Cosmetic things that worked for me - sharing girly stuff

CoolBreeze

Why can't you wear contacts with chemo? I'm on my 4th chemo - I'm a contact wearer and have always worn them.  I wear the optix kind you can sleep in.  I don't even own a pair of glasses and my eyes are -7 so I'd be in deep trouble if I couldn't put contacts on!

With all my surgeries, I took them off right before and put them on right after.  Even after my liver resection!   I can just pop 'em in lying on my back, lol.  

IF there is a reason you can't wear contacts, nobody ever told me. 

Oh, my favorite mascara is KIss Me, Blinc.  It's a tubule mascara and very easy to wipe off but it won't come off until you do. 

kltb04

Thanks Ann - I just got the idea that I couldn't I guess!  I had asked around on my chemo board and no one really knew but I figured if I was um, eliminating, the chemo (A/C)  through the urine, etc..that it would be in other fluids too maybe?  But I suppose as long as I am not having either dry eyes or excessive tearing, it shouldn't be an issue.

Perhaps I should just ask when I go get my labs done Monday.  I am about a -6.5 in both eyes - bah. I actually have to take both my girls to the eye dr this week so I can ask there too.  Thanks for the input.

Anonymous

I quit wearing mine during chemo because my eyes were really watery a lot, but I dont believe anyone told me there would be a problem. Mine are -6.



For my surgeries, I always go in with full makeup.

bayareamom

Apple- freaky doll girls. But somehow I want to watch more...the lenses are especially interesting to me!

LuvRVing

I wore my contacts part of the time.  I took them out at times, not because someone told me I had to, but because my brain didn't want to do the monovision focusing.  I wear the night'n day type.  Purevision, I think, is the brand.  Anyways, 30 days all the time then I throw them out and insert a new pair.  I've been wearing some type of contacts since I was 17 (so 45 years).  I do have a current pair of glasses, though. 

whippetmom

Day: I knew I should not have linked onto this thread!    Since I am a cosmetics junkie, I was astonished that I had not heard of Caron powder.  I am on makeupalley checking out products all of the time and so I spent the last half hour tracking down a place where I can get samples sent to me. I am such a lemming!  LOL!

lago

kltb I learned so much at the LBFB class. The gal we had was awesome. I swear people think I look better now than before BC. It must be because I'm applying my make up better since that class. Lots of step by step info on the site too on how to apply makeup. Do check it out.

CoolBreeze I don't wear contacts but I assume it's because your eyes get very dry. I remember the taxotears due to dry eyes.

onvacation

I just tried to find a LBFB class and all the ones I checked seemed to be during the day on weekdays - hard to go to if you work.  BUMMER - maybe they will add some weekend ones!

lago

onvacation I doubt it. They are usually run but a social worker from the AMC or hospital staff and a cosmetic/beautician volunteer. The information online is almost the same though.

kltb04

Hey Kim   that does stink

Thanks all for the contacts info - I am definitely going to ask.  I just don't feel as comfortable in my glasses.

Lago - thank you so much for that link - it is very informative in and of itself.

I just checked our insurance and it does cover one wig so I may check into getting another one that might be more custom for me.

Definitely marking this thread as a favorite!

shore1

Kltb04, my skin was really dry too and I used Bobbi Brown face oil followed by Bobbi Brown extra moisturizing balm. I haven't tried coconut oil but keep meaning to buy some. My favorite hand and foot creams thru chemo were L occitaine. As far as make up, I wore more than usual to make my eyes look



better. The annastasia brow kit and brow wiz pencil from sephora were must haves for me.

lago

I just had my eye exam today. I told my doctor that I wanted glases that let me put my eyeliner on. She said they exist. Actors use them all the time. I just bought a pair online:

 

onvacation

cool!

kltb04

shore - thanks for the input!

Lago - LOVE those...I will have to get some.  I wore quite a bit of eye makeup today because I wanted to have a full face on to try on wigs and I had to stand right in front of my full length mirror in the bedroom to see what I was doing.  I can't begin to see in the bathroom!  I did go ahead and order some contacts so I can have them if I feel like wearing them but I don't think it will be that often as irritated as my eyes get.

I got a wig today that I LOVE.  I know it's going to get old wearing it...and be hot...and get uncomfortable... but I do love the way it looks.  I now can see the difference between one that has the monofilament top and one that does not.  Insurance should reimburse at least part of it.  And the lady that works at the shop I went to even offered to thin out my freebie/regular wig so I will have a backup to wear. 

CoolBreeze

Well, I've been on carboplatin, taxotere, taxol, navelbine, and now abraxane and have worn contacts throughout.  Don't get rid of them until you know your eyes won't tolerate them.  My eyes have been fine.  

Unless, of course, you like glasses.  I don't.  

Did you know they don't make petite monofiliment wigs?  That's what I was told.  I have a petite head and wanted monofiliment and they don't have them.  That was frustrating.  So, I have yet another synthetic wig that I probably won't be able to tolerate, just like last time.   

Anonymous

Cool...one of mine is a petite monofilament. There are several on vogue wigs also.



At my recent stay in Chicago, our hotel used Lather products, paraben and sulfate free, and they smell fabulous. I am going to order some body wash.



Also, I picked up some skin care at Walgreens called ecclos, that is also paraben and sulfate free. I like it for a low cost option. I have been using alchemie-forever, from Switzerland, that I really like, but it is pricey. Clarins was one of myfaves, but it isnt free of all the bad stuff.

shore1

Coolbreeze, they do make petite mono filiment top wigs. Vogue wigs is very good. One line that comes to mind is jon reneau - great quality and several come in petite (the alia is one of my favorites). When you say synthetic, I think you mean synthetic vs human hair, but synthetic can have mono filiment tops too & be sized petite. If you look for an open weave in the cap it will be much cooler (my other favorite brand is noriko, specifically the jolie which is shorter and cooler than some of my others.

CoolBreeze

I went to a place called wigs-r-you and my three criteria were:

1.monofiliment

2. similar hair style/color

3 comfort.

I said I didn't care if it was real hair or synthetic, I didn't care about any name-brand and I didn't care about price.  I had enough to cover whatever they had.

The first thing they said when I walked in was "You need a petite" and showed my the rows of petite wigs, none of them monofiliment.They said they didn't make monifiliment wigs in petite but maybe they just meant they don't carry them.  I definitely didn't get the hard-sell there - in fact, they encouraged me to come back at another time if I was having trouble.

I tried some monofiliment wigs on anyway and they were very loose on me.  The women said they could "tuck" it to fit my head but I wanted something that day.

Noriko is the brand I was thinking of - that the wigs come in sizes smaller.

The trouble with wigs stores is they can only carry a smallish selection and the trouble with buying online is that you can't try them on first.  Beause my head is so small, a lot of hairstyles don't look good on me and end up being overwhelming.

The wig I bought was a petite in a pixie cut style, like my own and close to my original color.  It was not very comfortable though but it was extremely light.  There was only ONE wig I thought was comfortable and that was a Raquel Welch wig, but it was not in a style even remotely like my own hair.  And, while I don't mind changing, I think that was too much.  

We'll see what happens when I'm bald.  I may try again or maybe the one I got will be good enough. 

I have a drawer full of unused wigs!  Very frustrating.  Most of them I did get from Vogue, they do have good service.

marjie

Best moisturizer I have found was recommended to me by my rads onc - Glaxol.  You can get it really inexpensively at Costco.  I love it.....it's not very glamorous, but it's excellent.....face, hands, body...everywhere!

camillegal

Oh boy what a subject---I used to have nice skin (one thing) but after yrs of all this stuff I'll blame it on cancer. My lashes never came in riht again and my skin is almost a different shade and very dry. I use argon oil and for make-up I really only use baked or loose powder now--not liguid. But I'm not working anymore so i really don't wear make-up to much, but I use moisturizer every day--I think it helps ????

crystalphm

One thing I did nice for myself was bought a real girlie-girl silk jacket. The price was right or I probably wouldn't have bought it, but wow, has it lit up my life! It is pinks, blues, all blended like a subtle tie dye look...

The point is I feel better wearing it! It brightens my skin, and I have heard from people that I look good in it. I do realize since going flat with no reconstruction I have taken to black and dark colors, which is not good for my spirits.

I LOVE this thread...I especially appreciate 'safe" products mentioned.

I wonder if I am allowed to do a Look Good Feel better, I had a double mastectomy, no chemo....but I lost my eyebrows and about 1/3rd of my hair from the anesthesia. My head hair is growing back, but nothing with my eyebrows yet.

camillegal

I have to add this now---since I have nothing on top I tend to wear darker colors too, but I found eternity scarves to really lihten up u'r look and cover the top part.  There so pretty now and so in style and fun to wear.

apple

i need to get to a look good, feel better class.  the NP showed me the box of makeup they give you.. omgosh.. some great cosmetics.

LuvRVing

Yes, Apple!  Chanel, Clarins, Lancome...some pretty high end stuff in that goody bag!  And with my class, a certificate for a free wig from one of many salons in my area.  It's definitely worthwhile.

lago

 The bags are all different. It's all donated stuff so it's very dependent on who donates.

kltb04

I somehow removed this thread from my favorites.

Ann - I hope you find something that works for you - the wig store I went to here locally was very small and only had a few petites.  I didn't see whether those were mono or not.  I agree with buying online - there are some wigs that I was sure I would love when I saw them on the mannequins but once I got them on, yeesh!

 crystal - I am sure you would be - just go to the main website and search for a class or go to local hospital's websites and look under the women's services area.

I am just making do with my makeup/moisturizer right now until it runs out and then I will get something better.  I have found I feel much better when I put makeup on, even just to run to the store...

Wig/Hair Update - after starting the big shed this weekend, I decided just to crop it all off short with scissors Tuesday before a family dinner so I could wear the wig.  I then had DH shave it down to about a #3 with his clippers.  Liberating!  Feels so much better than that hair pulling on my scalp and I had thin/fine hair.  Can't imagine how much heavier hair would hurt.  My wig is cute and I have gotten compliments on it both from people who know ("oh, well don't you look nice" in a sympathetic whisper) and those who don't ("you changed your hair").  It is definitely not going to be comfortable in this southern summer heat and humidity though.  Going "topless" around the house - my youngest loves to come up and pat my "hedgehog hair" - or wearing a bandana that I got from one of the cancer programs.

Time to don the bandana and go through the car rider line to pick up the kiddos...

Anonymous

I loved the look good program, but my person actually gave us a wig, so we were at the mercy of what she had, which was great for the other two, not so much for me. I got an auburnish, short hair wig that I never felt comfortable in. Wore it for fun on vacation a couple times.



I wanted a wig that was long and sexy shaggy, with layers. Tried on a few with my family around and literally they were turning away trying not to let me see them laughing. No matter how many I tried on, it just did not look like me. My daughter who models finally just said I had to stop looking as I would never make myself happy! Lol

artsee

I'm glad I stumbled on this thread today. Marked it as 'my favorites'. Tonight I will have more time to read through these posts. It's funny but just today I was checking out at Home Michrodermabration machines on line. Anyone have one here and does anyone know of the better brand?

Ossa

I went for a facial yesterday.. aaaahhhh, feel human again.. Was asked what I use on my face as she said my skin was in great shape.. Told her 100% pure organic (foodgrade) coconut oil.. She could not believe it. Said keep doing what you are doing.

shore1

Ossa, where do you buy the food grade coconut oil?