SECRET BEAUTY TIPS TO LOOK GOOD WHEN YOU'RE SICK

Getting sick during flu and cold season is a given, but looking sick doesn't have to be! Here are beauty tips from the pros on how to look your best even when you don't feel it.

1. Treat yourself to the right tissues

If you’re coming down with the sniffles, don’t skimp when it comes to facial tissues. You’re bound to be blowing your nose a lot, and opting for lotion-treated tissues will go a long way in preventing a Rudolph-red, irritated nose.

2. Stay hydrated, inside and out

When you’re sick, you’re usually a little dehydrated, too – which can show on your skin. This is the time to slather on an intense facial moisturizer both in the morning and at night to prevent a parched look. Bonus: You'll protect your skin against all that nose-blowing friction, too. And tuck a small bottle or tube of heavy-duty moisturizer in your handbag (along with a personal pack of tissues) before you head out for the day.
 
3. Soothe puffy eyes with teabags

If your eyes get puffy from congestion, sleep with your head slightly propped up to allow fluids to drain more easily from your face. To battle under eye bags, try this tea remedy: Take two cold, wet teabags and place them over your eyes while you lie down for 15 minutes. The result? De-puffed peepers.
 
4. Cool down your eye cream

Try storing your eye cream in the refrigerator. Not only will it feel refreshing on your tired eyelids, it will also help to fight puffiness.

5. Don't take the red-eye

Another hallmark of a cold? Pink, bunny rabbit-like eyes. Banish that bloodshot look by using eye drops to lubricate and cool your eyes, reducing redness.
 
6. Prime your face before prettifying

Since you’re bound to blow your nose, sneeze, and rub your eyes a bit more when you’re sick, start with an application of face primer before you put on any makeup; this will add hours of staying power to your look. Lip primers and eye primers are a good idea, too.
 
7. Don't reveal, conceal

One of the top tip-offs that you’ve got a cold is a red nose. Opt for a highly-pigmented, opaque concealer that is yellow-based and just a bit paler than your skin to camouflage the redness.
 
8. Don't pile on the base or powder

Skip the regular foundation and traditional face powder, since it’s easy for it to look cakey when you’re dehydrated. For some natural-looking coverage, top your moisturizer with mineral foundation, which will conceal and even out skin without looking dry.

9. Warm up your skin

If you’re feeling pasty, you’ll want to add a bit of color to your face. But play down any pink and bring out the warm tones in your skin by using a bit of bronzer and some peach-toned cream blush for a healthier-looking glow.

10. Brighten up your eyes

Dab pale, shimmery beige or gold creamy eye shadow on your lids and at the inner corner of your eyes to catch the light and to counteract any redness or dullness in the eye area.
 
11. Avoid mascara meltdown

Sneezes and sniffles mean watery eyes and potential smudging. To avoid a washout, stick with waterproof mascara.
 
12. Keep lips smooth and shiny

When you’re stuffed up, your lips have a tendency to get super-chapped. Rub them gently with a warm, wet washcloth to remove any flakes, and then condition with a rich salve or balm. Stick with tinted lip balm or gloss in a neutral tone for a fresh look.

HOW TO LOOK YOUNGER

If you think you look older than you feel? You must improve your appearance, you'll feel better, too.

Smile, wide!

Young, middle-aged, and older individuals studied thousands of photographs and were asked to guess the age of models with various facial expressions. Neutral expressions yielded the most accurate results, and fearful expressions made subjects look older; happy faces were rated as younger than they really were.

Eat more grapes.

Sorbitol, which gives grapes, berries, plums and pears their sweetness, is a humectant, a substance that attracts water when applied to the skin, helping it absorb and retain moisture.

Touch up your hair.

Use volumizing styling products as your hair becomes thinner, and try a lighter color, which can make thinning less obvious. Whether you have your hair washed at home or at a salon, use deep conditioning treatments regularly to combat dryness.

Frame your face.

Keeping your eyebrows well-groomed and shaped helps provide a frame for your face and draws attention to your eyes.

Cleanse and moisturize your skin.

Cleaning and moisturizing helps protect skin and keep it healthy; but banish regular soap, which can be drying for older skin. Instead, use a cleanser that gently washes without stripping skin of moisture. Avoid skin toners, especially those with a stringent or alcohol base. Use a good moisturizer day and night.

Dress sharp.

If you have a wrinkly neck or jowls, avoid tight-fitting or crew-neck tops, which squeeze skin upward. A shirt collar over a round-necked jersey is a better option. Wear dark-colored shirts if you have a large belly.

Give yourself a hand—or two.

Use a good hand cream frequently, and look for one that has sunscreen included. Brighten dull hands by exfoliating regularly: mix sea salt with lemon juice and gently scrub into your hands with a soft toothbrush.

Eat more greens and reds.

Vitamin K—in kale and other green vegetables—helps your blood coagulate, reducing the impact of bruising. Lycopene in tomatoes gives the skin powerful protection against UV rays.

Eat oily fish.

Salmon and other oily fish are rich in DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol), a compound that boosts muscle tone and is one of the must-have ingredients in expensive “mature” skin creams. Eating oily fish twice a week offers the same benefits.

Exercise four or more times a week.

You’ll fend off muscle loss and sleep better when you exercise most days of the week. Combine cardiovascular exercise for heart and lungs, resistance exercise for muscles, stretching for flexibility and balance exercise for coordination.