Caught that dreadful cold that’s being passed around? Even though you may feel sick, these tips will help you look great.

 

We’re right in the middle of flu season and germs are being passed around like hot cakes. It happens to all of us. Those mornings you wake up feeling awful because you picked up a cold along with that box of cereal at the grocery store the night before. Your skin is dull, your head is congested, and your eyes – yeah, they’re puffy to say the least. We know the feeling. That’s why we’ve gathered these tips for looking great, even when you may feel your worst.

 

1. Stay hydrated (on the inside and out)

 

 

 

Of course you know how important it is to drink plenty of water every day, but especially when you’re under the weather. Just as important is keeping your skin hydrated as well. A rich moisturizer can help restore water in the skin and soothe redness and itching, creating a more vital, energized look.

 

2. Don’t skimp on tissues

 

 

Getting sick is bad enough without having to deal with a sore nose. It might seem obvious, but treating your nose to good, quality tissues is super important. Rough tissues can irritate your nose and surrounding skin and can even cause broken capillaries. They’re scent free and cool to the touch, which is incredibly soothing on an irritated nose.

 

3. Soothe those puffy eyes

 

We’ve got a few tricks for soothing the under eye bags and puffy eyes that unwantedly tag along with a cold:

 

– Try sleeping with your head elevated on a couple of pillows to drain fluids that have accumulated in the eyes.

 

– Applying cold, wet tea bags to your eyes for about 15 minutes will help de-puff and wake up tired eyes.

 

 

– Try storing your favorite eye cream in the fridge. The cool cream will feel refreshing and further help to decrease under eye bags and is formulated with two much needed ingredients when your skin is dehydrated and dull – hyaluronic acid and caffeine. The hyaluronic acid will help infuse the skin with moisture (and keep it there for 24 hours) and the caffeine, as you can imagine, will perk up your peepers.

 

– Eye drops – cooling, lubricating ones – are always a yes when feeling sick.

 

4. Stick with gloss

 

 

A pop of color will definitely brighten your look, but stay away from lipstick, as they can be drying on already chapped lips. A lip gloss offers a fresher, more light-reflective look. Find a gloss that’s packed with argan oil, vitamin E, and omega 3 to keep lips soft and supple.

 

5. Bronzer is your best friend

 

 

 

Bronzer can be a lifesaver when you’re paler than you ever thought possible. Just a light sweep of a light-reflective bronzer on your cheekbones and forehead can bring life back into skin by giving it a sun-kissed glow. Look for a cream-based product which will look natural on dry, winter skin.

 

6. Stick to the basics

 

 

Unfortunately, when you’re sick isn’t the time to try out a new smokey eye or a bright, red lip. Instead, stick to a simple, light makeup routine. A little concealer under the eyes, around the nose, and on any blemishes, plus a sweep of bronzer and mascara is all you need.