Cosmetic things that worked for me - sharing girly stuff

lago

I used Maybeline great lash for years staring in Jr. High (I'm 49+2 now). I actually prefer L'Oreal Paris Telescopic Explosion Mascara. Clumps less.

Ossa

Gram e.. Coconut oil does not smell like coconut Has a very faint smell. You will deffinatly not smell like a pinacolada

Cottontail

Awesome thread.  I'm a cosmetics junkie, so I'm hoping I already have a bunch of stuff in my collection that will help me out here.  Full arsenal of eyeliner pencils, and already have the Anastasia brow kit that I normally use about once a month or so.  Need to break that out more often, I guess!

I did recently pick up a lash kit from Urban Decay, not expecting I'd actually need to use it in the near future.  It's got some nice (not over the top) lashes that I will be able to use if I need to go to something "nicer" than just everyday. 

I'm a bit limited in what I'll use, though.  I absolutely refuse to purchase any cosmetics made by brands that test on animals (and brands that are owned by brands that test on animals). 

GramE

Thanks for the reply on coconut oil.   Now another question about it -- does it stain clothes?   The suggestion was to use at night, but my skin needs something for day time also.    

Ossa

GramE  Yes it does stain clothes I use old t shirts when I use coconut oil at night,, During the day I put it on just out of shower massage it on well, then put make up on last clothes, by this time it is absorbed

GramE

Thanks Ossa.   

Buddhahead

Just read through this thread and great info. Thanks everyone!

I didn't see skinceuticals mentioned on here at all. Pre BC diagnosis I used their sunscreen and really love it. Goes on clear but has both UVA and UVB protection. Didn't know they had a line of other skin products, but after my first treatment my skin got so dry at about day 14 that it looked like I'd had a chemical peel. I started using the A.G.E. defense cream mornnig and night and the woman gave me samples of the Cerulic acid and B-5 gel. When I use all of these, my skin looks pretty good. Actually my skin looks better now but that might be because I'm paying more attention to it than I was before.  They sold these at one of our local shops where they have BC products, wigs, bras, hats, etc. but you can find them at spas and dermatolgists. This is the link for the AGE interupter: http://www.skinceuticals.com/_us/_en/catalog/correct/ageinterrupter.htm

Also love the coconut oil for my other parts -- legs, arms, etc.

SpecialK

I have found that Maybelline Great Lash does not give me enough volume, but I like mascara from Tarte, also the Josie Maran GOGO (benefits cancer patients at City of Hope - Get One Give One, if you buy one a cancer patient gets one) and also Clinique High Impact is great, but probably full of bad stuff. 

kingjr66

can anyone give me a solution for skin discoloration?  I have some patches on my face that I can't seem to lighten with any products.  I'm not a sun person and avoid it like the plague so it's not sun damage.  Suggestions???

FLwarrior

My lashes have come back and fallen out again and returned a second time.  But they only get to 1/2 the length they were pre tx.  Right now I have lots of them, but they are just not long enough to bother with mascara.  I have not worn mascara since they fell out the first time last summer.  I am really tired of this "look".  Has anyone tried the individual fakes lashes that you add to your existing ones?  If you did how did that work out?  I looked at them at Sally's and the sales lady told me they would stay on a couple of weeks (she was wearing them and liked them)...I chickened out because I was affraid of the "yucky" stuff in the adhesive.  Anyone use them?

artsee

Where can we get coconut oil??

kltb04

FLwarrior - I am wondering about the lashes too - not for now but later if I had a special occassion, etc...

artsee - any health food store, larger supermarket (it is actually called "food grade" I believe), someone here locally told me Wal-Mart has it (she uses it to make candy with cocoa and nuts)!, someone here said Trader Joes.  

I haven't even gotten to the point where I am looking at my cosmetics for ingredients that are bad.   

onvacation

I got mine at whole foods.

CJRT

What a great board! I feel better about my recovery now that I am back interested in my looks. LOL! Anyone have a rec about a hair dye to use and at what point in the regrowth to do it. I am only 34 and had premature gray before this, but now my regrowth is mostly silver with just a little black. I would feel much more confident without a wig if my short style was a least a nicer color.

lago

CJRT I went topless at week 13. The next day I was in the salon having my stylist dye all that gray/silver/black stuff out. BTW I had brown with gray hair not black before chemo. It came out a bit redder than I wanted so he redyed it. Still redder but a nice color. Then next time we used a different product that had more brown in it. He's using that potion today.

kltb04

Bizzare question but it is on my mind and this seems good a place as any to post it...I have just a regular old bathtub and it isn't very conducive to the elusive relaxing bath - was thinking of getting some kind of bath pillow??  On Amazon I saw one that was actually full body length.  Anyone have any opinions?  Seems like it might be a harboring ground of bacteria if it weren't cleaned properly. 

I just have this vision in my head of relaxing in the tub...

Janet_M

CJRT - 

Ditto. I'm looking for a good dye, and I'd feel better going wigless if I had some colour in my hair. RIght now I just look like my grandpa. 

Janet 

CJRT

Thanks, lago! Yes mine was a medium brown before so this black was unexpected.

shore1

Kingjr66, I have a skin discoloration/dark spot that I got during chemo from a few monster zits that I'm sure were caused by the steroids. I'm not sure what kind of skin discoloration you have, but the product I find seems to be working to lighten my spots is called Mega Bright by Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins. You can get it at any Origins counter. It was pricey ($55), but I wasted as much on several cheaper drug store dark spot correctors that didn't help at all. Clinique also has a new one called Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector. I have this too, but haven't tried it yet - I'm giving the Origins a try until I run out of it.

Summer2recover

I just bought a jar of organic coconut oil from the first place I ran into it which was Walmart.  This didn't have a strong smell at all. I tried a bit on my hands and it really softend my skin for a long time. I was an "overplucker" on my eyebrows for years so even without having chemo mine are permanently thin. I am tempted to check out permanent makeup on my brows when I go in for my nip tattoos.  I am still looking for the perfect brow product.  I have searched the planet for the best concealer and my pick is from Merle Norman- they have tubes of industrial strength, waterproof COVER UP.  I love the lip/cheek stains from Benefit both the old regular and newer Posie Tint. Lancome has this little pot of eye shadow base that lasts forever and keeps my eye shadow in place all day+ It lasts so long that the name of it wears off but I think the color is nude.  A great everyday mascara for me is Loreal Double Extend- I love how it washes off in warm water by the coated lash- no smeary under eye. Anyone have a great wrinkle cream pick? Nothing I have tried so far has really stood out. How about at home chemical peels?

camillegal

hi again----here's my opinion-----Laura Gellar makes a wonderfu primer which is so important especially if u use a liquid foundation, which i've stopped using. my skin is dryer and i am older so i'vebeen using josie moran's argon oil--which i like I use it mostly at night and use Elysee in the morning. my skin doesn't seem as dry so maybe it's working. But I am a big fan of baked make-up cuz it's so easy and covers well.

FLwarrior

Has anyone tried the individual fake eye-lashes?  What did you think? I have eye-lashes, but they are 1/2 the length they were pre-tx, not long enough to even bother with mascara!  So over this look!

fredntan

Any tricks to make hair grow longer. Get so jealous when i see people with beautiful hair

Cyborg

I like Bobbie Brown's natural finish. Doesn't look dry. Felt nice. Looked nice. Took it for a test drive and looooved it.

apple

CJRT

about dye-ing the hair.. at Sally's (and such stores) you can still find 'temporary hair dye.  I just applied mine with a toothbrush.. wrapped it up in saran wrap.. waited and rinsed.   one's  hair is so fragile the first weeks.. if you bleach it before applying color (how permanent color works) it could just fry it off.  i bought 3 similar colors and applied them kind of in layers.. so it looked professional and somewhat hi-lighted. easy to touch up too.

no hair to dye now

lago

Apple my onc told me I could dye it when ever I wanted. I did get permanent color but had my stylist do it at 13 weeks PFC.

artsee

I'm a hairdresser and the minute I could see that dreaded grey stuff I let it go to an inch and then I colored it. Call me Vain....yup.It's o.k. for the hair.....it won't make it fall back out.:)

Anonymous

artsee.....I had mine done at an inch too. It was roughly four months after chemo.

apple

I don't know.. my regrowth was very babylike at first... stripping the color seemed kind of mean to me, being a chemical process and all.    

my daughter bought a Suave keratin conditioning treatment with keratin and silicone..   the chemicals scare me a bit and I told her to wait till I read up on it.   It's not like i don't like chemicals.. they are inorganic building blocks.

the reviews are not good on it, my daughter's hair is gorgeous with it's volume and unpredictability.  Has anyone tried it?

did i mention i mention my  daughter's name is snooki?

I wish i could afford high end cosmetics and hair dressers...  sigh - but you gals are just as great with your advice.. 

Lago - I think of you, Chicago, Marshall Fields and my years in Chicago when I shop  cosmetics at the drug store..   I remember splurging on a very small bottle of Joy perfume from Marshall Field's a long time ago.. I'd later curse my hasty purchase on what I called Starving Sundays.. ( the cafeteria was closed).  I  bought monthly transit passes and often  ended up at Marshall Fields - loved it.

lago

Apple I miss Marshall Fields but I miss Filene's even more. I'm actually from SE of Boston. Parents still live down the cape. After all these years in Chicago I'm still an North Easterner.

BTW my sister has been doing that kertin treatment for years. I personally feel it takes all the body out of her hair.