Look Good, Feel Better

My sister Mary told me about the American Cancer Association's cooperative program called Look Good, Feel Better. You sign up for a session, and local cosmeticians and beauty care experts show you how to care for your skin during chemo and radiation - everything from applying makeup to tying scarves to wig care. You are presented with a red zipper case filled with all sorts of skin care and make up products, and they work with you to show you how to use everything.

I signed up for a session and we met in the Wilmot Cancer Center's Patient and Family Resource Center. The room was at capacity with women in all stages of all kinds of cancer. Most of us were hairless, and all of us were a bit unsure of how to proceed. Our hostesses soon put us at ease and we opened our care bags with all the excitement of Christmas. The room filled with "oooh's" and "aaaah's" as we tore open the sealing packaging around eyeliners and lip gloss, concealers and foundations. It was sort of like being at a good old fashioned pajama party with all the excited conversation about 'girl' stuff!

I have to admit, I am not much of a makeup wearer and haven't worn foundation since high school experimentation. But as the experts talked about how our skin reacts to the therapies and how we develop brown splotches (I have my share already) and pale zones, dark circles under our eyes and white lips, their suggestions made more sense.

We watched a short movie showing women before and after, and I have to admit, the before pictures were just like those of us in the room - pale, tired, colorless and definitely sick. The after pictures showed vibrant women smiling, still sick, but looking less worn out.

As the morning unfolded, I was surprised about how much I don't know about cosmetics and how to apply them. There is a real art form to application so that you end up looking natural and not painted. First the concealer, then the foundation. I was repeatedly surprised at the name brands of the products that had been donated. Even the cosmetologist raved about the Chanel mascara - she loves it, one of the best on the market and WAY too expensive for her pocketbook, lucky lucky us! We all had table top stand up mirrors and good lighting so it was easy to see if you were applying things too heavily or leaving lines.

Eyeshadow involved brushing on V's in just the right places, and eyebrow decor demanded precise measurements from nose to edge of bone - ever important for those whose eyebrows have already fallen completely out. After all, an eyebrowless face lacks the proper boundaries and just plain looks funny. And who knew there is such a thing as lip foundation? It sure makes the color go on evenly and works out all the cracks and bleeding spots.

Funny thing is, when I was done with all the steps, I looked like I always look! Nothing glitzy or brazen. Just a nice healthy glow of normal color. With the new wig, it was a nice effect. (btw, no one even realized my hair was a wig! they all thought how lucky I was that I still had my hair and that it looked so nice!).

It was a morning well spent, though I was very glad it was a week 3 for me and I had enough uumph to get through the whole thing. The women were so understanding and kind, the tips very helpful, the products amazing. Man, sometimes you are just blessed from the bottom of your blistering feet to the top of your scaly head! I will definitely be telling people to sign up for a session. What a nice program. Thanks to the people who work hard to put this together. And thanks to my sister for cluing me in.