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!

how to do a sick day in style

I don’t know about you, but it seems like everyone in my life is sick at the moment – which probably explains why I’ve recently become the latest casualty of cold season. After taking my much-needed sick weekend (one day of rest just wasn’t enough), I came up with a few tricks to make the whole de-germing process a bit more bearable.

First of all, replace your “sick day” with a “spa day”. I love vegging out on the couch in a face mask like this one by Pangea Organics ($34, www.pangeaorganics.com), which contains Japanese Matcha Tea and Acai to cleanse and tone the skin. By steaming your face over a bowl of boiling water before applying the mask, you’ll open up pores and blocked-up nasal passages.

Whenever you need a little pick-me-up throughout the day, spritz on Aveda Caribbean Therapy Flower Water ($24, www.aveda.com), a fresh-smelling spray that tones and lightly moisturizes skin. (Make it extra-refreshing by keeping the bottle in the fridge – great when you’re feeling feverish).

To add to the spa-like atmosphere and help replenish much-needed fluids, sip green tea or try this version of “spa water”: fill a pitcher of regular water with crushed ice and any combination of cucumber slices, lemon slices, sprigs of fresh mint, and chopped cranberries or strawberries.

Having a hot shower is a great way to relax the achy muscles that accompany colds. I love using products infused with mint, like the amazing Lemon/Mint body scrub from Sabon ($30, www.sabonnyc.com), to help clear out my sinuses. After toweling off, massage in a rich body lotion infused with a few drops of peppermint essential oil, available at The Body Shop ($12, www.thebodyshop.com) – I like to think of it as the beauty equivalent of Vicks’ Vapo-Rub.

sparkle and shine!

The season of holiday parties may be dead and gone (much like the Christmas tree), but there’s no reason why you can’t infuse your late-night style with a little sparkle. Enter Frederic Fekkai’s limited edition Sparkling Shimmer Spray, which I happily agreed to test out at a recent hair appointment. It made my new blond highlights shimmer under the light – this is not your ‘90s teenybopper glitter, but a subtle “what did she do?” boost. Love! Available at sephora.com

sweet as honey.

Another fave Christmas gift: a friend gave me a small pouch full of trial-size Burt’s Bees products. I’ve been a long-time user of their lip balm but had never tried out their body products. The Naturally Nourishing Milk and Honey body lotion included in the kit is absolutely amazing – absorbs well, softens skin, and smells like heaven (sort of lemony and creamy and sweet, but not overpowering – I’m in love!) I’ll keep the kit for tossing in my gym bag, but I’m definitely investing in a full-size version of this lotion for everyday. Available at just $9 a pop at www.burtsbees.com

glamour in a box.

One of my absolutely favorite gifts this Christmas was the adorable “Lights, Camera, Glamour!” make up palette from Too Faced cosmetics, which comes in a cute little box that opens up to become a kind of vanity, complete with mirror and tiny lights. The best part is you can pop the palette out and stash it in your tote with a couple brushes to have everything you need – blush, bronzer, shadow, pressed powder, liner, and gloss! – on hand for a full touch up at any time. Available at sephora.com (and a steal at only $40.)

in the navy...

I’m a little bipolar when it comes to my mani-pedi. For my toes I love classic, pretty, nudes with a twist – Essie’s Mademoiselle comes to mind. But on my fingers? I love dark polish. There’s just something about a deep purple nail that screams seductress (and if paired with giant sparkly cocktail ring for evening, so much the better.) It’s a little edgy, a tiny bit mysterious, yet totally chic when contrasted with a girly wardrobe. All summer long OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark was my polish of choice (if you haven’t experienced it for yourself, it’s a gorgeous dark eggplant with a hint of shimmer – a must-try!) But beauty editors are predicting a shift from black plum to the new navy blue (apparently Chanel’s new shade, Blue Satin, already has a waiting list!) I say why wait? At my last polish job I fell in love with two OPI shades – Russian Navy and OPI Ink. A shift away from the old vampy purples of last season – without losing one ounce of the drama.