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The menopause essentials list: the expert-backed buys every woman should know about

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The menopause essentials list: the expert-backed buys every woman should know about

From cooling mists to hair gummies, here are some products that really work to combat menopause symptoms.

Middle-aged woman using hormone gel on her skin, hormone replacement therapy

Serafina Kenny

Published: November 18, 2025 at 4:12 PM

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As women open up more and more about the misery of menopause, brands have started to take notice. Products targeted towards perimenopausal and menopausal women are steadily filling the shelves of pharmacies, grocery stores, and high street shops — but it can be hard to know if they can actually help or whether they’re just marketing fads.

Enter GenM, a platform leading what it calls a "positive menopause revolution". Its goal? To make life easier, clearer and fairer for women navigating perimenopause and menopause, whether they’re shopping for relief or simply trying to feel seen.

At the heart of GenM’s work is the MTick, a first-of-its-kind symbol designed to help women identify products that are genuinely menopause-friendly.

To qualify, products must be backed by robust clinical evidence, so this isn’t just a case of clever branding or pink-washing. From supplements to skincare, only those that demonstrate a significant, real-world impact on menopause symptoms receive the stamp of approval.

“Menopause is a life transition that every single woman will go through at some point, and it can last up to 15 years,” says Heather Jackson, the CEO and co-founder of GenM.

Despite impacting half of the population, the menopause remains one of the least understood, supported, and visible life stages.

Heather Jackson, the CEO and co-founder of GenM

“I myself was once a peri-menopausal consumer, frustrated with the lack of menopause support and education available for me. But with the right support, menopause can be a time of rediscovery and empowerment. It’s time to drive real change for ‘the change’ and turn the invisible into visible. By empowering a woman with trust and informed, educated choices, we can help her live a better menopause experience.”

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The MTick® means that a product has been proven to address one of the 48 symptoms of menopause that GenM has identified, which includes changes in your skin, anxiety and depression, hot flushes, sleep issues, and thinning hair.

Here are some of the products that GenM have given the MTick to.

For your body

Sensitive body washes

During menopause, skin can go through lots of changes and become itchier or more sensitive. Opting for a body wash that is formulated to be gentle on sensitive skin and has no perfumes or irritants can help to alleviate itchiness.

GenM suggests: Sanex Body Wash and Dove Pro Age Advanced Care Body Wash Shower Gel

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Itch relief creams

Sometimes just avoiding perfumed products isn’t enough to stop the itchiness that menopause can bring. Itch relief creams can help with this — they are formulated to help people with conditions like eczema to stop scratching and can provide relief.

GenM suggests: E45 Itch Relief Cream

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Cooling mists

Whether you’re dealing with a hot flush or itchy skin, a cooling mist can help quickly relieve these symptoms, especially on the go.

GenM suggests: Balance Activ's Hervitality Cooling Mist

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For your hair

Shampoo

During menopause, your hair can change texture, and many women find that their hair thins, too. Some shampoos and conditioners can help to make menopausal hair appear thicker or put some moisture back into your strands.

GenM suggests: Charles Worthington's Menoplex Volumising Shampoo

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Supplements

Products used externally can only do so much — many of the changes menopausal people might see in their hair will be caused by internal changes like declining levels of oestrogen. Taking supplements might be able to help with this, but note that the jury is still out on whether supplements can improve health if you don’t have a deficiency in those specific nutrients.

GenM suggests: Vitawell Hair Gummies and Viviscal Hair Supplements

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Hair dye

Menopause shouldn’t impact your usage of hair dye too much, but if you’re changing to your hair and skin, you might find you’re more sensitive to the chemicals in hair dye. Opt for dyes formulated for sensitive skin in this case.

GenM suggests: Schwarzkopf Oleo Intense (all shades are MTick-certified)

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Skincare

Cleansing balm

Again, you may want to switch to gentler skincare products if your skin becomes thinner or more sensitive during menopause.

GenM suggests: Sainsbury’s Hyaluronic Cleansing Balm

Anti-ageing skincare

You can’t completely prevent wrinkles or changes in your skin unless you have invasive procedures — it’s a natural part of ageing. But some anti-ageing skincare products might be able to help a little. Look for retinoids, which smooth and brighten skin, and vitamin C, which can help to reduce dark spots and hyperpigmentation.

GenM suggests: Boost Labs Anti-ageing serum

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For ‘down there’

Pads and liners

As your body is preparing to stop menstruating, you might get irregular periods or bleeding. Plus, some women start to experience incontinence or bladder leakage, so having a pad or liner there can be great for absorbing any blood, wee, or discharge.

GenM suggests: TOTM Organic Cotton Night Pads, Always Discreet Pads Nights and TENA Liners Lights

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Vaginal moisturisers

As your levels of oestrogen drop, your vaginal tissues get thinner and less naturally lubricated, which can be uncomfortable and even painful. Luckily, you can use vaginal moisturisers to help with this.

GenM suggests: Canesten Vaginal Dryness Gel

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Vitamins and supplements

Dietitians tend to recommend a food-first approach to getting all the vitamins and nutrients you need, but if you know you are deficient in something, supplements can be a good addition to a healthy, balanced diet.

GenM suggests: Issviva Daily Supplement gummies and Centrum Women 50+ daily multivitamins

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Other helpful products

Eye drops

Dry eyes is a common menopause symptom, again because of the reduction in the amount of hormones your body is producing. Eye drops/artificial tears can help, as can hormone replacement therapy and drinking lots of water.

GenM suggests: The Body Doctor's The Eye Doctor Advanced Triple Action Eye Drops

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Healthy foods

Of course, things like hormone replacement therapy are invaluable for some women, but leading a healthy lifestyle has been shown to improve menopause symptoms in research. Eating a healthy diet can make a huge difference, for example.

GenM suggests: Bio&Me Fruit and Nut Gluten-free Granola

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Menopause can affect every part of your body, and no two experiences are exactly the same. While these expert-approved products won’t solve everything, they can make some of the more frustrating symptoms a little easier to manage.

Whether it’s easing hot flushes, calming itchy skin or supporting thinning hair, it’s all about finding what works for you, and feeling more in control of your body again.

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Authors

Serafina Kenny journalist headshot

Serafina KennyDigital Journalist

Serafina Kenny is a Digital Journalist at MadeForMums. She writes news and features and has expertise in health, nutrition, relationships, and history. She has previously written for Business Insider, Women's Health, Stylist, Men's Health US, The i Paper, Dazed, and more. You can contact her with tips and story ideas (or compliments!) at serafina.kenny@immediate.co.uk.