There are times, despite the theme of recent posts, that the giant cosmetic companies use their powers for good instead of evil. In the case of Look Good... Feel Better, this is one of them.
I'm lucky enough to be part of the LGFB team! It's one of the most rewarding things I'm involved in. They're an organisation that goes around to hospitals all over the UK and show women undergoing treatment for cancer how to look pretty. There is so much power that comes from feeling confident about how you look and the gruelling treatment these women are undergoing in order to survive can really knock that confidence out of them. A simple workshop going over a few tricks and tips can really change their outlook and give them that feeling of empowerment they need to make it through their death defying battle.
The groups are usually around a dozen ladies and they get together around a table and we go through some skin care routine tips and a twelve step program for putting on your daily face. One of the main points of focus is how to define their eyes if their eyelashes have become sparse and putting on some eyebrows if the chemo has taken it's toll on those as well.
The beginning of the workshop can be a little awkward seeing as no one really knows each other very well. By the end of the session everyone is so relaxed and so surprised at how lovely they look that they really do leave with a lot more spring in their step. Being the giant softie that I am I just wanted to go around the table giving everyone giant hugs earlier this week.
I was particularly touched by one lady that was wheeled in directly from a treatment. She couldn't use her left arm so soon afterwards so one of the team put all her products directly on her and talked her through the steps. She couldn't stop looking at herself in the mirror! It was then that she informed us that she'd never even worn eyeshadow before! For someone that had been struggling to keep her head up at the beginning of the session, she left with a smile that would stop traffic!
Another lady I spoke to thought the session was terrific for more than just the makeup tips. She had not long ago had her surgery and was about to embark on her treatment. The group provided her with a relaxed environment where people exchanged stories of their treatment experiences and she really felt like she was more able to take it on now that she wasn't so scared about what it might be like.
The amazingly generous part of all this is that the ladies are all given a seriously big bag full of all the products they will need to keep their skin in great condition and to create all the makeup looks we show them during the session. Some of the biggest brands in the business donate all the products completely free of charge. I'm talking about brands like Revlon, Max Factor, Simple, Elizabeth Arden, Clinique, Clarins and Bobbi Brown. That's not even the complete list either!
This is such a positive way for women to feel better while they're trying to beat cancer. LGFB call it Pampering Therapy!
If you're a beauty therapist that would like to help, a cosmetics company that would like to get involved, someone undergoing treatment that would like to take part or would just like to know how you can help the Look Good... Feel Better organisation then you can go to their website
here.
Kisses,
Rebecca xxx
PS: Cosmetic Companies - we need someone to start donating small brush sets! If you can, please get in touch with LGFB if you could send some over! It would make a HUGE difference!!! :) xxx
I think they came off so quickly (3 days) because I kept finding myself playing with them. I think it was all the glue I got on my fingers that had stuck around the edges of the nails and so I was always trying to get it off. If I’d just left them alone I suspect they’d have lasted longer. 
