Foundation provides you with a flawless, even base — a clean palate – from which to begin your makeup design. Even if you are blessed with a perfect, even complexion, a good foundation allows your other makeup products to be applied more smoothly and evenly and to better adhere for a longer-lasting effect, as the skin by itself is not a good adhesive. To avoid a “masked” appearance, choose a color that matches your skin exactly. Any difference in shade will make your foundation obvious and therefore unnatural. Pay attention to whether you have an olive, sallow, ashen or ruddy skin tone, and choose a foundation accordingly. One exception to the rule: if the skin on your neck is a different color than your face, choose a foundation that matches your neck’s skin color. There are numerous types of foundations to choose from, including powders, liquids, cream-to-powders, liquid-to-powders and sticks, with many of these incorporating sunscreen. Remember to apply your foundation thinly, not caked on, and check it in the daylight for proper color. The key with foundation is to blend, blend and blend again!