1. Dry flakey skin
Hydration, hydration, hydration. When you've got a cold the secret to looking better is moisture. A dewy complexion is the best way to fake a fresh face (and hide the fact that you really feel like a zombie). A rich moisturiser like Ole Henriksen's Nurture Me Creme, £41, will help revive flakey skin and get it looking plump and feeling hydrated. If you want even more nourishment, add a couple drops of a facial oil (we love Neal's Yard Remedies Rehydrating Rose Oil, £20) to your everyday face cream, and then pat it into the skin.
2. Chapped nose
You've blown your nose 5000 times over the past 48hours, and now those poor nostrils are as rough as sandpaper (lovely). Apply La Roche Posay's Cicaplast Baume B5, £16, to any cracked, dry, or sore spots, and the healing formula will help to soothe and repair the damage. Try to keep the area makeup-free as foundations and concealers will cling to flakes of skin and leave your nose looking 10x worse.
3. Cracked lips
Chances are, your lips are parched AF when you have a cold. This is usually triggered by dehydration, combined with your immune system being down. So keep a bottle of water handy and load your lips with Neutrogena's Nourishing Lipcare with Nordic Berry, £2.65. It rebalances skin's moisture levels and encourages healing.
4. Dull complexion
A vitamin-packed face mask will help to recharge your complexion back to it's former glory. Fresh's Vitamin Nectar, £52, contains a boost of anti-oxidants teamed with a dose of exfoliating AHA acids, both of which should help shift the build up of dead cells and leave your skin underneath looking baby-soft and smooth.
5. Blocked Sinuses
Clear that stuffy head with a long soak in the tub and a dash of Kniepp's Herbal Bath Eucalyptus, £1.95, the natural essential oils help to clear sinuses so that you can breathe easier.
6. Stubborn red patches
If you're prone to redness or rosacea, icy temps and a fever are guaranteed to make things a whole lot worse. It's worth investing in an anti-redness serum like NeoStrata's £47. The clever formula helps to take down redness immediately whilst also blocking the skin's 'inflammation cascade', meaning you're less likely to see red flushes in future. Snazzy, huh?
7. Tired eyes
The easiest way to awaken tired eyes? Curl your lashes. Sounds simple, and that's because it is. Fanned-out lashes will give the appearance of bigger, brighter eyes.
Surratt Beauty Lash Curler, £18
Victoria Jowett is an award-winning journalist and the former Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. She was named one of PPA’s 30 Under 30 for her work in beauty journalism and oversees the skincare, hair, makeup and fragrance content across all of Cosmopolitan’s platforms. She's worked in the beauty industry for over 13 years (and tested 1000s of products), making her an expert when it comes to recommending beauty brands that truly work. Having started her career working weekends on a makeup counter, Victoria began interning at the likes of AnOther and IDOL magazine, before landing her first Beauty Writer job at weekly fashion magazine, LOOK. Joining Cosmopolitan in 2016, Victoria has always remained a beauty fanatic and has been lucky enough to interview everyone from Britney Spears to Kourtney Kardashian about their beauty routines. Follow her on LinkedIn.
