Look Good Feel Better, a project funded by the Personal Care Products Council Foundation, has demonstrated that specific grooming regimes and products can be more appealing for those suffering from cancer.
They suggest that measures such as the regular use of moisturizer and practices such as using wigs and headpieces can help cover the physical symptoms of cancer and treatment.
The charity’s statistics reveal that more than a third of women avoid leaving the house during treatment because of their appearance, underling the program's aim to make a difference in quality of life for cancer sufferers.
According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, incidence of the disease is rising with an estimated 12.7 million cancer cases around the world in 2008, expected to increase to 21 million by 2030.
LGFB told CosmeticsDesign.com: “Look Good Feel Better’s free workshops help women with cancer understand and address changes in skin tone and texture to hair loss, changes to their nails and body changes including fluctuation in weight or changes due to surgery or medical devices.”
Disease and treatment problems can lead to poor quality of life
LGFB stated: “Cancer and cancer treatment regimens can cause many changes in appearance. Skin often becomes extremely dry…can develop spots and blotches, and skin tone can change to what many women describe as grey or ashen.”
“For many women, treatment means either partial or full loss of hair, including eyebrows and eyelashes. Hair loss is one of the most recognizable and stigmatizing outward signs of the disease.”
They suggest that women can respond through the regular use of moisturizer and by wearing wigs, scarves, and hairpieces, which will help them deal with the more obvious and painful symptoms.
The charity’s volunteers also offer a 12-step makeover program, which includes tips such as “re-drawing” eyebrows, which when lost have an impact on facial expression and definition.
Cosmetics safety tips
The foundation warns that women with serious illnesses often have depressed immune systems, which makes it vital for them to be careful about cosmetics hygiene and consult doctors before using beauty products.
Some of the advice they offer includes: “wash your hands before applying any products, tightly close jars and tubes after use, apply lotions and creams with clean cotton balls, sponges or cotton swabs, use clean brushes or disposable sponge-applicators to apply powder.”
They also warn women to carefully read and follow expiration dates.
Breast cancer awareness month
Many cosmetics companies are launching charitable programs in order to assist cancer sufferers, in a similar way to LGFB.
October is breast cancer awareness month, and firms such as Estée Lauder are offering a variety of products which use a “pink ribbon”, meaning that a high percentage of their profits will be donated to breast cancer charities- a concept partially created by Evelyn Lauder, an important figure in the company.
For example, the Bobbi Brown brand will release a limited edition embossed pink blush and mini face blender brush, and Avon and Glamglow have joined forces with Breakthrough Breast Cancer to launch branded products, with 10% of the profits donated to charity.
Correction: It has been pointed out to us that Estée rather than Evelyn Lauder was the founder of the company.