Corrective Makeup

The common denominators of beauty are balance and pro­portion—everything else is subjective. There is no such thing as a perfect nose, cheekbones or mouth, because there is nothing perfect about any facial feature. Perfection only is approached when all of the facial features work to­gether. When looking at the face, it is the light reflected off the various features that give it shape. If the amount of light reflected on the face is altered, either by increasing or de­creasing it, the illusion of what is seen also is altered. A nose can be re-shaped, a cheekbone raised or lengthened, a jaw line rounded off or narrowed, angularity added or re­moved, and jowls double chins de-emphasized.

Makeup foundation helps even out the skin tone. It is much easier to accomplish this by using a high-coverage foundation. It should be applied very sheer where coverage is not needed, and a little more can be applied in those ar­eas where additional opacity is required. High-coverage foundations look very natural when properly applied. Multiple eye shadow applications, using the contrast of light or color, can enlarge, add dimension and reshape the eye. Light-colored eye shadow can help make a small eyelid appear larger, and a dark eye shadow can make a large or bulging lid appear smaller. A dark shadow at the inside cor­ner of the eyelid will pull the eye in toward the nose, and a light one will push it out from the nosc. A light shadow in the middle of the lid will make it appear more round. Eye liner can make an eyelid appear more rounded or lift it at the outer corner to prevent the eye from drooping. Minor irregularities along the edge can be made smooth and even. Mascara can help reshape the eye. To make the eye more round, place additional mascara on the lashes in the center of the eye; to achieve lift at the outer corner, apply more mascara on the lashes on the outer-half of the eye. Blush can add shape and dimension to the cheekbone; and lipstick easily can reshape the mouth. These techniques work exceptionally well when the two sides of the face lack symmetry.

The skills and advice of the professional makeup artist and esthetician play an important role in helping with your skin care and makeup. Take full advantage of them to treat your individual needs.

Look Good... Feel Better

Look Good ... Feel Better is a program that teaches cancer patients beauty techniques to overcome the appear­ance-related side effects of treatments and helps them to approach their disease with confidence. The pro­gram has sessions available in every state and the Dis­trict of Columbia, as well as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom, the

Netherlands and Denmark. An Hispanic program and teen program also are available in certain cities. For information about treatment centers in your area, contact one of the sponsors of the program: the American Cancer Society, the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association Foundation and the National Cosmetology Association.

Microdermabrasion defined

Microdermabrasion exfoliates the skin mechanically. Using a hand piece, a fine jet of aluminum dioxide micro crystals—which look like granules of sugar—are vacuumed across the skin’s surface at a high speed. The procedure generally takes 10—30 minutes, and it is painless. It does not require topical anesthetic and you can return to work immediately following a treatment. Microdermabrasion can help erase some of the visible signs of aging: fine lines and wrinkles, age spots, minor scars, blemishes and uneven pigmenta­tion. However, it may take anywhere from two to eighteen treat­ments to achieve desired results. Precautions also need to be taken if you are prone to hyper pigmentation or scarring, and there is lim­ited scientific research for the effects of microdermabrasion, Ask your skin care professional for information about treating your skin concerns with microdermabrasion. You also can find out about treatments that can have similar effects on your skin.

Alternative Therapy

According to a November 1998 Journal of the American Medical Association article, four out of ten Americans used some form of alternative therapy in 1997, and the 629 million visits in 1997 exceeded that of visits to primary care phy­sicians, which were 386 million. Total visits to alternative health care practitioners have in­creased almost 50% since 1990. conservatively estimated, Americans paid $21.2 billion for these services in 1997, more than half of which were out-of-pocket expenses. In addition, 42% of al­ternative therapies are sought out for chronic conditions, and 58% for prevention of illness or health maintenance. Less than 40% disclose their use to their physicians.

Increased Cancer Risk

According to an Associated Press report on a European study that appeared in the August 4,1999, edition of the Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, IL, people using stronger sunscreens don’t feel the effects of sunburn as quickly and spend more time outside, which increases their risk of skin cancer. Re­searchers concluded that sunscreens can encourage prolonged sun exposure because they delay sunburn.

People need to have the right attitude about sunscreen, not using it to increase the amount of time they spend in the sun. Karen Emmons a re­searcher with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, cautioned that it is still very important that people use sunscreen and apply it appropriately. She recom­mends people also avoid direct sunlight by staying in the shade and wearing hats and other protective clothing.

Although skin cancer is preventable, the incidence of melanoma in the U.S. increases 4% each year, according to the National Cancer Institute. Pre­vious research also has shown people who use sunscreen have increased incidence of melanoma and other skin cancers.