When it comes to your skin, you’ve won the genetic lottery (now go thank your parents!). Your enviably healthy skin doesn’t need much help, but by making a few tweaks to your beauty routine, you can reach complexion perfection.The challenge: It’s hard to find room for improvement, but even if you have small-pored, even skin that never breaks out, you can still look brighter and well-rested with just a few simple tricks. In fact, “the better your skin, the more amazed you’ll be by what a huge difference simply covering under-eye circles and warming up your skin can make,” says New York City makeup artist Sara Glick.The science: Thank your lucky genes (and yourself if you always wear sunscreen, eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and don’t smoke for your flawless complexion. Basically, your skin is functioning perfectly: It’s getting enough water, vitamins and fatty acids from your diet; your skin cells make enough lipids and ceramides; and your sebaceous and sweat glands are providing everything your skin needs to create its own moisturizer.Perfect your complexion1. Prep your skin Apply a light moisturizer like Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré right after you get out of the shower to lock in moisture. Or start with a hydrating spritz, like Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist, and then follow with cream. Wait a few minutes to let the cream absorb.2. Add some sheen “My favorite trick for a convincing, hydrated glow is applying a pearly highlighter underneath foundation,” says Glick. Dab it high on cheekbones, down the bridge of the nose and lightly across the forehead and blend. Glick swears by Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow All Over Radiance Crème.3. Get even Skip foundation—you don’t need it—and apply a tinted moisturizer like Chanel Hydramax Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 for just a hint of coverage. Next, blend a skin brightener like YSL Touche Eclat under your eyes, in the inner corners and over your lids to neutralize any shadows for the eye-opening equivalent of downing a double espresso. Set makeup with a light dusting of clear powder like Tarte Smooth Operator Micronized Clay Finishing Powder.4. Warm up Pick a powder bronzer with a tiny bit of shimmer like Lancome Star Bronzer Natural Glow Long-Lasting Bronzer, advises Glick. Using a large, fluffy brush, sweep it where the sun would naturally kiss your face: your forehead, the bridge of your nose, cheekbones and chin. Dust what’s left on the brush over your neck so it all blends in.5. Go rosy Your most natural shade of blush is the color that you, well, blush naturally. (It’ll be in the pink family—nobody blushes tangerine or eggplant, notes Glick.) No matter your skin type, powder is easiest to apply and lasts the longest. Load up a blush brush, shake off the excess and sweep it over the apples of your cheeks. Soften and blend the color with a clean powder brush.
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