I will start by letting you in on a big secret. Do you think that all models have a flawless complexion that would be envied by a marble statue?

Signs of excess
Well let me tell you, with the eating habits of most of these girls - a steady diet of fizzy drinks and cigarettes - you need a bucket and trowel to smooth over the signs of excess! Oh sure they are gorgeous, and their bones are in all of the right places, but they have the same problems that we mere mortals face. (They also have airbrushing and retouches!)

So how do you achieve the perfect skin we all desire?
Start with a good skincare routine. Attend to the problem itself, not the symptoms. Choose a foundation that exactly matches your skin. Then you can have extra coverage where you want it, without it showing If you want more colour, use a foundation that is the colour you would go with a natural suntan. Save a bit of your summer make-up to check it with. Always check a foundation along the jawline to be certain you will not be left with a tide-mark. Look at the colour in natural daylight. This is where most foundations fall down! You can always ask the sales assistant if you can borrow a mirror, and go to the door to check it yourself. Most of us have had the experience of getting home with something that looks totally different to what it did in the store. If blending is a problem, apply the foundation while your moisturiser is still a bit wet.

More handy hints
'Warm' the foundation between your fingertips and then touch it over the entire skin before blending.

Do not put a blob here, and a blob there and expect to be able to get a smooth finish! You will drag the skin all over the place and still have some areas with more product than others. Remember, skin is elastic - the more you stretch it around, the less it bounces back!

After warming the make-up, and placing over the entire face, go back and blend with broad strokes. Use your whole hand, not just the fingertips, and use the lightest touch you can. Once the initial coat is done, put a small amount on the heel of your hand, and then go back and increase the coverage where you need it. Use a small brush, like an old lip brush to cover marks. That way you paint away imperfections instead of adding a big blob around them. If you want to use powder, again make sure it does not alter the colour if the foundation. If you want a semi-matte finish try a brush. For a more matte look, a puff. Some women only want powder in the areas they are prone to shining in. The choice is yours. As a final touch, you know how make-up always seems to look better after about a half hour or so? Before you wash your hands to start applying the rest of your makeup, rub your hands together really fast until you start feeling the heat. Then, press your hands to your face to allow the natural oils to start pulling through.