Need to be photo ready for a big occasion?

Actors on a red carpet aren’t wearing full faces of makeup as they would for films but that there isn’t an under-eye bag, zit or oily t-zone in sight. What gives?

The answer is a touch of subtle cosmetics that brighten up the skin without making it look too perfect. Case in point: check out Robert Downey Junior above. No shine on his face, the area underneath his eyes is bright, there isn’t a fine line in sight and yet he looks completely natural – just a bit better. Read on to find out what goes into creating that effortlessly smooth, bronzed and illuminated skin.

• Mattifying Gel – Start by applying a silicone gel primer like Givenchy Mister Mat to your entire face. Silicone gel primers work like photoshop in a tube. This colourless, lightweight gel lies across the surface of your skin, filling in large pores, fine lines, wrinkles and scars whilst absorbing excess oil at the same time. The result is a smooth, younger-looking face. For a budget option try the makeup artist favourite; Monistat Anti-Chaffing Gel. Sounds strange but it contains the exact same ingredients you’d find in products like the Givenchy one above but for a fraction of the price. Effective and totally safe to use on your face.

• Concealer – Next apply a concealer underneath your eyes to cover up dark circles and camouflage bags. Dot a tiny bit underneath each eye and blend into the surrounding skin with your ring finger. Make sure your concealer isn’t completely opaque, use products with low to medium coverage for a natural look. YSL touche eclat is a personal favourite that provides sheer coverage and a dramatic brightening effect underneath your eyes. If you’ve had a rough night-before, try Make Up For Ever’s Lift Concealer which has slightly more coverage and includes ingredients to help de-puff those bags.

• Powder/Bronzer – Finally finish your face with with a powder such as MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural. This pressed mineral cake provides very light coverage – not enough to cover any problem areas but enough to make your skin look even and cover redness. This powder doesn’t look the least bit powdery, perfect for an undetectable natural polish to the skin. Choose a shade darker than your skin tone for an ultra-natural bronzer but don’t forget your neck! If you’re wearing a white shirt, you may want to opt for a facial self-tan that you can apply a few days prior to the event – that’ll prevent any transfer to your collar.

• For the minimalist – Try using Perfekt Skin Perfection Gel for a 2-in-1 product. It works just like a silicone gel but has a light tint added to it so you can skip the powder/self tan. Buy a shade darker than your natural skin tone for a bronzed look. Finish by applying concealer on top.

And that’s it! 2 or 3 steps and you’re ready for any flash photography that may come your way. Move over, Junior.

Disclaimer: I wasn’t provided samples, given any money or sponsorship by any of these companies.