There’s a saying: “Maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s Maybelline.” I don’t think I will ever forget that slogan, ever. It’s like the “soylent green is people” of beauty campaigns. Becca Lemire had her backstage pass ready to check out models being primped and preened for yesterday’s shows, and as you might expect, it was equal parts super-glamorous and I-could-not-spend-three-hours-getting-ready-everyday.

From lipstick to foundation to nails, every surface of a model is painted in order to ensure that the vision of a designer is precise. It’s no simple task, but here’s a look at what happens backstage, and how a vision turns into a real-life, walking canvas.