Base Instincts

Every great face starts with the right foundation

There's nothing worse than having "the line"—that telltale sign between your face and neck that reveals a foundation fail. Your formula may be too dark, too light or too thickly applied. Whatever the problem, we want to help eradicate the world of bad foundation applications. So we enlisted celebrity makeup artist Amy Hollier, cofounder of Luxe Beauty Team, to school us in the best techniques to achieve an A+ base.

Step 1: Choose the Right Formula
"Foundations come in sheer to full coverage and in finishes that range from dewy to matte," says Hollier. "Figuring out what you need is the first step to getting the flawless skin you want." You have three categories of foundations to choose from and each has a specific purpose. Choose your weapon wisely.

1. Sheer Coverage (tinted moisturizer, sheer liquids, mineral powders)
Best for: Gals who want their makeup to be undetectable, letting their own skin shine through. Tinted moisturizers have a slightly dewy finish that can be reduced with a little translucent powder.
Try: Bare Escentuals bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation or Maybelline Fit Me Foundation

2. Medium Coverage (liquids, mousse, powders)
Best for: Evening out rosy cheeks and freckles. You can also build on the coverage by dabbing a little more over spots, darker areas or under eyes.
Try: Too Faced Amazing Face Oil Free Foundation

3. Full Coverage (creams, liquids, compact powders)
Best for: Hiding blemishes, redness, birthmarks, hypo- and hyperpigmentation. You should use these hardworking formulas with care and be sure to blend down the neck well.
Try: Smashbox Healthy FX Foundation

4. Buildable Coverage (liquids, creams, powders and minerals) Best for: Varying your coverage level based on your skin's mood. Good skin day? Go for a light coverage (aka, one layer). Unexpected blemishes or dark undereye circles? Reapply for heavier coverage without it looking cakey.
Try: ULTA Mineral Liquid Foundation SPF 15.

Step 2: Pick the Perfect Color
To find the perfect formula you need to match both the color (warm or cool) and the shade (from light to dark). Most foundations have either a warmer (rose, peach) tint or cooler (olive) tint to them. Decide on your skin tone based on your chest and arms—not your face.

Next, find the right shade. Because our faces are usually a little uneven in color, Hollier recommends matching your foundation to the rest of your body. Test foundations on your chest in the area right under the collarbones: When it matches in color and shade, it will disappear.

Some foundations are designed to help you find the perfect match for your skin's color and shade, such as L'Oreal True Match Foundation. Or, try CoverGirl Naturaluxe Foundation, which comes in 14 different shades, from alabaster to brazilnut.

Step 3: Prep and Prime
Once you apply your foundation, you want to keep it there, right? Always hydrate and plump your skin first using a moisturizer and follow with a primer. Hollier swears by primers, saying they have multiple benefits in smoothing uneven texture, correcting uneven color and keeping everything in place for long-lasting coverage.

Step 4: Flawless Application
Hollier advises starting by lightly applying a thin layer of foundation with your fingertips or a fluffy foundation brush, then building coverage in any uneven or red spots. Always follow with a concealer and set with a light dusting of translucent powder.