Afternoon beauty fix: Take the focus off an inconvenient breakout with this quick tip

I’ve broken out on my cheeks and I have a dinner party to go to tonight. How can I do my makeup to detract from the problem area? Your question offers the perfect scenario to explain how it’s possible to wear a full face of makeup without it looking overdone or garish. When you’re broken out, you’ll want to do two things: conceal and detract. Firstly, create a clean surface by priming your skin and applying a full-coverage foundation. Use a fine-tipped concealer brush to touch up where your breakout is worst, and then set it in place with translucent powder and a large fluffy brush. The second step is to create a point for roaming eyes to fixate upon, like a prominent lip or exaggerated eyeliner. Our personal preference is sweeping a bright pop of colour on your lips, like the bright pink of M.A.C Cosmetics Pro Longwear Lipcreme’s “Love Forever” ($24, maccosmetics.com), so eyes divert there instead of your less-than-flawless skin.

In need of an afternoon beauty pick-me-up? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.