Skin Moisturizer and HRT

[daddycat]

I use rendered lard as skin moisturizer. It's not special like leaf lard but it gets the job done.

 

[Jenn]

@Thorn
Thanks for the links and information. The chemicals article is a little dated; can only imagine how much things have changed (for the worst) since then. It feels like there is no way out of it. I mean, it's kind of obvious knowing that all of this chemicals are bad, but that kind of just puts it into perspective. Though, somehow I'm just not ready to give up nail polish... On a related note, I'm glad I don't wear makeup (besides eyeliner and sometimes mascara, which is already not good). Doing research into that might be good as well, but just the sound of my pores getting clogged up is very off-putting for me to even consider it.

Hi sorry for the outdated article, I was searching on my phone and that was the best I could find at the time, this article from sott, although from 2011 is really informative
http://www.sott.net/article/228682-Report-Calls-for-Better-Regulation-of-Heavy-Metals-in-Canadian-Cosmetics
this from 2009 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1132810/Is-make-killing-There-deadly-poisons-lurking-handbag.html

and this for nail polish
http://www.sott.net/article/244141-The-Dangers-of-Nail-Polish-Advertised-as-Nontoxic
http://www.sott.net/article/208937-Toxic-Nail-Salons-Why-Your-Nail-Polish-Color-Could-be-the-Next-Agent-Orange

Obviously it's your choice, but at least with the articles you'll be able to make more of an informed decision.
Another thing to be aware of (I haven't read the book so I hope someone else can pick out the bit I mean/correct me, in Primal body primal mind) apparently putting the chemicals on our skin is worse than ingesting them as our skin is so absorbent?

I'm more of a chapstick kind of girl anyways, and even regular chapstick is not good I wonder if I can use some of those natural moisturizers as chapstick... I wonder if there's a natural colorant I can use in the chapstick to give my lips a somewhat stained look. This is kind of exciting, but I'll do that tomorrow as I'm already sleepy.

There are a few brands on iherb that say they use 'natural ingredients' as to how natural they are you will have to decide by reading the websites, one brand is http://www.eccobella.com/ another is http://logona-cosmetics.co.uk/ who both say they are gluten free.

as for lip balm this is what I use and it claims to be gluten free and nasty chemical free http://www.iherb.com/Earth-Mama-Angel-Baby-Coconut-Smoothie-Lip-Balm-Coconut-Vanilla-15-oz-4-ml/48015
so pure coconut oil would probably work well :)

and for blush I came across this article http://www.thecleandish.com/all-natural-homemade-blush-with-dried-raspberries/ on pintrest, I'm sure there's a lot more out there though

Sorry for the bombardment of articles! I hope this helps you a little bit. Another thing to consider (you don't have to answer this if it's personal) but what is the reason you're not ready to give up the polish? A few years ago I felt the same, but then I went away travelling and was exposed to a different type of culture, women who were without makeup and nail polish, it was completely foreign, in society there is this constant bombardment of images of what is pretty and if you don't match up to that you're a scruff and undesirable... After not wearing any makeup for about 9 months, I felt kind of free of it, when I go to a special occasions I do put abit of mascara on, but it dawned on me that I can't actually see my own face until I look in the mirror, so who am I doing it for haha, just my two pence :)

 

[Jenn]

oops! I got mixed up, for some reason I thought you were asking about blush not chapstick. Maybe you could still try the raspberry powder with a chapstick for some colour :)

 

[dankhiar]

@Thorn
No need to be sorry for anything, I asked for it. And I'm glad I did! You have been a world of help. Thank you so much. I'm also glad you linked the raspberries recipe by accident. Seems perfect for the lip balm colorant, which I will be making with the instructions lilyalic linked (for the body lotion, I guess it can work both ways?). Just need to get everything first.

Regarding the nail polish, there really is no specific reason for it besides from the fact that I like it. Most of the things I do, I do them for myself, not because society says things should be a certain way (I've actually always been kind of a non-conformist, especially when younger). But reading those articles have made me realize it's really not worth it. You also have a point there with who we do things for. I'm not used to wearing eyeliner and mascara often, so when I do I'm always smearing it by accident while touching my eyes. The difference with the hands, is that I'm always looking at them, so it's fun to have my nails painted. That's really just about it :)

 

[mcb]

...

@MB
Thanks for the reply. I currently weight 114lbs and measure around 5'6.5ft. I don't think that's too bad. I'll also be putting some weight now that I'm on HRT, I hope. But being healthy is more important than the weight itself, and I know for a fact that I could be better. I'd switch to a keto diet in a heartbeat if I could, but I really am in no position to do that at the moment. I'm just not stressing it because there are other areas that I can indeed focus on. And that's what I'm doing, little by little.

Do you mind sharing your experiences if you think I, or even others, can benefit from it? It'd be greatly appreciated, but it's also ok if you rather not :)

...
You are a little underweight going by the BMI, but who says BMI reflects reality? It's controversial to say the least. Some use waist-to-hip ratio, or even waist-to-height. And no matter what formula you use it won't match your physiology; it's just a guide.

Many people in your situation would find those numbers "just right," especially considering the weight gain that can come from hormones, a detail that I had forgotten about (along with a lot of other trauma from those years).

If you are at least being selective in what you eat you will do better than if you are not. My poison of choice in my transition days was "low fat diet," and I've paid dearly for that. But then I didn't do well long term on a ketogenic diet either. I know now from lab test results about probable genetic factors and other considerations that help explain that, but I wasn't working with a functional medicine practitioner at the time (it was a 2 year wait to see one reasonably close to my home).

I have shared about these things and about my transition on and off over the years. I joined this forum a year or so after I transitioned, so it's scattered across 2700+ posts and for privacy reasons I am reluctant to link back to them now. If you have specific questions or issues that align with the purposes of this forum then I can respond to those.

 

[Jenn]

You're very welcome, I spent a lot of time trawling through internet sites looking when I had a wedding to go to :)
lilyalic started a new thread with all sorts beauty replacements http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,37313.0.html
very timely!

I do them for myself, not because society says things should be a certain way (I've actually always been kind of a non-conformist, especially when younger).

I can only speak for myself here, but after questioning my previous beliefs about myself I realised I wanted to make myself look good I guess to gain self-worth... Obviously we're all different though, working through different things, so I can't project my reasons for wearing makeup onto you, I think I just wanted to offer it up as a possibility.

The difference with the hands, is that I'm always looking at them, so it's fun to have my nails painted. That's really just about it :)

Yeah I understand I used to love wearing nail varnish haha it does look pretty, unfortunately I haven't come across a 'how to make nail varnish tutorial' but there is this http://wellnessmama.com/17833/non-toxic-nail-polish/
but as you said is it really worth it!

 

[dankhiar]

If you are at least being selective in what you eat you will do better than if you are not. My poison of choice in my transition days was "low fat diet," and I've paid dearly for that. But then I didn't do well long term on a ketogenic diet either. I know now from lab test results about probable genetic factors and other considerations that help explain that, but I wasn't working with a functional medicine practitioner at the time (it was a 2 year wait to see one reasonably close to my home).

Yeah, I'm cutting off sugars as much as I can. Gluten not so much right now, though. I did a little experiment a while back, and getting rid of gluten was the biggest nightmare (I don't live alone). Can I at least take one spoonful of coconut oil every day? Or is that crazy?

 

[dankhiar]

Oops, forgot I had another one to reply to.

You're very welcome, I spent a lot of time trawling through internet sites looking when I had a wedding to go to :)
lilyalic started a new thread with all sorts beauty replacements http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,37313.0.html
very timely!

Nice! I knew there were threads that focused on things like shampoo and body wash, but it's nice to kind of have it all in one place.

I can only speak for myself here, but after questioning my previous beliefs about myself I realised I wanted to make myself look good I guess to gain self-worth... Obviously we're all different though, working through different things, so I can't project my reasons for wearing makeup onto you, I think I just wanted to offer it up as a possibility.

I'm glad you stopped it, then. I believe we are as worth as we make ourselves be, regardless of what chemicals we decide to put on our faces, or what fabrics to wrap our bodies in. We've all been there, and in a way still are. I don't think it's ever gonna fully end, we're only 3D. Thankfully, I too have learned to love and accept myself these past few years. I don't need anyone or anything to tell me how worthy I am. That is something I already know :)

Yeah I understand I used to love wearing nail varnish haha it does look pretty, unfortunately I haven't come across a 'how to make nail varnish tutorial' but there is this http://wellnessmama.com/17833/non-toxic-nail-polish/
but as you said is it really worth it!

Honestly, I don't even think I'm going to consider the so called non-toxic nail polish. I've kind of thought about it and I decided I don't like the idea of having that on my nails for long periods of time. There is a reason nails get yellow after a while! I'll most likely miss my crimson nails, however.

 

[Jenn]

Yeah very true, it's a working progress isn't it. Also realising that there's more to life than the physical things! I guess my own experiences with makeup were shaped by upbringing so could only really go off that..

 

[lilyalic]

I think we slowly start caring less about our physical appearance the more 'inner' work we do on ourselves. However, we are still very much living within the system, and we are surrounded by woman who cover their selves in makeup every single day, there's no doubt that parts assume we should put makeup on to 'look' better.

What I did find a few years back, with most of my 'girly' friends, they usually tended to put more makeup up the more self-conscious they were...

Then again, don't feel guilty or wrong for sometimes throwing a bit of makeup on, we have been brought up that way, and it is nice when you wake up feeling a little groggy to lighten your mood up with some facial art ;)

 

[Jenn]

What I did find a few years back, with most of my 'girly' friends, they usually tended to put more makeup up the more self-conscious they were...

Yeah I've noticed that too, my sister doesn't feel comfortable leaving the house without it and my mum is the same really. They both seem very self-conscious. For them maybe it's a way to boost their self-esteem and hide the real face underneath. I guess not being so rigid about it and wearing it as and when you want takes away the importance, as D'Ankhiar said it's the importance you put into it... Maybe I need to lighten up haha

 

[dankhiar]

I think we slowly start caring less about our physical appearance the more 'inner' work we do on ourselves. However, we are still very much living within the system, and we are surrounded by woman who cover their selves in makeup every single day, there's no doubt that parts assume we should put makeup on to 'look' better.

Agreed. And it's started to affect men lately as well. There is absolutely wrong with being creative or wanting to have fun with the things you wear -or put on your face in this case- but the big brand slogans are usually something along the lines of "pretty yourself up", and not "get creative." It shapes people into thinking they are not beautiful unless they put chemicals on their face. Of course being pretty or beautiful is not everything (not to mention the fact that beauty is subjective), but most people don't think that way.

 

[dankhiar]

There is absolutely nothing wrong*
Sorry I ate a word.

 

[Jenn]

Hi you know what I'd like to say sorry, I've been thinking about my posts here and I made an assumption of why you wore makeup and pursued asking you about it, which 1. you weren't asking for (therefore breaking your free will) and 2. was kind of irrelevant to the reason you posted the thread... I think if anything it showed up issues that I have with wearing makeup! I totally projected onto you.

I think I have this black and white thinking when it comes to makeup and fashion and stuff. I was so absorbed in it just a few years ago, then found the forum and started reading the wave books. I tried to fight against the desire to care about my appearance, almost restricting myself in an attempt to get rid of the conditioning, rather than letting it be a natural process of just gradually becoming less interested. Which has started to happen but without me really trying as it turns out. But I guess I do feel guilty sometimes for making an effort with my appearance which sounds crazy when i say it...

But yeah just wanted to apologise if i overstepped the mark.

 

[flashgordonv]

I literally just started on HRT, or Hormone Replacement Therapy (MtF), yesterday, and I really don't want to develop stretchmarks because of all the changes my body will be going through. Especially since I've been underweight my entire life (I'm 18), the fat redistribution is going to put a lot of stress in my skin.

Hi D'Ankhiar

I was curious as to why you chose to start HRT? The reading I have done indicates that there is an increased risk of breast cancer when using HRT. I also saw a report on the local news two days ago suggesting that new research indicates an increased risk of ovarian cancer as well.

https://www.southerncross.co.nz/AboutTheGroup/HealthResources/MedicalLibrary/tabid/178/vw/1/ItemID/155/Hormone-Replacement-Therapy-HRT.aspx

I'm really interested in this subject as my wife ended up having a hysterectomy a few years ago, when she was operated on to remove a growth near her ovaries, and she has had lots of issues relating to hormones. She did take bio-identical hormones for three years, but even these her doctor suggested were not good to remain on for more than 3 years.