Cosmetic things that worked for me - sharing girly stuff

LuvRVing

I have used a tinted moisturizer as my foundation for many years.  My current brand is Olay. 

Cyborg

Lago- those ice cube necklaces are cool looking !

crystalphm

Shore1, I agree completely, I would have never splurged on make-up or body care before, and now it feels like a treat.

I also think it is very good for me to think about things like this, because for too long after my mastectomy I didn't want to deal with anything physical, including exercise.

I will try a tinted lip balm...thanks!

3jaysmom

i haven't "kept up" on this thread much, still in bed tooo much thanks to hypothyroid.. but i had to say: i can't use much on my eyes for awhile now, as they are dry, and tearing.. pretty much for 2 yrs from chemo..

 i use some light foundation/lotion on them.. i use "lauren Hutton" powder makeup.. in her "islands" collection.. i have to say, i believe her thinking is correct.. as we get older, our makeup has to change, or looks to harsh!!!

 i've found those mascaras' that "build up" your lashes with fibers.. Latisse is out for me, cause of ms.. i love them, i always HAD long, thic lashes, but they didn't come back that way.. they're really sparse, as the eybrows have thinned, top of head, too, if your'e counting..

  but, i have a tiny, little brush, that i found for the lashes, even do the bottoms, when i get all dolled up.. i can't tolerate any but maybelline, and not everyday..

  i love this thread.. when i want to, i cN STILL PUT MAKEUP ON, ANS and feel normal..(sorry about caps) but, i truly don't put on much, except for out especial.. a little blush, and burts bees for my lips, which are still chronically chapped..

  its' been hard for me, since bc.. se's everywhere, and i really have to keep it simple, but God, I love feeling girly when i do have to face the world!!!!

 love to all you great girls....3jays

geneskirt

I was eating my organic coconut oil !!!! I'm going to move the jar to my bathroom and try it as a cleanser and then try it on my 'winter' dry arms and legs today thanks girls!

kingjr66

Jumping on board this thread.  I have read all the pages so far and thanks to all for some good tips I want to try, especially for dark circles and puffiness under eyes.  I have facial discoloration and have found from Maybeline their Instant Age Rewinds Eraser Treatment.  This is a great foundation concealer.  It actually is sort of tube shaped and has a sponge applicator attached so that you dab it on.  It has Goji Berry and Collagen in it.  It works great on my skin and conceals all my dark patches and age spots.  Sometimes I wear it alone without any foundation or finishing powders.  

I also swear by Ponds and Johnson Baby Lotion.  I have used these products for over 30 years and have very soft skin.  Burts Bees honey balm for lips and the lemon creme for my dry nail cuticles. 

For my hair I have been using Biosilk Silk Therapy.  My hair dresser has commented on how soft my hair feels.  I have not had a split end in over 20 years since using this product.  It also helps when the person cutting your hair uses sharpened scissors.  You'd be surprised to learn that dull scissors can cause split ends.

apple

"Maybeline -  Instant Age Rewinds Eraser Treatment"

I don't have a makeup budget and generally explore budget brands with the DD.

This is a great product for me.. a bit of hi-liting and undereye circles.. a few dark spots.. it lasts forever and blends perfectly.

Moderators

In case you hadn't seen it, this topic is the featured discussion thread on the Breastcancer.org Facebook page! Your experiences and tips are being liked and shared, thanks!

The FB post is here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Breastcancerorg/40868540984?sk=wall

apple

yeah yeah yeah.. (but thank you.. i look like my dear daddy.. not a touch of my beautiful mom).

just waiting for the steroid face to diminish and go away.. took my last 1/2 pill yesterday!

Wren44

Sunday Afternoons sent me their spring catalog and I noticed they have a sunscreen with zinc oxide that is transparent instead of white. That would sure make it easier to wear. I really don't tan and adding white to already white skin makes me look like chalk. I have 2 of their hats and wear them religiously since I've had skin cancer on my face.

cp418

I am trying to search for a SAFE sun screen being very fair.  I just read one I recently purcashed as Organic from Earth Science actually has a poor safety rating.  Some ingredients accumulate in the skin which is so bad for us.

 http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

 I am seeking at least SPF 30 - - maybe back to Burts Bees unless I can find another with better toxicity score. 

I forgot to mention I am allergic with sensitive skin to some products --- again, due to ingredients...

GramE

I too need some gentle kind of sun screen.    A long time ago I had one, forget the name.   Leaned up against the swimming pool "edge", which was painted blue.   It took the paint off and my back was blue.   Talk about "gentle".....   I got a full refund after sending the tube back to the manufacturer, but pretty scary that it would take paint off of concrete.    Most of the time I wear long sleeves, big hat, and stay in the shade.    

cp418

So far it looks like Badger Baby formula SPF 30 nonscented seems least toxic.  I was shocked at the bad scores for Neutrogena and some J&J products.  I just threw out my Burts Bees when I read the scores.....

Wren44

I just looked up the name: All Terrain Terrasport SPF 30. It's a 2 on EWG.

marejo

Just happened upon this thread. Being almost 7 years since dx (June 2005) my eyelashes are still very sparse and eyebrows almost nonexistent - can you tell me what kind of eyebrow powder to buy? Eyebrow stencil? Where do you buy?



Thanks all....



Mary Jo

lago

Anastacia brow duo. It's the best. Very natural looking. My post with the link is on page 2. The sell it at Sephora, Ulta, Nordstrom and I'm sure other department stores as well as online (amazon) etc. Just do a search.

GramE

Eyebrow stencils at Sally Beauty supply - may have to ask where they are in the store.  Maybellline used to have a "brown" with slanted brush, which is pretty natural looking if you use short strokes.  I have not bought new for a long time, so not sure it still exists.   Pencil is too harsh - MY opinion.    

GramE

PS, eyebrow stencil can be bought elsewhere, but Sally is by far the cheapest.

apple

Brows? After 4 years i am pretty good at them.

i bought a few kits from Wet N Wild.. super cheap.. there is a square of wax, a little brush and 2 colored powders.. other manufacturers make something similar.. you brush on the wax in eyebrow hair strokes and fill in with the powders. .. i go over them with a hard pencil.  they stay on all day.  i have absolutely no brows now and the are SO important to looking healthy.. i eyeline my eyes too.. liquid for formal occasions.. otherwise just a series of pencils.. my daughter had a silver pencil (and i do too) for the inner corners.. i blend with a q tip or sponge brush and have an undereye dark circle corrector of some sort.. a little lipstick or gloss , a light dusting of mineral powder and that's it.

cupcakies

marejo, latisse has done wonders for my lashes & brows! it really works.

Also when i was doing chemo, i bought this eyebrow sealer - once you draw them on, you put this over so you dont accidently rub them off: http://eyelineher.blogspot.com/2011/05/product-review-bgdl-brow-sealer.html 

I've only used it once or twice, mainly b/c i just didn't leave the house much during chemo. The bottle is full and practically new. If anyone would like, I can mail them the bottle. I don't need it anymore ever since latisse! PM me if you're interested. 

FLwarrior

I have found that if I brush my brows with a stiff eye-brow brush then use a pencil with short feathering strokes and brush again it works well and lasts all day.  Brushing before and after keeps  it from having that harsh "pencil" look.

apple

ok... the following is a little bizarre.. i read an article about these two chicks (and they are young girls, who look like  Barbie dolls and have watched their makeup tutorials on Youtube.. i am not a pedaphile.   i do enjoy painting my face on tho more and more..  i watch how to youtube videos with the DD sitting on my lap.. she is doing the puberty thing and well, i'd love to hold on to her young self forever,  but she is pulling away.. getting mad at me and stuff.. soon to turn 13.  i remember in utero, the nurse telling me she was going to be a girl and i burst into tears, dreading the early teens.. i have adored her childhood tho and was so mistaken.

i am waiting for the steroid face to go away with the puffy eyes and dark circles so i can at least look interesting in my mid 50 look that is bald..

here is the original article.. (it is bizarre)

 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2122177/Meet-real-life-Barbies-Internet-craze-sees-teenagers-turn-freakish-living-dolls.html

 and how to put on the big eye look...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uYV5fLq9T8&feature=relmfu  this is palermo

Momine

Apple, I just use eyeliner to give the illusion that I still have eye lashes. I tried painting on eyebrows several times, but could not get it to work no how.

lago

apple that big eye video was a bit creepy. Small eyes is one problem I don't have but I will admit I do several of those techniques but much more natural. (No fake lashes, contact lenses or too much make up)

cowgal

Cool ideas and suggestions everyone.  Lago, I love the ice cube necklaces.  If only they made them in jewel tones!  LOL. 

Does anyone have any ideas how I can keep my mascara from smudging by afternoon?  I am careful to avoid parabens and soy products but can't seem to find a mascara that will not smudge even though I get waterproof.  I am wondering if it is because of my moisturizer but I have tried several of those too. 

onvacation

I stopped wearing mascara on my bottom lashes because of smudging.  Seems to help!

lago

I stopped wearing mascara on my bottom lashes years ago. It doesn't smudge but some of the bits always fall off. I just read this year that as we get older we shouldn't wear mascara on our bottom lashes. I mean we are trying to hide dark circles then put dark mascara down there. It never made sense to me so that's why I stopped. According to what I read my thinking was correct.

kltb04

Hi all. New to this thread...I am having major issues with my appearance. I started chemo 2 weeks ago Monday. I have worn contacts since I was 11 years old (I'm 38) but as luck would have it I ran out of disposables a few weeks ago and decided it probably wasn't a good idea to wear them during chemo (and couldn't wear them during my various surgeries anyway - SNB, then port, then re excision of SNB). So I am having to deal with my appearance changing in that aspect. I can't get more unless I go to the eye dr for a new rX and I don't know that now is the best idea to go to the eye dr.



I am a makeup wearer for sure but again with the surgeries that wasn't "allowed" and it is hard for me to see to do my eye makeup (I am blind as a bat) so I haven't been wearing much. My skin is extremely dry and the relatively inexpensive moisturizer I have been using isn't cutting it. Should I try coconut oil? Does it usually work on sensitive skin? I have a really fair complexion with some redness so I have always worn foundation. But right now when I put it on I look like a shedding snake.



I plan on going to a LGFB class. I missed one this last week because my WBC was low and I was scared to go anywhere. I am kind of a cheapo when it comes to buying makeup so I wonder if there are any larger cosmetic counters with "better" brands that I should consider. Around here we have a couple of stores with Clinique counters, there are Merle Norman stores. There are Sephora stores if I go to Little Rock (where my drs are).



Oh and don't get me started on brows and lashes and hair on general. I have heard the class helps with the brow/lash issue. I have a wig that I hate and need to get thinned or something. I expect the hair to start going this week (day 14 is Monday)



Ok I guess that's it. I am long winded, sorry . Just looking for a little input.

LuvRVing

I've pretty much never worn mascara on my bottom lashes.  I blink a couple time when I'm applying it to the top lashes and hope that a little gets on the bottom without my help.  I bought a new way-too-expensive Clarins mascara after I got hijacked for a makeover at Macy's a few weeks ago.  Hate the stuff.  It runs down my face and I don't like the brush.  I'm seriously considering taking it back.  I had asked for waterproof and they said they didn't have any and that I didn't want it.  I've worn waterproof stuff for decades.  One of the best I ever found was an Avon product.  I never found any remnants under my eyes.  And it was inexpensive. 

Momine

Luv, I recently sprung for a new mascara from Sephora. So far I find it easy to use (good brush) and long-lasting.