For the young women at 'Look Good, Feel Better' therapy, it's not about chemotherapy, medicine or transfusions.
Here they can focus on polishing, pampering, massages and make up.
The women are all strangers but linked by an ugly condition -- cancer. For many of them, it's their first time experimenting with make-up.
The 'Look Good Feel Better' workshops are for cancer patients of all ages and started in the States after a patient who was given a makeover after struggling with hair loss.
Make-up artists volunteer and make-up is donated or bought with donations.
18-year-old Sam France who leads the workshop understands exactly what the young women are going through.
She was diagnosed with cancer aged 14 and a tough time was made worse when she reacted badly to her treatment. She had strokes, diabetes and seizures.
She was reluctant when she received an invite to a 'Look Good Feel Better' workshop and was reluctant, but girls the same age as her were going through what she was and she made a few friends.
"I was in a bad frame of mind, I was depressed, lonely and I came here thinking I wasn't going to get much out of it," says France.
The workshop inspired her to become a make-up artist and give back to those who are suffering like she was.
But being able to feel pretty and pampered is a relief and luxury escape for the women and now 38,000 Kiwi cancer patients have attended these workshops.
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