Winter has its plus sides: Christmas, holidays, roaring fires and maybe even the chance of snow. But it’s also when colds, flu and fevers are more likely to hit you where it hurts. And if that wasn’t enough to contend with, the world has thrown Covid-19 into the mix too.

Being sick officially sucks. But as busy women, it’s rarely an option to hide yourself away until you feel better (unless it’s the C-19 of course, then please do!). This means that as much as you’d love to hibernate in bed, or at least on the sofa for a few days, oftentimes you have to suck it up and get on with life. Warts ‘n all. 

Unfortunately, we can’t magically make you feel better on the inside, but we can absolutely help you look better on the outside without you putting in too much effort. Because let’s face it, if you’re feeling rubbish you probably have zero energy to waste on hours of beauty maintenance, right?

Below, eight of the simplest ways to trick your way to healthy-looking skin when you’re feeling under the weather ...

1. Don’t Dodge The Basics

Cleanliness is more important than ever when you’re constantly blowing your nose or rubbing your eyes, so wash your hands often and keep any beauty tools like make-up brushes, sponges and face cloths super clean to help stop germs from spreading. 

Cleanse your skin twice daily but avoid using harsh face washes and hot water as these can both strip your skin of moisture. Instead, cleanse with lukewarm water and use Crystal Cleanser to gently wash away dirt, bacteria and build-up. This gentle cleanser also contains sunflower oil to help reduce inflammation making it perfect during cold and flu season.

2. Replenish, Replenish, Replenish

Being sick in winter can hit your skin’s hydration levels hard. The combination of fatigue, medications, central heating and cold, dry air is hell on your complexion and can drain it of moisture.

So, the most important thing you can do for your skin when you’re poorly is to keep it moisturised. Not only will an effective moisturiser help seal in water and replenish lost oils, but it will instantly make your skin look plump and more awake. 

Apply Imperial Moisturiser to clean, moist skin to replace lost hydration and help heal and rejuvenate your skin. For further nourishment and to instantly fake a gorgeous glow, you could also apply a few drops of Organic Age-Defying Facial Oil on top of your moisturiser. 

3. Soothe Your Soreness

Facial redness can be a real beauty bugbear, and it’s especially noticeable around a stuffed up nose that’s constantly being blown. To help calm redness and heal sore patches or chapped skin, avoid exfoliating your skin for a few days as this could exacerbate irritation.

Instead, soothe your skin’s barrier function with Organic Hydration Gel which contains healing aloe and hydrating glycerin, making it ideal for compromised or inflamed skin. 

Take note, your skin can be a little sensitive when your body is busy fighting a fever. But don’t panic. It will pass. And Organic Hydration Gel will have your back in the meantime.

4. Give Your Beauty Sleep Its Best Chance

Feeling cruddy can totally ruin your sleep, keeping you awake all night and causing you to toss and turn in a vain attempt to get comfortable and catch some zzzs. And as you all know, a lack of sleep does a real number on your skin, ruining its ability to naturally repair, restore and regenerate itself. 

To help you get a better night’s rest, drink something warm like hot water with lemon and honey before bed. This should soothe a sore throat and loosen any congestion. Invest in a humidifier for your bedroom to help you breathe through the night and try some nighttime cold medicine to alleviate any symptoms that might otherwise keep you awake. 

Finally, don’t forget to wash your face and neck before bed and apply Night Elixir to nourish, soothe, heal and regenerate your skin as you sleep.

5. Revive Red Eyes

Red, puffy eyes are pretty much a given  when your head is full of cold, but there’s an easy fix to this one. Simply apply a cold compress to constrict the blood vessels, reduce fluid retention and minimise swelling and redness around your eyes. Anything from cucumber slices to cold, used tea bags or teaspoons will do the job nicely. 

Lie on your back with your chosen compress over each eye and you should notice a real difference in just five minutes or so. To finish, tap a small amount of Imperial Eye Gel around each eye to continue repairing and firming the skin around your eyes throughout the day.

6. Combat Cracked Lips 

Another obvious sign that you’re feeling below par is dry, chapped lips – due, in most part, to a bunged up nose forcing you to breathe through your mouth. Of course, dry weather that’s lacking in humidity doesn’t help, either. 

To combat cracked lips, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and avoid licking or picking at your lips as this will just make matters worse. Keep a jar of Superior Lip Butter with you at all times and apply it as often as needed to soften and condition the skin on your lips.

Most importantly, apply it generously before bed, working it over your lip line and into the corners of your mouth as these are the areas most likely to get chapped and dry out.

You could also try gently exfoliating your lips with a soft toothbrush or face cloth to get rid of dead skin cells, but use a light touch and work on moist skin to avoid damaging the skin.

7. Press Out Your Puffy Face

If you wake up with a puffy face thanks to fluid retention and a poor night’s sleep, try a little facial massage as you cleanse in the shower. Massaging your skin is easy, free and can reap awesome rewards by boosting blood flow and stimulating the lymphatic system to drain toxins  and give your skin an instant glow.

Worried you’re not a massage pro? Don’t be. Just work your hands and the pads of your fingers over your face and neck, spending two or three minutes to smooth cleanser all over your skin and pressing up and along your cheekbones, jawline and forehead. 

8. Perk Up Your Complexion

Skin still looking too peaky to face the world? Then give yourself a glow with some clever make-up. The last thing you’ll want to do is apply a full-on face when you’re feeling low on energy, but concentrate on the areas that need a little colour or lift and you’ll instantly look and feel ten times better. 

Organic Tinted Moisturiser will do you well here. Long-lasting moisture, instant radiance and SPF. Mascara is also a great way to open up tired eyes, but go for a waterproof formulation if your eyes are watery or itchy and apply it on the top lashes only.

We’re also big fans of applying a natural, peachy blusher over the apples of the cheeks to perk up a pale or sallow-looking complexion. Fun fact: our Organic Lip Glosses work beautifully as blushers because they’re completely non-sticky and contain subtle, light-reflecting minerals to make your skin look naturally radiant and glowing – even when it’s not.

But finally, if you can, stay at home, rest up, get well and fighting fit to fix your skin when you’re ready to face the world again.