Finishing Touches.(makeup tips)

The Finer Points

Flaw Fixers

Foundation and powder are makeup, not magic. The first tool for hiding blackheads, redness, or any discoloration, says Young, is a primer, which creates a barrier between skin and foundation and also contains light-reflecting ingredients. (Young carries primers from Laura Mercier, Chanel, and Prescriptives in her makeup kit at all times.) After applying the primer all over the face, she dabs Yves Saint Laurent's Touche clat highlighter on any discolored areas to counteract redness or darkness. Next, she uses her finger to dot on a concealer that matches the foundation exactly. "The warmth of the finger helps blend the concealer," she says. The final step is foundation and then powder on the spot, and then makeup on the rest of the face. (For undereye circles, she skips the spot-foundation and powdering step to avoid cakiness.) While makeup can conceal discoloration, it's trickier to hide anything raised, like acne or moles. Makeup artist Mally Roncal's method is to dab concealer on the spot with a brush, let it dry, then add another coat followed by loose powder.

The Finer Points

Airbrushed Skin

In the past, some actresses were filmed through lenses covered with ...