The Los Angeles resident's amazing before and after have earned her thousands of followers on Instagram

There's a lot of scrutiny on women who pose for magazines and appear in movies — so can anyone really blame them for relying on a little make-up magic to look their best?

Enter Melissa Murphy, a Los Angeles-based make-up artist who has some real skills with a cosmetics brush and her treasure chest of beauty products.

The 38-year-old manages to make some models and actresses virtually unrecognizable from their fresh-faced selves, all with some expert contouring, pretty lipstick, and false lashes — and she posts the incredible before and after shots on Instagram.

‹ Slide me › Wow! Make-up artist Melissa Murphy (not pictured) shares stunning before and after pictures of her make-up transformations

‹ Slide me › So helpful: The Los Angeles-based artist also offers information on how to replicate the look

Flawless: She's a big fan of the Beauty Blender sponge for making foundation look like it's melted into the skin

‹ Slide me › Loyalty: Melissa regularly works with photographer, director, and producer Holly Randall (not pictured)

The photos — which sometimes feature Playboy and Penthouse models, as well as adult film actresses — serve as a great reminder that even the seemingly-flawless women we see on screen or in magazines have their own imperfections, just like the rest of us.

Melissa can make blemishes disappear, disguise freckles and age spots, even out skin tone, and even render acne completely unnoticeable.

She has the ability to make eyes look wider and brighter with with some eyeliner, mascara, and false lashes, and can slim jawlines and highlight cheeks with perfectly-applied highlighter and bronzer.

Melissa first rose to fame in 2013, and was the center of some buzz again last year when several websites — including Daily Mail Online — shared pictures of the transformations she'd done on porn stars.

‹ Slide me › Transformed: The pro can often make women look almost unrecognizable from their make-up-free selves

Working her magic: Though some of her clients work in the adult film industry, that's not the case for all

‹ Slide me › Cool clientele: She's also made up American singer and songwriter Amanda McBroom (pictured)

Some serious skills: She can disguise under-eye bags and even out skin tone — something many women wish they could do on their own

‹ Slide me › For a flawless finish: The artist's favorite foundation is Make Up For Ever HD Fountation

‹ Slide me › Blemishes begone: She manages to virtually erase pimples and blemishes without Photoshop

But not all of her clients work in the adult film industry. Melissa also works with plenty of 'regular' women too, giving them that Photoshopped look without any real photo editing.

Even better? She's willing to share how she did it with her social media followers, even listing the exact products she uses on different looks on her social media pages.

Some of her favorites, according to an interview with New York Magazine, include the Stila One Step primer for evening skin tone and Make Up For Ever HD Foundation.

'Foundation should always look as if it's disappeared into the skin,' she said. 'I always use a Beauty Blender to apply it... The sponge really makes it "melt" into the skin better.'

She's also a fan of waterproof products, especially for her clients who film sex scenes.

‹ Slide me › Emphasizing eyes: She knows how to play up natural beauty with expertly-applied products

‹ Slide me › Falsies are fabulous: She also uses false lashes, which can make a big difference

‹ Slide me › All-in-one service: Melissa does hair as well as make-up for her clients

‹ Slide me › Staying put: She also noted that she likes water-proof make-up, especially for clients filming sex scenes

‹ Slide me › Gorgeous: Melissa says what she does is give her clients 'liquid confidence' - the liquid being the make-up

'Typically when sex-proofing, you don't want your eyes to run,' she said. So anything waterproof works well.'

Melissa, who describes what she does as giving 'liquid confidence', told Tech Insider that she got started in the business by working at a cosmetics counter in a mall.

After being introduced to a pornography director through a friend, she started working in the adult film industry, too, studying the professional artists on set to work on her skills.'