Hello beautifuls,
I have something very important and close to my heart to tell you all about - a charity called 'Look Good Feel Better'. On Tuesday, I took part in my first workshop for this charity, and boy it was amazing!
Let me tell you more about the company... Look Good Feel Better (LGFB) is a charity that organises workshops at cancer hospitals for women suffering from cancer. Beauticians, makeup artists and beauty therapists volunteer their time to lead these 2-3 hour workshops for patients to have an afternoon of pampering, and to take their mind off their suffering while they have a lovely time. Top makeup companies like the Estee Lauder brand donate millions (literally) of products to make up gift bags for the ladies, it's so exciting when they open them up, like Christmas! They get skin care stuff and makeup too, the look on some of the ladies faces when they were opening up their package was just wonderful, something I'll treasure! The volunteers then spend a few hours teaching the ladies how to use their new products - and how to deal with the side effects of their treatment. For example some types of chemotherapy mean cancer patients loose their hair - including their eyelashes and eyebrows. So us volunteers spent time showing them how to draw their eyebrows on so they look super natural, and how to use eye makeup techniques to take the focus away from their lost eyelashes. We also spent time showing them how to really massage their skin so that if it is dry (which it often is) from treatment, massaging moisture cream in will really benefit it and try and decrease dryness.
The transformation in the women from walking into the room looking glum and shy around other patients and ourselves - then to the beautifully made up women with glints in their eyes and cackling with laughter, gossiping and giggling, my it's amazing - one of the most heartwarming experiences I've ever had. One woman told me she rarely met other women with cancer, as at the hospital they just get treatment and keep their heads down, but she loved that at this pamper afternoon she met others in a similar situation to her and could chat with them and really discuss their feelings. Another lady suffering from hair loss badly - she was bald, was telling me about how when she gets her hair back she's going to have it all the colours of the rainbow! I sure hope she does!
I was so touched to be involved in something like this!
Well anyway, I'm writing this blog post to mainly raise awareness about this amazing charity - anyone involved in makeup or beauty please volunteer your time to this wonderful cause! Follow this link to find out more about taking part...
And ladies, if you are suffering from cancer and have been offered to go to one of these workshops, please take advantage of it! If not just for the amazing goodie bags!
Find out more information about this wonderful charity here;
If you're not a makeup artist or beautician but really want to help, why not donate here-
This charity really highlighted to me how makeup can really change a persons mood and confidence levels - I've had first hand experience of this; I'm sure you guys know the story about myself and dealing with trichotollomania? Trichotillomania is a type of obsessive compulsive disorder where by you pull hairs from yourself either with or without realising, it's a form of self harm, and seen as a coping method through stressful times.
I first began noticeably pulling my hairs (eyebrows and eyelashes) when I was around 13 - (I've always felt really stressed academically as I did well and had to try and keep up with peoples expectations, it was hard, and I also had a lot of personal emotional stresses at that time), so within about two months I had no eyebrows and no eyelashes! I had no idea what to do about it and how to hide my problem, so just went out with no makeup on, guess I must have looked kinda odd but a lot of people said mean things about how I looked and it really really got me down. I had no idea how to deal with it, and one day about 4 years after I'd lost all my brows and lashes I ended up on a MAC counter just begging them to help me! The lovely lady drew me on some eyebrows and showed me how to use false lashes, and oh how we both cried! I was over the moon, I looked normal! I felt so so beautiful it was untrue! :) And so from that day I really knew how much makeup can make a difference to your feelings, your confidence levels, to your self esteem, everything... and I think deep down that's part of the reason why I've pursued makeup artistry as a career. If you'd like more information on trichotillomania, follow this link;
If you think you have it, don't be ashamed! I was so embaressed at first and felt like a freak but now I feel like it's something I really need to raise awareness about! Sooooo many people suffer from it! For example, at the Look Good Feel Better workshop during the tea break a patient asked me why I have no eyebrows and draw them on, and I told her all about my trichotillomania and she looked at me flabbergasted! She was so shocked to hear that it was an actual condition, because her daughter does exactly the same thing! She couldn't wait to get home and put her daughter out of her misery and tell her that actually she had a medical condition, she wasn't some crazy hair pulling weirdo! The condition is soooo common, if you think you've got it, go to the doctors and ask for help! And experiment drawing eyebrows on and false eyelashes, you'll be amazed how different you feel :D
The Look Good Feel Better workshops and my example of makeup/trichotillomania really show the power of makeup, it can make you feel INCREDIBLE! Stop the haters moaning on about 'oh you wear too much' blah blah... makeup is such a powerful tool - be proud to wear your slap!
Lots of kisses,
Emily xxxxxxx
