Winter may be creeping near an end, but cold and flu season is still in full swing. Even when you are over the worst of it, sickness can mess with your look. These makeup ideas on dealing when you are under the weather will help take the edge off.

A few select beauty products and a little know-how, and no one will even know you’ve been ill.

7 Makeup Ideas for Looking Good When You’re Sick

1 Beat the red eye. Red eyes are a dead giveaway that you aren’t feeling so hot. Try all natural redness relief drops prior to applying eye cream and makeup. A swipe of white eyeliner under lower lash line does wonders in brightening up eyes, too.

2 Lube up. Adequate moisture is always key to healthy looking skin, and during illness more than ever. It not only hydrates and softens, but soothes and brings skin back to life. To treat puffiness, apply moisturizer and eye cream with spoons that have been chilling in the fridge.

3 Heal, then conceal. Foundation and concealer may not go over chapped skin smoothly. Prepare skin by adding a thin layer of a light balm, like True Organic of Sweden All You Need is Me, on areas that need smoothing before applying this layer. As always, using the right color concealer goes a long way toward covering blotchiness and dark circles.

4 Beware the highlighter. Yes, you are most likely looking a little sallow during or right after any sickness. And you may think highlighter will rescue your skin from its sorry state. Highlighters are perfect for creating luminosity that isn’t there naturally. But it can also highlight dry, chapped skin and redness if used the wrong way. Be sure to apply over concealer and steer clear of the nose (which tends to be red or swollen with a cold) and eyes (which also tend toward redness when you are sick).

5 Powder less. With skin so dried out, you may need less to no powder. Let your moisturizing products work to add life to skin. If you do feel the need to add a puff, go lightly as any dryness will only enhance chafed skin.

6 Go nude. This is no time to use brightly colored hues, especially anything veering toward red or pink. You likely have enough of that going on already. A nude makeup palette is your bestie right now. Use taupe shadow and a peachy blush that closely mimics your natural (read: healthy) skin tone.

7 Give some lip. As for your pucker, nothing looks worse than lipstick worn on super chapped lips. Give your pout a break and apply a moisturizing lip balm until things are back to normal. Nothing creates a softer kisser than Butter Elixir Lip Balm. I even apply this under my nose when it gets tissue irritation.

Now be sure you are chugging water and catching extra Zs. As for your looks? No one will have a clue you aren’t feeling your best.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Tired woman image via Shutterstock

The post 7 Makeup Ideas for Cold and Flu Season (or How to Look Good When You Don’t Feel That Way) appeared first on EcoSalon.

How to rock metallic makeup – you know, without looking like The Tin Man.

As much as I love the look of metallic makeup, I’m secretly terrified to use it – I mean, one wrong move and you end up resembling aluminum foil. That being said, I’m constantly drawn to take the plunge because of its futuristic and streamlined aesthetic. Whether you dive into the world of metallic eyeshadows or you dig a shimmery pout, metallic makeup can take what would otherwise be a ho-hum look and kick it up a notch (or seven).

So how to you make sure you don’t end up looking pale and ghost-like? Here are 6 important tips to ensure your metallic makeup look is more human than cyborg:

1. Start with your skin

A smooth canvas is crucial when pulling off a metallic makeup look. Much like applying foundation to dry skin, the metallic particles will exaggerate every fine line and dry patch. Make sure to exfoliate, moisturize and prime before applying. Use a matte effect on the rest of your look to give the shimmer of your metallic makeup the attention it deserves.

2. Work with your skin tone

The general breakdown of metallics versus skin tone goes a little something like this:

• If you have fair skin with cool undertones, go with pale pink or pearl shades.
• If you have fair skin with yellow undertones, test the waters with soft gold.
• If you have medium skin with cool undertones, choose rose-gold.
• If you have medium skin with yellow undertones, a peachy-gold metallic is your best bet.
• If you have olive skin, reddish-copper is best.
• If you have dark skin with cool undertones, break in with bronze.
• If you have dark skin with warm undertones, make a statement with copper.

3. Choose a focal point

Choose whether you’re going to use metallic makeup on your eyes or your lips, and keep the rest of your look soft and fresh.

4. Morph your go-to picks into metallic makeup

The best way to ease into using metallic makeup is to play with the beauty staples you’re already super comfortable with. For example, plaster on your go-to lipstick and add a frosted lip gloss on top of it. It amps up your look without taking it to an entirely new dimension.

5. Start small

If you want to take the plunge with your eye makeup first, a great way to do so is to run a thick line of metallic eye shadow across your top lash line, much like you would if you were applying eyeliner. Pair with a black eyeliner and mascara and you’ve got yourself a beauty statement.

6. Always use an applicator brush

When it comes to applying metallic makeup, blending is key – use an applicator brush instead of your fingertips, and make sure you swirl the brush on the shade instead of rubbing it so you don’t pick up too much on the brush.

What do you love most about metallic makeup?

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Image: Makeup photo via Shutterstock

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