Faking It: Illness Edition.

I've been struck down with the 'Black Lung' (read chest infection, I like to be dramatic) and consequently have felt like rubbish for about a week. I've realised that to still look somewhat passable when you're on deaths door but still need to function, you seriously have to up your game with the old make up and beauty tricks. As we're heading full steam into cold and flu season, I thought this might be useful... 

Skincare. 

If I'm feeling under the weather or generally run down, my skin will let me know. It will either go quite dry and dull, or do a complete 180 and unleash the mother of all breakouts. 

My favourite products to combat dry/dull skin are currently the NSpa Melting Gel Cleanser* for a fresh but non-drying cleanse and I simply couldn't live without my Origins Perfect World Antioxidant Moisturiser  to quench my skin overnight.

Before bed I'll try and slap on some serious moisture, enter Connock Wonder Balm & Kukai Oil Hand Cream to save the day. 

Don't forget a good eye cream either, my bags look practically like holdalls if i'm feeling poorly...I'm alternating between Sk:n Brightening & Firming Eye Cream and Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream, both do a decent job. 

If my skin is going a bit mental in the old blemish department, I like to use Dermalogica Gentle Cleansing Gel to wash my face with, then just add a light sheen of Perfect World, with a dot of Origins Super Spot Remover for good measure on anything concerning. 

Easy Cheats.

No1. Stay Groomed

I'm not talking about breezing out of the door with a bouncy blow dry or a full body polish, but the little things will make you feel better about facing the world. Keep your eyebrows in check, nails neat and try to avoid schlepping out of the house in head to toe jersey cotton. If you're feeling like utter rubbish, by all means embrace the lounge wear but if you're teetering on the edge, if you look a bit more together, you start to feel it too. 

No2. Don't Overcompensate.

If you feel sick, but have to get out there, the temptation will always be to keep slapping it on until you resemble a human being again. Wrong. You won't look healthy, you'll look cakey, strange and a little bit drag. Throw in a drippy nose and it's a disaster waiting to happen, you'll just end up with a supremely orange tissue and a redder nose than before. 

I like to keep things to a minimum. Origins Vitazing is always a winner, it gives you a little bit of colour but will moisturise any dry patches without clinging for dear life, 

Concealer is also your best friend, I'll just try and cover and redness and always do a comprehensive job under the eyes. I love the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection as it's liquid formula blends well and doesn't cling. I use shade 1 under the eyes and shade 2 for any blemish or redness. 

No3. Cheat a Glow.

I'm a big fan of a bit of blush and a tinted lip balm if I'm feeling under the weather. I'll stick to more pink tones if my skin is feeling dull but try a more peach hue if you're sporting a red nose. Cream formulas always work better on me if I'm just trying to look healthy. 

My favourites are: 

YSL Creme de Blush in No2 

Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Emerge 

MAC Cremeblend Blush in So Sweet, So Easy

However, 

Sometimes you just have to knock up a Lemsip, crawl back into bed and admit defeat! 

What are your tips for when you're feeling less than tip top? 

Laura xx