When you lose your eyelashes and eyebrows, you lose definition in your face. Suddenly you look ‘sick’ to the outside world, and almost unrecognisable. Your skin tone also changes, so doing your make-up is quite a challenge. It’s also not advisable to have any tattooing or micro blading done, due to the risk of infection, so you need a few tips and tricks to try and make you feel more human.
The basic rule, is ‘tone it down’. If you go too heavy on the make-up, you’ll end up looking like a clown. I was given advice by make-up artists who visited hospitals during my chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
- Eyeshadow is your friend. It softens the face and adds definition. Choose a lighter colour than normal, and always take it from the outer corner, moving inwards, and avoiding the inside of the lid.
- Use white eyeliner on the inside of the eye. This will make your eyes appear brighter and less ‘sicky’.
- Use an eye pencil, lighter than your normal shade, definitely not black and draw a line just above where your eyelashes used to be, to give the impression of eyelashes.
- Use a brow pencil, go a couple of shades lighter than your normal hair colour, and gently draw on your brows, but go easy.
- Finally, dab a little colour on your cheeks or lips, to make yourself feel human again
Failing this, just wear a large pair of sunglasses when you go out! It may sound vain but one of the things I dreaded with chemotherapy is taking my natural glow away. It does disappear during the treatment, but it starts to come back gradually, and I hope I will be in full blossom soon….
Healing Paths 