So, I’d planned to do an outfit post, but I’ve gotten a nasty little cold.  This means that I’ve been all bundled up in P.Js and track pants, and I figured you wouldn’t want to see that.

Instead, I thought that I’d talk a little bit about my beauty routine when I’m feeling under the weather.

Skin

My skin tends to get super dry when I’ve got a cold.  My poor nose in particular gets very red and irritated from all the nose-blowing.  To combat this, I like to pare back my makeup routine and increase hydration.

If I can help it, I don’t wear any makeup when I’m sick.  It seems like a waste of time, because constant contact with tissues tends to rub off any foundation, my chapped lips look awful with lipstick and runny eyes and mascara do not mix.  I find that often I look better without it.  If I absolutely can’t handle the idea of going out bare-faced, I’ll wear a tinted moisturiser, lip balm and maybe a little swipe of blush.

To start with, one of the best things you can do while you’re sick is drink plenty of fluids.  In addition to helping you to get better and ward off dehydration, it will help to nurture your skin.

I like to wash my face with a gentle cleanser twice a day.  Then I’ll apply a liberal dose of face cream, concentrating on any areas that are looking particularly dry.  My favourite face cream for sick days is Olay’s moisturising lotion for sensitive skin. It’s really hydrating and it doesn’t irritate my skin.  I also like to use a bit of eye cream around my eyes to combat puffiness.  I like Palmers line-smoothing eye lotion.

Lips

Whenever I get a cold, my lips inevitably end up sore and chapped unless I remember to apply lip balm on a regular basis.  I like a balm that’s quite thick and smooth, without any stickiness.  My favourites are the Lip Smackers range, which come in a huge array of flavours and are super-cheap.  I’ll apply a decent coat to my lips a couple of times a day, particularly after eating and before taking a nap.

Eyes

Colds and flu are a recipe for dry, irritated eyes.  I avoid any eye makeup until I’m completely well again.  I also make sure that I leave my contacts at home until my eyes are fully rested.  It’s glasses all the way for me when I’m ill.  If my eyes are feeling a bit irritated, I’ll apply some gentle eye drops to soothe them.   Murine’s Sore Eyes drops are great.  Be sure to choose a drop especially formulated for sore, irritated eyes.  A lot of drops on the market are only useful for reducing the appearance of red eyes, and won’t actually make you feel any better.

Body

While I’m sick, I like to avoid any products that have strong scents or perfumes.  The mucus membranes in your nose and throat are very sensitive and prone to irritation when you have a cold, so steering clear of strong-smelling products is a good idea.  My body lotion of choice for sick-days is Dove’s Summer Glow, which has only a slight scent and a built-in self-tanner to give you a subtle glow.  I also use Dove’s cucumber deodrant, which isn’t strongly scented.

Hair

I hate washing my hair when I’ve got a cold.  As a result, I usually wind up with greasy locks.  Not to worry though.  I like to pop my hair up in a bun or ponytail to keep it out of my face.  Wearing your hair up will disguise the fact that it hasn’t been washed in a few days.  To take advantage of up-do days, comb a deep-conditioning treatment through your hair before you put it up.  That way it will stay moisturised and soft while you’re sniffling away.

What does your beauty routine look like when you’re sick?