How to Look Good When You Have a Cold

Winter offers just as many opportunities to look stylish as all the other seasons. Unfortunately, there’s one thing about the cooler months that keeps many of us looking less than our best – sickness. Doctors say that we get sick more frequently during the winter because we’re inside a lot and sharing a lot of germs in our schools and workplaces. Without the help of regular doses of the sun’s Vitamin D and lots of fresh air, we can find ourselves sniffling through sore and flaky noses, rubbing red eyes, and concealing other signs of having a cold.

Most of the time it’s better to just stay home if you are sick, wear those pajamas 24/7 and get the rest and fluids you need to get better fast! In some cases, staying home isn’t an option. Maybe that important meeting can’t happen without you or you just don’t have anyone to cover your position or shift. How do you look “good” (or at least not like an extra for The Walking Dead) when you are sick?

A few suggestions:

1. Drink lots of fluids. I know, the doctor (or your mom) always uses this as a remedy to get well. Nothing makes your face look less sick than being well hydrated. Drink water, diluted, all natural fruit juice and skip sugary drinks. They may give you energy but they’ll make those bags under your eyes look even bigger, especially when you have a cold.

2. Go easy on the make-up. Nothing is a bigger giveaway that your aren’t feeling quite right than when you show up at work looking like you escaped from clown school. Don’t try to mask your face with too much product. Instead, keep it natural. Use a little blush and some natural toned lipstick. Curl your eyelashes and sweep on a little mascara, unless you have an eye infection. If that’s the case, go easy on eye shadows and liners.

3. Wear your glasses when you have a cold. If you don’t have at least two pairs of designer, fashion eyeglasses as a wardrobe staple, you’re missing out on an easy cover-up accessory for sick days. A great pair of eyeglasses can distract attention away from your sore and red and swollen eyes. Choose a frame with some thickness if you want to cover up the bags under your eyes. You may also want to have your optometrist add a light colored tint to your lenses for additional camouflage, just in case!