how to do a sick day in style, part deux

Fact: sometimes taking a day off to lie in bed, pound cough syrup and catch up on reading (a.k.a. old copies of Vogue) just isn’t an option. Luckily, there are a few products out there that can take you from sickly to sexy. Here’s my under-the-weather regimen:

• Keep it simple. Hit snooze and use those extra minutes to catch up on your much-needed rest! Using makeup that’s too heavy or complicated can actually make you look worse. Start with a good, fast-absorbing moisturizer (I’m partial to Cetaphil) and follow up with an all-over tinted moisturizer or sheer foundation – I love Tarte’s Smooth Operator, $35, at www.sephora.com – to even out blotchy skin. 
  
• Hide those imperfections. Chances are you’re harboring some redness around the nose (thanks to the overuse of tissues that can irritate skin) and dark circles. Use an extra dab of moisturizer on these areas and apply a creamy concealer – I prefer those that are oil-free or made with vitamins or minerals to avoid further aggravating skin. Blend well and dust on a translucent powder like Cover Girl’s new TruBlend pressed powder, about $11, at drugstores.
• Put some of the life back into your skin with bronzer and blush. Start with a matte bronzer, dusting it from temples to just below cheekbones and over the bridge of the nose. Then add a peachy-pink blush just to the apples of cheeks, using a round fluffy brush. Nars’ Orgasm ($25, www.sephora.com) is a cult classic with subtle gold flecks to instantly brighten skin.
• Go easy on the eyes – sneezing and sniffling can cause you to tear up, and the last thing you need to worry about when you’re sick is a bad case of raccoon eyes. A little shimmery shadow on lids helps open up the eye area. Curl lashes and apply two coats of waterproof mascara. Finish up with a dab of silver or gold shimmer in the inner corners of eyes to detract from any redness – I like MAC Paint in Stillife, $16.50, www.maccosmetics.com
  
• Last but not least, protect that pucker. Exfoliate by gently running a face cloth soaked in warm water over your lips (you can do this in the shower). Follow up with a coat of a heavy-duty lip balm (good old Vaseline, Blistex, or even a dab of a rich facial moisturizer works just fine). Finally, use a creamy pink or mauve gloss like Smashbox’s Sunset Boulevard Lipgloss in Melt, $16, from www.smashbox.com, to finish off your look.
  

Get well soon chicas!