Get the look: Giles SS12

(Photo credit: Luca Cannonieri for Vogue.com)
I'm a huge fan of minimalist makeup. As you can see, It never goes out of style. I love the subtle sweeps of colour and soft highlights as it helps give a 'lit from within look' that I love seeing on women. What's even better is that this looks gorgeous on everyone, and you can take this look from AM to PM so easily. To go the extra mile, apply a beautiful bold and upbeat lip colour to make everything pop.
You want to know the secret to perfecting any makeup look? Prep, prep, prep! It's all about prepping your skin. Begin by spritzing our Florés Balancing Mist all over your face. Let it set for 10 seconds and then moisturize with Prêt-à-Repair or The Alps. After, prime your skin with the No.6 Beauty Primer. Once the primer has settled, you can start applying makeup.
This Giles SS12 look was created using MAC products (Russian Red Lipstick on cheeks, Brick and Burgundy Lip Pencils mixed together. However, I decided to switch it up a bit and pulled some of my favourite (cruelty free, except one) products to help you achieve this beautiful low key look.

- Step 1: Now that skin prep is complete, we're going to start with cream blush. Place RMS lip2cheek blush (in Beloved) on the inside of your wrist, let it warm up, then apply a tiny amount on the cheeks. Buff and blend it out to the side. when you blend it out to the side, the colour moves with your skin (which means it will look more natural) This blush will give you that beautiful flushed look.
- Step 2: Foundation. You don't have to use foundation if you don't need to, but I like the finished look foundation gives you- especially the natural finish Marc Jacobs Genius Gel Foundation gives your skin, and not only that, he has a great colour selection for light-dark complexions. Application: apply a thin layer of MJ's Genius Gel Foundation (or any sheer-medium foundation you fancy). This one looks like your skin, but better! It shouldn't go over your blush, but in this look, it will help it blend. If you have a Beauty Blender, use it. I use a damp black Beauty Blender to get a nice sheer finish. (Quick note on BB's: personally, I like the black Beauty Blender better for liquid foundations. It's much smoother and less grainy compared to the Pnk BB. The Pink BB works best with cream foundations).
- Step 3: Highlight (optional). Before you start, I want you study your face. Where do you see your natural oils peek through? Once you figure that out, what area, where the natural oils peek through, do you like? Use that as your guideline for highlight placement. Don't go crazy with it! The end goal is for it to be a subtle lit-from-within look, not a disco ball. Use the tiniest amount of cream highlight and blend up with the sponge or fingers. I created a quick guideline on hightlight placement:

- Step 4: Lips. Prep with your favourite lip balm. Mix the two (NSFW+Black Dahlia) Lip liners together and apply through the inner lips, then blend outwards. If the red+burgundy is too bold, you can use a tinted lip balm.
- Step 5: Setting Powder. For those with combo/oily skin: A light sweep of a loose powder of your choice on your t-zone or wherever you want to keep oils at bay (I like using Laura Mercier's translucent loose setting powder).
- Step 6: Last minute grooming: Curl your lashes, brush brows-fill in areas that need it, but keep it soft and natural.
- Step 7: Set makeup. Spritz Florés Balancing mist to finish the look.
ps. We want to see your interpretations of this look! Share with us on instagram by using our hashtag #floresboticario