“I can’t believe I’m doing this!” exclaims Gucci, who is standing bare-faced and blotchy in front of an iPhone camera. It's been two days since she had a laser treatment aimed at treating hyper pigmentation from sun damage. “It takes about a week for these little spots to scab up and fall off, “ she says of the downtime required for the half dozen slightly raised dark marks dotted along her cheeks and forehead to resolve. Normally she’d hide out for a bit until things calmed down—but there’s one problem. It’s New York Fashion Week,  and “I have an event tonight, so I need to speed up the process!”  

Seamless (but invisible!) camouflage is the goal: “I just want to look like I have natural beautiful skin, doesn’t everyone?” So before Gucci even picks up her makeup brush, she performs a crucial skin prep—complete with a  powerful LED handheld device to encourage healing and SK-II sheet masks to boost moisture so that makeup can layer better.  Next comes Vital Skin foundation in a shade or two darker than usual: “It’s almost like covering a tattoo,” she says of layering over each spot with a light tapping motion. "Going warmer in tone counteracts darkness," she says, while the formula's soothing plant-based actives and lightweight oils keep the finish looking fresh and hydrated, not cakey.  That little bit of extra time and attention pays off—because just like that, pouf!, those spots have virtually vanished. Skincare magic!