If you used to sneak into your mom’s dresser and paint your face with all her Maybellines and Revlons, there’s a good chance you’ve got a future in the glamorous make-up industry. Artist Lorie Abraham dishes on the ins and outs of painting faces professionally.

Art and Science. Being a make-up artist doesn’t just involve knowing how to cleverly apply liquid eyeliner without a hitch. Aside from the pre-requisite passion for make-up, an aspiring make-up artist has to know how to study a client’s features well, in order to bring out the person’s assets. You’ve got to study colors, combinations and even how certain colors can react to different skin tones. You’ve also got to be well-versed with all the different types of make-up and how to apply them using the different cosmetic tools available. Make-up application is a form of artistry, so if you pay attention to detail and are creative, you’ll definitely make it in the business.

Beauty Brains. It’s fine if you know your makeup so well you can put it on with your eyes closed, but making makeup your career does require a certain degree of professional training. The makeup industry is a pretty competitive workplace nowadays, and you can’t afford to commit errors that are simply due to a lack of training. Most makeup artists accept apprenticeships—if you’re a student who’s looking at a prospective career in makeup, it would be good to get in touch with professionals and ask about apprenticing. The work hours are usually flexible so you’ll be able to fit a few jobs in between classes.

Your Daily Regimen: Folow these steps in the morning to make pores look smaller. (Do your usual cleaning at night.)
step 1: CLEANSE
LOOK FOR an oil-free, deep-cleansing wash to remove dirt and oil. Keeping pores clean will prevent them from getting bigger.

step 2: SCRUB
LOOK FOR a scrub that has salicylic acid to loosen the deep layers of dead skin and oil that can stretch out your pores.

step 3: PROTECT
LOOK FOR SPF 30 lotion to protect skin from the sun (its rays break down collagen, which can make pores bigger over time).

step 4: MATTIFY
LOOK FOR a mattifying gel with salicylic acid to soak up oil so it won’t sit in your pores. The gel disguises large pores too!
TRY Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 15, P1172, Kiehl’s.

FYI: It will take three months to notice a difference in your skin, so be patient and stick with the regimen.

Rock Red-Hot Lips

One of the cheapest—and easiest—looks: a bold lip on an otherwise bare face. “Bright red lips are all you need to look instantly put together—and you won’t have makeup sliding off your face,” says NYC celeb makeup artist Brian Duprey. We like Avon Color Rich Lipstick in President’s Red, P379. Apply sheer powder foundation so your skin becomes a flawless backdrop to your sultry smacker. A great buy: Fasio Fit & Stay Foundation SPF28, P545.

Brew a Refreshinging Body Mist

To create a fresh-smelling skin treat, pull off the petals from about four roses, steep in hot water for 10 minutes, and pour the strained liquid into a spray bottle, says Tara Oolie, owner of Just Calm Down Spa in NYC. Then spritz all over.

Banish Blemishes With A New Formula

If you’re prone to frequent zits and blemishes, review your current skin care stash: You might need an extra clearing boost from pimple-busting products that contain salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide.

Mimic Surfer-Girl Strands

Here’s a shortcut to perfectly textured tresses: Combine two cups of warm water with two tablespoons of sea salt in a spray bottle, then shake it up so the salt dissolves, says Jet Rhys, a hairstylist based in California. Mist all over damp locks for a tousled effect. Don’t scrunch—the key to frizz-free results is not to touch your hair at all while it dries, says Rhys.

Whip Up a Glow-Giving Face Mask

Try this easy DIY treatment. Chop up a slice papaya and combine with a quartercup of plain yogurt. Apply to your face, then rinse off after 20 minutes. The papaya enzymes and lactic acid from the yogurt will lightly exfoliate your skin.

Fix a Self-Tanner Snafu

If your fake-bake body looks streaky, orangey, or too dark, go for a swim in a pool, says Ryan Crabbe, spa director of the Ritz-Carlton Spa in Miami. “The chlorine will dissolve the self-tanner a bit so the mistakes aren’t as obvious.”

Get Ultrasmooth Skin

Brew a pot of coffee, then use the leftover warm grounds in the shower as an exfoliator. They’ll slough your skin, making it smooth, plus caffeine has a temporary, mild firming effect.