Sometimes we get sick.
It may be a run of the mill standard issue cold, and other times it can be something far more life impacting. Illness and health issues show on our faces. The under eye area gets darker and often puffier, heck sometimes the whole face seems to puff. Or complexions can go the other extreme looking deflated, the usual vigorous flush and plump skin tone of health vanished leaving a limp grey pallor in its place. There may be physical pain and discomfort involved bringing constant tension to features with knotted brows and clenched jaws.
Looking in the mirror and seeing this physical, visual display of poor health is a major bummer.
It further drags down spirits that are likely already low. I recently went through a cold that felt like it would never end. About week two into the cold I became aware of thoughts going through my mind saying I was looking old. I found myself becoming somewhat fixated on my under eye area, noticing how dark and puffy it appeared and generally noticing the overall lack of radiance to my complexion. I didn’t like it, looking this way was doing nothing to help me physically feel better and it definitely wasn’t doing anything for my overall mood. My inner wise self thankfully quickly came to the party and reminded me I was sick and that it was the illness, not some sudden aging process that had descended on me with a sneak attack overnight. While this interior monologue rattled about in my head I thought through some gentle steps I could take to help myself visually feel better about what I was seeing in the mirror.
First line of attack, resting in hot water.
A hot bath is always a great idea. Or in our case, we have a much loved hot tub in our backyard, so I made a daily ritual of making sure I spent at least 20 minutes in that hot steamy environment. The moist air helps tremendously to return a healthy glow back to the skin, and the heat helps to get blood pumping to the skin. Plus it just feels so amazing and relaxes sore aches and pains. And bonus points for time spent outdoors getting fresh air during our Canadian winter time.
Post soak while skin is still moist, take some time to apply your favourite skincare.
Take extra time to give yourself a short, gentle face and neck massage. Focus on the areas that feel puffy and are holding tension. It’s nothing short of miraculous what psychological benefits can come from this simple step. It will leave skin looking and feeling more toned and plump. Don’t forget about your lips, apply a good hearty layer of your favourite lip balm and make sure you keep your lips well nourished all day long. It’s depressing to look in the mirror and see dry shriveled skin and it’s such a simple problem to solve. More bonus points if you use skincare that smells delicious, that will further boost spirits.
Another solid suggestion - do your hair.
Even if you’re not feeling great or planning on going anywhere, having your hair look nice is a solid mood booster. Seeing yourself with disheveled bed head days on end is guaranteed to not do wonders for your overall mood. Even better, track down a loved one in your house, put a brush in their hands and ask them to gently brush your hair for you…. bliss. The power of human touch to calm and settle our nervous systems, this can be especially helpful when you’re not well. Push your luck and ask for a foot rub, take care of yourself.
Lastly, we have our trusty ally, makeup.
In the early phases of poor health, I don’t tend to want to wear anything extra on my skin. I’ll often be deep in a self pitying mopy phase. But the faster I snap out of this and dig up the enthusiasm for a little, simple makeup, the better. Skip foundations, just use a touch of concealer to brighten up around the eye area and tone down any red areas such as around the nose if you have a cold. Do your eyebrows, sweeping the hairs upwards and setting with a brow gel will help bring some lift and structure to your features. Pop a cheery cream blush and a dollop of liquid highlighter onto your cheeks for a simple healthy radiant glow. If you have the skills a small lifted baby wing at the outer corner of the eye also helps to further lift and define features. Skip mascara and anything else like lipsticks that may feel fussy, keep it simple.
There are also more specific, strategic uses of makeup if you are dealing with a physical ailment that is physically impacting your features, such as tumors, serious scars, severe weight loss.
I have worked closely with numerous clients in such situations. Each is unique and each requires thoughtful consideration of what is to be done with cosmetics to help restore a sense of balance and harmony to the face. It’s incredibly heartwarming to see the human impact of thoughtfully used cosmetics, helping people to feel better about their appearance than they have in a long time. There's a strong presence of hope and empowerment.
The main message is take care of yourself and to not underestimate the importance and impact of doing what we can to feel good about our appearance. There is a strong connection between what we see on the outside and how we feel on the inside.
What helps you to look and feel better when health is not optimal?
Send a note and share your tips and suggestions. I’m always on the lookout for new good ideas to put into practice for myself and to share with others.
