Chemo Beauty: Put Your Best Face Forward

As a chemo patient, do you know what I see when I look in the mirror?  I see an egg with eyes.  No, don't laugh at me.  I see an egg shaped bald head with no eyebrows and very few eyelashes so my eyes stand out even more.  Even though my big browns stand out, they are rimmed with dark circles that just make me look ill.  I don't want to look like an egg with eyes.  During this often difficult and stressful time, I want to look like myself again.  I have developed an easy makeup routine that uses affordable drug store products.  This simple but effective makeup helps me remember me...the me before chemo took away my hair, eyebrows, lashes and glowing skin.

THE FACE

When applying makeup always start with a freshly washed and moisturized face.  For my easy everyday look, I prefer to use a BB cream rather than a heavy foundation.  One of my favorites is the L'Oreal Magic BB Cream.  The formula is lightweight and non greasy but still gives a nice amount of coverage.  My next step is to deal with the heavy dark circles that chemo has given me.  I love the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer.  This product is made for the delicate under eye area and it does not settle into fine lines and wrinkles but gives great coverage for dark circles.  After these two steps, I like to set everything with a pressed powder to help control shine and give my look all day staying power. One of my current favorites is L'Oreal Paris True Match Super Blendable Powder.  This powder creates a nice finish that never looks dry or chalky.  To get the glow back that chemo takes away, I love using bronzer and blush.  The e.l.f. Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder contains a matte bronzer that warms the skin and can be also used as a contour.  It is paired with a beautiful blush that adds life back into the cheeks. 

THE EYES

For my everyday look, I prefer a neutral eye in a matte finish.  I am LOVING the Sonia Kashuk Eye on Neutral Eye Shadow Palette.  These shadows have very nice pigmentation and last all day when I use them with my e.l.f. Primer and Liner Sealer.  Eyebrows are very important in my makeup routine because I don't have any!  I create a perfectly natural looking brow by using two products from e.l.f.  I use the double ended e.l.f. Eyebrow Lifter & Filler pencil and the brow powder from the e.l.f. Studio Eyebrow Kit.  I line my eyes with the Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner.  These Rimmel liners glide on smoothly and set for a smudge proof finish that lasts all day.  Luckily, I still have a few good eyelashes left on my upper lids.  My bottom lashes are basically gone, so I don't bother even trying to use mascara on the remaining few.  I find that I need two types of mascara to get those lashes looking good and up to their full potential.  I start with a lengthening mascara like L'Oreal Paris Telescopic Mascara Clean Definition.  This mascara helps define and lengthen my chemo screwy lashes.  My lashes are short on the top and they seem to grow in strange directions now.  Using a lengthening mascara helps sets them back in the right direction.  After a coat of the first mascara, I then use L'Oreal Paris Carbon Black Voluminous Mascara.  This formula adds volume and thickness without clumps.  

THE LIPS

Because of chemo, I tend to suffer from dry lips.  Due to dry lips, I no longer enjoy wearing thicker, matte lipsticks.  I have become a huge fan of the balm stain and lip butter formulas for my lip looks.  For a quick sweep of color that really feels moist on the lips, I use the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter.  If I want something with more staying power, the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain gives long lasting color with a minty scent that it is easy to apply and no mirror is needed. 

There you have it.  The products I use on a daily basis to get a natural but put together makeup look.  If you want to "step up" this look for a special occasion, I recommend the following products.

To achieve a more perfect and matte look foundation finish, I really enjoy Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation. This foundation gives almost full coverage in a formula that includes a built in primer and SPF protection.  Your skin will look matte but not dry and the coverage lasts all day.  I rarely wear foundation but this is my go to product when I want that flawless face look.  Contouring and highlighting can add dimension to the face.  You can slim up your cheekbones and contour your entire face with the Milani Bronzer XL in Bronze Glow.  The bronzer in this duo has a matte finish which makes it perfect for using as a contour as well as a bronzer.  To get a subtle glow and highlight, try the Hard Candy Moon Glow Shimmering Luminizing Translucent Powder.  You can sweep this powder on the top of your cheekbones, center of the forehead, cupid's bow and tip of the nose to light up your face.  For a more dramatic cheek look, try the Nyx Powder Blush in Pinched.  This is a beautiful blush in a really flattering pink color that looks great on most skin tones. 

Now you know!  Products to achieve a perfect and easy daytime look and a few items to punch that look up to the next level.  Next up:  A step by step tutorial of how I apply and use these products.  Stay tuned!

Daily Bits:

*Pumpkin EVERYTHING is showing up in the stores and I am loving it!

*I am making Chicken Parmigiana for dinner tonight

*I want to start baking pumpkin bread even though it has been in the high 90's here

*Just received my Ipsy Glam Bag the other day so stayed tuned for my monthly review post

xoxo

Beth

What's In My Ipsy Glam Bag for August?

It is a great mail day when I find this shiny bubble wrap package in my mailbox.  My Glam Bag has arrived!  For those not in the know, the Ipsy Glam Bag is a monthly beauty subscription service.  Ten dollars a month gets you a bag of goodies complete with a makeup bag each and every month.  Products may include makeup, skincare and hair care.  If you are interested in starting your own Glam Bag subscription or learning more about the program, click here--->Get My Glam Bag!  Now, let's get into the goodies, shall we?

This has to be the cutest little lipstick I have ever seen.  Urban Decay's Revolution Lipstick in Anarchy is a beautiful and vibrant rose pink tone.  This formula is supposed to plump the lips and deliver maximum color payoff with a creamy shine.  This is a very generous sized sampled with beautiful packaging that is perfect for slipping into your handbag.  

Now we move from the lips to the lashes with Lash Booster Mascara by Pixi in Blackest Black.  Again, this is a very generous sized sample with a full sized brush.  This formula is both smudge proof and waterproof.  I will say that I am not a fan of waterproof mascara.  Being a chemo patient, I have very sparse eyelashes that I would prefer to keep and not lose from trying to remove waterproof mascara. If this had been a regular formula, I would be thrilled with this product.  

Here we have Mineral Eye Shadow in Bronze from Mica Beauty.  This is a mid-toned, shimmery bronze powder formula shadow that is extremely gentle, free of preservatives, chemicals, dyes, talc, oils, and other fillers.  This shadow is supposed to apply extremely smooth and last for hours without creasing.  This product is perfect for me.  I love bronze toned shadows with a bit of shimmer and I can't wait to try it.  Ipsy has given us another generous sized sample with very nice packaging. 

The Chella Dazzling Dark Brown Eyebrow Color Pencil is a twist up, mechanical pencil style for the brows.  I am thrilled to have received this generously sized sample.  Again, as a chemo patient, I have no eyebrows right now and I use brow pencil almost everyday to drawn on my brows.  Thumbs up for this one!

My bag included one skin care item that I am very interested in trying.  The Jojoba Charcoal Gentle Exfoliating Facial Scrub from Michael Todd is said to remove dead skin and impurities with jojoba wax beads and the power of activated charcoal.  I have heard so much buzz about this skin care line and this generously size one ounce tube will be put to the test.  

How exciting is this?  A full sized Urban Decay Intergalactic eye shadow in the beautiful shade of Moondust. This is a beautiful shadow that sparkles like nothing I have ever seen before.  It will be perfect for an evening look and the formula is very smooth and not chalky or powdery.  The packaging is also lovely.  

Last but not least, one of my favorite things about Ipsy...the cosmetic bag that comes with each Glam Bag.  This month's theme is Glamour Academy and the bag is a vibrant plum color with gold embossed Ipsy Glamour Academy crests and a zip top.  Cute and glamorous! 

Ipsy has another satisfied Glam Bag subscriber again this month and I am already anticipating next month's bag.  If after reading my review and seeing the products you would like to sign up to start your own Glam Bag subscription, click here--->Get My Glam Bag!

xoxo

Beth

Some of My Favorite Things-Beauty and More

I bet I caught your attention with the soulful brown eyed cutie in my title picture, didn't I?  Well, more about him later.  Let's talk about some of the beauty products I have been loving and using for the past month or so.

My first love is this fabulous nail polish called On a Trip from the Megalast line by Wet n Wild.  I really do love these nail polishes.  They are super affordable and have very fashion forward colors.  When used with the Seche Vite topcoat, I can easily get almost two weeks of wear out of my manicure.  This shade is just a beautiful mix of purple and blue.

The Expert Sensitive Gentle Refreshing Toner by Boots quickly became a favorite of mine.  Toners usually have a reputation for being harsh and stinging the skin.  This is one is completely different.  The formula is as gentle as water yet it removes any leftover dirt and makeup from the skin.  It is so gentle, you can even use it on your eyes with no irritation...seriously!  For days when chemo has gotten the best of me and I just don't feel well, cleansing with a makeup wipe and then using this toner help keep my skin in shape.  You can only purchase the Boots line at Target here in the states.  This product seems to be catching on because many times when I shop at Target, this toner is not in stock.  I have started buying it in twos so I don't run out.

Bath & Body Works had their huge half yearly sale last month in July and I indulged (a few times).  I had forgotten how much I enjoy the Cherry Blossom scent from B&BW until I saw the entire line during the sale. Cherry Blossom is a very romantic, powdery, soft floral scent.  I seem to get compliments whenever I wear it and it is light enough that it doesn't bother other chemo patients which is important when you are having treatment.  I like to layer for the most fragrance punch so I treated myself to the Creamy Body Wash, Triple Moisture Body Cream and Body Spray.   I much prefer the creamy formulas of body wash and lotion to Bath & Body Work's gel body wash and standard lotion.  The creamy formulas are so much more moisturizing for summer dry skin.

My next favorite is a nifty little palette from e.l.f. that I found at Target for under five dollars!  Such a deal! This is the Beach Beauty book type palette that includes eye shadows, lip glosses, blush, bronzer and highlighter.  You can do a complete makeup look with this one palette.  The e.l.f. line is a collection of really affordable products that are found at Target or on their website at http://www.eyeslipsface.com/.  My only suggestion is to use a shadow primer with the eye shadows.  The shadows in this palette are a nice mix of colors and you can create countless looks.

Now, let's talk about a beauty UNfavorite.  I was very excited to try this product.  I had heard other people raving about it and when I opened the bottle at Ulta and sniffed, it smelled like a tropical vacation.  I am talking about the Hawaiian Tropic Shimmer Effect After Sun Moisturizer in Coconut Papaya.

This is meant to be an after sun lotion that helps moisturize the skin and leaves a light shimmer.  I can say that it smelled delicious in the store but once the lotion hit the air and my skin, it stunk like chemicals.  It had a rather plastic smell and last time I checked, coconuts and papayas don't smell like plastic.  As for moisturizing, it was no better than any other cheap, drugstore body lotion.  I was highly disappointed and it is sitting, lonely, under my bathroom sink.  I will probably end up just tossing it out which really does not make me happy.  Two BIG thumbs down.

Now on to happy things.  Yes, I am talking about the brown eyed lovey in the picture above.  Please meet  Georgie.  Georgie is the newest addition to our family and he is a purebred Yorkshire Terrier.  Georgie is a rescue pup adopted from the Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue.  

One day I was checking out Facebook like I normally do and I came across a picture of the sweetest little Yorkie I had ever seen.  His big brown eyes were so expressive and I could tell he was scared and just needed some love.  Turns out, Georgie was up for adoption and he was close to our home!  I quickly filled out the online application but was worried that I wouldn't hear anything back.  Much to my surprise, I was called the next day by Georgie's sweet foster mom.  She told me all about this little dog and we decided he would be a perfect fit for our family.  After that, things moved quickly.  My husband and I went to visit Georgie at his foster mom's house and we both fell in love with him.  A few days later, Georgie was brought to our house and we had a home inspection to make sure we had suitable conditions and a secure back yard.  Georgie had found his forever home!

We already have a one year old Yorkie named, Rigby and he and Georgie get along great.  Rigby is thrilled to have a new playmate.  I love having both dogs and refer to them as "the boys".  Adopting a rescue was the perfect fit for our family.  I wanted another dog, but I really don't have the energy for a puppy and all the work of potty training.  Georgie is a really mellow dog who loves nothing more than sitting on the couch with me or napping on the bed with me when I don't feel good.  I love him.

If you are thinking about getting a dog, please consider finding a rescue group for the breed you are interested in.

Something New: Ipsy Glam Bag

Have you ever wondered about those monthly subscription beauty boxes that are all the rage right now? I know I did. For the price of less than two lattes a month, you can have a goodie box sent right to your door filled with skincare, hair care and makeup products. I just started my own subscription to the Ipsy Glam Bag. Why Glam Bag? There are a couple of reasons why I decided on this service. First, no "packet" samples. I really do not care for those rip open packet samples that you can usually get for free at stores like Ulta and Sephora. Packets usually contain only one use of a product and that just isn't enough try out time for me to know if I like something. Ipsy sends generous sized samples and some full sized products as well. Second, Ipsy notifies their subscribers by email that their bags have shipped and they provide a tracking number so you always know where your package is during the shipping process. How great is that? And last but not least, Ipsy has a great online presence with an interactive website full of other makeup crazy Ipsy subscribers...fun stuff! When on chemo treatments, a fun surprise every month is sometimes the best medicine.

Can we talk about the shipping package?  How glam is this?  A foiled hot pink bubble wrap shipping envelope contains all of your monthly goodies.  This month's bag was called Beach Beauty and contained five different products.  Let's get a closer look at the goods, shall we? 

Benefit is a name most of us makeup mavens know and the Benetint has a cult following. This beautiful rose tint can be used to add a glow to the cheeks or to amp up your pout when applied to the lips. A little goes a long way so this .08 fl. oz. size is a very generous sample. Love!

Coola is a brand that is getting quite a bit of buzz these days with their line of organic sun care products. This is the Coola Mineral Sunscreen in Rose Essence. This lightweight tinted lotion has an SPF of 20 and a pleasant light rose fragrance. Best of all, the list of ingredients is short and there is nothing that you can't pronounce. This is a .23 fl oz size tube. Love!

Who doesn't love full sized products? This is the Pouty Pop Crayon in Fuchsia Flirt from Pop Beauty. I love the new chubby stick lip products and this one has a creamy formula with a real pop of color. The formula is smooth and there is a nice minty scent. The product is a twist up which I really love in lip stains.

Now this is a sample! Three eye shadows from the California Collection by BH Cosmetics. The cardboard packaging is adorable and reminds me of Benefit style packaging. These are three nicely sized shadow samples that are very silky and not chalky. I swatched them on my hand and they didn't seem super pigmented but I will try them with shadow base and see how they perform. The San Francisco and Malibu shades are right up my alley but the purple toned Hollywood shade I will probably use to line my lower lash line. All in all, a really nice product.

Last item in this month's bag was a really generous sized sample from Healthy, Sexy, Hair. This is 1.7 fl oz of Soy Renewal Beach Spray with argan oil. The description says it is a beach look conditioning and texturizing spray. The product has a pleasing light fragrance and was packaged in its own separate baggy in case it leaked...way to go Ipsy. Unfortunately, this is my least favorite product in the bag but only because I don't have hair right now. I do plan on saving all the hair care samples I get in a basket under my sink for when my hair grows back. It will be fun to have an arsenal of new products just waiting for to try. 

In addition to the beauty products, Ipsy packages everything in a signature makeup bag each month. This month's bag was a clear plastic cylinder shaped bag in a super bright pink color. This bag will be the perfect size to hold smaller items like lip products, mascaras or makeup brushes. I love makeup bags.

I can say that I am perfectly satisfied with this month's Glam Bag and I cannot wait for next month's bag to arrive. Would you like to start your own Glam Bag monthly subscription? When you visit the Ipsy website to sign up, you will be asked to complete a beauty profile that will help Ipsy fill your bags with products that have your taste and style in mind. You can change your beauty profile at any time. Click here--->IPSY GLAM BAG to get started! 

Beauty Favorites

Beauty products are some of my favorite things.  They make me happy and feel pretty.  How about I share some of the things that I am loving right now?

Summertime means dry skin for many of us.  Add in chemo treatments and it can mean REALLY dry skin.  I use a three step approach to dealing with dry and uncomfortable skin.  Exfoliate, cleanse and moisturize are the key steps for keeping your skin silky and smooth.

For your morning shower, the Energy Lemon Zest Smoothing Body Scrub from the Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy line is the perfect citrus blast to get you going and exfoliate your skin.  The formulation is the perfect consistency.  I don't care for scrubs that have an oily base or scrubbing beads that are too big.  The scent is fresh and citrusy without being overpowering.  

After your get your exfoliate on, the next step in your smooth skin routine is cleansing.  My preferred method of cleansing is always a body wash.  I want my body wash to get me clean and moisturize my skin.  I am loving this Olay Essential Oils Ribbons body wash with sunflower oil in the Refreshing Nectarine scent.  This formula is so creamy and moisturizing with a fresh fruity scent of nectarines.  You need just a small amount on a shower pouf to envelope yourself in creamy bubbles.  This product leaves your skin so soft that if you are in a rush, you can actually skip body lotion.  

I am now going to admit that I am lazy when it comes to body lotion after a shower.  Sometimes during chemo treatments, I am lucky to have enough energy to make it INTO the shower, let alone dry off, apply body lotion and wait for it to dry before I can get dressed.  This is why I LOVE the Total Moisture Cocoa Radiant Body Gel Oil from Vaseline.  After your shower and while your skin is still wet, apply this gel oil all over and then gently blot dry with a towel.  Not too greasy or oily, this formula gives perfect moisture to the skin with a light scent and you don't have to leave the shower to moisturize.  Perfect!

These are my steps for keeping my skin in tip top shape during the summer and chemo treatments.  Next I am going to share with you some of my other current makeup and nail favorites.

We all know that sun protection is a daily must.  Whether you wear makeup or not, a good  facial moisturizer with SPF should be a daily staple.  My skin tends to be on the oily side and rather sensitive.  I cannot use heavy creams so I need a good, lightweight moisturizer that works under makeup.  My favorite for the past couple of months has been the Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30.  The formula is lightweight, non greasy and unscented.  The Positively Radiant line is supposed to fade dark spots with continued use.  I have some issues with hyper-pigmentation from medicines that I have taken so I am hoping this will help.  I will keep you posted.

In the summer most of us want to lighten our load when it comes to our makeup routine.  I tend to not wear foundation during the sweltering Southern California summer months.  My usual go to routine for hot weather is concealer around my eyes (chemo circles always need coverage...LOL) and a dusting of powder in place of a foundation or BB cream.  I am really enjoying the True Match powder from L'Oreal.  It offers decent coverage and controls any oil break through without being cakey.  

Keeping with the theme of lightening the load during summer, I tend to not wear lipstick either.  Instead I go for the lighter look of a gloss.  One of my favorites right now is the Mega Shine Lip Gloss from NYX.  These have such a comfortable formula with no stickiness and a pleasant candy like scent.  The color shown above is Beige.  I have no idea why they named it Beige because it is really a very pretty pink color that looks great on its own or over any lipstick to add shine and gloss. 

My current nail polish favorite is this beautiful Tiffany blue color called I Need a Refresh Mint from the Megalast line by Wet n Wild.  These polishes were a real surprise to me.  They have beautiful color, great coverage in two coats and are long wearing for such a low price point.  My second favorite is the Complete Salon Manicure in Snow Globe from Sally Hansen.  Snow Globe is a sparkling multi colored glitter with very tiny pieces and some larger round pieces.  I love this glitter for accent nails.

My final favorite is the Fresh Picked Hand Cream in First Bloom from Bath & Body Works.  I love a good hand cream and this formula is perfect.  It has the smell of fresh flowers without being overly sweet and leaves your hands feeling soft and pretty.  Rub some into your cuticles to keep them looking healthy and to promote nail growth.  The 2 ounce size makes it portable for carrying in your handbag or keeping next to your bedside table.

I hope you have enjoyed learning about my current beauty favorites and maybe you will decide to try a few of these products yourself this summer.  Thank you for reading and stay beautiful!!  

Cancer+Chemo+Beauty?

I have cancer and I have been fighting it for five years now.  Cancer has taken its toll.  I have scars on my body from two leg surgeries and four lung surgeries.  I have lost my hair three times.  Currently I am bald and have no eyebrows.  I have no bottom eyelashes but some of my top ones are still hanging on.  I have dark circles around my eyes.  I often don't recognize the big eyed person with no eyebrows and the Mr. Clean head that stares back at me in the mirror.  But guess what?  I still feel beautiful.

Without my head full of dark brunette curls, people notice my brown eyes and my smile more.  I felt beautiful when my husband offered to shave my head clean when those last few locks of hair left made me look more like a character in The Lord of the Rings than I was comfortable with.  He put his hand on my freshly shaved bald head and told me I had a "pretty coconut".  What girl wouldn't feel beautiful after hearing that? 

Having no hair is actually a rather freeing experience.  My hair has always been a pill.  Naturally curly and long, I fussed with it way more than was necessary.  I cannot even imagine the hours of my life I wasted worrying about it and taking care of it.  Now, I plop a cap on my head and call it a day.  No more panic if I get caught in the rain or knowing a trip to the beach will turn me into a complete frizz head.  I like that.   Don't get me wrong, I do miss my hair but for this season in my life, I am doing okay without it.

I love makeup and making myself up but I am of that "certain age" where I feel completely comfortable going without it.  I may get a few stares if I go out completely bare faced since having no eyebrows is usually off putting for most people, but I don't feel self-conscious or ugly.

The flip side to this is that with the proper makeup, I can look pretty normal and fool people into thinking I am not sick at all.  I love how I can create the perfect eyebrows with a couple strokes of an eyebrow pencil and make the few lashes I have left look longer and lusher with some mascara.  Those horrible dark circles can be covered with the right concealer and a pink blush brings that rosy glow back to my cheeks.  Makeup is good.  Makeup makes me feel beautiful.  

Just because you are going through chemo doesn't mean your beauty is gone.  Your beauty is just different than it was before.  Embrace it.