When it comes to beauty, great product and a steady hand can accomplish just about anything. Hair, eyes, lips, nails, cheekbones – just about any feature can be manipulated to optimal effect, except the most coveted one.

Clear skin is the ultimate beauty bounty, and not even the best foundation can create the illusion if the fundamentals aren't already there. Tired of spending too much time and money on skincare, with nothing much to show except a growing balance of Sephora Insider Rewards, we decided to retain an expert to clear things up.

Carole Burns is a medical aesthetician, and skincare guru to many a model, star and socialite (sorry, we promised not to name names). As the owner of Skin Laser Rejuvenation in New York City, her...