Home > Influenza Style: How To Look Great While Suffering From The Flu

Influenza Style: How To Look Great While Suffering From The Flu

I chuckled while writing this blog title. Why? Because I just got over one of the worse flus I have ever, EVER had. I honestly thought I was on my deathbed. You name the flu symptom, I had it. Horrendous sore throat, runny nose, aches and pains, fever, coughing…and get this: pink eye. What am I? A kindergartner? I felt all sorts of terrible.

Influenza Style: How To Look Great While Suffering From The Flu
Bless you.

Now, I’m going to start off this potentially ridiculous beauty guide by stating that if you have influenza, you should quarantine yourself at home until the bulk of the symptoms are gone. You are not only doing yourself a favour, but others too. Something that a lot of people don’t think about is that the flu can go from a few days of feeling terribly under the weather to a deadly situation really quickly, especially for those with underlying chronic conditions. For example, the flu can be a death sentence for an elderly person already suffering from other medical conditions. Just to hammer that last point home, the Spanish Flu of 1918 infected over 500 million people worldwide and killed 50-100 million people, or 3-5% of the world’s population. Yes – you read that right. So, be smart about it. Stay at home and rest.

If you absolutely feel the need to leave the house, arm yourself with some Tylenol Cold & Flu, a bucket of hand sanitizer and this guide for not looking like a walking viral incubator of the plague.

REST UP!

You have to rest. I mean it, dammit. Stay in bed. Sleep as much as possible. It helps the body recover from the flu faster and will help curb nausea, dizziness and headaches.  Can’t nap? Grab your laptop, get in bed, and watch 10 straight episodes of The Crown like I did.

Water is your best bud.

Drink as many fluids as you possibly can. Chicken soup, warm tea, organic fresh squeezed orange juice and green juice (I just discovered the juice bar at my local grocery store thanks to this flu), and water, people. WATER! Drink as much of it as you possibly can. Fluids help flush out the nastiness, keep you hydrated which minimizes headaches and cuts down on the pallid look we all suffer during sick times. It also helps with any puffiness you may experience (my eyes puffed up real good and the increased water intake really helped reduce the swelling).

Influenza Style: How To Look Great While Suffering From The Flu
If water came in a pretty, designer water bottle holder, would you drink more?

Arm Yourself with the Softest of Tissues

Buy the best tissues you can get such as those loaded with aloe and other moisturizers. This will really cut down on soreness caused by the repeated blowing and wiping of a runny beak. Your nose will thank you!

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize…then moisturize again.

Speaking of noseys, your nose will most likely get sore and dry from the repeated wiping. There isn’t too much you can do about this but heavy moisturizing will help. I use Aquaphor, a medicated, Vaseline-like ointment on my nostrils to minimize flaking from dry skin in a pinch. I will load it on especially before bed where it will have a chance to sink in and work its magic.

After washing my face in the morning, I’ll slather on my favourite moisturizer by Kat Burki to keep my skin looking relatively human-like.

Influenza Style: How To Look Great While Suffering From The Flu

Concealer is your other best friend

Use concealer to hide red nostrils, dark under eye circles and any breakouts that you may suffer (I always breakout when I get the flu). Use a small concealer brush to apply your concealer especially around delicate, small areas such as nostrils and corners of your mouth. It allows for more control which leads to a more precise, flawless application.

Stay Away From Pink, Red and Pale Makeup and Don’t Overdo It

Pink and red eyeshadows will obviously make your eyes look more sore, tinier, more deepset and sunken – all hallmarks of colds and flus.  Stay away from really pale makeup too as your skin will already be lacking colour and use a light hand when applying makeup. Too much blush, etc. will simply draw attention to an already Mortician-Like complexion.

Influenza Style: How To Look Great While Suffering From The Flu
Added a little MAC Strobe Cream to my moisturizer here for a dewy glow

Stay Away From Blue-Based Makeup

When choosing eye makeup, blushes and lipstick, stay away from dark, blue-based colours. They will accentuate dark circles and enhance the appearance of sallowness. Opt for warm tones such as golds and bronzes. Skip heavy black eyeliner too and apply some extra mascara. Extra Tip #1: Add a touch of MAC Strobe Cream to your foundation for a dewy glow. It just so happens to be loaded with green tea and vitamins (who knew??) to counter effect the look of dull, flat skin.

Get Some Great Lip Moisturizer

During colds and flus, I tend to mouth-breathe (I’m sorry – my nose is stuffed!), which saps your lips of moisture, in turn making them really dry and chapped which makes your lipstick look pretty brutal. Keep your lips hydrated with a great quality lip balm. I reach for those containing shea butter as they are the best moisturizers, feel soft and creamy and give a nice glow. Extra Tip #2: put down the matte lipsticks until you are all better. They’ll further dry out your lips and they also highlight dryness.

Got any other tips to share to mask cold and flu symptoms? Please share in the comments. Stay healthy!

Dominique Baker
Dominique Baker

Dominique is a Canadian-based fashion and beauty influencer with a strong voice in Ottawa’s black community. Since launching her blog Style Domination in 2015, she has amassed a global fanbase. Dominique shares her life through beautiful imagery and compelling story-telling that speaks to her fans on a personal level. She’s been featured in The Guardian, Flare, The Kit and Cityline. She also hosts events for Dress for Success, the Gem Conference, and has been named a United Way Person 2 Know for the past three years.

Find me on: Web | Instagram

16 Comments

  1. November 15, 2016 / 6:47 pm

    I definitely need a moisturizer cus my lips looks dry recently may be cus of cold weather

    • Dominique
      Author
      November 15, 2016 / 7:17 pm

      Your dry lips are definitely due to the cold weather! Here are a few great ones you can try: Mary Kay Shea Butter Lip Care, Jack Black Shea Butter Lip Balm and TGIN Peppermint Shea Butter Lip Balm. All three are wonderful, really effective and affordable. Take care!

  2. November 15, 2016 / 6:54 pm

    LOL! That vintage picture of the woman sneezing is awesome!

    • Dominique
      Author
      November 15, 2016 / 7:29 pm

      Haha! Thanks! I saw it and was like: “Yep. That’s going in the post.”

    • Dominique
      Author
      November 15, 2016 / 7:16 pm

      Haha! Here’s some more inspo for you: a few years ago, Chanel made a very expensive yet very cute bottle holder bag! Add that to your shopping list! Thanks for stopping by!

    • Dominique
      Author
      November 15, 2016 / 7:28 pm

      You are welcome, my dear!

  3. November 15, 2016 / 10:36 pm

    I will be drinking water for sure, wish to look that amazing being sick!

    • Dominique
      Author
      November 16, 2016 / 10:50 am

      Haha! Thanks! That pic of me was pre-flu, testing out the MAC Strobe Cream! Promise! I don’t even bother trying to look good while flu-ing. I look like a total monster.

  4. November 16, 2016 / 3:20 am

    Excellent post, I wish I really could look good while sick haha, so maybe this is a real good way to attempt to look fabulous while ill next time. I love that water carrier – why didn’t I get the strobe cream in my MAC order yesterday grr!

    • Dominique
      Author
      November 16, 2016 / 10:49 am

      Omg. Those strobe creams are sooo nice! It’s not to late to swing by the MAC store! LOL! Thank you for your kind comments!

  5. November 16, 2016 / 10:14 am

    Gosh I jut realized I had a cold when I woke up this morning. Time to tape this guide on my mirror 😉 I love your writing style, you had me laughing the whole time.

    • Dominique
      Author
      November 16, 2016 / 10:49 am

      Awww Taylor! Wishing you a speedy recovery! Colds suck! You loving my writing style is such a huge compliment. Thank you so much!!!

  6. November 16, 2016 / 11:23 am

    This post was incredible, you have such a way with words! I was laughing one second and the next I was captivated. I also love how you incorporated the images like that poor woman!

    La Belle Sirene 

    • Dominique
      Author
      November 17, 2016 / 4:25 pm

      Thanks, Nancy! I had fun writing this one!

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