Color Blocking

4 / 30 / 132 / 10 / 14

The good new is… Look at my nose! This camera doesn’t pick up the details that are still bugging me, but the skin graft scar is starting to settle down. Also, I’m getting a little better at the coverup action. A lot of the time I go with concealer only — no foundation or powder, which can accentuate the lumps and lines instead of hiding them. Today I’m using Lancome’s Maquicomplet in the Camee shade, which is darker than my actual skin tone, but seems to do well against the scar, which is still a little red. The creamy liquid is enriched with a hydrating botanical complex, antioxidant protection and light-diverting agents, which seems to be a magical combo for me. Also, it never gets flaky. Which is good because I have enough stuff going on with my beak right now.

Meanwhile, the bad news is… Crutches! I thought twice about revealing this, concerned that regular readers may start to think I have major bad medical mojo. That would be one way of looking at it, especially since someone mentioned that my warranty must be up. But I prefer to think that I am renewing it. In this case, a toe alignment issue (aka brutal mutant bunion) meant there was no way around it: the operation had to be done. But with this color blocking going on, this post had to be done. I’m loving this royal blue shirt, especially now that I’ve realized I don’t have to wait for a flat abs day to wear it, if I layer something flowy underneath. The brand is confusingly called Ttee, so good luck googling that one. I picked it up at Anthropologie, which always has unique casual wear. Grey shirt, Armani Exchange. Skinny pants, Mossimo for Target — USA Target since they still haven’t opened in Calgary yet. Shoes, Adidas. I tried to channel Marilyn from the time she sprained her ankle while filming in Banff, but she makes the crutches look sexier than I ever could. However — you know what she didn’t have? An Aircast!! But let’s face it, even with the suspiciously Nike-like air technology, there is no style going on here at all. For $160, you’d think I could at least get a choice in colors. That’s right, my American friends! Canadian healthcare has a lot of good points, but every once in a while, the government decides you’re on your own when it comes to paying for parts of it. And the medical supply store knows you don’t have time to go online and buy the cast for $84.99. However, I digress from the real issue here: if your toes are going to be peeping out from any type of cast, whether it has foam-filled air cells or not, they better be pretty. Luckily I stocked up on a couple of bottles from L’Oreal’s Colour Riche Trend Setter Collection: Crazy For Chic, left, and Members Only, right. My toes are wearing Members Only. Take that, Marilyn! Meanwhile, let’s both ignore the guy on the walk sign behind me, making it look easy.

A Nose By Any Other Name

4 / 14 / 132 / 10 / 14

Could a nose by any other name smell as sweet? My nose still smells sweet scents, so I’m thankful for that.But I’m still dealing with the exciting daily changes of my maturing skin graft, after my brilliant surgeon disposed of the unwanted and univited basal cell carcinoma lurking in my nose. My camera doesn’t pick up all the nitty gritty, but there is major redness, some new scar tissue that scares me (but supposedly if I keep massaging the area it will not be too bad) and a few dents, lumps and bumps. One day I’ll post the Entire Ordeal, but I haven’t quite gotten to it yet. Meanwhile, The Great Coverup begins: my official experiment with primers, concealers, foundations and powder.

I started with L’Oreal’s True Match Super-blendable Crayon Concealer, and I have to say, I don’t think it’s fair to judge a coverup based on my nose situation. I probably should be turning to some medical-grade scar hider. But, let’s be real here, I prefer to experiment with fashion brands. They’re so much more fun. And I will judge, because, don’t we all?

The crayon concealer was a little too dry for my skin. Since I have so many weird little holes to fill in right now, I need something that is more liquid. However, it would be a handy concealer to tote in your purse, if you have skin that is more oily. And I only tried it on the skin from behind my ear that is now on my nose. I’ll give it a chance next time I have a pimple. Cuz guess what, kiddies? They never stop.True Match foundation glides on easy and was a great match for my skin. L’Oreal has a huge line so that everyone can find their color. I used N2, Classic Ivory, to tone down the natural pinkness around my nose area, so that a blob of coverup wouldn’t be more obtrusive. If you check back to my initial experimentation in Banff, you’ll see I wasn’t doing so well with that. So, the foundation is key and blend is the most important action. On the whole, though, I am blessed with nice skin, even if it is kind of pink, so for daily wear, I don’t use it on my entire face. However, if it ever stops snowing in Calgary, I may go for little more, considering the SPF 17 these bottles are packing. And since this foundation comes complete with vitamins B&E, using more would be more healthy wouldn’t it?In the name of distraction, I also tried these fab new blushes from L’Oreal: Visible Lift Color Blush, with zero talc and zero wax. I went with the one on the left tonight. The blushes have a slight gold shimmer in them, and the powder almost feels a little liquidy. Yet they go on evenly and have great staying power. Apparently it’s because of the Tourmaline. Touted as one of nature’s most naturally energizing minerals, it’s suposed to add radiance and luminosity to aging skin. Which I totally do not need because I will never age. Just like Andie MacDowell, who they are using for their blush campaign. Love her. And, oh, there’s this river in Egypt…Here’s the finished look. I probably should have blended the foundation a little further up my nose between my eyes – fyi that little red mark has nothing to do with the big C. It’s probably just cuz I’m thinking too hard. Or not enough.

On the rest of my face: L’Oreal Rose Gold Lift blush, True Match foundation, True Match crayon concealer, Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara, Sephora 471C lipstick (doesn’t seem to have a name but it’s their house brand) and Sonia Kashuk nude spice gloss on the lips. I felt so good I actually Went Out Into Public. Deets on the delicious eats I had here.

Bandage Bonanza

3 / 26 / 132 / 10 / 14

It’s almost time for me to get rid of my security ~~blanket~~ bandage. Curious George has helped me to blow off curious inquiries with good humor.Bert has been a pal when I just wanted to geek out with a fellow nose-challenged… muppet. Oscar talked trash so I didn’t have to. Elastoplast has endless options.Grover has taken me from day into night… … for a run along my favorite path in Calgary. The pedestrian suspension bridge across the Elbow River is like a bouncy castle for adults — a brief break from our Serious Workouts. If you could be serious with Grover on your nose.

However, muppet jokes aside, the reason he’s there is serious. After Mohs cancer surgery to remove a basal cell carcinoma and a skin graft to fill up the ensuing hole, I have diligently protected the new skin. They tell me a scar takes a year to mature. Soon I’ll write about the whole process here on the blog. I’ve documented it every step of the way, along with all the ~~gory~~ exciting pictures. It might not be the height of fashion, but it’s definitely Love Life.

In the meantime, I’m going to move on from adhesives. Into primer, concealer, foundation and powder! Stay tuned.

You Should See The Other Guy!

2 / 26 / 132 / 10 / 14

“What the heck happened to your nose?”

In Calgary, people don’t mess around. They’re friendly, forthright and I don’t want to bum them out by waxing medical. Especially when it’s that burly guy leaning out the window of his F-350. Suddenly, there’s an Opening For Smalltalk. So why get all serious?

“You should see the other guy,” I say.

“Atta girl!”

Telling the truth would be a downer. People aren’t expecting to hear the real reason. Just like I never expected it to happen to me.

Sometimes, when I’m trapped in an elevator, a stranger will get the party going first. “How’s the other guy look?” And I oblige by saying, “Worse than me!”

When my bandage was bigger, someone pointed out to me that if I was a victim of domestic abuse, this type of chit-chat would be a uncool. It all kind of is, but what can you do?

It’s been an experience in human reaction. After surgery to remove basal cell carcinoma and a skin graft to cover the wound, when I had huge, white bandages on my nose and ear, I tried not to leave my house, but sometimes I had to. Children stared and didn’t return my smile. Adults averted their eyes. For the most part, I tried to scurry by people without connecting.

One question gets under my skin, so to speak. Because I loved my nose. I even doubled for Sharon Stone in Beautiful Joe (straight to video, if you’re wondering) who is extremely particular about her profile. Which I can totally understand.

So when people ask me, “Did you get a nose job?”

– and someone does, almost every day –

I’m usually pretty blunt: “No, I had skin cancer.”This limited edition collection of Mickey Mouse Band-Aids has a good selection for these type of scenarios, like the one I’m wearing in the top photo, with Ms. Mouse socking it to the Mister. Because that Minnie, she doesn’t take shit from anyone.