Runway the "Real" Way: DKNY Spring 2012

1. Effortless coverage

"The inspiration is a sun-kissed beautiful California beach girl who travels to New York," explains Charlotte Willer for Maybelline. To create a satin finish, she uses Maybelline Fit Me foundation and Maybelline Fit Me pressed powder. "Slap the liquid coverage on like you would a moisturizer and really rub it in," she says. "You don't want the foundation look—nobody wants to be complimented on that!"

2. Double the fun

For times when you need to travel light, a pretty eye-shadow duo can work for both your face and peepers. Willer chooses two hues she created specially for the DKNY runway show that will be released next spring. She dusts Maybelline Backstage Beige (a peach shade) on the models' temples, eyelids, and cheek tops, and she adds Maybelline Runway Flush (a coral color) to their mid-lower cheeks. Eyelashes are coated with Maybelline Volume Express One By One mascara.

3. Lollipop lips

While you may be tempted to eat Maybelline's Pop Stick lipstick in Raspberry Ice (it smells deliciously fruity!), save the spring shade to coat your pucker. The clear, jelly-like formula "gets activated by the heat of your body and turns into a natural color," explains Willer. "It's a goes on sheer like a lipgloss."

4. Downtown 'do

Hair guru Eugene Souleiman for Wella Professionals created this effortless hairstyle (to be worn under a big floppy hat) with Kate Moss in mind. "I wanted it to be sexy, summery and cool to balance out the floral prints," he says. "I didn't want the girls to look too prissy or romantic." Wrap blow-dried, center-parted tresses in a low bun and mist it with Wella Professionals Ocean Spritz Beach Texture Spray. Blast your locks with blowdryer heat for a few minutes, let it cool down, and then take it out to reveal kinky waves.

5. Naked nails

"The DKNY clothes are bright and patterned, so we chose an elegant nail color called Brooch the Subject [debuts November 1]," Essie founder Essie Weingarten says of the bold nude-beige shade with a slight shimmer. "We're doing matchy-matchy nails and toes!" She predicts that the tips trend is taking a 180-degree turn this spring with neutrals replacing last season's neons. We saw a similar natural look at Mara Hoffman's Spring 2012 presentation.

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