10 Products to Mask Signs of Cold or Flu
Eek! With that big dinner party, office presentation or meet-the-parents engagement a few hours away, you find yourself with more than just a case of the sniffles. That pesky cold or flu not only makes you feel awful in mind and body, but chances are you aren’t looking your best either. Because most of us can’t hibernate for an entire week while we have a cold, here are some helpful suggestions to mask common symptoms of illness when you’re under the weather.
Tissues with lotion: Constantly blowing and wiping your nose is incredibly irritating to the delicate tissue of your upper lip and can lead to cracked skin and even infection. So don’t skimp when you buy tissues! Choose tissues that contain soothing lotion, and carry a few sheets in a Ziploc bag to avoid having to use napkins or paper towels.
1. Aloe vera: Moisturize that dry, chapped skin under your nose with a soothing skin treatment containing Aloe vera, helping to reduce irritation and soothe itching and inflammation. Try Peter Thomas Roth Aloe-Cort Cream, a great product that alleviates both itching and inflammation. Ideally, apply a thin coat every time you blow your nose to prevent infection caused by cracked skin.
2. Yellow-based concealer: Leave the shiny red bulb for the reindeer and get your nose back to its normal color! Yellow-based concealers are very effective in counteracting redness under the nose or anywhere on the face. Philosophy makes an excellent concealing product with their Supernatural Concealer in Light or Medium. Stash a tube in your purse for touch-ups throughout the day.
3. Heavy conditioning lip-balm: Painfully chapped lips are a direct result of breathing through the mouth when you have a stuffy nose. But chapped lips aren’t only uncomfortable; they can let infection in. When lips become severely chapped, they cause cracks and fissures, which can get infected with the herpes simplex virus, triggering cold sores. To avoid cold sores, simply use a heavy conditioning lip balm. Shower your lips with hydrating products like Skinceuticals Antioxidant Lip Repair and Kinerase Lip Treatment , which not only relieve chapped lips but also prevent fine lines and wrinkles.
Don’t worry if you’re prone to cold sores: Many can be prevented if you catch them within the first 24 hours, so watch for signs like itching and tingling. Over- the- counter products can treat cold sores quickly and offer pain relieving analgesic ingredients. If you continue to get cold sores, consult your doctor about taking a course of oral anti-viral medication to reduce severity and duration of flare-ups.
4. Eye-firming treatment: You’ve been up all night with a terrible cough and body aches, and the dark bags under your eyes undoubtedly show it. Pick up a cream like Bliss Baggage Handler to combat under-eye darkness and firm puffiness. A great at-home remedy is to place cold tea bags on the eyes for 15 minutes, which reduces swelling, redness and irritation. For bloodshot eyes, over-the-counter eye drops can work wonders.
5. Moisturizer: As you’re fighting off an illness, your body can become dehydrated, an issue for your skin as well. Choose a lightweight, breathable moisturizer to smooth your skin before makeup application like Philosophy The Present Skin Perfector. For exceptionally dry or sensitive skin, try a moisturizing product like Philosophy Hope in a Jar to protect your face from cold air and wind and pamper it with deep hydration.
6. Breathable foundation: Achieve an even and radiant complexion (even with a terrible cold!) by applying a light foundation like Philosophy Supernatural Air Brushed Canvas. Make sure you apply a little more foundation to red areas and a little less to the rest of the face. For extra coverage, finish with a translucent face powder like Joey New York Pure Pores Finishing Powder to keep your makeup looking fresh.
7. Skin highlighter: One of the most noticeable signs of a dreadful cold is that your skin looks completely drained of color. Instead of trying to cover this up by going heavy on the makeup and too much blush or foundation, opt for a natural looking peach or pink-toned blush to give your skin a little glow. For radiant cheeks, try Colorescience Retractable Blusher Brush-Blushing Bride. If your skin is too dry to use powder formulas, choose a lotion or gel.
Colorescience Pep Up Gel will moisturize the skin with light reflective pigments to correct redness and add a soft glow. To highlight the eyes, use a soft gray or brown shadow, according to WebMD, but skip the eyeliner if your eyes are watery. Water-resistant mascara is the final touch.
8. Dry Shampoo: We’re all guilty of skipping the shampoo and blow-dry routine when we’re sick, but nothing makes you feel grungier than oily roots. For a quick-fix, use dry shampoo like Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo to freshen your strands and keep the oil from your scalp from working through the rest of your hair. Just distribute a small amount and brush it through, and repeat if necessary.
9. A rejuvenating bath: After a long day, lift your spirits with a relaxing mineral bath made with sea salts to soak away tension and stress. For a bath containing soothing aloe vera, try H2O Plus Rejuvenating Natural Spring Mineral Bath. To enjoy the cleansing, smooth and stimulating benefits of essential oils, try Dermalogical Hydro Active Mineral Salts with lemon, rosemary and tea tree, sandalwood, lavender, orange, coriander, cinnamon and ginger.