Image from panik-design
Free yourself of flakes- When you’re sick, you take medicine to combat your stuffy, runny nose. Unfortunately, these decongestant medicines also dry out your skin. Combine that with constant nose blowing and rubbing and you’ve got yourself a flaky situation. Gently exfoliate your skin with a soft, clean washcloth or this. If your nose is extremely red and excoriated, skip it.
Moisten up- Follow your mother’s advice and drink plenty of fluids. This will not only help to prevent dehydration, but also give your skin some much needed moisture. Now is the time to get your humidifier up and running while you sleep to make breathing easier, and help soften your skin at the same time. Slather your skin in ceramide rich moisturizers to make the most of the added humidity. Your nose and lips will need some additional TLC throughout the day, use this mineral oil free super salve to keep these sensitive tissues hydrated. A word on tissues, go for the softest you can find but nix buying the lotion ones, they’re made with mineral oil {AKA the Devil} and they can clog your pores. Pimples while you have a cold? Way to kick a girl when she’s down!
Cold sore damage control- Fever blisters. Cold sores. Whatever you call them they’re not fun. They can be another unpleasant side effect when you’re sick. But don’t stress {a known trigger} there are ways to deal. First use your OTC or prescription topical medication as directed. If you are prone to cold sores you can try taking L-Lysine supplements, as many people experience success with these natural treatments. Don’t pick at your skin, it will only make matters worse. Keep the affected area clean and hydrated {see super salve above}. Using a clean makeup brush you can apply opaque yellow based concealer on top of the blister to help reduce the redness. Unfortunately, and what I tell my clients, you can’t change the texture of your skin, but you can make it look more even and uniform in color. Go for a distraction elsewhere with your makeup; play up your eyes to minimize attention to your mouth.
Redness removal- When it comes to your makeup when you’re sick, definitely embrace the less is more approach. If you can’t be home nursing yourself back to health, and you have to face the world, there are some ways to make it doable. Use a yellow based tinted moisturizer or foundation to counteract redness. Use a creamy concealer around your nose and down the center of your face {where we are the reddest, thank you hormones}. For under eye circles, use a warm shade of concealer to combat the darkness and shadows of sleepless nights. Use minimal powder just to set your makeup, or skip it altogether and use oil blotting sheets. Warm up your skin with bronzer, or use a tawny shade of blush, but avoid a rosy blush or lipstick as this will only accentuate your existing redness.
Pretty peepers- For your eyes, definitely curl your lashes and reach for waterproof mascara. To help make your eyes look less bloodshot, try a navy mascara to make your eyes look snowy white. If you’re going to attempt eye liner, make sure it’s waterproof. You want to make it look as though your actually alive and alert, fake it with this makeup editorial trick. Take a white or beige eye liner and trace it gently over the waterline of the bottom lashes. This will help your eyes look more open and less red.
Remember; when you’re sick treat yourself like a kitten. Accept this temporary glitch and you’ll be back to picture perfect health in no time.
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These are great tips! I always get my annual cold in December sometime. This post will come in handy for sure!
[...] negative. Think of it as makeup misdirection. I first made mention of makeup misdirection with my How To: Look Great When Battling a Cold post and the same rules apply. Below are some tips and tricks to bring out your inner [...]