Between now and December 31, Stylist's sister email Emerald Street is donating £1 for every person who signs up the email to Look Good... Feel Better, a charity offering make-up and skincare workshops to women undergoing treatment for cancer. Find out more about the Emerald Street campaign here.
Going through chemotherapy for cancer is gruelling on the body. But sometimes, the biggest shock for women is its brutal assault on the appearance. That’s where Look Good Feel Better comes in, a charity that equips cancer sufferers with the skills (and products) to help them look and feel good.
There's a rundown of LGFB’s invaluable beauty advice below, and for more useful, practical information, read beauty editor Sophie's blog sophiefeelsbetter.blogspot.com on her experience of living with cancer and how LGFB helped her.
Chemotherapy can have a sensitizing effect on skin, so make sure your daily cleanser is as mild and gentle as possible and free from exfoliants. Even if your skin is flaky, steer clear from scrubs which are too harsh on post-treatment skin.
Elizabeth Arden Hydra Gentle Cream Cleanser, £19; johnlewis.com
Even the oiliest of complexions can become dry following chemotherapy – skin can feel tight, flaky and uncomfortable. Combat it with a deeply nourishing, yet mild daily moisturiser. Avoid any anti-ageing formulas or those which contain alpha-hydroxy or retinol which can distress sensitive skin.
Vichy Aqualia Rich Pot, £15.83; boots.com
The sun is one of the biggest aggressors when it comes to the health and vitality of your skin, never more so than during or after cancer treatment. It’s vital to use daily sun protection with an SPF rating of at least 30. Avoid oil-free formulas as they can exacerbate dryness.
Clarins Sun Wrinkle Control Cream High Protection UVB 30, £17, selfridges.com
You may feel exhausted, but that’s not to say you need to look it. Getting to grips with concealer is possibly the most effective way of transforming your face so do persevere. For under the eyes, opt for a highlighting cream concealer in a shade which is slightly lighter than your skin tone and for blemishes, use a thicker formula which is designed for this purpose.
Estee Lauder Ideal Light Brush-on Illuminator, £22.50 and Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer, £19, esteelauder.co.uk
Many women are surprised to find out how much the loss of eyebrows changes their appearance – a well applied eyebrow pencil or powder will help restore your normal look. Choose a shade that is the same colour as our slightly lighter than your head hair and use the brush on an eyebrow pencil to smooth across existing hairs.
Dior Sourcils Poudre Eyebrow Pencil with Brush and Sharpener, £19.50; houseoffraser.co.uk
It’s the ultimate make-up tool for bringing the skin back to life – blusher shapes the face and brightens the eyes. A cream blusher is particularly good for drier skin and blends seamlessly with make-up. Women with lighter skin look best in pink or coral tones, while women with darker skin tend to suit deeper, reddish tones.
Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks, £18; johnlewis.com
Particularly useful if lashes are lost during treatment, eyeliner pencils help to define the eyes and are generally easier to use than liquid liners, giving a more natural result. Grey, brown or soft black will suit most eye colours and complexions. For darker skin, choose a black or smoky charcoal shade.
Revlon Grow Luscious Lash Liner, £6.29; boots.com
Whether you keep your lashes or lose them and regrow new lashes, they’ll need some extra TLC at this time. Use non-waterproof mascara that can be removed more gently and easily, but if you do find that your eyes have become ‘teary’ after treatment, waterproof mascara is fine – just take extra care in removing it.
No7 Extreme Length Sensitive Mascara, £12.50, boots.com
A few weeks after treatment, you may notice that your nails have become thinner and more brittle. They may also look slightly discoloured or have white patches where the nails have slightly lifted away from the skin. Avoid buffing or cutting your nails – use a soft nail file to trim the nails, minimising stress on the nail bed. Keep a hand cream in your bag to regularly smooth moisture into your nails and skin.
Aveda Hand Relief Cream, £17.50; [[[http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Aveda+Hand+Relief+125ml/131121898,default,pd.html houseoffraser.co.uk
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In the past, wigs were often uncomfortable and fake-looking. But, they’ve come a long way in the last few years – most are now light and comfortable to wear and look extremely natural. Choose a shade which compliments your skin tone, for a natural look, go slightly lighter as the change will be less noticeable and always choose a wig in a longer length so it can be cut into a style to suit you.
Go to lgfb.co.uk to find a good wig supplier in your area.
Highland Spring, the leading UK produced brand of…
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