Guest blogger: Jackie Clark - Weapons in the Fight Against Cancer

Makeup and Fashion: Weapons in the Fight Against Cancer
By Jackie Clark

Medical research has shown that there is a direct correlation between looking good and feeling good. Even in cases of traumatic illness, studies have shown that patients who try to make an effort to look better are often able to motivate themselves to better fight the course of their disease as well.

For instance, a woman diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer due to asbestos exposure may be prescribed a course of chemotherapy. While this is a serious diagnosis, mesothelioma doctors are able to give their patients a better prognosis today because of radiation and chemotherapy treatments. These treatments have changed the survival rate of mesothelioma and other cancers considerably, and have given new hope for sufferers of these diseases. Nevertheless, women undergoing chemotherapy might experience hair loss as well as other physical changes that are often emotionally debilitating, and it’s tremendously important to keep up one’s motivation and self-confidence throughout this ordeal.

Because of this, women who undergo chemotherapy treatments are encouraged to continue to take an interest in their appearance. If hair loss is a concern, there are hats, scarves, and wigs specially made to help patients deal with the feelings of low self-esteem that might result from this particular side effect. Some makeup artists also offer specialized makeover sessions and makeup kits for women who might have skin rashes or other side effects from their therapy.

Quite often, cancer patients also have to deal with body image issues, because the impairment and disability of the disease, coupled with the treatments, can sometimes cause weight gain or weight loss. It’s difficult to try to look good when you feel that you’re severely underweight or overweight, but it’s important to remember that a great many clothing styles are designed specifically to camouflage figure imperfections.

If you’re undergoing treatment for mesothelioma cancer or any other type of cancer, it’s crucial to keep your spirits up. Even if you’re on a strict budget, picking up something that makes you look good is a tremendous boost, even if it’s just an attractive shade of lipstick from a dollar store counter or a dress from the clearance rack. If you have stamina issues or you’re simply not well enough on some days to get out and about, then do your shopping from a catalog or the Internet. Likewise, a hair or makeup stylist would probably be happy to make a home visit and give you a makeover or new hairstyle.

For women who are battling cancer, confidence and self-esteem are two important weapons in the fight. Toward this end, makeup and fashion can be used to achieve an optimum outer beauty, which in turn can help promote feelings of health and overall well-being.

My personal note on this post: I thought it was really important to help Jackie encourage this message on my blog. I have had family members suffer from cancer, and it truly is awful. I hope this post has allowed you to realise that everyone deserves to feel beautiful and confident. Repost this on your blogs to spread the word <3

Dry skin anyone?

If you suffer from dry skin, then you will know it is a challenge to discover a cream that suits your skin, helps prevent against flakiness and maintains softness.

My story...

Last year I began taking the contraceptive pill Microgynon. This was hell for me. I took it for three months, as my GP wanted me to try it out for the full trial period. After just the first month I noticed I had put on weight, I did not feel myself and on top of that my skin was terrible. Before the pill I never had acne prone skin, I used to get the rare spot each month but nothing like what I had whilst on Microgynon. I had a lot of redness and it appeared to be more of a rash than anything. I began noticing that I had patches of eczema around my face, especially on my eyelids. They were constantly sore, and I always needed to apply Vaseline on them without fail to stop the burning and tight sensation. Each time I wore eye shadow it would increase the eczema and make my eyelids burn. The fact that all of this had happened in under two months, made me extremely insecure and down about my appearance.

I later reached out to my doctor explaining all the symptoms and he said I needed to up my skin routine and use a moisturiser consistently. He then suggested I switched contraceptive pill, which I did to Dianette. Then to use a cream specialised for dry skin, he recommended DoubleBase gel. I had previously used DoubleBase for the small spots of dry skin I get on my elbows and knees. However, for some reason that cream was not strong enough to work on my eyelids, so he recommended CETRABEN.

This cream was an absolute miracle for my skin. I have been using this cream consistently for a year and I could not live without it. I apply it every morning and evening using it for face and body. I now no longer suffer from eczema on my eyelids, the cream prevents it and keeps my skin soft as a baby’s bottom :)

I bought this large size for around £8 at the pharmacist and I always carry around a 30g (travel size) one in my handbag which is about £1.70 - £2.00 depending on where purchased. I honestly can not say enough good things about this product, CETRABEN is perfect for my skin and i love how inexpensive it is!

Hope this post has helped!

Saby xx

The perfect LBD

I always feel nostalgic when i think of little black dresses. Remembering the times when i was younger and used to play dress up with my older sister's 'clubbing dress.' Ohh what fun i had!

Every girl's wardrobe needs a little black dress, they are just perfect for every kind of occasion. You can dress them up or make them casual as you want.

Last night was a special occasion, my 1 year anniversary with my boyfriend :) So i took the opportunity to wear my new LBD that was a christmas gift from my lovely mother.


The dress is from Topshop priced at £25, although i got it with my good old student discount! I love the open back, it adds style to such simple dress. All my newly purchased dresses seem to have gorgeous detailing on the back. I have definitely been prefering them recently, it just adds something different from the sometimes boring legs and clevage on show.


Overall an amazing evening. The food was delicious, just a tad too small portioned for my liking ;)


Mmmm i could eat that chicken again!

Have a great week xx

Been away for foreverr!!

I haven't blogged in a year! Which is terrible, i feel guilty :( I think it's because i've been too focused on reading other peoples' wonderful blogs and watching way too many youtube videos...oh and uni too.

So many things have happened since then, but i won't bore you with it all. Now i want to focus on this blog, and change it slightly. Hopefully developing it to more of a health/exercise/beauty blog with the odd bit of fashion.

Anyway i shall crack on with the posts from now on!



A photo of me just incase you forgot what i look like :)

Saby :) x

MIA

I know i have not blogged in about 4 months!! which is awful, but a lot has been going on in my life, some good and some bad.

I started university about a month ago, and i am really enjoying halls and my course which is PR and communications. Hopefully i will be able to go into Beauty PR in the future :)

Here is a photo of my freshers at Southampton:-

I can now announce that i am back, and will be continuing with my blog. I hope you find this useful as now i am officially a university student, i will definitely be buying my make up on a budget!

If you have any questions about starting university feel free to ask! And i hope you are able to relate to this blog somehow!!

Feels great to be back :) xx

Another lip combo :)

Today i reached 50 followers yay :) Thank you to everyone who is following me, it is much appreciated!

Anyway back to the lip combo :) So i have been wearing these two products everyday for the past week, and i really enjoy the combination of the colours. They are:-
Natural Collection - Apple Blossom and Vaseline - Rosy Lips


I like the fact i am wearing a lipstick but also vaseline so my lips feel soft and smooth. My lips normally get incredibly dry when i wear lipsticks so i am constantly applying a lip balm of some sort. I love the moisturising feel of the vaseline on top, and it creates a lovely colour. This is what it looks like:-


What do you think? Do you like the Vaseline Rosy Lips? x

FOTD & OOTD

So this is my first FOTD & OOTD :)

Here are all the products i used:-


Face:
Natural Collection foundation - Sand
Cargo OneBase - 02 (Under eyes and around nose)
ELF Bronzer - Warm (Cheeks)

Eyes:
17 eyeshadow - Statuesque (All over eyelid)
Collection 2000 'Dazzle me!' - Magical (Inner corner)
Cargo pencil/crayon - 82 Black (Upper and lower waterline)
17 liner - Azure (Lower lashline)
Max Factor False Lash Effect - Black

Lips:
Natural Collection - Apple Blossom
Cargo Classic lig gloss - Alexandria

Outfit:
Brown vest - Primark £1.50
Orange tee - Primark £3
Jean shirt - New Look £18
Blue skinny jeans - New Look £16
Brown boots - Primark £20

Accessories:
Cream ring - Primark £2
Coral bracelets - Primark £3
Gold necklace - Miss Selfridge £2 (Sale :)

Hope you liked it :) x