Beauty Products for Breast Cancer Patients

The night I came home from my first chemotherapy treatment, I put on a cold cap and hoped my hair wouldn’t fall out. That lasted a whole 30 minutes until I was freezing and angry. I threw the cap away and decided to let whatever happen just happen. Three weeks later my husband shaved my head in our kitchen.

Losing my hair as a part of treatment for breast cancer was a big bummer. My eyelashes and brows soon followed. My complexion was dull and dry. Luckily I found a lot of great products to use during and after treatment. I hope you find something from this list that helps you. Affiliate links ahead. Your click helps support our blog.

For Your Head

My scalp was so dry and itchy after my hair fell out. A friend gifted me Kiehl’s Magic Elixir Hair Restructuring Concentrate with Rosemary Leaf and Avocado. It was the only product I found that gave me relief plus rosemary is known to stimulate hair regrowth.

Once my hair starting growing back in, I used Nioxin 3-Part System which includes a cleanser, conditioner and scalp treatment. I also starting taking Biotin supplements which is great for hair and nail support but can cause other side effects. Check with your doctor first.

For Your Lashes and Brows

My lashes were really sparse but I had enough to wear mascara. At the time, fiber mascaras weren’t readily available but the mascara I found to give my lashes a longer and fuller appearance was L’Oreal Double Extend Lash Extension Effect. I was desperate for regrowth and forked out $100 for Revitalash which did help my lashes regrow quickly. I eventually got a prescription for Latisse which worked equally as well but was even more expensive. A great, natural alternative is to add one drop of high-quality lavender essential oil to your mascara.

My eyebrows stayed mostly intact but were very thin. I was already using the (now discontinued) Smashbox Brow Tech before chemo and kept using it throughout. It was a powder and wax product that stayed all day. Similar products from Smashbox is Brow Tech To Go and Brow Power from IT Cosmetics. For regrowth, I also used Revitalash.

For Your Skin

My skin was so dull and drab. I used Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate at night which magically made my skin glow by morning. During the day, I mixed a liquid highlighter from Benefit into my foundation to give me a little glow but here are so many great highlighters available today: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector and Clinique Up-Lighting are so fantastic.

Make those cheeks pop! I used Smashbox O-Glow for a flush of color. This is still one of my favorite blushes and I think I need to start using it again. Wet ‘n Wild makes great blushes at a great price. Find a color that works for your skin tone. I absolutely love the Color Icon line.

After chemo, I did weeks of radiation treatment that did a number on my skin. My best advice is to slather aloe on immediately after treatment. I would do this in the dressing room and throw on a white v-neck t-shirt. I still get remarks from doctors who can’t believe I had radiation treatment because my skin looks untouched.

Always protect your skin with a great SPF. My favorite brand is Sun Bum and my ride-or-die is the Trader Joe’s Enrich daily SPF.

This month it will be eight years since I was diagnosed. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments were scary and awful but they were temporary. Your hair will grow back, your skin will glow again and everything will be back to normal before you know it.

If you have any questions, leave a comment below! Also check out our great Breast Cancer Pinterest board which has a ton of excellent pins for patients and survivors.