Medically Reviewed by Zilpah Sheikh, MD on September 22, 2023
Bright, Pretty Eyes

Bright, Pretty Eyes

1/12

All it takes is a little extra makeup to hide the signs of a bad cold. Brighten the inner corners of red eyes with a soft peach or champagne eye shadow. Use a pencil liner that matches your skin tone on the rim of your lower eyelid to hide redness and make your eyes look bigger.

Waterproof and Pretty

Waterproof and Pretty

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Make your eyes look wide awake -- even when they’re puffy, watery, and red -- with a coat or two of waterproof mascara.

Get the Red Out

Get the Red Out

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Are you glowing like Rudolph? A mint green color corrector will balance redness around your stuffy nose. Pat it around your nostrils, making sure to blend around the edges. Then apply a concealer that matches your skin tone over the green corrector.

Moisture to the Max

Moisture to the Max

4/12

When you have a cold, you're probably dehydrated. Even if your skin is dry, you can still get a bright, healthy complexion. Slather a rich moisturizer onto your skin when it's still damp. It will help trap and hold moisture in better. In a pinch, extra virgin olive oil does the trick, too.

Getting Warmer

Getting Warmer

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Use a creamy blush on the apples of your cheeks and blend it toward your temples to add dewy freshness to sallow skin. Brush a little bronzer on the high points of your face -- nose, chin, and forehead -- to add more warmth.

Smooth Move

Smooth Move

6/12

When your lips are dry and cracked, you might be tempted to scrub the flaky skin off. Some experts say that's a bad idea. Instead, pile on a petroleum jelly-based lip balm or moisturizer to lock in moisture until your lips have healed.

From the Inside Out

From the Inside Out

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Fill 'er up! While you're sniffling, drink lots of water. This helps you avoid the dry, sagging skin that can come with mild dehydration. Lay off the alcohol and caffeine for a little while, too. They can dry you out.

Poof Puffiness

Poof Puffiness

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To help prevent swollen eyes in the morning, sleep on two pillows. The extra height can bring swelling down. Or try frozen gel packs or ice cubes under your eyes for 15 minutes. Wrap ice cubes in a paper towel and put them in a baggie.

Brush Up

Brush Up

9/12

Clear skin starts with clean makeup brushes. Dirty ones are loaded with bacteria -- especially when you have a cold. Work warm water and a dot of baby shampoo into the brush. Rinse bristles until the water runs clear and let air dry. For extra protection, go over them with an antibacterial wipe and let dry.

Art of Distraction

Art of Distraction

10/12

When you’re sick, wearing comfy PJs all day sounds like heaven. But if you want to hide how you feel while boosting your mood, wear something pretty, like a dress. It can help distract from your sniffles, plus it's a full outfit in one step.

Prime Time

Prime Time

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Help keep your makeup on your face, not your hands. Make foundation last all day -- even through sneezing and eye-rubbing -- by putting on primer first. Let it sink into your skin about 5 minutes before you apply foundation.

Go Natural

Go Natural

12/12

Stay sheer! A good way to keep your foundation from looking cakey and piled on is to mix it with your moisturizer. It thins out the foundation, giving you lighter, more natural coverage.