Airbrush Secrets: how to have model smooth skin

The smooth, even-toned legs we see in magazines have had the benefit of re-touching. Yet with the right know-how, you can make them a reality.
QUICK FIX: "The secret to blending away body imperfections is colour balancing," says L'Oréal Paris international make-up artist, James Kaliardos. "To mask the blue tinge of leg veins, choose a yellow-toned product." L'Oréal Paris Studio Secrets High Definition Smoothing Foundation (£15.99; boots.com) comes with a built-in brush that diffuses the product over the skin for an unblemished effect. Pat Illamasqua's new Illumine Oil in Pulse (£32, illamasqua.com) onto the shin bones for a shimmering golden finish.

MELT AWAY A MOTTLED CHEST

Crêpey skin on the chest area will age you — no matter how line-free your face is. Hot off the catwalks is a "skin-finishing" trend that smoothes and lifts the body in seconds.
QUICK FIX: Remove any oil, then apply a dash of St Tropez Everyday Perfect Legs (£20; st-tropez.co.uk) with a cosmetic sponge. "Don't be fooled by the name," says tanning expert Sophie Evans. "Perfect Legs is a dual-action product that adds instant colour to conceal blemishes plus acts as a hydrating, gradual tan." Counteract sagging by using a large brush to apply St Tropez's new blue-tinted Skin Illuminator (£15; as before).

AIRBRUSH OUT SWEAT PATCHES

They may look perfect in the pictures, but under the heat of studio lights, models frequently suffer from underarm sweat patches.
QUICK FIX: Spritz on the best of the new mineral deodorants (try Garnier's Roll-On, £1.80; nationwide) then take a tip from the experts. "If you've only got minutes to spare, prep the underarm skin with a mixture of moisturiser and concealer," says Fiona Jolly, Maybelline New York make-up artist. "Then buff Maybelline's Pure Foundation Mineral in a downward motion using a brush for an airbrushed effect that will last for hours." (£9.99; maybelline.co.uk)

BLEND AWAY BRUISES

Found a shiner on your legs? Erasing them is easier than you think.
QUICK FIX: First swipe a toner over the bruise. "Most women have a nude lipstick hidden away somewhere," says editorial make-up artist Natasha Lakic (natashalakic.com). "Use your finger to dab on a matte lipstick in an apricot shade. Wait for it to dry, then use a synthetic brush to dust on a powder to set it in place." Try Revlon Matte in Nude Attitude (£7.29; 0800 085 2716) followed by Laura Mercier's Smooth Focus Pressed Setting Control (£25; spacenk.co.uk).

TAN TONE YOUR CELLULITE

It's no secret that models suffer from the orange-peel effect. A quick fix remains an enigma.
QUICK FIX: "The latest celebrity body trick is the high-definition tan," says James Read, the UK's top tanning expert from the Sanderson Hotel's Agua Spa (thetantalist.com). One day before tanning, exfoliate the thighs with He-Shi's Exfoliating Body Wash, (£21.95; he-shi.co.uk), which contains alpha hydroxy acids to smooth and soften skin. "Then apply two super-fine layers of Xen Tan Mist Intense (£21.95; xen-tan.co.uk) down the thighs, and use a tanning mitt to buff the dimpled area. Allow to dry, then finish with a light misting of a spray-on foundation like L'Oréal Paris Glam Bronze Legs (£7.99; boots.com)."