Covering up burns, scars and scorch marks - a master of disguise for winter

Luckily, I am female. That means I have a plethora of fashionable clothes to choose from and several make-up choices at my disposal. Yes, it will take some time to adjust to high necked and long sleeves...but with internet research and free delivery, I can try them out in the safety of my own home.

I have always been more The Only Way Is Essex
than Made in Chelsea.

I am really reluctant to give up looking good, to cover up.

But then I thought...don't lots of people do this everyday???

I am one of the lucky few who loves the gym, enjoys running and likes eating healthily. As a consequence I (pre-accident) have a trim figure. Yet most people have bits they dislike: less-toned arms, post baby-stomach, chunky thighs. The key is not to think about covering up bits but exposing the best bits! Well, it made Gok Wan his fortune...

Scarves
Scarves are one of my new favourite things. They look excellent on men too. As winter is coming up in the UK, scarves are the perfect cover-up. Forever21 do an excellent, affordable collection. http://www.forever21.com/UK/Product/Category.aspx?br=f21&category=acc_scarf_gloves I have bought several and now have a huge range of colours and weights.

Jumpers
I've mostly found that plain jumpers with a contrasting coloured scarf swathed over the top looks the most appealing. Most jumpers, however chunky, usually don't go high enough up the neck. I have found some excellent ones from Primark at £5 each, so you can buy every colour. Alternatively, roll-necks work well. They are especially good to go under pretty tops that you want to wear but find an unsuitable shape.

Show your shape
If you have a nice figure, you can still show it off. There are a lot of long sleeve dresses, that combined with tights (if needed) or a scarf (if needed) would look very flattering. There is no need to wear shapeless clothes (unless of course you need to give your injury space. Then you should wear whatever is comfortable.)

Lace is also really fashionable at the moment which is perfect to hide discolourations of the skin. Just make sure the lace isn't too scratchy on sensitive skin.

Pussy bow dresses and blouses are also very popular at the moment and a godsend to the covered up look! They are flattering on most shapes although if you have a very big bust you might look better with layers of co-ordinating colour rather than a block colour across your chest.

Good underwear
Underwear can really help your outfit. I am having to wear a really good strapless bra, as I can't do straps. However, I have figured out I can have a strap on one side from the front, over the shoulder and attached to the opposite side at the back. This gives a bit more support. I am going to be wearing a lace bodysuit under quite a lot of my clothes. These are fashionable and cover up a world of issues! I washed mine first to help soften them. Search for bodysuits to find a selection.



Jewellery
Jewellery can be used as a focal point, to misdirect the gaze. I burnt my ear badly, so earrings are out for a couple of years. My right forearm is badly scorched but I can't always wear sleeves to the wrist! Instead I have been wearing a big bracelet and statement ring on my left arm. I have noticed that the person's gaze is drawn to my non-injured arm because of the bling! It's difficult but I'm practising gesticulating with my left arm too (I'm right-handed) to further minimise people noticing. Misdirection! It sounds silly but it works for Derren Brown!

Armery - Thanks Mary Portas!
Armery has been designed as a bingo-wing-holder-inner for ladies who want to wear sleeveless fashions. Indirectly, they are also a brilliant cover-up for anyone who has an injury on their arm! Lots of outfits I've found have high necks but are sleeveless and this will be just the thing to sort out that problem. You could also wear them under t-shirts, as they are quite discreet. http://www.mytights.com/gb/findit/mary-portas.html?limit=30&gclid=CMOM5eKLmKwCFYEZ4QodiggFPQ

Hair
If you can, get a good hair style. My hair burnt off quite badly at the front and I had to have the sides and some of the back shaved. I am aware I'm very lucky that I've got thick hair but I'm even luckier I have a good hairdresser. She came round to do my hair at home and she went through my injuries with me, to make sure she didn't catch me in the wrong places. I felt more comfortable this way. She cut me in a thick fringe to cover up all the lost, stumpy and spiky bits. She evened out the charcoaled ends. Already, it looked so much better. Next, I had a few packets of bleach to cover up my roots as I had to wear my hair up all the time.

Roll on 2 months and the fringe is long enough to brush to one side, reminiscent of my original side-sweep. I went to the salon for a full head of highlights and went bright, bright blonde! Doing this made me feel like I have more control over my appearance.

The only thing to be cautious of is colouring...if you have had a burn on or near your head you might want to avoid putting all over colour on these areas. Packets are much more controlled.

Make-up
If, like me, you are able to use camouflage make-up then work out what you want to highlight and what you want to disguise. I make my face a blank colour and then join up where the red patches are (under the make-up) with very pink blusher. This works because if the make-up comes off at all, the blusher helps blend the red patches together. I just look very flushed!

Another trick I am using is dark, smoky eyes. Lots of mascara, eyeliner etc. Then I cover my lips in the Dermablend concealer and white them out. This means you can't really see my blurred loss of lipline. I try to draw people to my big blonde hair and smoky eyes. Misdirection!

Lastly....

SMILE
No one wants to talk to angry looking, unsmiley people...well-dressed or not! You could look fabulous but if you aren't smiling, what's the point? You will find your own style again, it might take a while if you're on a budget like me or if you have a lot to heal up but you will look and feel fabulous again in time. It takes practise, perseverance and a positive attitude. Sometimes I look in the mirror and all I can see is graft, rash, red, red, RED! But then I remember it's early days and I get to work.

I love the sun; it no longer loves me.

Yes, this is me. I may be of fair English heritage but I love the sun. I've always been careful in the sun (factor 30-50 depending on location) but I do love to sunbathe. Unfortunately, this is something I have to give up.

I counteract this depressing fact with the thought that come 50 years of age, I will look 10 years younger than all my peers.

Initially, I have to be EXTREMELY careful in the sun.

As the nurse said to me...if I catch the sun, even the winter sun, my skin could hyperpigment and I could be left with brown patches on my skin. Her exact, bone-chilling prophecy was 'if this happens, there's nothing we can do for you.'

Added to the aesthetically hideous threat of brown patches is the fear of blistering in the sun. I have been warned that because my skin is damaged, it could blister in heat.

I'm not sure what level of sun or even 'winter' sun I would be able to withstand. So I am not taking any risks. I do plan to go on holiday next year...somewhere hot and beautiful....but I will be planning for it as though I were a hyper-sun-sensitive-red-headed-freckled-pale-faced-English-person. Or, a person with a burns injury.

1) UV parasols. I bought a UV parasol from EBAY.



UV parasols are still very popular in Japan and have featured throughout their history.

As pale, flawless skin has always been treasured in Japan, UV parasols have always been important. The Geisha, with their white face, highlights this dedication to pale skin. Although the parasols have a function to serve, they also are very pretty.



Thanks to the wonder that is EBAY, you can choose from a range of parasol design.



And yes, people do look at you. But that's because they suffer from something else. Ignorance.

I love the heart shaped one above from http://www.umbrellaheaven.com

Sun-cream

Although I feel safer under an umbrella at the moment, I am also going to be lathering myself in factor 50+. Even in the equally threatening 'winter sun!' It is only my face and ear that I am exposing at the moment but as I continue to heal and expose more flesh (!) I will have to use it in greater quantities and might have to opt for a cheaper one. Right now though, my skin is sensitive so it is treated as though it belongs to Cleopatra!

The sun cream I use at the moment is by La Roche Posay 50+ and is very gentle. I chose the 'fluid' version which is like a milk and sinks in very easily. For someone who had sensitive and spot prone skin pre-burn, you can imagine how gentle the products I use need to be. It can bought from Boots and is around £15 for 30ml.

http://www.laroche-posay.co.uk/topics/specific-treatments/For-sensitive-or-sun-allergy-prone-skin-t129.aspx



UV T-Shirts

The last thing that I will get for my holiday next year is a UV T-shirt. As my burns are all upper body, I will be able to wear this in the pool over my bikini. (I can take it off once safety under an umbrella. I am still quite vain!) This means that, teamed with a big hat, I can still go in the sea or in the pool.

If you have a burn then there is no reason you shouldn't enjoy yourself (I don't think) but you need to be very responsible (sigh) and think of all the things that could make you uncomfortable for cause problems. For me, having this level of control is comforting. It makes me feel like I can handle situations, as I have prepared myself for every eventuality.

http://www.sun-togs.co.uk/catalog/125

Sun togs does a women's and men's range. They don't come cheap! If anyone has bought these and has a better source, please let me know!!!

Guide to using Dermablend Camouflage Make-Up

These are the three products I use to create a pretty much flawless finish.

Vichy Dermablend Ultra-Corrective Foundation Cream Stick 12g-Porcelain 11

Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation 30ML Shade 'Nude' with SPF 20


Vichy Dermablend Corrective Cosmetics Fixing Powder in Clear


I looked for advice when buying and trying these products and I really struggled to find anything helpful. I watched the Dermablend video on their website http://www.vichyconsult.ie/franchises/dermablend.aspx which made it look very easy. It's worth a watch but remember, you are going to need to practise, practise, practise!

STEP ONE

It's really going to depend on your skin type but with this make-up I have found that it lasts longer if first you prep your skin. For me, this means doing nothing as I have quite greasy skin naturally. However, you should moisturise before you apply this make up if you have very dry skin. Otherwise the colour seems to get stuck on the skin and look uneven in texture. If you do moisturise, you must make sure it is totally and completely soaked in. I would leave at least 15 minutes or so.

Another thing I have discovered. If you are wearing any silicone gels on your face for scarring (such as Kelo-cote) then you must either leave it off or make sure it is totally dry. You are meant to put the thinnest sheen of the gel on so it dries very quickly but if it is even in the least tacky your make-up will clump on it.

As the areas you are treated are probably the areas you want to cover, leave a decent amount of time for the gel to dry! Otherwise you will just get frustrated and be late on your way out!

STEP TWO

Get your corrective foundation (tube.) Although mine is in a 'nude' shade, it looks really dark and a bit scary! I was really worried I'd look 'The Only Way is Essex' orange so the first few times I applied it sparsely. This only gives a patchy look.

I stand in a slightly darkened room, or in front of a mirror that doesn't have fluorescent light that highlights every little flaw!

Put a pea size amount (to start) on the back of your hand. Dab your 3 middle finger tips in it. Smear it onto your face in a sweeping moment from your nose outwards across your cheeks. On the good side of my face this is enough but on the other side I also have to cover up my chin, under my chin and part of my neck.

You will probably need some more for across your forehead and eyebrows. You should use enough to cover all your face. Don't worry about it looking too dark. The foundation looks dark on your hand but I think this is due to the level of pigments in it. On your face it seems to sink in and adjust to your skin tone. The key is not to be afraid and not to skimp!

STEP THREE

Now you have an overall colour, you are going to use the Corrective Concealer stick to camouflage the scars or brightest patches. It is like a thick pan stick.

Wash the foundation off the back of your hand so you can put concealer there now. The back of your hand is like your paint palette. Rub the concealer stick vigorously back and forth across the back of your hand, about an inch in length. This is to help warm it up and become more malleable. Once you have a thick patch on the back of your hand, use one finger (I use my middle finger) to rub over the concealer and get a decent amount on your fingerpad. Then firmly dab the colour onto the smaller areas you want to cover. If it is a large area you want to cover, dab the concealer stick directly on to the area and then blend in.

With the concealer stick it is better to build the colour up slowly. It is quite greasy and will dislodge if you knock it or scrape it at this point, so once you are happy with it or you are nearly there, use a lighter and lighter touch to add product so you don't knock it off.

This does take some practise but it definitely works once you have the hang of it. The concealer I have chosen is quite light in colour compared to my skin and that seems to work well.

STEP FOUR

You must fix your makeup using setting powder in order for it to work. I find that I have to fix my makeup a couple of times through the day.

I have only used the clear powder, which doesn't affect the colour of the foundation. You literally dab it on using the puff and wait for 2 minutes. Then using a large brush, delicately sweep the powder away. I use a plentiful amount of fixing powder to make sure it works!

Once the powder is set you can apply your own blusher and so on. I have found that you have to be quite gentle if you are brushing blusher on.

STEP FIVE

Hopefully your face is looking flawless now!

What you need to do will vary depending on your scarring and facial redness but mine goes over my eyelids and brow bones. I have found that using thick creme eyeshadows like this from Benefit http://www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk/gp/product/B000OHEZO6/sr=1-25/qid=1318885453/ref=sr_1_25/278-2017691-2815115?ie=UTF8&n=48844031&bcBrand=core really work well covering up redness. (On top of Dermablend!)

I also have lost some of my lip outline which I hope to have tattooed back on in the future. However until then, I outline my lips in a bright colour (pink, red...) and then fill them in. Although I've lost some of the outline, it isn't noticeable when I draw it back on with a very fine lip brush.

If you have any questions or tips, please let me know! I haven't had my make-up lesson yet (on the NHS, prescription make-up) so I might have some information in a week or so.

I also plan to try out a primer or base before I apply make-up to see if this might help fix it in place further.

Cover (up!) Girl

One of the hardest things for me to cope with has been the cosmetic side of a burns injury.

I am VERY lucky that I have only got a tiny scar under my nose, one under my eye and one on my forehead near my hairline. My main issue is that my face is red/scorched. AND I keep getting spots on the damaged skin. (I say spots, they are more like little blisters.)

The only positive thing is that my eyelashes have grown back longer!!!!

One of the things I have experimented with is camouflage make-up. I am having a makeup lesson this week but I've had to wait 3 months for it, too long when you feel very self conscious. So I did some googling and set out with very little information....

I couldn't find much guidance for camouflage makeup, so I have created a post to help others.

I have also had to update - ok, replace - my wardrobe as my clothes are completely inappropriate now. I have created a couple of posts with some of the ingenious ideas I've had....

In my 'disguise,' no one would know I've had an accident and while I continue to recover, this is such a comfort!!!