If you're going through cancer treatment in the UK, there's a charity you should know about. Look Good Feel Better runs free workshops that help people manage the visible side effects of treatment, and they've been doing it here since 1994.
Ask anyone who's been to one and you'll get the same two responses. First, that they nearly didn't go. Second, that it was one of the best afternoons of their whole treatment.
What they actually do
Look Good Feel Better runs group workshops led by trained beauty and wellbeing professionals who volunteer their time. The sessions cover the practical things that fall through the cracks in cancer care; How to look after skin that's changed, what to do about eyebrows that have vanished, and how to feel like yourself again.
What's more, they're completely free. The charity works hard to keep it that way, funded by the beauty industry and by donations.
The sessions on offer
There's a decent range of sessions available, so it's worth looking at what suits you:
• Skincare and make-up, the flagship workshop, covering how to care for changed skin and create a natural look
• Wigs, brows and lashes, which is the one to book if you're dealing with hair loss
• Hair loss and scalp care
• Hand and nail care, since nails take a real battering during treatment
• Styling for confidence, led by style experts, covering colour, shape and dressing a body that's changed
• Gentle exercise and mindfulness
• Men's wellbeing sessions, hosted by barbering experts, covering shaving, sore skin and scarring
• Young adult sessions, aimed at a younger crowd who often feel out of place elsewhere
The goody bag
Let's talk about the bag, because it's genuinely lovely and it's the thing everyone remembers.
Go to an in-person workshop and you'll be given a bag of full-size skincare and make-up products to use during the session and take home. Not samples. Proper products, donated by the beauty brands that support the charity.
The bags are pre-packed, so you can't choose what's in yours, and supply depends on what's been donated. If you have allergies or you're particular about what goes on your skin, you can bring your own products to use in the session, nobody will mind.
The bag isn't really the point, mind. It's just a very nice extra on top of an afternoon where someone treats you like a person rather than a patient.
What actually happens on the day
The workshops run for up to two hours. In-person groups are small, usually eight to fifteen people. Online groups are bigger, and the hair sessions and exercise classes can run to eighty or so.
You do your own make-up. The volunteers are there to guide you, show you techniques and step in if you're struggling, but nobody is going to give you a full makeover while you sit there. That's deliberate. You're learning skills you can use at home on a Tuesday morning when nobody's watching.
Most people arrive nervous and almost nobody stays that way. The thing everyone says afterwards is that it was the first time in weeks they'd been in a room where nobody talked about cancer. You're allowed to leave it at the door.
Who can go
Anyone with a cancer diagnosis. Women, men and young adults, and the workshops are open to everyone regardless of gender identity.
The skincare and make-up, hand and nail care and styling workshops are a one-off, one per person per diagnosis. That does mean you can't book a refresher a few months later, though the charity has a library of free tutorials on their website you can use any time.
If your cancer returns, get in touch with them directly rather than assuming you can't come back.
In person or online
Both. In-person workshops run in hospitals, cancer care centres and partner venues across the UK. Virtual workshops run over Zoom, so you can join from your sofa on a day you don't fancy leaving the house.
The trade-off is the goody bag, which comes with the in-person sessions. If you're well enough to travel, the in-person version is worth the effort for the room full of people as much as the products.
A few practical things to know
• Book in advance through the Look Good Feel Better website, and you can also ring them on 01372 747 500
• Turn up on time, as sessions start promptly and there's only a short grace period before the door closes
• Everything is provided, though you can bring your own foundation and concealer if you have shades you love, plus your own brushes if they're clean
• Bring a pen and paper if you like taking notes, and you'll be given a leaflet covering what was taught
• You can't bring a friend or family member, since the space is kept for people with a diagnosis, so ring ahead if you need a chaperone for a specific reason like translation
• Tell them about any accessibility needs when you book and they'll do their best
What they can't help with
They're upfront about this, and it's worth knowing. Look Good Feel Better aren't medically trained, so they can't tell you which products are safe for your particular treatment. That's a question for your oncologist or cancer nurse specialist, who can look at your history and advise on anything you should avoid.
They also can't recommend wig shops, hairdressers or microblading artists. For hair specifically, they point people towards Cancer Hair Care, who offer one-to-one support.
Where we fit in
We're not connected to the charity in any way. We just think more people should know they exist, because the number of customers who tell us they'd never heard of Look Good Feel Better until someone mentioned it in passing is frankly too high.
If you go to a brows and lashes session and come away wanting to practise what you learned, we stock false eyelashes and eyebrow pencils chosen for people going through treatment.
Go, if you can
The most common thing we hear is some version of "I almost didn't bother". People talk themselves out of it because they feel too rough, or too self-conscious, or because putting on make-up feels frivolous when you're seriously ill.
It isn't frivolous. Recognising yourself in the mirror does something for you that no amount of good advice can. And a couple of hours in a room full of people who understand exactly where you are turns out to be worth a great deal.
Look Good Feel Better is a registered charity, number 1031728. Find workshops and book at lookgoodfeelbetter.co.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Is Look Good Feel Better free? Yes. All workshops and classes are free for anyone with a cancer diagnosis, funded by the beauty industry and donations.
Who can attend a Look Good Feel Better workshop? Anyone with a cancer diagnosis. There are dedicated sessions for women, men and young adults, and the workshops are open to everyone.
What's in the Look Good Feel Better goody bag? A selection of full-size skincare and make-up products donated by the charity's partner brands. Bags are pre-packed and given out at in-person workshops, so the contents vary depending on what's been donated.
How do I book a Look Good Feel Better workshop? Book through their website at lookgoodfeelbetter.co.uk, or ring 01372 747 500. Your cancer nurse or treatment centre may also be able to point you to a local session.
Can I go to more than one workshop? The skincare and make-up, hand and nail care and styling for confidence workshops are a one-off per person per diagnosis. Free tutorials on their website are available any time.
