8 Steps to Looking Better When You're Sick

Ok I promise after today I will be off my sick soap box and on to something better -- this cold has just been consuming my life lately so it's putting all these ideas in my head and been the topic of conversation the past few days. My apologies. 

If you haven't visited my channel lately and seen my latest video, I uploaded a tutorial yesterday for how I attempt to make myself look somewhat normal when I'm under the weather (if you haven't seen the tutorial you can watch it below).

When I'm not feeling well I don't want to take an hour to get ready and I certainly don't want to pack on the makeup. I sure as hell won't be doing a smokey eye or a winged liner. I'm lucky that I can even lift a makeup brush to my face. Here are the 8 simple steps I take to look like myself again:

1. Moisturize. My nose (and for some reason) my eyelids get super dry. I like using Cetaphil's Ultra Hydrating Lotion for Sensitive Skin all over my face, concentrating around my nose.

2. Conceal. I don't even bother with foundation when I'm sick. I use Dermablend's Smooth Indulgence Concealer in nude because it covers up EVERYTHING. You can also use a concealer with a green tint to help hide redness, but make sure to apply a regular concealer over top as well. Don't forget to do the under-eye area! Concealing is absolutely necessary if you're applying makeup when you're sick.

3. Set. Depending on where I'm going I will set my concealer with a loose powder (I feel like loose powders provide more coverage than a pressed powder), that has a tint to it so my face doesn't look so pale. I love Bare Minerals for this step (I used a Maybelline loose powder in this tutorial because my Bare Minerals powder is a couple shades too dark for me right now).

4. Contour & Blush. Call me crazy but I hardly ever skip this step. I think applying a contour and a blush just helps to warm up your complexion, bring color to your face, and makes you look much better than you feel. In this tutorial I used a matte brown shadow for my contour and a pink baked powder from Milani for my blush. You can definitely skip contouring, but at least add a little blush to bring some color back into your face.

5. Eyes. I always like to have a little something on my eyes besides mascara. I use a matte shadow (either grey, brown, or whatever you prefer), and apply it to my upper lash line using an angled brush. To finish, I apply a couple coats of mascara. I used my favorite, the Maybelline Rocket Volume Express.

6. Eyebrows. No matter what I will always take at least 30 seconds to do my brows. For this look I skipped the Brow Wiz and used a powder from Lorac to just lightly fill in my brows. I set them using Anastasia's Brow Gel in Brunette.

7. Lips. You can totally skip a lipstick and just apply any chapstick or lip balm and be good to go. I love Burts Bees chapstick because the kind I use has a minty/tingly feeling that makes me feel like I put Vicks Vapo Rub all over my lips (despite the description it is actually a pleasant feeling). Sometimes I'll apply a nude lipstick over top just to give me a hint of color.

8. Hair. All I can say is: Keep. It. Simple. If your hair isn't a messy grease ball, go ahead and leave it down. For me, I think pulling it up just gives you a more polished look. My go-to is the sock bun and you can see how I achieve this look in the video.

 

What do you do to look better when you're sick and have to leave the comfort of your bed? I'd love to hear your tips!

xoxo

Excuse Me While I Whine About My Cold

Being sick is somewhat cool for like, a day, and then you're ready to climb out of your germ-infested blanket/cocoon of hell and bounce back to your old, healthy self. Having a cold sometimes turns you into a runny-nosed, lung-hacking diva who whines and groans at the sheer idea of moving from the bed. You have irrational thoughts. You can't breathe. You can't sleep. Even worse you temporarily have no sense of taste and therefore no appetite. 

This has been me for the past few days. Sick, dramatic, pathetic, disgusting, etc. I have been desperately trying to consume anything and everything I can to speed up the process and get this ish out of my body. Here's what I've had on hand since Saturday:

1. Tissues, duh. This is self-explanatory and incredibly obvious. Assume you will have a pile of used, nasty, crumpled tissues on the floor by your bed because, well, I certainly do.

2. Water. I remember when I got sick when I was little my doctor would ALWAYS tell me to drink plenty of water. I would always ignore the lady's expert advice and down my sugary apple juice when my mom wasn't looking. But seriously water is your best friend. Apparently water helps to thin out all that nasty mucus stuff and whatever gross sick-y things are inside your body. I have a massive tumbler filled with water next to my bed and then an extra water bottle on hand. Once they are both gone I fill them back up. DON'T. STOP. DRINKING. WATER.

3. Meds. Okay, so I totally respect the fact that there are tons of people out there who prefer the natural remedy route when it comes to illnesses, but if you are choosing to take any sort of over-the-counter meds, make sure you actually follow the directions and take it every 4-6 hours or whatever the packaging says. My doctor always tells me it takes time for your body to adjust and absorb whatever is in the medication, so it's important to actually take it as directed so it can do its job.

4. Fruits, veggies, green juice, etc. The more vitamins and healthy goodness you can shove into your body the better. For some odd reason the only thing I crave when I'm sick is fruit. I guess that's a good thing. Better fruit than bread and/or cheese.

5. Warm Lemon & Honey Water. I like to squeeze half a lemon and add a nice sized amount of honey into some warm water and down that like it's a good glass of wine. Water, lemon, and honey are supposed to be good for coughing and congestion. I also like the typical cup of green tea with honey as well for soothing my throat and whatnot.

c/o simply recipes

6. Cough Drops. I pop these bad boys like there's no tomorrow. My favorite is the Ricola Honey Lemon (there's that combo again). Halls is always good too, but I like something that tastes a little better.

7. Vicks and/or a Hot Steamy Shower. There is a fraction of a moment in time during my sicklyness where I am filled with the false hope that I am miraculously feeling better and that is when I am in the steam room aka shower. Something about the feeling of being super clean and the steaminess of the shower makes me feel like I could run a marathon. It's not 'til after I step out of the shower and into reality that I once I again feel like I was hit by a bus. It's always nice while it lasts.

Love Vicks Vapo Rub, always have, always will. I always put a tiny bit just under my nose to help clear up my stuffy-ness.

Well, besides the obvious (movies, blankets, etc.) these are the things I need when I am under the weather. Hopefully by the time you're reading this I will have kicked this cold's ass into next year. Hope you all are doing your best to keep in good health!

Oh and PS -- I'm linking up with Chelsee from Southern Beauty Guide and a bunch of other lovely ladies for the Let's Be Friends Blog Hop -- check it out!

xoxo