Cosmetic things that worked for me - sharing girly stuff

I agree Barbe, healthy hair looks better! Before my bc diagnosis my hair was do over processed-blonde (my natural younger colour) but very dry-like straw and I know it was from dye, blow drying and flat ironing. Now my once quite curtly hair seems to be coming in straight and I only have to blow dry it so its dry in time to leave house but it looks so healthy! I not sure why, but I really love the silver-I feel like it's something different! I also have to agree about women with a few facial wrinkles dying their hair very dark. Men do this also and for me it looks very unnatural compared to "face" age, but everyone should do what makes them feel good, especially after the tx we've been through! I may change my mind once my hair gets longer (if it ever does-it seems to have stopped growing!) but for now, I enjoying looking different ;-)

What I do to prevent undereye smudge or creep is run a dry Qtip under my lower lashes before I use shadow, liner or mascara below my eyes. It dries any moisture & removes any residue from makeup remover or moisturizer.

Now, if I was not far sighted and could still SEE my lashes when I apply the mascara..

Lago, how do they work if one eye is very different than the other? I already use a lighted magnifying makeup mirror. I think they might be more helpful if you are nearsighted.  My arms aren't long enough. I even dislike large computer monitors because I feel like I can't get far enough away from them and still rrach a keyboard.

Lago, .....Yikes! What a photo....looking for my root rescue. Shoot not enough hair to be rescued yet. Mine came in really white, a little bit of grey. Still wearing beanies all the time but in a few months I will need a little color. 

Asb, sorry you had to join us....

I bought a wig, never wore it, not once...Stupid to buy it when I knew I would never put it on. But I was listening to what you were supposed to do. I wish I could of felt comfortable in one, obviously if I was working I would of had to conform. I took a leave from work.

So, is your question about hair in particular or in general, what you need to get through chemo? 

Deb, 

I thought A/C was legal torture... I had 4 dose dense & then Taxol. I lost so much weight that my wrinkles on face are more obvious to me. All my friends tell me how wonderful I look, but they are full of s^*t. Just trying to be nice. I also would like to do some face treatment, truthfully I would like to have my neck tucked. I think it's about $5,000. Not sure where I came up with that amount, but someone told me that. I will spend that in the next month for radiation, my deductible. Not realistic to consider plastic surgery that is not covered by insurance. I could have a free boob job, like a lift or implant on the lumpie breast, but I am not going there. They will look just fine with a decent bra.

Lbrewer, same with me dammit!

Asb, there is a thread called "Hair, hair, hair" in the chemo section that you would probably like. Here's the link.

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/7...

Also, if you've just begun your chemo, look in the chemo section for a thread for women who are beginning chemo this month.  I think every month there is a new group who starts a thread.  I connected with the "March 2010" chemo gals when I was getting it, we were all able to compare notes and encourage each other through the treatments.  Best wishes to you.

you might also look into Penguin cold caps. They are particularly effective with TC chemo.  I had AC/T but still did not lose all my hair. There's a lot of into on here about them

lago - whatta pic! Q-tip!!! 

Does anyone use one of those Clarisonic cleaning devices? 

I use a Sonicare toothbrush, and I love how clean it gets my teeth. For a long time, I thought the Clarisonic had a spinning brush head, and I figured that would just beat up the sensitive skin on my face. But it just uses the sonic frequencies to cleanse, so that might be o.k. I don't wear makeup every day, but I need to get in the habit of cleaning my face even when I don't wear makeup.

Any comments on this product?

(The ads all show women gushing about how YOUNG their skin looks! Well, heck YEAH, they're all 20 years old. If they were any younger they'd be newborns.)

lago

Thanks I will check them out. I have never been much of a hat person, I guess that is about to change.

Lago's right. I bought lots of scarves before chemo and ended up donating every one of them unworn to my cancer center. I hated the way they looked and slipped. I ended up wearing several soft caps that I got at my wig shop. No sleep cap for me either. 

Blessings, I bought a sonic face cleaner and didn't like it at all. I found it to be really drying, even with the same skincare I always use. I have no idea why.

I am an exfoliation freak, always have been and highly recommend it for anyone who is feeling their skin looks like it has aged with treatments etc. I like the industrial strength, and do it most days, so you'd think the sonic would have worked for me.  For someone just new to exfoliation, or coming off chemo a gentle one in a cream base to start, is good. A lot of women use sugar in olive oil gently massaged all over for a total skin softening experience.

The most important aspect to achieve is a "glow" to the skin, not oily, but a glow like we have when we were younger. You can see really elderly women with wrinkles, but if they have glowing skin, they look sensational. The exfoliation, along with the massage that gets the blood flowing and the oxygen into the skin is what those women do. I had customers who were in their 70's and 80's who exfoliated regularly, used good skincare and gave themselves the few minutes a day it takes to do it. They looked and felt fantastic.

I just thought I'd mention to the others considering going silver naturally. I haven't colored my hair since my 30's, my picture here is about 4 years old and I am now 60. The most important thing with this color hair is shine. Silver or grey hair can be coarse and look harsh. Good hair products and the occasional blue shampoo keep it looking its best. I still occasionally get asked where I get my hair colored. I feel I look my age, but am doing the best I can for my skin and hair.

There is, of course, the whole nutrition aspect too.   

you have good insurance, mine gave me the tip to call the Cancer society. I spent $175 on the wig, literally never put in on. Lost my hair about 4 months ago. My 30 year old son shaved my head, I always wear a ski type beanie, all my friends have seen my bald head. I do have a little growth. 

I must admit, I am tired of all the looks, I think the bald eyelash, eyebrow is a giveaway. I stay home alot, but do hang with close friends, and have been subbing on the bowling league...ha...sounds ridiculous, I normally would be at work...

Hi again Blesssings and thank you!

Yes, cleanse first, start with clean skin and start off very gently, just 1 or 2 times a week.  If you are doing the olive oil scrub, all over, you'll need to use a body wash after it, to emulsify the oil to remove if the excess oil that's left behind after washing it off, bothers you. Same for your face, if you use it on your face you'll probably need to do a facial wash after it. Just take it slowly and gently, you'll see the benefits in no time.