Makeup, mood and skincare tricks to help you look your best while living with breast cancer.

Women living with breast cancer have to deal with the physical side effects of both the disease and the treatment. The physical side effects, which include hair and eyebrow loss, unbalanced skintone and dark undereye circles, create a change in a woman's appearance that can be emotionally devastating. I always say the most important beauty tool is an open mind. Looking great and maintaining a positive attitude is not always easy, but there are many things you can do to improve your appearance and lift your spirits.

one Wakeup Your Makeup
You may have thought of makeup as a luxury or a frivolous hobby in the past, but now you must look at it as a powerful tool which will help you look your very best. Whether you have always been a makeup maven or have never bothered with it, now is the ideal time to go to a makeup counter and learn application techniques from a professional. Ask the makeup artist to show you some new tricks to play up your eyes or lips. You'll have some fun and will walk away with a few new ideas of how to maximize your own special beauty.

two The Skin You're In
Your skin will go through changes during and after your chemotherapy or radiation treatments. One day your skin may feel oily, so you'll skip the moisturizer. The next day, your skin may feel dry, making you feel the need to slather on moisturizer. Do yourself a favor and get a facial ­ it will not only relax you, it can also help regulate your skin. For those days when you look pale and washed out, brighten your skin by applying either a tinted moisturizer or a light bronzer (in powder, not cream form) to your forehead, cheeks, chin, over your eyes ­ wherever the sun would naturally hit you, for a bit of a carefree glow.

three Concealer Healer
If I had to choose one beauty product for a woman with cancer to use, it would be concealer to hide dark undereye circles. Applying a yellow based concealer, one shade lighter than your skintone all around the eyes (from lash line to brow bone) hides dark circles and redness, making you look well rested. A yellow-based concealer will blend with most skintones better than a pink based concealer. You can also skip foundation, and instead dot concealer on the rest of your face, to even out your complexion.

four Browsing Beauty
Eyebrows frame the eyes and the face and until you lose them you don't realize what a difference they make in your appearance. Whether you suffer from mild brow hair loss or have complete hair loss, there is an easy solution. Fill in your eyebrows with either an eye shadow, pencil, or brow pomade that is one shade lighter than your haircolor. If you are blonde, go one shade darker than your hair color. You can use eye shadow to fill in brows if you have only had mild hair loss. For more severe hair loss, use a pencil or a pomade.

Apply the brow filler along your entire eyebrow, following your natural brow line. For a guide, look at a picture of yourself when your brows were shaped to your satisfaction. Once you fill in the eyebrow, brush through it with a small brush to remove excess product and blend thoroughly, so you end up with the most natural looking brow.

five Flash Your Lashes
During and after treatment you may lose only a few lashes, or you may lose all of them. You may opt to replace your eyelashes with false ones, but that can be both cumbersome and risky. They are difficult to put on and the adhesive used to apply false lashes can cause eye infections, particularly when your immune system is compromised. The ideal solution is to apply eyeliner along your lashline for the illusion of a fuller lashline. I prefer to apply a shadow or cake liner, using a moistened eyeliner brush, for the most natural finish and longest staying power. I don't like using liquid liner because it ends up looking like dried paint, and pencils tend to smear.

If you do decide to use a pencil, first apply a bit of powder or eyeshadow on top of your lashline to prevent smearing. Apply a darker line (dark brown or mahogony) on the upper lashline and a lighter color (light brown, taupe) on the lower lashline for a natural look that will lift and open your eyes.

six Hair Cares
Many women find that losing their hair is the most traumatic part of undergoing cancer treatment. But there are ways you can cope and still look good. Try wearing a natural hair wig. It's the most expensive option, but it can be cut and colored, so it looks just like your own hair. You can also get a synthetic wig, for less money. It can be cut, and dyed (but only to a darker color). For fun, change your look entirely, by perhaps going from dark and curly to straight and blond.

seven Massage Much
The stress of living with breast cancer can create a lot of tension in your body. If you are allowed to get one (check with your physician first), a massage is just the ticket to release tension, relax muscles and free your mind. There are a cornucopia of massages to choose from: Deep tissue, Sports, Swedish, Shiatsu. You can even go for a stimulating scalp massage or a reflexology treatment (where specific accupressure points are massaged in your hands and feet, that correspond to parts of the body). By taking time out to get a massage, you are carving out some time just for you ­ and that's time you really need ­ and deserve.

eight Scent-sational Aromatherapy
Scented candles, a favorite fragrance or essential oils can lift your spirit, relax or energize you depending on the scent. Try the stimulating scents such as Grapefruit, Juniper, Lemon, Peppermint or Rosemary. Some relaxing scents include Chamomile, Clary Sage, Jasmine, Lavender, Neroli, Rose, Sandalwood and Ylang Ylang. Get into the habit of lighting scented candles when at home or in the office. It can be incredibly soothing and help to create a peaceful harmonious environment.

Other ways to add scent into your life, include using a commercial electric diffuser or aroma lamp; pouring a few drops of oil into a bowl of water and placing it on a radiator so the heat will spread the scent or filling a mister bottle with a mixture of essential oils and water, and spritzing when the mood moves you.

nine Shop Till You Drop
Go ahead and treat yourself to new clothes, beauty products, toys, makeup, candles, gourmet foods, skin creams or anything else that will help you fight stress by raising your spirits. You're worth indulging!

ten Laugh Lots!
Rent a favorite comedy video, go to a comedy club, read a joke book, lunch with friends who you enjoy. Anything you can do that will put a smile on your face is the most important beauty ritual of the day.