Comments for a Cure

This week, I'm joining with my fellow beauty bloggers in the Beauty Blog Network to help raise funds and awareness about women's cancers. So please help me make a difference - for every comment you post below, we'll donate $1 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world's largest, boldest and most progressive grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists, the only organization fighting to cure breast cancer at every stage. Maybe you want to share your own story of how breast cancer has touched your life, or those of your loved ones. Or perhaps you just want to say hello - either way, your comment will help raise money.

My friend Courtney was diagnosed with breast cancer in October. She went through chemo to shrink her tumor, and just this month, she had a double mastectomy/reconstruction surgery. I'm so happy to say that not only did she handle the ordeal with courage and humor, but she is now healing well and feeling great. Her whole story is available at her amazing blog, The C(ourtney) Word. She blogged about how her cancer treatment required her to explore new makeup like eyebrow pencil (for eyebrow bald spots) and accessories (like the Scarfabulous) previously foreign to her. You can see how a little expert help in navigating this new world would be appreciated! Fortunately, she was able to attend an event where experts on makeup and hair were available to help cancer patients learn how to look their best. She wrote a post about it, and I can imagine how it brightened the faces and spirits of the ladies who were there.

One organization has helped over 500,000 cancer patients at events like these. Appropriately named, they are Look Good, Feel Better. LGFB is a free, national program that helps women offset appearance-related changes from cancer treatment.

A Look Good, Feel Better before-and-after

They hold 2-hour workshops where patients can learn how to use makeup and accessories to help counteract some of the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. The cosmetologists and volunteers understand the unique ways that cancer treatments can affect skin, hair and nails and are able to demonstrate useful techniques and offer compassionate advice, tailored to what each patients wants.
The program is offered offered through a collaboration between the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association Foundation (CTFA), the American Cancer Society (ACS), and the National Cosmetology Association (NCA). Brands ranging from Avon to Estee Lauder to L'Oreal to Revlon donate products. You can get involved by donating or volunteering.

Please remember - cancer is not a disease you only get when you're older. Courtney is 33 years old. My other friend Asha had breast cancer at age 24. Please be sure to do your monthly breast self-exams and see your OB/GYN at least yearly. It could save your life!

Thanks for reading and please remember to comment! I'll donate $1 per comment posted before midnight, Sunday, June 10, EST (donation cap $500). You can also support the cause by shopping at our store. LASTLY... get ready for the beauty goodie bag of all time. We have asked our related clients, PR and beauty companies to donate a beauty product(s) of their choice for our ‘goodie bag’, which will be auctioned off on Ebay, through Mission Fish, with the winning bid to be donated to The American Cancer Society. Auction to run June 10-16th; more information located here.