my hands on one I’ll share.
Let’s spice things up and talk libido…
If you’re starting to feel uncomfortable, now’s the time to exit this discussion. Secondly, if you’re thinking of leaving negative comments, I will delete them because it’s 2024 and we should just quit feeling embarrassed about it. We’re all moms / moms-to-be on here, and there’s only one way to get pregnant (with the exception of IVF).
As a woman who’s been through 4 pregnancies, postpartum periods and breastfeeding journeys, I have been through it all. A lot goes on during the first two years postpartum, and that’s typically how long it takes for a woman’s body to fully heal from birth and pregnancy anyway. Suddenly you’re contending with a demanding new baby, sleep loss / disruption, the breastfeeding hormone prolactin, other shifting hormones, and for some, postpartum depression. It’s not illogical to think that sexy time is the last thing on your mind. On the contrary, I’ve heard of moms who have not experienced any loss in libido during postpartum, and in that case: love it for you! (It’s also a good idea to communicate and prepare your partner mentally for these changes; it might feel sudden and out of the blue for them. The last thing a new mom needs is the added pressure of a grumpy/frustrated partner above all else.)
But girl, wherever you find yourself right now, if you need support let’s look at some natural (and gentle) options below. I will also mention first and foremost the importance of exercise (by now we all know the general benefits, and it’s been proven to support a healthy libido too). I’ve created two categories below (i) Personal Recommendations (reccs that I have personally tried) and (ii) Friend Recommendations (reccs that I have received from friends and have not personally tried). The second may still be useful to explore further by yourself.
(i) Personal Recommendations
Aether Apothecary Libido Tincture. Don’t be freaked out by the labels and the wording LOL. Admission, it freaked me out until I discovered that the formula is gentle. It takes a couple of days to build up in the system, I assure you that you will not feel like a dog on heat haha. I can’t comment on the safety during nursing, but I personally would not consume if my baby were 9 months and under. Please contact the brand if you want to be sure – they’re always happy to answer questions like this. It’s available online directly from their website (click here) or via Faithful to Nature. I’ve also seen them stocked at Wildsprout in both Kenilworth and Constantia Village. I’ve noticed the packaging and labelling has been updated, but the formula remains the same.
More essential oils. This is for the mamas who may still be nursing. Years ago I managed to get my hands on a limited edition doterra floral set, which contained mini rollers of diluted Rose, Neroli, Jasmine & Magnolia. If you know anything about EOs, you’ll be nodding your head: they’re the go-to oils to spice things up. Look up the benefits of each oil if you’re interested in extra homework. How to use? Topical application again. You really want to layer each oil, one at a time over the following areas of your body: back of the neck, bottoms of the feet, inside of wrists, behind the knees, pulse points in your neck and then inhale deeply from your hands. Practice some self-care first like a warm shower to destress, and then layer your oils one at a time. Try this a few times a week. Some important things to note about essential oils:
You don’t have to be extravagant with using brands like Doterra. Do however ensure that the essential oils are REAL and not just fragrances. This will help you make the most out of the functional benefits. More affordable brands on the SA market include windrose, soil, wellness warehouse’s in-house brand & faithful to nature’s in-house brand.
Always dilute the oils with a carrier oil. Great options are almond oil, jojoba oil, fractionated coconut oil aka MCT oil.
Roller bottles make it easier to use, no mess and no fuss. Get them from Essentially Natural (linked. I can vouch for them, have bought from them many time before).
Maca Powder. I used it once, years ago, and it was gross. With the result, I did not use it for long enough to gauge the effectiveness. It is however a known adaptogenic which helps to balance the hormones, boost libido (it’s been hailed an aphrodisiac lol), and apparently fertility too (check out the powder here). I noticed it comes in capsule form too (check it out here). This year I received a sample from a goodie bag, and it turned out to be Maca in tincture form (imagine my excitement lol), from a local small business called Nx!a (Instagram handle @nxa_herbals). The bottle remains unopened though (see below), but I thought it was worth a mention for anyone who wants to check it out for themselves.
(ii) Friend Recommendations
Yoni Steaming. If the concept is new to you, it is exactly what it sounds like: a steam for your yoni. I’ve never been, but it’s something that once piqued my interest. It’s generally used for various reproductive issues such as fertility, infections, menstrual irregularities, menopause symptoms etc, including libido. How it works, is you’re seated on a stool over a bowl of a herbal blend that’s mixed specifically for your reproductive concern. I’ve heard some optimistic feedback, but like I said have not tried it myself. If you’re keen on recommendations of places to have a steam, let me know and I will get some names from the girls I trust.
Acupuncture. Someone I know swore by her acupuncture regimen to help gain her libido back postpartum. I’m not surprised, given acupuncture has worked so well to support hormonal issues and get energy moving.
Clean Lube
I challenge you to ditch anything that starts with a K and ends with a Y; I don’t know who else is reminded of cervix checks and post-cesarean suppositories at just the mention of KY. Girls, clean lube is so underrated. Highly recommend you check out Liquid Gold lube and browse for one that suits your, er, needs. They’re available via Faithful to Nature as well. Thank me later :)
That brings me to the end of my first newsletter, which I truly hope you found useful. I have linked most of the product recommendations in the text, they should appear underlined and hyperlinked (I’ve indicated via “linked here”). Please feel free to leave comments below to help me gauge your thoughts and to help me improve the next edition. Suggestions for future topics are welcome too!
See you on the ‘gram…
Sara
Love these recommendations! I have been enjoying Skin Creamery scent for an cleaner perfume alternative.