Editor’s Note: Cheryn Salazar is a founding member of TLC, and one of the first members of the TLC Board of Directors. She also founded and moderates www.trichworld.com. Since 1991, Cheryn has dedicated her life and her work to helping people with trichotillomania and skin picking look and feel their best. She presents regularly at TLC Conferences and Retreats (she’ll be in Jamison, PA for the September Retreat!). Cheryn was kind enough to put together this article on make-up tips for those with hair, lash, and brow loss, as we all know the summer months pose some difficulty for many trichsters. We hope you find it useful. Thanks Cheryn!
Do you remember a time when you would run and jump into the cool waters at the beginning of summer, frolicking about without a care in the world. Well, I remember those days up to the summer of 1971. What stands out most in my memory are the many summers that followed my first experience with in 1972 . I know that without me saying another word, most of you who experience “trich” know what I’m about to say next.
It felt like trichotillomania took over just about anything that had ever been carefree for me. All the fun activities like swimming, most amusement park rides, overnight sleepovers, to name only a few activities, were filled with anxiety and apprehension, many a time being bypassed since I felt afraid to be exposed and revealed. Truly anything that had the elements of water and air involved put me into a panic and defensive mode; hiding the bald eyes, brows or head that wanted to peak out when coming in contact with just about anything involving fun.
Now, I know ways to free myself of those concerns, and I mean free as in “freedom”! I swim now, water ski, scuba dive, ride on fast-moving objects, you name it! I can cry and even perspire without any more concerns of my make-up “melting” off. How can that be, you are probably asking! There were two aspects to attaining this aspect in my life. One was finding a make-up that would be so waterproof that it would stay on under just about every condition and situation including crying, perspiring, and even sleeping, and be safe for my skin! Wearing such awesome make-up now has alleviated the fears and anxieties that held me “hostage,” keeping me from living life to its’ fullest. I’m no longer fearful of having that “blank” look, and drawing unwanted attention. I truly don’t even think about my face anymore. The fears and concerns are gone.
Now I put my make-up on in less than 15 minutes, and I don’t think about my face for 24 hours; I can even sleep in it and when I wake up it is still on! No more worrying if the UPS man is going to knock on my door early in the morning before I have my face on. Anybody knowin’ what I’m sayin?
I think you do, and I am so excited to have this opportunity to write this article so I can share with you what I have discovered many years ago. In fact, even having “trich” doesn’t bother me anymore.
Out of my own need I searched for years for the right makeup for scalp, eyes and brows. And once I found them, it was truly life changing for me. I used to feel so ashamed, so fearful to be found out, but no more. And I want that for every one of us.
In 1992 I began doing workshops at the TLC conferences and retreats to help others learn how to apply make-up so they look like they aren’t wearing any make-up. What I’m saying is I applied it in such a way that it looks like I did when I had lashes and brows. Then I thought of offering these products to others which resulted in my starting my own business in 1993 called Cheryn International to offer the makeup, along with wigs and other products to help restore a feeling of beauty and normalcy to anyone who experienced hair, lash and/or brow loss. In fact, my eyelashes are made for the lashless eyes, and are so natural looking even men and boys can wear them! And the natural looking eyebrows, oh my gosh, are AWESOME! The DermMatch Topical Shading is the most amazing product ever made for the scalp. It truly makes most spots virtually “disappear”, looking like there actually is a full head of hair, and it even does wonders for those who have large spots, and even those who are bald!
Please feel free to check out my website and see all the products I offer, and also my new wig company The Wig Emporium.
School’s out; the warm summer season has arrived. Let this be the year that you enjoy again all the joys of life that this wonderful summer season brings. You deserve it!
Love and Hugs to you all,
Cheryn Salazar
Here are the products I use and some of my Eyelash & Make up Tips to make your eyes have a natural appearance.
Line your entire inner eyelid, the area right next to your eyeball’s membrane, with Indelible Eye (IE) Waterproof Gel Eyeliner or the product of your choosing. (The Waterproof Gel Eyeliner is what I use). You want to paint the entire area where your lashes usually grow out from to restore the color their which will give your eyes depth and beauty.
Then clean off quickly any product where you do not want it, as it will dry fast and be difficult to remove once it dries.
Lightly line your lower lid as well. My suggestion would be the lighter colored eyeliner for your lower lids, as it will give a softer, translucent look. (We don’t want the raccoon look which might draw unwanted attention).
What I use, and is very popular, is the Chocolate Mousse for the upper eyelid, as it can look very dark to medium Black/Brown, depending on how much you apply. If you have/had Light Brown, Red or Blonde hair then I would suggest a softer color such as the Brownie Point or Tip Taupe. It will depend on your preferences, which I would be happy to discuss with you my opinion.
After applying the Gel Liner, add the Indelible Eye (IE) Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil or once again a product you are comfortable with, on the top of your lid very lightly with soft strokes, adding as much as you desire, and then smudge it with the sponge tip on your pencil, or with your finger, to create a Smokey Look, which helps to create the appearance of lashes; the depth and color to your eye which exists when lashes curl up. There is no solid line on one’s eye unless their lashes point downward.
I would then do the same steps to your lower lid, but be light on the amount. I use the Chocolate Mousse on top with the Brownie Eyeliner pencil, and the Brownie Point on the lower lid, with the Brownie, also. (An eyeliner pencil is the only product that makes the smokey look. The Gel Eyeliner won’t offer this effect).
To remove your makeup I have found nothing that works like the IE Waterproof Makeup Remover. I usually only use it when I’m really wanting a clean face, otherwise when I wake up in the morning I just use a Q-Tip and remove any smudges that may have occurred. Then touch up my makeup and be on my way. It usually takes a matter of minutes to do my entire face. Just be patient and remember “Practice makes Better”. Not perfect. No one’s perfect!!!
For everyday eyebrows, meaning not swimming or in excessive heat or humidity, I wear the IE Waterproof Eyebrow Pencil.
I brush light strokes on the area where my eyebrow previously had been, or fill in spots where brows are missing, and then brush off the make up lightly using the mascara wand on the end of the pencil. This softens my applied makeup giving it a natural look opposed to a stencil appearance.
I then apply more, brush off some more, add again more, until the look I am desiring appears. It really is amazing how all the sudden the brow will just look right. I do have videos on You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/cherynsalazar to offer a visual aid.
As wonderful as this brow pencil is, I have not ever seen anything as waterproof in a pencil, when I am preparing for a day where I know the elements will be causing me to need the adhesive properties the eyeliner gel offers, I take my Brownie Point or Tip Taupe IE Waterproof Crème Eye Shadow and apply it with my eyeliner brush in light hair-like strokes on my brow area. I do not want my brows to look like a stencil so I am very soft-handed during the applying.
Then to make the most natural look, I add the IE Waterproof Eyebrow Pencil (I use Black Coffee) over the brow area and use the mascara wand to brush off a little, leaving a soft appearance to the edges. You might even add Brow Powder, to really get the most natural look, though it isn’t a waterproof product. I hardly use the powder, unless I’m dressing up my very best. It’s almost not necessary, but I thought I’d mention it.
The False Eyebrows are amazingly natural looking, and can stay on for days. The False Eyelashes will do the same. It’s all about the glues adhesion, and which glue is best for you will depend on your skins oilyness and type.
For those who experience hair loss on the scalp, DermMatch is the answer! It’s awesome!!! It has been a “life-changer” for every single person I have known to use it. It is the most amazingly waterproof product that enables you to swim, sweat, sleep, etc. and it stays on better than any product I have ever seen or experienced in my life! It doesn’t “run”. In fact, you have to shampoo it to get it to come off completely. It gives you your life back.
I’ve seen the DermMatch completely make thinning areas unnoticeable on many people. Completely unnoticeable! And even the large patches be so camouflaged that no one would notice unless they were intently looking. I’ve even applied DermMatch on many people who had no hair and as it brought color back to the scalp it made a huge difference in how they looked, and brought huge smiles to their faces.
Not having eyelashes, eyebrows and hair usually leaves a pale or “blank” look. Coloring in those areas will restore the color and “depth” you had before and will definitely help to not draw the unwanted attention we so much want to avoid. All of the products I’ve mentioned will do that for you.
If you have any questions, or just want to chat, please call me!
916-804-1337 / 866-324-0908
www.Cheryn.com
www.TheWigEmporium.com