So if your skin type is dry, you'll always want to prep over a layer of moisturizer, but you can adjust the richness of that moisturizer based on the texture and finish of your foundation. And on the other end of the spectrum, oily skin types will want to paint on a more matte surface, so Hughes recommends starting with a fresh face after cleansing and placing foundation only where you want it, leaving the rest of the face bare so all your hard work doesn't just slide off.

4. Glow Under

Ready for a hack so intuitive you'll be shocked you've never thought of it before? For a natural-looking glow, Hughes applies her bronzer before her complexion products. Not only do you need less product when applying on clean skin, but you won't need to worry about your bronzer streaking your makeup underneath.

5. Match-Making

When it comes to picking out the color for complexion products like foundation and concealer, Hughes doesn't much go in for undertones. Instead, she recommends that you color-match your products to the area of skin that's most visible on any given day. That could be the throat if you're wearing a turtle neck, the décolletage if it's something a bit lower cut, or even the collar bone or shoulders; it all depends on the outfit. For your under-eyes, she has a brilliant tip for finding your perfect undereye concealer shade.

6. (Brush) Size Matters

Even when you're working with a large area, that doesn't mean you need to reach for a similarly sized brush. The key to Hughes's precision is that she swipes on complexion makeup with a surprisingly small brush — she loves the Small Intensifier Brush from Nars. (Our digital reporter Devon Abelman has a similar technique.)

7. Use a Light Touch

But the size of the brush is only half the secret. The other half is feather-light strokes that give you complete control of your coverage. What Hughes told us is that if the bristles are bending, you're pressing too hard, and if you're struggling with that, just move your fingers back on the handle, because it reduces the amount of pressure you're putting on your face. She says the key is that every layer should be lighter and softer than the next, so if you nail that, you're golden.

8. Highlighter Hack

After you've hit your go-to spots like the brow bone, Cupid's bow, and cheekbones, swipe a hint of highlight on your collarbone, or even on your ears if your hair is pulled back and they'll be visible. It's an unexpected glint of brightness that Hughes feels can really bring a look together.

Eyes

Hughes is known for her crisp, daring wings and dazzling color play, and there's no better place to show those skills off than on the eyes.

9. Wing It

If you're doing a stretched-out wing, there's no need to do the entire swoop at once. Hughes is a huge proponent of dividing up each stage of your beauty routine into a bunch of tiny, un-mess-up-able (it's a word!) steps, so take her advice and do the wing and your lid separately, and then connect them in the middle.

10. Go Steady

Sure, a makeup artist like KJH herself can freehand her eyeliner, but don't be a hero. Place your pinkie gently on your face to anchor your hand during eye makeup application, and you'll end up with a much steadier line and a lot less stress sweat.

11. Leave Some Space

Instead of bringing complexion products right up under your lower lash line, aim for a more natural look by stopping the coverage a little lower so your real skin color underneath your eye can show through. You'll be surprised at what a big difference such a narrow swath of bare skin can make.

12. Clean Up Carefully

Try cleaning up any errant pigment around your eye with a dry cotton bud first, and then if that doesn't cut it, pick up a little bit of moisturizer on a clean angled brush and use it to swipe away any spots or smearing. Erasing mistakes with makeup remover should be a last resort, Hughes says, because it gives you so little control over which layers go and which stay.

13. Don't Overdo It

Are you someone who tends to keep adding elements onto your eyes until you're wearing a full palette on each lid? It can be hard to put down the brush, we get it — but Hughes suggests to do anything you tend to overdo first, so that you're less likely to get carried away.

Lips

On her own lips, Hughes favors glossy nudes and cool pinks, but her hacks work no matter what color you reach for.

14. Overnight Prep

When it comes to getting lips perfectly hydrated and ready to receive color, Hughes gave a shout-out to the Lip Sleeping Mask from Laneige. Just swipe on a layer at night and wake up to plump, supple lips.

15. Fake Fullness

Surprisingly, Hughes's go-to lip product was actually originally intended for the eyes — an ashy brown pigment from Rodial called Eye Sculpt. She uses it both over a bright lip color to cool down the tone and also on bare lips, on the Cupid's bow and in the corners, to tweak the optical perspective of your lips, adding fullness with shadows and dimension. (It's a simple theory — light brings features forward and darkness pushes back — but the way she puts it into practice is quite unique.)

16. Blur It Out

Also unique is Hughes's application method for lip color. During her first application in the morning, she uses a brush to swipe on color, giving her a soft, blurred effect. (But when she touches up on the go, she reassured us, she'll use it straight from the stick or from the doe foot, so don't feel like you have to pack your whole makeup case.)

Blush

KJH says she's been obsessed with blush ever since working with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, but her tips are easy to follow even if you aren't a supermodel.

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