In the heart of Paris, not far from Les Invalides, I discovered the premises of Beautiful & Goodthe oldest French association created at the initiative of the cosmetics sector. Guillaume Adam, the general delegate of the association, and Sylvie, retired onco-esthetician and volunteer for the day’s workshop, welcome me.
In a few minutes, four women who have been, or are still affected by cancer, will arrive in this small room decorated with pink. They all came for the same thing: to relearn how to put on makeup and take care of themselves, as before this announcement which changed their lives.
The onco-aesthetic workshop to better appreciate your reflection
Around 10:30 a.m., the four participants arrive at the workshop. Maëlle, Anne, Alexandra and Virginie sit face to face around the table. Sylvie will lead the workshop for two hours, accompanied by Thomas, Chanel makeup artist. During a little chat, they discover, placed in front of them, a kit filled with skin care and makeup. They will even leave with it, to reproduce the gestures learned during the workshop.
In twenty years, Belle & Bien – supported by numerous patrons from the world of cosmetics, such as the houses Dior and Guerlain – has supported more than 40,000 women in 51 partner sites across France. That day, a certain Thursday, October 10, the association helped Virginie, Anne, Maëlle and Alexandra to break the barrier of fear and take care of herself again. A key step in these women’s quest for well-being. Three of them tell us about their journey.
Maëlle: “I no longer want to be reduced to my illness”
“My name is Maëlle, I am 35 years old and I am responsible for human resources. I discovered my breast cancer while breastfeeding my child six months ago. I initially thought I had mastitis (an inflammation of the breasts that occurs when breast milk accumulates in a canal, Editor’s note). My breast was red and sore. I thought it would go away by massaging my breast under hot water. The reality was that I massaged my tumor for almost four months. I didn’t want to believe it. I was in denial and didn’t want to bother a doctor “for nothing.”
After several long analyses, I had surgery, then I started chemotherapy, which was very aggressive. One of the most painful side effects was the drying out of my mucous membranes from the chemo. I no longer had any tear fluid, my eyes burned constantly. I couldn’t even open them anymore. At that point, I didn’t even think about mascara or pencil anymore. I didn’t want to wear anything more, to avoid getting more irritated at all costs. When putting on makeup, I was afraid of doing more harm than good.
After the hair, it was my eyelashes and my eyebrows that fell out. I only have very little left. Once again, I didn’t think about makeup, I was too afraid that removing makeup would make them fall off. However, the idea of participating in this workshop tempted me more and more. I heard about it thanks to Nadine, a woman I met during a socio-cooking workshop with a dietitian last month. I finally decided to take the plunge! Anyway, my eyelashes and eyebrows will fall out sooner or later, so I might as well enjoy them while they’re there. And I can tell you that I missed the feeling of the brush on the eyelashes!
Participating in this workshop did me a lot of good. When you’re basically flirtatious and you stop because of illness, it’s very difficult. Previously, I had never gone out without wearing makeup. When this happened to me, I said to myself: “I’m exposing this naked face to the world, when fundamentally, it’s not the real one.” I got to a point where I was shocking myself in front of the mirror. And this plays a role in how others see me: what I don’t like about being sick is being reduced to my illness. Yes, I have a pathology, but I am also someone. I am a woman, a mother. And that’s something people tend to forget. So I felt the need to be seen differently. I had this growing desire to take care of myself.
Tonight I’m going to dinner with some friends I haven’t seen since June. I already imagined them being shocked to see my bare face with a wig. The last time I saw them, I was wearing makeup and still had my natural hair. There I tell myself that, finally, they will see my pretty makeup, before my illness. »
Virginie: “I multiply activities that make sense to feel alive.”
“My name is Virginie, I am 46 years old. I am in continuing care for lung cancer with which I have been living in a roommate for ten years. A few years ago, I decided to stop working to take care of myself.
I welcome each day as it comes. Naturally optimistic, I only focus on what is positive. Despite my cancer, I defy the odds. In particular thanks to a particular technique: I have developed a large number of strategies to cultivate a positive mind, resilience, but above all, to feel good every day. It comes down to the simple little things in life. When I go to the hospital, I always wear fuchsia pink. Every day, I listen to music in the shower to get good vibes. I meditate. I also explored according to my desires and opportunities: a yoga course, a mindfulness course… Since 2021, I have created jewelry whose sales I donate to research and supportive care to better cope with cancer. I also write down my daily thoughts with the desire to publish a collection to share love, my sweetness and positive thoughts with the world. I have already found the title: “My “gold” gift: sowing to love yourself”. I need to explore, share my energy and simply live. So, I increase the number of activities that, in my eyes, make sense and allow me to feel alive!
Before the illness, I loved wearing beautiful dresses and heels. I also put on makeup: foundation, powder, eyeliner, mascara. Then I stopped. At home, I wanted my skin to breathe, I didn’t think about makeup. Then my eyebrows fell for the first time. Without them, my face was dull. So, to fix it, I got a permanent tattoo, which is now starting to fade. Today I am losing them again, as well as my hair for the first time in 10 years of treatment. So I took the opportunity by participating in the Belle & Bien workshop to find solutions. I came away with some good hydration and makeup advice, and how to find the right products.
And then, to endure the treatments, it is important to listen to your needs and take care of yourself, it is essential, even for self-esteem. Behind this image of a strong woman, I thought I was losing my light and sometimes doubting. The workshop finished, I feel beautiful and good. My light is still there, my super power too: my connection to others, thank you life. »
Anne: “When I lost my eyebrows, I lost my identity”
“My name is Anne and I am 53 years old. In January 2022, I discovered an unusual pain in my breast: it was cancer. I went through long weeks of chemotherapy, where I lost my hair, had burns on my body and redness on my face. However, a little ritual helped me limit the effects of the illness: morning and evening, I applied layers of cream to my face and body. Just like varnish on the fingernails and toenails, to protect them. I never went out without one.
I thought I was very beautiful during chemo. I was even proud of my hairless face. They also postponed it six months later. On the other hand, that’s when I lost my eyelashes and eyebrows. It was by far the hardest time of the illness. Eyes are the expression of a face. Seeing your face without eyebrows is like losing your identity. Luckily, I was lucky enough that my daughter was into aesthetics. She taught me how to do my eyebrows and makeup. One day she gave me a stencil kit to create different eyebrow shapes every day. I was having a blast! It helped me enormously. It kept me strong during the 12 weeks of chemo.
I have made numerous stays in associations which support women in remission. Among them, I remember a surfing course, in Lacanau, with the Skin Association. One evening, they were having a party at a beach restaurant. For the occasion, a makeup artist came. When I looked in the mirror, I went “wow”. When we walked out, I noticed looks I hadn’t seen in a long time. It made me extremely happy. It gave me back my self-confidence. It reminded me of my feminine side. It clicked. I said to myself: “Anne, it would be nice to reapply a little makeup every day.” I then discovered the Belle & Bien workshops. Now that I know the right actions and products, I will wear makeup every day.
The illness woke me up in a way. I realized that there are a lot of beautiful things to experience. I was offered to die or live. I chose life, but I changed the way I saw things. Before, I lived for my children, I didn’t take time for myself. Today, I am much happier. I travel, I go to the cinema, to the theater. I’m doing things I’ve never dared to do before! I also have the dream of building a house by the sea to accommodate people in remission. So that other people, in turn, can overcome their fears. »
