Infuse Moisture. Illness dehydrates your skin leaving it pale, dry, and flaky, especially under the nose you're constantly blowing. Hydrate your skin with an emollient-rich moisturizer, reapplying over any patches that are severely dry. A deep moisturizer designed for hands or feet will be very affective.

Treat Lips. Chapped lips are common when you're ill. You can lightly exfoliate your lips with a clean makeup sponge to smooth the surface, and then apply a waxy lip balm to soothe and protect skin. Finish with a neutral-shaded gloss that will brighten your face without drawing too much attention to your lips. If you have a cold sore, steer clear of exfoliating or applying balm or makeup, so that you won't spread the virus to other parts of your lips. Treat cold sores with an over-the-counter gel and then leave your lips alone.

Soothe Eyes. Start by minimizing redness with eye drops. Then, gently press a washcloth, cucumber slices, or wet tea bags against your eyes for five minutes. This will shrink puffiness and soothe skin.

Even Skin Tone. Use color corrector to neutralize redness. If you don't have a color corrector, a green-tinted moisturizer can also do the trick, since green can off-set redness.

Conceal Problem Spots. After moisturizing and color correcting, apply concealer around the eyes and nose. Opt for a wet or creamy formula, since dry products may begin to flake in a few hours. Use foundation to even out skin tone, but keep in mind that blowing your nose may make it blotchy after awhile, so it's better to keep it light.

Give Cheeks Color. Blush can perk up a pale, wan face. Apply it as you normally do.

Brighten Eyes. Use makeup to draw the eye upwards to your eyes (and away from cold sores or runny noses!) Light colors with a touch of shimmer will make lids look awake. Since eyes may be teary, waterproof mascara is a must!

Throw Away Applicators. Your make-up tools can spread germs, so use disposable applicators while you're ill and throw them away when you're feeling better.

Putting on your best "I'm not sick" face is about more than vanity. Researchers have discovered that people who feel good about themselves and interact with others boost their immune systems. So consider your fresh face efforts an investment in preventing getting sick!

 


 

Sources:

Dermablend.com. "How to Apply." Dermablend Manufacturer's Website. Web. 2012
http://www.dermablend.com/howtoapply/

Infection.thelancet.com: "Understanding the Symptoms of the Common Cold and Influenza." The Lancet Journal. Vol 5. Web. November 2005.
http://140.116.58.126:8080/%E5%85%92%E7%A7%91/Feb-27.pdf