The Poise That Refreshes

Now, I believe I have alluded in the past to the gobsmacking nature of menopause.  Let's review: at a time in your life when you are most likely enjoying the charming experience of living with a child going through the throes of puberty (complete with eyerolls, disdainful sneers, and angst galore), you yourself are experiencing what can only be described as a second adolescence, only less fun.  

Some days, I feel like this.

Acne, insecurity about your appearance, public embarrassment (when you forget to cross your legs before you sneeze) - ladies, all this and more will be yours at some point in your 40's.  Couple those delights with a face that insists on following the siren call of gravity and the realization that you have suddenly TURNED INTO YOUR MOTHER, and you've got a recipe for a humdinger of a decade.

Am I being too negative?  Forgive me.   Remember that movie in 4th grade?  The one that called the onset of menses a beautiful time in one's life?  We don't need to be lied to again, do we?  

Menopause sucks.  It's not beautiful, not unless you think "Is it hot in here or is it just me?" is incredibly alluring.

I swear to God, I just uttered that line TODAY to my dental hygienist.  SHOOT ME NOW.

Where was I?  Oh, yes, menopause.  There are some benefits to this time of our lives, true.  I'm no longer spending money on Kotex, for instance.  Of course, those funds are now going toward products that bill themselves - erroneously, I might add - as "wrinkle-removers"; but at least I no longer have to worry about being stocked up, as it were.  And I can schedule a trip to the beach without planning around "that time of the month."

Hey, who else remembers teen slumber parties where you discussed, "Oh my gosh, what if you have your period on your wedding night?"

Just me?  Okay, never mind.

Anywhoo, Poise (which is - full disclosure - sponsoring this post, but the opinions herein are mine, ALL MINE) has come out with a line of products designed to mitigate some of the less pleasant aspects of going through this time of life.

People, when BlogHer told me I could test one of these products, I immediately fixated on their Roll-On Cooling Gel, a purse-friendly tube of something magic that delivers a cooling sensation when you roll it on your wrists or neck.   You see, my current method of alleviating the discomfort that accompanies hot flashes is to grab an ice pack from the freezer and apply it to the back of my neck.  As you can imagine, this approach can be a little difficult to implement when one is away from home.  As a result, my spouse has had to endure the embarrassment of watching me, in public, fish ice cubes out of my drink and shove them down the back of my shirt.


Of course, that embarrassment is NOTHING compared to what he would experience were I to follow my first instinct of simultaneously stripping down to my underwear and dumping my cold drink over my head.  So, really, he shouldn't complain, don't you think?


Anyway, it struck me that this Roll-On Cooling Gel idea might be a more subtle way to deal with hot flashes when I am away from my freezer.  And I'm pleased to report that it does help mitigate the discomfort I experience from hot flashes.  What's more, it doesn't have any funky scent that would give me a headache.  So many products designed for women are contaminated with perfumes that are, for me and many others, a direct ticket to a migraine.  This Cooling Gel is NOT one of them.

Poise brand's other products designed for this "change of life," as I remember Edith Bunker calling it, are the following:

Body Cooling Towelettes offer instant cooling and refreshment.  Gently wipe the towelette on wrists, chest or neck to feel cool and comfortable. Featuring a portable, re-sealable package, these towelettes are easy to use anywhere you go.

Personal Lubricant designed to enhance your intimate experience. This lubricant features an easy to use bottle and is made without Fragrance, Glycerin or Parabens.
 
Panty Fresheners have a fresh and clean scent that lasts up to four hours. These discreet,  hypoallergenic fresheners stick to the outside of your undergarments so you can confidently go about your day. 

Feminine Wash provides daily freshness with a unique formulation that is pH balanced for your intimate area. Glycerin and paraben free, this gentle wash will help you feel clean and confident.

Learn more about these new products, hear stories from real women, share your own, and pledge to join The 2nd Talk at Poise.com.    Also, get a free sample by clicking here or download a coupon here.

And, wait!  Here's the best part: Poise is giving away a $100 Visa gift card to one lucky commenter on this post.  All you have to do is answer the following question:

How are you approaching life's changes confidently?

Sweepstakes Rules

No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry"; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 120 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 1/22/13-2/19/13.
Be sure to visit the Poise brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!



[Edith Bunker image: Talent Mechanic]