Last week, we shared our Fall Beauty Favorites—get the easy How-To looks here!—but before you go getting all fancy with your make up looks, we want to share the most flawless, most classic, most basic beauty look. And guess what? This is everyone’s best face forward. This is your second skin.

Start with your natural you: skin that is freshly cleansed and moisturized. Before you take a look at each step, scroll down to the end product to see the dramatic transformation that a few make up basics can do for the beautiful you.

Apply a pea-size amount of face primer all over including your eye area. This pre-foundation step evens out skin imperfections allowing your foundation to go on smoother and last longer.

TRY: LAURA MERCIER OIL-FREE FOUNDATION PRIMER

When using a liquid foundation use your fingers to apply as this will give the sheerest and most natural effect—the warmth of your fingers helps to “melt” the foundation onto your skin. Always begin applying your foundation where you need the most coverage. For most women, that’s the center of the face. From there, blend out. For the most natural look you’ll want to apply more foundation where you need it and little to no foundation where you don’t need it. Apply a little bit of foundation to your eyelids too: it makes a great eye shadow base and will instantly brighten your eyes by neutralizing any pink or discoloration on your lids. Do not apply foundation to your under eye area if you are going to use concealer. The extra layer of foundation will only contribute to a caked look. Our rule? The less layers of product under your eyes, the more natural the look.

To find your perfect foundation shade, pick three colors that are close to your skin tone. Swipe a stripe of each color along your jaw line and use a hand mirror to examine the shades in natural light. Bingo! The one that seems to disappear into your skin is your color.

TRY: CHANEL PERFECTION LUMIERE LONG-WEAR FLAWLESS FLUID MAKEUP SPF 15
Our model wears Beige 30

Begin by applying YSL Touche Éclat—a radiance fluid in a pen form—to the inner and outer corners of your eyes and to the sides of your nose and chin.  Use your fingers to blend very lightly. This pre-concealer step illuminates your under eye area and combats dark circles and signs of fatigue. If you have very little to no darkness under your eyes this product may be enough for you.

TRY: YSL TOUCHE ÉCLAT IN LUMINOUS RADIANCE 01

For extra coverage, apply concealer very sparingly under your eyes.  A flat concealer brush is essential for a precise seamless application. The key is to apply your concealer only where needed. For most women that will be the inner most corner of your eye (right alongside your nose) to the inner-half of your eye right at your pupil. Be sure to blend your concealer well being careful not to remove all the coverage. Try to avoid applying any concealer to the outer most half of your under eye area unless your dark circles extend to that area. Usually, the YSL Touche Éclat is enough to brighten this area.

Too much concealer is the main culprit in a caked looking under eye area and can make you look like you have lines you don’t even have. Less really is best!

TRY: KEVYN AUCOIN SENSUAL SKIN ENHANCER IN SX2 

Apply your concealer to any other areas you need more coverage such as around your nose or on a blemish. When covering a blemish an anti-acne concealer and pointy concealer brush is indispensable for a precise undetectable application. Apply your concealer directly on the blemish. Use your ring finger or flat concealer brush to carefully blend the product.

TO HEAL & COVER BLEMISHES, TRY: CLINIQUE ACNE SOLUTIONS CLEARING CONCEALER

Using a fluffy powder brush apply a small amount of powder to your face paying special attention to oil-prone areas such as your t-zone. Apply the smallest amount of powder under your eyes to set your concealer and avoid creasing. Be careful not to over apply here; too much powder is very aging to the under eye area.

Use a sponge to apply for extra coverage of a blemish and more oil control in oilier areas (such as around your nose). Begin with quite a bit of powder on your sponge and press the sponge into your skin. Be careful not to rub or sweep the sponge across your face as this will remove the makeup underneath. Use a fluffy powder brush to sweep off any excess powder.

TRY: MAC BLOT POWDER IN MEDIUM BEIGE 

For extra glowing skin, use cream highlighter on the tops of your cheekbones. Use your fingers to apply and blend well. For even more glow, apply a bit of highlighter down the bridge of your nose and on your brow bones. For fuller looking lips apply a bit on your cupids bow.

TRY: NARS MULTIPLE STICK IN COPACABANA

Smile and apply your blush to the apples of cheeks. For the most natural look, apply the blush where your cheeks would naturally flush which is typically the on the apples of your cheeks and across your cheekbones. A great blush brush is crucial for a flawless application—we love NARS Yachiyo brush.

Continue to sweep the blush across your cheekbones and up to your temples. To find your most natural blush color, look to the tone your skin flushes naturally when you exercise or are warm—or heck, when that hottie from work finally talks to you. Don’t shy away from wearing true colors such as Coral, bright pink, and red as these are often the most natural looking blush colors.

TRY: NARS YACHIYO BRUSH and CHRISTIAN DIOR VIBRANT COLOUR BLUSH IN CORAL CRUISE

Add a beautiful, subtle lip color that compliments your natural look. To find the best natural tone that won’t wash you out, let your complexion be your guide. If you have fair skin, choose a lip color in the pale pink-beige family. If your skin has a medium tone, use a lip color in the rose-beige family. If you have darker skin, choose a lip color with a bronze undertone. Be sure your lips are well hydrated by using a lip balm first, as lighter lip colors can accentuate any dryness on your lips.

TRY: CHRISTIAN DIOR ROUGE NUDE LIP BLUSH IN CHARNELLE

Subtly illuminate your eyes by using your fingers to apply highlighter all over your eyelid and up to your brow. Using a thin eyeliner brush apply your highlighter to the inner corner of your eye and along your lower lash line. This will really pop your eyes.

TRY: NARS MULTIPLE STICK IN COPACABANA

Add color and contour to your eye with a sheer cream shadow. Using your fingers, apply the shadow all over your eyelid and into the crease of your eye; blending the color up onto your brow bone. Now, scroll from the top to the bottom to see the beautiful transformation that just a few basic make up tips can do for any fresh face.

TRY: CHANEL ILLUSION D’OMBRE LONG WEAR LUMINOUS EYE SHADOW IN ABSTRACTION 

PHOTO + VIDEO: Billy Rood
CREATIVE: D. Graham Kostic, G&F
MAKE UP: Lisa Trunda, Ford Artists
MODEL: Leah, Ford Models Chicago