Want to avoid getting the flu? Then start following the right beauty regimen. Here’s how.
Flu season begins in December and peaks in February. The more preventative measures you take, the happier you’ll be in the months to come.
Before you start wearing a face mask or wiping down every surface you touch with antibacterial wipes, you’d do best to look at your own personal regimen and belongings, which is where the real bacteria may be breeding. Are you ready to beat the flu? If so, here’s the right beauty regimen that will keep you healthy all winter long.
1. Sanitize your makeup brushes everyday.
While cleaning your makeup brushes once every week or two weeks is the standard, it’s important to clean them every day once flu season rolls around. It’s common knowledge that these brushes are a breeding ground for bacteria. Since you can’t take this risk, make the effort to clean them everyday. You may opt to buy commercial makeup brush cleaners or use DIY recipes, either way, just make sure those brushes are sanitized after every use.
2. Wash or clean your makeup bag.
Are you someone who tends to forget to clean your makeup bag every so often? I’m guilty as charged. For some reason, I make sure my brushes and makeup products are clean, but the bag? It doesn’t even cross my mind. Until now, that is. It’s been found that just like the brushes they hold, makeup bags are the perfect home for bacteria and dirt. Wash them or use a sanitizing product on your bag to kill those little suckers.
3. Don’t share makeup with anyone.
On a related note, do not share your makeup with anyone, not even your best friend or sibling. The thing is, flu symptoms don’t usually present themselves until 3 days after the bug has entered your system. This means that even if you feel okay now, sharing makeup with others can spread the virus you’re about to feel soon.
But this rule shouldn’t just apply during flu season. You should hardly ever share makeup, especially your makeup brushes, lip gloss and lipstick.
4. Make lipstick germ-free.
Technically, you can’t re-infect yourself if you already have the flu. So if you used your lippie in the first three days of your flu, it’s too late to throw it out and buy a new one. Instead, use a sharp knife or cutter and remove the top part of the lipstick. That way, you remove the dirty portion and still keep your lovely lipstick.
5. Keep eye makeup germ-free too.
As I’ve said, you can’t reinfect yourself so there’s no need to throw out all of your eye makeup if you have the flu. With mascara, you can use it up to the time it runs out. With eyeliners pencils, just sharpen and remove the top part, just like with lipstick. For liquid eyeliner, you can clean it using baby wipes and then use disposable brushes to keep your brushes germ-free.
6. Disinfect hard surfaces twice a day.
The flu virus can survive on hard surfaces for 2 to 8 hours, which means that to make sure the hard surfaces in your home are disinfected, you have to sanitize them twice a day. Do not allow your makeup brushes to touch counters.
7. Throw away your old toothbrush.
When you’re sick, you will most likely spend more time in the bathroom and bedroom. This means bacteria will be hanging out with you, lying on your pillows and using your hand towels. Do not keep your toothbrush exposed and the moment you’re feeling better, throw out your old toothbrush and buy a new one. Bacteria can live on your toothbrush for weeks, so your only option for a germ-free environment (and mouth) is to throw it out altogether.
8. Tame that red nose.
Let’s say you already got the flu but don’t want to look the part. Instead of rubbing your nose raw, use moisturizing tissues instead so as to not irritate it. Experts also suggest using 1% hydrocortisone cream on the nose to tone down the redness. If you want to conceal the redness, use a green concealer but avoid putting too much on the irritated areas.
9. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
Drinking water is very important when you’re down with the flu. It helps cleanse the body as well as keep it hydrated. Even if you’re not sick, drinking eight glasses of water a day will help keep your skin healthy and supple. Water is your best friend so drink as much as you can.
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10. Get rid of the dead skin.
Being sick can really take its toll on the skin, which means you are most likely going to have dry and irritated skin. If you want to do away with the sick look, exfoliate in the morning to get rid of the dead skin cells that are weighing your skin down. Just a word of caution though, be gentle on irritated areas and avoid using products with alpha and beta hydroxy acids, which can worsen your skin during this time.
11. Fake a natural glow.
A nasty bug will cause your skin to look dry, gray and dead. To fake a natural glow, start by using a brightening primer, then dust a light layer of bronzer on your forehead, cheeks and chin, and blush on the apples of your cheeks. You can also use mascara to open up the eyes more and then finish the look with a natural-shade of lipstick or lipgloss. Please remember our sanitation guidelines above when using makeup though.
All it takes is more caution and effort on your part to keep from catching the flu. It may be an extra step for you, but staying virus-free is well worth it.