Ugh. Winter is here and it’s here with FULL force. While none of us are immune to the sniffles, there is a way to disguise the tell-tale signs of a snotty nose that has been rubbed raw from 784 nose blows; ‘cos the Rudolph look might be cute on December 25, but that’s about it.

Firstly – and I know this seems like a no-brainer – but go gentle on your snoz. While the idea of a handkerchief really grosses me out, if you can bear using them, try to give your nose a break from the tissues as these are generally much gentler on the skin. If you can’t face re-blowing into a snotty rag (vom), buy the best quality tissues you can. It might just sound like clever marketing, but think of it like toilet paper – the more you pay, the better the quality, so go for the fancy aloe vera or moisture infused ones.

• Moisturise like a demon: Before bed, slather on some gentle, hydrating oil (we LOVE Go-To Exceptionoil) and let that sink in. If your nose resembles Pampas Puff Pastry in the flakiness department, apply a rich night cream on top to combat the dry skin that can come from a nose rubbed raw.

• After a really gentle cleanse in the morning, it’s time to cover that redness. Go in with a little bit of the hydrating oil you used earlier and let that sink in for a couple of minutes. Now is a good time to apply some lip balm because chances are, all that mouth-breathing has left you with chapped lips too.

• Get your mitts on a green concealer (Physician’s Formula do a great double-ended green corrective one you can pick up from Priceline) and with a light hand, cover the really red areas. The green tint will help counteract the redness and bring it down a notch. Look for a creamy formula and dab on sparingly and gently. No rubbing.

• Now go in with your normal concealer – the one that matches your skin colour. Again, use something creamy or liquid-based here so there’s no ‘drag’ on the skin. Use your fingers to warm up the product and again, dabbing and gently pressing into the skin is key here.

• Finally, set all your handy work with a powder. Use the softest bristle brush you have and gently press a small amount over the area you’ve worked on. Be light-handed and don’t over-powder otherwise it could turn to crusty o’clock in a matter of moments.

Now it’s just time to rub some Vicks on your chest and take on the world like the goddess you are.

Do you have any flu-fighting tips to share?

Rachael Finch joined us On the Couch a little while back and spoke about her passion for health and wellness, motherhood and career. You can watch the vids here or tune in below to hear the podcast version – and don’t forget to subscribe to our pod here.