Cosmetic things that worked for me - sharing girly stuff

onvacation

Thanks, I think I would need more help during and after chemo!  I will check into it!

lago

I did it the first time it was the Friday before I started chemo (Tuesday). There was this young gal (26 at the time, lymphoma) that I had met when I was getting my bone scan. She was there. The next time they had one she asked it I would go again. She was at the hospital doing bone marrow transplant and went because she was bored… so I went again but that time I was bald.

You can go as many times as you want but they will only give you make up once. I ended up preferring the products I already had.

barbe1958

Lashes fall out in cycles, so chemo makes them all on the same cycle which is why they seem to fall out again all at once. I wonder if there's a way to break the cycle for some of the lashes so you could hang on to some of them???

You don't have to be in active treatment to go to the Look Good classes. I had my masts and went just after. They get a list from Oncology I think, because when I phoned, the lady said "Oh I just saw your name on a list". I didn't learn much except that I look good in a turban! But the comraderie was amazing and I wouldn't have missed it for anything! I highly recommend it to everyone!! I went alone, but some ladies brought friends/family (they don't get the products, though) The variance between boxes of cosmetics was a drag, as I saw some amazing products in other ladies boxes!! You all get the same product, but the brands are different and mixed up. There were some GORGEOUS compacts being handed out!!!!

Wren44

Has anyone found a safe sunscreen they'd recommend? I bought Badger because it was the safest, but it's sure not something I could wear under makeup. I also tried Aveeno, but with oily skin it started sliding off about 2pm. I'm willing to wear the Badger for outdoors activities, but I'd like something light to wear all the time. Does anyone make a tinted sunscreen? Or a makeup base with good sun protection? I used to use Lubriderm, but when I looked it up, it was neither safe nor effective.

LtotheK

Wren, I use Badger mixed 50/50 with my base and moisturizer.  After exhaustive research, I found that most of the sunscreens are actually pretty toxic.  Not worth it to me, especially with all the studies showing skin absorbs preservatives and stores them in tissue.  That said, Korres has SOME non-toxic makeups, I think one has sunscreen!

Wren44

LtotheK, Did you mix it daily or make up a small batch?

LtotheK

Hi Wren, I mix it daily.   I might be wrong, but I thought sunscreen can be light sensitive, so I leave it in the tube.  Badger ain't perfect--I also hate the grainy crud that collects at the outlet, sigh....

apple

i love this thread.

fortunately i have a pre teen.. absolutely gorgeous, and she is so into magazines and beauty products and is always giving me advice.  both our eyes slant up.  She is a blond, and I'm brunette.  She jealously guardes this very pale (almost silver blue eyeliner pencil with which she rims her inner eye corners and lower lid (above the lash line - the water line?)  she looks so pretty.

here's a little pic.. it's about 5 years old,.. she sure has a lot to work with.  Beauty is inside of course, but a pretty girl is sure a pleasure especially when you own one.

Three weeks ago i was pretty,.. relatively pretty,   then i was diagnosed with brain mets so between the chemo and WBR radiation i lost my all my hair and acquired a steroid face.. Fortunately i am off the steriods now but it takes a month or so for the super puffy weirdness to go away.

What I would really like to be able to do is see with super sharp vision the eyemake up I am putting on.  I have an eyebrow kit with 2 colors of powder, and a waxy stuff that actually does a wonderful job of putting on fake brows complete with hair strands look. .. and this definer brow thing and a little pencil and powder to fill in.  I still have my long eyelashes but they are colorless and mascara is very irritating.. still I'll wear it out.

Looking forward tolooking better soon.  I'm attending one of those feel good clinics so i can get the Awesome free makeup.

Lago.. I will check out that brow kit.

you know, I've used baking soda as a facial scrub and if mixed with a little cream, is absolutely awesome (if i don't scrub to vigourously.  I am blessed with a nice complexion and won a freckle face contest (an airplane ride in the sky) when I was 11.  I had so many.. They've pretty much faded away tho.  i love them.

fredntan

I just discovered coconut oil.

but I just tried a coconut oil/honey body wrap. just mixed equal parts of each in bowl. large tablespoon. heated in microwave. then wrapped myself in towels satuarated with hot/warm water. and sat in empty tub for little bit. got kind of messy and towels got cold quick, but it does moisterize good.

apple

i really love coconut oil and i find it is the best facial cleanser and moisterizer.. all one needs is a drop and a soft tissue or cloth and then another drop or two.

something about it is perfect. better than any of my expensive creams and makeup just glides on.  I buy a pint of organic food grade and keep it in the fridge in the summer, on the counter top in the winter. 

i also eat a teaspoon.. yum

LuvRVing

Apple - you are beautiful with or without hair!

I went to a Look Good Feel Better class and received so many high-end cosmetics.  But I have a couple thing I like better than any of the stuff I got or that I get from Estee Lauder (gift with purchase). 

I've used Moisturel for at least 20 years as my moisturizer.  I can no longer find it in the drugstore so I order it from Amazon.  A jar lasts about 9 months, so it's not a big deal to order it when I need it.

I use these for cleaning my face.  They are relatively inexpensive at Walmart online (10 cents each) and are very easy to take with me when I travel because they are dry, unlike many of the facial cleanser cloths on the market.

 I have very sensitive skin and some products cause problems so I have to be careful.  I always had dry scaly patches on my face until I started using the Moisturel.  And the cleansing cloths do a great job of removing makeup without irritating me.  And I always have a fresh cloth.

Wren44

Ok, here goes a silly question. Does coconut oil smell like coconuts? I like fresh coconut, but most dried coconut smells rancid to me. Between coconut sun lotion and leis, I about die in Hawaii. It sounds like good stuff if it doesn't reek.

CorinneM1

Loving this thread.  I too, don't have any great makeup tips other than drink a lot of water/green tea and get a lot of exercise.  I have been told that my skin has a glow to it, which I was never told before until I started drinking a lot of green tea, running 3-4x a week and taking vitamins daily.

And agree. My makeup routine hasn't changed in 20 years.  A little face lotion, foundation, mascara and chapstick is all I need.  On occasion I might wear a tinted lipgloss.  I don't do eyeshadow, and I think I have worn blush 5x in my life.

lago

Corinne you won't have to change make-up style for at least another 5-7 years. Mid 40's things start to change and at a more rapid speed. More moisterizer/anti wrinkle and under eye concealer for me.

barbe1958

I actually STOPPED using under eye concealer about 3 years ago. I was getting a white "ring" look around my eyes as my concealer never seemed to match my foundation which changed through out the year. Then on "What Not to Wear" Carmandy (or whoever it is) said to just use your foundation or powder for under eye concealment. Voila!! A perfect match!! I haven't looked back since, and I have VERY dark circles under my eyes!!

lago

I don't wear foundation (at least not yet). The stuff I use is not very heavy but I don't have really dark circles just some.

barbe1958

Don't you use powder? I have that oily T area of forehead and nose so I've used powder forever!! I've also heard to only put concealer on the inner eye area, but I am dark right around my eyes so if I just put something on my inner eye, it makes the other areas look so much darker!

lago

No powder either. If I ever decide to go with foundation it would be bare minerals. I used to have terrible acne when I was in my 20's-30's. I was on Acutane 3X. When my skin finally cleared I didn't need to cake on the make up. I'm lucky I have only one minor scar that no one notices on my forhead. I actually have beautiful skin now.

fredntan

wren44- my coconut oil doesnt really smell like anything. Its a thick like crisco. or thicker, but it glides on so nicely. I had hard time finding it though. went to few grocery stores. really hard to find. and kind of pricey-like 8$ for med jar only kind I could find was organic

apple

I'm just waiting for this steroid face to go away.. it should take at least a couple weeks.  I wasn't on too many for too long (and still have a few to take).

the hair is gone gone gone.. bein bald ain't so bad tho.. at least I'll wear a wig now.. I never did before except under work duress.

and that coconut oil should last forever if you don't eat it fredntan...

JillThut

Glad for you, Apple, that you can drop the steroids...i so hated that steroid face when I had steroids infused even! Never was much into makeup..eyeliner etc...but have become pretty good at it. I probably look better lately than i ever have because of it! My daughter said I should have done it in my regular life...she doesn't mince words...even the wig she said looked just like my hair "only better!"

lago

I loved steriod face. It filled me out nicely. I so need it now. My "comma lines" are getting deeper these days. I try smiling more just to hide them

Cyborg

I also love coconut oil! Love NOW foodgrade melted coconut butter for my arms and it takes the "old lady " look away. I wear probably a lot of make up. Lately I have been getting into the eyeliner. It seems I have a hot flash everytime I am fixing to put on make up. I like bare essentials mineral make up... Love Bobbi Brown shimmer brick. Love Bobbi Brown eye shadow kits she has. Love the Benefit eyebrow pencil(s) with the brush on one end. Easy to use. Love wearing pearls to light up face. Found some beautiful ones at the farmer's market and thrift store. Wearing gold colored jewelry - like ear rings- also helps light me up. I have been adorning myself heavily!!!! Also, Latisse is great. I have the longest eyelashes and with mascara they are wonderous!

lago

Cyborg I wear a lot of "Bling" too. I purchase artsy jewelry. Lots of handmade craft fair and local artist stuff.

I too wear Bobby Brown eye shadows and powerder blush. For eyeliner I use one of my eye shadows and a wet brush. I have been wearing eyeliner for about 30 years so I'm pretty good at putting it on. Still swear by the Anastacia brow duo for eyebrows. 

and you said something about pearls & hot flashes:  http://www.hotgirlspearls.com/our-products/ 

Also make one of these. DIY Cooling Necklace made with dollar store nylons & reusable ice cubes! Those ice cubes come in round too.: 

      

LuvRVing

LOL - that looks like a string of Easter Marshmallows  Too bad I couldn't wear those while I sleep.  I get a 2 am hot flash wake up call each and every night...without fail.   I tried the "chill-o" pillow but I couldn't get comfy with it.

barbe1958

I found the "minerals" powder didn't give me any benefit; either coverage or oil absorption, so I'd rather not wear anything. My normal day wear is nothing except powder for my oily T-zone, but I use foundation for work. It's like a "mask" I put on - my "happy face". I guess it's symbolic to me. Like putting a different lead on a service dog. He knows it's work time when that halter goes on....

crystalphm

I am reading every post and enjoying this so much. A trip just to wanter around at Ulta can be the highlight of my week, and just thinking about "beauty" once again is fun.

I use Bare Minerals and I think my skin has been responding well enough. I just started the coconut oil as a moisturizer and LOVE it!

One thing I have problems with is lipstick, my lips always seem to need cortisone creme the day after lipstick...so I am avoliding that and wish I knew of one to try. Any thoughts?

Keep posting, I love reading!

lago

I don't use lipstick. I always felt like a clown. I prefer a tinted lip balm when I do wear something. It's not sticky like lipgloss and gives just a hint of color. Much more natural. If you have longer hair, when the wind blows it won't stick to your lips.

shore1

Great thread. I love bobbi brown tinted moisturizer with sof. Pre chemo it would have been to greasy for me, but now its perfect and much lighter than foundation. The L'occitane hand and foot lotions, lip balm and cuticle cream have also been favorites if mine since chemo. I wouldn't have splurged on this stuff pre-bc, but I will never skimp on myself again after this ordeal.

onvacation

I agree Shore - we are worth it!