Runway the "Real" Way: J. Mendel Fall 2012

1. Prep Team

Before models even got to the makeup chair, their faces were prepped with Dr. Jart Water Fuse BB cream. The three-in-one lotion triples as a moisturizer, serum, and sunscreen and was used to even out skin tone. "I like to call it AC for your face. It instantly cools and soothes," said makeup artist Joy Fennell. Even in the winter months, the potion's good for raw, wind-whipped skin, and she particularly likes recommending it to clients who suffer from rosacea. The biggest stamp of approval? The models raved about it before leaving her chair.

2. Born This Way

"We wanted the girls to feel effortlessly cool—chic, but grunge. In my mind, I was thinking Charlize Theron, Kate Moss," said makeup artist Charlotte Tillbury for Maybelline. "It's like nature naturally blessed you with the perfect flush on the cheeks and lips, nice brows, and thick lashes." To fake flawlessness, Tillbury used Dream Nude Airfoam foundation and highlighter on the cheekbones, nose, and cupid's bow. For cheeks, she mixed two shades of the brand's Dream Bouncy blush: Coffee Cake as the base on the full cheekbone and Rose Petal on the apple "to give a bounce of color."

3. Easy on the Eyes

Tillbury stuck with neutral colors for the eyes, mixing Color Tatto shadow in Too Cool with moisturizer for subtle color. Then she used a pencil in brown all around the eye, smudged, and topped with a bit of Beige For Good lipstick for "a wet look" (a hint went under the eye, too). For the lips, she cocktailed two products already on the face: a dab of blush for color and a top of the lipstick to neutralize it slightly.

4. Contempo Casual

"She's the contemporary woman of today," hairstylist Orlando Pita said, working on behalf of Phyto and T3. "The hair's a little waved and works both for day and evening." Hair was blown out with Phyto Professional Intense Volume Mousse and curled with T3's SinglePass Twirl iron. The loose ringlets turned into sexy, bouncy waves courtesy of Pita and team. They brushed them out and did some back-brushing for extra fluff.

5. Madame, Please

The Haven Spa for Essie team was backstage giving the models the final lacquered touch: two coats of light pink Mademoiselle plus a fast-drying topcoat. "It's very, very simple," they explained.

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