A flawless complexion is the base for any beauty look, but let’s be honest here—who has perfect skin all the time? “Don’t despair,” says LORAC celebrity makeup artist Dean Fournier, “a clever makeup job can hide anything and it’s easier and faster than you think.” Got a minute? Fournier shows us how to pick the right products, which order to use them, and application techniques to achieve perfect skin every time.

Step 1: Start with primer

“In order to speed up your complexion perfection, don't skip primer,” advises Fournier. “A good primer will help smooth out your skin and allow makeup to glide on and blend easier and faster, not to mention last all day and night.” If redness is a concern, Forunier recommends trying a color-neutralizing CC cream, which can double as primer.

MDC Recommends: Benefit Cosmetics Stay Flawless 15-Hour Primer, Urban Decay Pore Perfecting Complexion Primer Potion, LORAC CC Color Correcting Cream

Step 2: Apply foundation

“Next, apply a sheer to medium foundation. Blend out with your fingers, then pat it in from hairline to jaw line. This presses the product into skin and gives the most natural finish,” says Fournier. Avoid a full-coverage foundation since that requires expert blending skills and can take a lot of time.

MDC Recommends: Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Éclat, Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15, Lancôme Teint Visionnaire Skin Correcting Makeup Duo

Step 3: Pat concealer over imperfections

“You may have noticed concealer comes after foundation,” says Fournier. “This is important since many women who apply concealer before foundation end up wiping away most of their hard work without even realizing it! When choosing a concealer, go for a more orangey-pink one if your main concern is under eye circles. If you are looking to conceal redness, grab a more yellow concealer. If you're looking to cover pigmentation, use a stick or pot concealer as these deliver the most coverage. Be sure to pat, not wipe, the concealer on anything you need to cover. Wiping concealer never allows it to build. A few pats and you're done!

MDC Recommends: Bare Minerals Correcting Concealer Broad Spectrum SPF 20, Maybelline Fit Me Concealer, Dermablend Quick-Fix Concealer

Step 4: Powder to even skin

Covering blemishes? “A quick dusting of a powder is an important last step to help even out skin texture around any bumps,” says Fournier.

MDC Recommends: Clinique Redness Solutions Instant Relief Mineral Powder, Giorgio Armani Micro-Fil Loose Powder, Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder

Ready to put your best face forward? Let us know your favorite complexion products!

Photos: Jupiterimages/Thinkstock, Benefit, Urban Decay, LORAC, Yves Saint Laurent, Bobbi Brown, Lancôme, Bare Minerals, Maybelline, Dermablend, Clinique, Giorgio Armani, Laura Mercier