Look Good...Feel Better | Press

An Innovative Global Program Serving Cancer Patients Expands its Reach

The Cosmetics Industry is Using its Resources Globally to Help Women
Undergoing Cancer Treatment Look Good and Feel Better

PARIS — A unique program spearheaded by the cosmetics industry celebrates its growth and commits to continue to help as many cancer patients as possible globally, according to the 2nd International Meeting of Look Good…Feel Better® held in Paris recently.

Look Good…Feel Better Program Directors and cosmetic industry executives from each country met recently in Paris to discuss program goals and share ideas on creating greater public awareness. South Africa, the newest Look Good…Feel Better program, was launched January. One of the longest running international programs is based in Australia for more than 14 years.

“The impact of cancer is something that knows no boundaries, no specific language or culture,” said Carolyn Deaver, vice president of the Personal Care Products Council Foundation, pointing to the growing need for the program and the global expansion of Look Good…Feel Better in countries around the world.

Look Good…Feel Better, a cancer support program that teaches beauty techniques and provides free cosmetics needed to overcome the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment, began in the U.S. 15 years ago. It has now expanded to 17 countries and has served nearly 700,000 women worldwide in 2003 alone. Countries currently offering programs include: Australia, Argentina, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Giorgio Galli, Executive Vice-President of Corporate Communications and External Affairs at L’Oréal opened the meeting by saying, “Beauty is a serious, relevant business with a mission to enhance the well-being of men, women and children around the world. Cosmetics products have the power to motivate, uplift and transform people. They are not just futile and frivolous, but have real and tangible benefits to improve self-esteem. The Cosmetics Industry, being a successful industry, recognizes its social obligation to ‘give something back to society’ in a non-political and non-commercial manner.”

“Improving the quality of life of American consumers, especially women, has always been our commitment,” said Ed Kavanaugh, president of the Personal Care Products Council. “Through our work with Look Good…Feel Better, we are doing what we do best be providing resources and support to women undergoing cancer treatment.”

The cosmetics industry donates more than $10 million worth of cosmetics to Look Good…Feel Better participants in the U.S. each year. During the two-hour Look Good…Feel Better session, patients receive the free make-up kit and volunteer cosmetologists provide expert advice, offering participants instruction on caring for their skin, applying makeup, and coping with hair loss to help counteract the appearance-related side affects of cancer treatment.

Since 1989, the Personal Care Products Council Foundation, in partnership with the American Cancer Society and the National Cosmetology Association, has worked to improve the quality of life of more than 370,000 cancer survivors in the U.S. by helping them approach their disease and treatment plan with greater confidence. More information can be found at www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org.

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