Last season, the must-have product in every beauty junkie’s make-up bag was a BB cream – a tinted moisturizer-slash-primer-slash-anti-aging-serum.

So fans of the Beauty Balm will be pleased to learn that another multi-tasking product, aimed at colour correction, has just landed at beauty counters.

CC creams, aka Colour or Complexion Correction creams, are the latest skincare innovation cribbed from Asia and this year Chanel became the first international brand to jump on the bandwagon with their CC cream, Correction Complete SPF30PA+++.

While both products act as a tinted moisturiser and sunscreen in one, CC creams give more full, foundation-like coverage, masking discoloration, pimples, age spots and sallow skin while simultaneously tackling aging and brightening the skin with ingredients such as liquorice, vitamin C and antioxidants.

Makeup artist Kristee Liu, whose rock ’n roll clientele includes Cher, Pink and Alanis, says: ‘It’s a total improvement on the BB cream. CC creams are infused with skin-improving nutrients so they have long-term benefits such as improved skin texture, collagen renewal, diminished dark spots and brighter overall appearance.’

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Bad skin days are something we all suffer once in a while, but looking at the red carpet you would be hard pressed to believe that problem skin is ever a problem that these ladies have to deal with.

In fact, Hilary Swank, Selma Hayek, Katy Perry, Megan Fox and Cameron Diaz are just a few big names who have had to brave the cameras in the midst of a nasty break-out.

Thankfully, cosmetics companies have wised up to the need for make-up that both conceals and treats pesky blemishes at the same time and with a bit of regular maintenance and forward planning you should never be caught looking anything less than camera ready. Here’s how to fake it ‘till you make it.

Start by committing to taking a regular multivitamin for your skin. I love Murad Pure Skin Clarifying Supplement.

Invest in a Clarisonic Cleansing Brush with an Acne Cleansing Brush Head and Clarifying Cleanser.

Stop using liquid sunscreen and switch to mineral powders. I swear by Laura Mercier Mineral Powder Spf 15.

Look for double duty make-up and use it – but lightly. The trick is to make the most of the good, clear skin and keep any heavy coverage to the problem areas.

Prep the skin with a calming anti-acne primer like Colorescience PRO Let Me Be Clear Primer for Problem Skin or Clearprep FX Matte Foundation Primer and Anti-Acne Treatment.

Use a foundation that reduces redness, like Clinique Redness Solutions Foundation which also contains probiotics.

If you do have blemishes, using a clean make-up brush, apply concealer onto problem areas blending gently outwards. Try Acne Treatment Concealer by Murad and Jane Iredale Zap&Hide Blemish Concealer.

Finally set it all with a powder like Dermablend Loose Setting Powder and a spritz of Fix + from M.A.C..

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As summer heats up and skin acquires a sun-kissed glow, it’s time to break out the bronzer. Jessica Alba, Kate Beckinsale, Louise Roe and Olivia Palermo were some of the first to go for a summery glow this week, keeping it looking natural with a smoky eye and neutral lip.

But even if the sun doesn’t break out from behind those clouds, this is a look that everyone can achieve with the help of make-up artist Kay Montano, who explains how to fake it with the ‘Bo Derek meets Gisele in Rio’ look she created for the Issa London S/S 2012 show:

- Apply Mymix Foundation in a shade suited to your skintone – do not go darker!

- ModelCo Airbrush Luminizer sprayed on the face or Revlon Skinlights Face Illuminator Loose Powder applied using a big blush brush for a blown-out, blended effect are both perfect to highlight the tops of cheekbones and the temples.

- I used Nars Bronzing Powder Laguna to shade, contour and sun-kiss the girls then applied a clear raspberry cheek stain. Try Tarte cheek stain in Sheer Berry Rose.

- For the eyes I used Chanel Le Crayon Khol in Ambre smudged deep into the lashes and on the inner rim of the eye. Then I used Chanel Illusion D’Ombres in Embloui to create a smudgy, soft finish and thickened eyelashes with Chanel Inimitable Mascara in Black.

- Eyebrows were brushed up with Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream.

- The t-zone was mattified with a brush of Jurlique Rose Silk Finishing Powder.

- And finally I applied clear lip balm or Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss in Beige Pink.

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