The Beauty Counter: Answers to your beauty questions

Happy spring! It's finally arrived! It's time to dust off the bronzers and sunless tanners we've been saving for days like this and revive those sun-kissed complexions.

One of the most popular questions I get during spring and summer is how to achieve that perfect glow or dewy skin without looking like we just dipped our face in a vat of olive oil. The answer? Dip your face in a vat of olive oil. Kidding! Although olive oil can be great for your skin's overall complexion, it isn't something I would encourage you douse yourself in on a hot summer day.

Anne Hudson

The key to achieving this perfect, youthful and fresh look is balance. You want a radiant glow without looking super shiny. There are some amazing products on the market right now that can help you achieve that dewy look in a few simple steps.

First and foremost, make sure you have a clean and well-moisturized face. Makeup looks best when applied on a clean canvas.

Next, and probably just as important, is your primer. Primer does wonders in achieving youthful and vibrant-looking skin, but most importantly, it helps maintain the integrity of your makeup for as long possible that day.

A lot of primers have properties that say "illuminator" or "highlighting" or "luminous," and I have tried a host of these types of primers. Many of them worked, some of them not as well. If you are new to the primer world, I encourage you to go to Sephora or your favorite beauty counter and ask for a sample of their primers. My personal favorites are Smashbox, Benefit Porefecting, Benefit Stay Flawless and Urban Decay Brightening and Tightening Primer Potion, to name a few.

A lot of primers right now, especially with spring and summer here, are multitasking in that they offer to prime your face for the application of makeup but also can be worn alone, without the use of foundation. These will be more in BB creams, CC creams and tinted moisturizers. Keep in mind these types of primers and foundations generally do not offer a great deal of coverage, so if you have areas of your skin that need additional coverage, use liquid or cream concealers.

The next step is foundation. This is probably the most important part in achieving a dewy look. When choosing a foundation, it is important to veer toward foundations that, like a primer, include highlighting or illuminating qualities. You want something that is lightweight (stay away from matte foundations, as they can just weigh the skin down), and blend the foundation into the skin with a damp sponge or beauty blender. This will make the application appear smoother and offer a weightless feeling.

As I mentioned, you want avoid matte foundations because they can make the skin look cakey, especially after a few hours in the Southeast Missouri sun. Instead, choose liquids and creams that are lightweight in coverage and illuminating in texture. Urban Decay Naked Skin foundation, Bobbi Brown Luminous Moisturizing Foundation, L'Oreal Paris Trust Match Lumi and Mary Kay Timewise Luminous Wear Liquid Foundation are all great foundations.

When you apply foundation with a damp sponge or beauty blender, it blends better with your skin, rather than sitting on top of it. It also provides a better, seamless application, whereas applying it with a brush can leave streaks or smears. A trick if you don't have these types of foundations is to apply a highlighting powder or cream to the foundation. Mix it well before applying to the skin, and this will give the same effect as a foundation that contains luminous properties.

Once you have applied your makeup (which, keep in mind, should not be heavy if you're going for natural, luminescent skin), the last step is to apply a powder or cream highlighter on the tops of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, cupid's bow and chin. Stay away from shimmery powders that are not finely milled, because that can just make you look like a disco ball.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal is my all-time favorite highlighter because it gives the appearance of a natural and radiant-from-within glow. They also come in three different shades for all skin tones. Hourglass Ambient Highlighters are a close second, and Nars Illuminator in Orgasm is another of my favorite highlighters.

Achieving luminescent and glowing skin can take a little work, but the finished look will appear effortless. Remember, less is more. Glowing skin isn't about how much product you put on your skin, but what you put on your skin, and applying it strategically so when the light touches your face, you look positively radiant.

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About Anne

Anne Hudson, a self-taught makeup artist in Cape Girardeau, has had a passion for makeup since she was old enough to know what powder was. She could write a book about a tube of red lipstick, but for now, she's offering her best tips in Flourish magazine. Got a question for Anne? Send it to rgautschy@semissourian.com, and you might find the answer in a future issue of Flourish.