And for most of us, a case of the sniffles doesn't score us a day off work or a break from kids and household activities. As awful as we feel, we have to go about daily life without looking like a monster.
To help us feel beautiful on our most miserable days, beauty expert Leah Chavie, owner of Leah Chavie Skincare Boutique (www.leahchavie.com) in Chicago, is here to share her professional tips and tricks for looking good on the outside, when you have a cold and feel miserable on the inside.
Invigorate your senses with peppermint products: It's a natural way to alleviate congestion without side effects of cold medicine, so you can keep your head in the game. Use a peppermint shower gel, or keep a bottle of peppermint oil at your desk for quick aromatherapy.
Product pick: Repechage Vita Cura Triple Action Shower and Bath Gel retails for $28 at www.repechage.com and is also available at Leah Chavie Skincare Boutique in Chicago.
You can actually take the shower gel - or a bottle of pure peppermint oil - to work with you and wave it under your nose throughout the day for quick aromatherapy when you feel your sinuses getting tingly.
Up Your Vitamin C Intake - On your face!: Carrots and citrus fruits are great for boosting our immune systems on the inside, but what most people don't realize is that these natural ingredients can also work wonders for our skin, especially when we're sick and need a boost of Vitamin C and Beta Carotene. When you have a cold, skin will feel extra dry, tight and dull, and so essential oils with ingredients like carrot and sunflower can transform your complexion and make you feel better inside and out.Product pick: suki Pure Facial Moisture-Nourishing Oil retails for $32.95 at Whole Foods
• Leave the bright lipstick at home: Most women think a cheery bright lip color will make them look less sick - But when wiping your face with a tissue, you're sure to smear that pretty pout! Instead, keep lips moisturized with a clear protective balm, which you can reapply all day without looking in the mirror .Product pick: jane iredale LipDrink with SPF 15 retails for $18 at shop.janeiredale.com and at Leah Chavie Skincare Boutique in Chicago.
• Be kind to your eyes: Red, watery eyes are a telltale side effect of the cold. Ditch the eyeliner and instead, use mascara made for sensitive eyes. And if you still want a little color, use a dark blue or soft grey eyeshadow, as these colors will counteract any redness you may have
Product pick: Merle Norman Color Max Shadow in Silver Dollar retails for $12 at Merle Norman Studios in Chicago.
• Nix drymouth and freshen breath: If you're downing tea or taking medicine, your mouth can feel icky while fighting a cold. A cooling, whitening gum can alleviate drymouth while the minty extracts soothe and stimulate your senses. Some gums contain Calprox which is also anti-bacterial.Product pick: Supersmile All Natural Professional Whitening Gum retails for $5 at www.supersmilestore.com
Get over your cold as fast as you can!: All of these are beauty tips, but of course we never want to suffer through a cold longer than we have to! So be sure to take vitamins and drink fluids throughout the day. I also like to throw a natural cold remedy in my purse before I leave for work.Product pick: Cold-EEZE Cold Remedy Daytime/Nightime QuickMelts retail for $11.99-12.99 at major retailers and www.coldeeze.com
