Making a Lupus Warrior happy with a makeover!

One of my goals this year is to participate in as much outreach programs and give as much support to environment charities as I could. It can be one of the signs of getting older (and wiser!), but I've also come to terms with the fact that if I want to see change in my community, I have to be more proactive. I could choose to either complain or take action on the various problems that our society is facing. I don't want to tolerate the government's inefficiency, but at the same time, I don't just want to stand here and do nothing.

One of my first outreach programs for the year is with Ever Bilena; they invited me to give a makeover to the Lupus warriors of Hope for Lupus Foundation.

The warrior assigned to me was Melba Nillasca.

Melba is in her late 20's and has been battling Lupus since her early 20s, if I am not mistaken. Hope for Lupus is a local organization that provides emotional and community support to Lupus patients and at the same time, educational tools and counseling for families to cope with the sickness.

Melba- BEFORE

 This is Melba. While doing her makeover, I learned a couple of things about the sickness:

1. There are 2 types of Lupus: Systemic (inside) and Cutaneous (outside; on the skin).

2. Lupus is a debilitating disease that requires various maintenance medicine and treatments for its complications; it has no known cure at the moment because its origin is still left to be discovered; a lot say that it is genetic, but according to Melba, there are various origins discovered in some patients so until the main source of the disease is determined, there can be no guaranteed cure.

3. Melba said that a cure has been discovered and will be announced next year, but it comes at a very hefty price tag; Melba was actually one of the people who tested the said cure, but unfortunately, it did not have any effect on her, which still brings up the fact that there is now known cure for Lupus--only maintenance medicine.

A lot are still left to be learned about Lupus and as a community, we are expected to educate ourselves about it so we can make coping easier for the warriors.

I taught Melba some of my personal makeup tips and tricks, and even gave her a mini sesh of my Billion Dollar Brow workshop. She found the tips really useful and it made her even more excited to go home and play with the Ever Bilena products she received that day.

After an hour of chitchat and playing with makeup, here's the look I gave Melba!

Melba-AFTER

Melba loved Ever Bilena Advance's Glow Out Highlighter!

Products used are as follow:

FACE:

EB Advance Stick Foundation (Natural)

EB Advance BB Whitening Flawless Compact (Natural)

EB Advance Contour Shade and Light Palette

EB Advance Lip and Cheek Tint

EB Advance Glow Out Highlighter (Candlelight)

EYES:

EB Advance Brow Pencil (Medium Brown)

EB Advance Eye Define Waterproof Eyeliner (Black)

EB Advance Uncover Eyeshadow Palette

EB Advance Lashes Waterproof Duo Mascara (Black)

LIPS:

EB Advance LTD Liquid Lipstick (Serena)

Melba herself is a makeup lover. She doesn't go out often to showcase her looks because the disease forbids her to live normally like the rest of us, but the fact that she can change her look or enhance it at the very least makes her feel beautiful and empowered. This is why I still talk about the power of self- love through makeup after all these years!

It was a very good day and experience; I learned a lot about the disease and have gained a newfound respect for people who are battling this hard disease; I wish more awareness will be given to Lupus and Lupus warriors to hopefully garner more support for its community.

As I mentioned in my Instagram post about the event, you don't have to travel to see the world in a new light and to widen your appreciation for other people; you just have to see it in the eyes of another.

For more information about the makeup products, please visit EVER BILENA ADVANCE on Facebook.

To learn more about Lupus and to know how you can make a difference in the community, visit HOPE FOR LUPUS OFFICIAL WEBSITE.