Many of us prepare for the flu season by getting a flu shot and making a mental note to drink more orange juice. But most of us don’t think about our skin until it’s too late – until we’re in the middle of a three-day bout of coughing, complete with watery eyes and a runny nose. Then we carefully apply concealer to hide the dark circles under our eyes and desperately douse ourselves with powder to tone down that redness around the nose.

The best offense is a good defense, so start early and fortify your skin against the attacks you know are coming.

Your moisturizer is a great place to start. If you don’t use a moisturizer daily, you should start now. Moisturizers keep your skin hydrated, healthy and better equipped to fight off the harsh drying effects of the flu. Products that contain vitamins E and C visibly firm and soften skin. Night treatments containing vitamins C and E also boost the skin’s resiliency. Be sure to keep the eye area (which is most prone to dryness) well moisturized.

Tip: Moisturizers with small amounts of sunless tanning formula can also help balance the skin’s appearance by giving it a slightly darker, healthier tone.

Keep your smile moisturized as well. Chapped lips are a sure sign of the flu and no one smiles with cracked lips. Lip treatments with vitamins C and E, calendula extract and borage oil keep lips soft, firm and protected. Be sure to apply as part of your night routine as well as a base under liners and lip color.   

Any time your body is attacked by the flu virus or any other illness, your problem areas get worse. If you’re prone to dark circles under your eyes, they seem to get darker with each sneeze. Add to your daily routine eye treatment gels or creams that promote hydration, brighteners and quick recovery from environmental stressors such as wind and cold.

If you’re prone to blotchiness, it seems like every cough reveals another shade. Attack your problem areas ahead of time with a skin tone evener. Many of these products use a solution of 2% hydroquinone as their chief lightening agent. Many people use these products and swear by them, but hydroquinone may be too harsh for more sensitive skin types. Some good alternatives are products that include glycolic acid, licorice and allantoin, lactic acid or citric acid.

Of course, keeping your hands clean is one of the best safeguards against the flu. Hand sanitizers go anywhere and can be applied without rinsing. Be sure to keep your moisturizer close too. While they eliminate germs, many hand sanitizers strip skin of essential oils.

In addition to your flu shot and that weekly quart of OJ, add these simple steps to your current skincare regimen, and your skin can be ready for everything the flu season has to throw at it.

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