Last night, my husband and I went to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The movie happened to be playing at the fabulous Alamo Drafthouse, so I also had a few glasses of wine. The breakdown, my friends: Things got messy. Very messy. My husband had to keep irritably shushing my sniffling, but it was no use. I was in crying-mode.

Needless to say, I woke up this morning looking a fright. I peered miserably at myself in the mirror, poking at my purplish, swollen eyelids. I washed my face with very cold water, but my skin seemed to become even more dull and blotchy. What kind of movie was worth this kind of casualty? And what could I do to fix it? Luckily for you—and a blessed relief for me—I perfected the fake-fresh formula years ago, and I’m only too happy to share it now.

The key to appearing rosy and rested—as if you’ve just returned from your morning run (ha!)—is minimizing the look of makeup. Start with a primer, such as Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, which will fill in fine lines and pump skin full of vitamins A and E. After the primer has dried, brush a loose powder or powder foundation over your face and neck. I swear by bareMinerals SPF 15 foundation. Conceal any specific areas of redness or darkness with the same powder. For a sheer, natural flush, try Dior Bronze Sunshine Blush. Since this blush is a highlighter as well, apply not only on the apples of your cheeks but also from your temple, to your cheekbone, to your jawbone in one smooth motion, as if you’re brushing the number 3 onto your face. Now, swipe a lengthening mascara, like L’Oreal Double Extend Mascara (my favorite) over lashes; then pat an all-over highlighter, like Stila All-Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer, on the inside corners of eyes, your browbones, and the bridge of your nose. The subtle shimmer will bounce light over the most striking angles of your face, making you appear awake and flawless (a la Giselle). Finally, apply a sheer lip balm—I love Lush’s chocolate whipstick for softness and shine.

To the faking neophyte, these tips may seem a little convoluted, even counter-intuitive. But the truth is that, once mastered, the routine takes little more than three minutes, and only the most discerning eye will be able to tell you’re wearing makeup at all. Proof? I once did this all at a national park in a foreign country, in only one minute in a public restroom. It was during my study abroad orientation, and when we thirty American students were on the bus back to our new apartments, one girl asked me suspiciously, “How does your face look so…clean? We haven’t showered all weekend, and the rest of us look like crap!” Not bad, I thought.

How about you? Surely you have some faking-the-fresh advice you’re dying to share. And I’m dying to hear it. There’s room in any beauty ritual for a makeover.  😉