Beauty
7 X HOW TO APPLY MAKEUP WHEN YOU'RE SICK
And I don't mean a silly little cold or a nagging allergy. When I say sick, I mean capital S sick. Now the critical reader is probably thinking: what does it matter how you look when you're capital S sick? Well, dear critic, I have several friends who got breast cancer and they all found losing their hair even worse than the scars from the surgery.
To the outside world, you suddenly become a patient; everyone can see that you are sick. Well, except for that red-breasted snob who said to my recovering friend with short baby hairs: “So, got a haircut?” “Nope,” said my brilliant and absolutely best friend. “Chemotherapy.”
Appearance, then. A very important aspect for women to feel a little better during this difficult time. That's why the Look Good Feel Better foundation was established. To help women who are sick feel beautiful.
I spoke with Priscilla van Orden, one of the makeup artists from the 78 hospitals where workshops are held, and asked her about the seven most important (and best) tips.
1. Choose as pure as possible
“Every woman is different, every form of cancer is too, and it also depends on what chemo you receive and whether you are being radiated, for example. But overall, you can say that it's best to choose a cream without fuss (like this one for example, MM). No fragrances, no parabens, and no anti-wrinkle effects, as that can irritate your skin. Opt for moisturizing and an eye cream against puffiness and dark circles. A lotion is also very important; it neutralizes your pH levels, allowing your cream to be absorbed better. During your illness, your skin dries out a lot, and it screams for a shot of cream.”
2. Be careful with brown tones
“Normally, such a brown blush might look great on you, but when you're sick, it quickly makes you look dull. Choose a blush with an apricot color; it immediately gives a fresh look. This is also a good color for lipstick. Or choose a coral tone; it instantly brightens your face.”
3. Do the brow
“Eyebrows are the hangers of your face. Many women undergoing chemotherapy also lose their eyebrows. It's handy to use a ‘template’ from, for example, Anastasia and fill it in with a brush. You can gently fill it in with an eyebrow pencil and apply a little eyebrow gel on top to set it.”
“This is also a good color for lipstick or choose a coral tone; it instantly brightens your face.”
4. Eye makeup
“Don't mess around with false eyelashes, because the glue can cause a rash even when you're healthy. Create depth in your eye by applying a black line along the lash line. Smudge that line a bit, and then apply another color (like dark green) on that line, which gives you more depth and makes you miss those lashes less. If you really want to use false lashes, use the glue from Mario Giussani, as it is very mild.”
5. Nails
“Due to chemotherapy, you often have sensitive nails, so I recommend not cutting them but filing them instead. Avoid nail polish for now; just moisturizing your cuticles with hand cream or oil is sufficient. Optionally, you can do a hand mask by applying a thick layer of cream and then putting your hands in a plastic glove (or sandwich bag, shh). They will feel wonderfully soft afterward.”
6. Pigmentation spots
“Many women experience pigmentation spots during their treatment. You can camouflage this by coloring the spot with an orange lip pencil. Then apply foundation over it, and a pretty face will still see a little spot.”
7. The best color
“A BB cream is often too light because your skin can be patchy. So choose a good foundation, preferably one without perfume.”
