Beauty School

When we were tweens (um, before that was even a term), my best friend's infinitely chic, South American mother shared with us her Simple Beauty Commandments: Keep your brows groomed, your skin clear, your lips soft and moisturized, and your nails manicured, and you'll always look naturally pretty and polished. Almost twenty years later, my BFF and I have dutifully maintained neat eyebrows and cuticles, while adding a few new rules along the way. In my experience, beauty trumps fashion (Who cares that you're wearing a Rick Owens leather jacket when you've got a massive  blemish on your forehead?), so follow these religiously to avoid being caught on the street a mess. 

1. In lieu of spending hundreds on trendy makeup and skincare, find the one treatment that makes you look instantly but subtly better, and invest in it as frequently as you can afford. For me, this means false eyelash extensions, but buttery highlights, glycolic peels, or laser hair removal could also apply. 

2. Run a comb through your strands and throw on a headband before stepping out to run errands. You'll look like you never have a hair out of place. 

3. If you're lucky enough to have discovered your perfect blush, lipstick, antiaging cream, etc. stick with it, no matter what. Even as a professional product tester, I keep my medicine cabinet stocked with the tried-and-true standbys that work best for me. Learn by trial and error, but when you stumble upon The One, hang on to it.

4. Buy the right shade of foundation and concealer. Like an ill-fitting bra or VPL, these can make or break your entire look. Take the time to test out colors in good lighting, and if you're skeptical, bring an honest friend to give it to you straight.

5. Streamline the a.m. routine. It shouldn't take you more than ten minutes to apply natural looking makeup. A touch of foundation and concealer, blush, mascara, and lip balm or gloss is all anyone needs. If you're clocking in more time that, you look overdone.