This Olympics-Inspired Beauty Tutorial Will Make You Look Like a Beach Goddess

Using your favorite foundation, even out your complexion. Samra is particularly fond of Covergirl Simply Ageless 3-in-1 Liquid Foundation ($15). Then, after swirling a fluffy powder brush in some bronzer, apply to where sun would naturally hit your face — your cheekbones, forehead, and across the bridge of your nose.

If you're feeling less than confident about your technique, Samra recommends using a "3" shape along the sides of your face. "It's a great tip for a more natural bronzer application," he remarked. "Start at the top of your forehead, dust along your cheeks, and sweep across your jawline all the way to your chin." Finish by blending into your neck, which is essential to making your faux glow look like you're legitimately sun-kissed. It's also crucial that you find the correct shade of bronzer.

"I always recommend to get one shade darker than your skin tone and in the appropriate undertone, either cool or warm pigment," Samra said. Learn more about your undertone here.

"When a client comes to me asking for a sexy makeup look — but isn't used to wearing makeup — these are the colors I use," Samra explained. He focused on using just three shades on the upper lid in order to create dimension. (The burst of green on the lower lid just adds even more pizzazz!)

"After primer, I apply a flesh-tone shadow," explained Samra. "It gives your look something to hold on to, so it lasts all day and night." He'll then layer on a vanilla-colored shadow if he's working with brighter hues — a light base shade allows a vibrant color to pop on top. For this, he used the palest shade in the Covergirl TruNaked Eye Shadow Palette in Nudes ($12). To give the eyes a glam sparkle, he applied gold eyeliner across the entire lid and around the inner corners.

"They key to perfect makeup is blending," Samra counseled. "You should not see the difference between colors." Samra’s trick to achieving highly pigmented, but flawlessly blended shadow look is to pack the brush with color and press it (instead of sweeping it) onto the lid. He then buffs the hues together and out with a blender brush. Note: go for a fluffier tool with soft, loosely packed bristles.

For this smoky eye in particular, he used CoverGirl Eye Shadow Quad in Go For the Golds ($8), gradating shades from lightest to darkest towards the outer corner of the eye, blending up towards the crease. After applying and blending a lime green shadow on the outer half of the lower lid for a subtle flash of color, he lined the upper lid and waterline with a black pencil.

Samra completed the eye with two coats of mascara using the "wiggling" technique. "Intensely applying it from the very root of the lashes and doing a zigzag motion as you go up will easily separate each lash," he shared. "With a few coats, it will also create volume."

For the official look, he used Covergirl Colorlicious Lipstick in Delight Blush ($7), a punchy fuchsia. but if you're wary of wearing so much color at once, try a neutral shade that complements your skin tone. "I suggest picking a color one or two shades darker than your natural lip color, which is also very flattering for any look," said Samra.