Pro Tip: What makes this photograph for me is Chantelle’s skin. There are a variety of tricks I used to make Chantelle’s skin glow this way,  read on and I will share them with you.

1) Hydrate. Luba is a photographer who chooses models who do not smoke, drink coffee 24 hours before the shoot and who drink a lot of water. However this is not always enough. Make sure you use a good moisturiser prior to you make-up application, and whenever the skin looks or feel thirsty spray it with a fine water mist – I like to use the body shop’s “vitamin C spray” or MAC’s Fix+ spray – both have a lovely smell and have no negative effects on the make-up.

2) Use a primer or illuminator under the foundation. Personally I am not a fan of spreading primer all over the face as I feel it adds an unnecessary layer and with make-up, unless it’s for stage, I prefer thick over thin. So instead of using a primer I strategically blend MAC’s “strobe cream” along the cheekbones, cupid’s bow and between the eyes – if you can afford it, Chanel’s illuminating primer is even better!

3) Use a sheer glossy foundation and powder only when necessary. I love MAC’s “face and body” foundation. It is water based, looks and feels like skin, and is powder free. If you want the skin to look really glowy or plastic you can use MAC’s “studio sculpt” (gel based) foundation. As always, apply with a foundation brush, and then buff into the skin, in circular movements, with a duo fiber brush such as MAC’s #188 brush. Powder with a sheer powder such as MAC’s prep and prime finishing powder or PMU’s finishing powder, using a small compact brush. Powder only the areas that are creating hotspots with the lights and go light with the powder.

4) Contour with a light bronzer, around the edges of the face and under the chin. No one’s face is naturally one flat colour, your model’s should not be either.

5) Create shadow’s with neutral eye-shadows to give depth to the eye.

6)Use a lip liner to really define the lips. Definition and definite shapes are what ground shiny glossy skin taking them into the land of sophistication.

Photographer: Luba V Nel

Model: Chantelle Kruger

Make-Up: Samantha Laura Kaye

Location: Cape Town

Date: 2009