Do you have warm, cool or neutral undertones? Knowing the answer to this crucial question helps you track down your perfect foundation match. Start by looking at your wrists -- if your veins look blue or purplish, you probably have cool undertones; if your veins look green, you probably have warm undertones; if you see a mix of both, chances are you're neutral. Look to your jewelry for a second opinion: Gold jewelry flatters warm undertones more than silver, silver jewelry flatters cool undertones and both options flatter neutral undertones.

You have the right foundation, now it's time to pick the best mode of application.

A foundation brush, like Estée Lauder Sculpting Foundation Brush, is best suited for liquid foundation. A brush gives a smooth, blended finish with minimal product.

Sponges are best for blending after foundation is already applied to the face. If you choose to a sponge to apply foundation, pump it onto the back of your hand and dip the sponge into it before applying to your face.

Your fingers work best for applying tinted moisturizers and BB creams with a sheer finish. The oil in your fingertips can create a splotchy finish for medium-to-full coverage liquid foundations.

To make the features you highlighted really pop, skip the bronzer and use your darkest foundation shade to create contours. Use a small foundation brush (or simply your fingers) to apply the darker foundation along the hollows of your cheeks, along your hairline, in the depth of your temples and down the sides of your nose.

Now that you've identified your undertones, you can narrow down the selection of foundation shades for testing. Look at the corresponding labeling (for instance, C for cool, W for warm, N for neutral). If you have cool undertones, the right foundation will have a pinkish tone; if you're warm, the right foundation will look slightly yellow; if you're neutral, your match will be neither very pink nor very yellow.

Start by testing three shades: one slightly lighter than your skin tone, one that looks like it matches your skin exactly and one slightly darker than your skin tone. Apply each one in a line from the cheek to the jawline and wait about five to 10 minute. Step into natural lighting with a mirror and take a look. The one that seems to disappear into your skin is your match.

Before you apply your foundation, pinpoint the areas you need to camouflage.

For dark circles: Turn your liquid foundation into concealer. Use a small brush to grab foundation around the neck of the bottle, where the product tends to be much thicker. Pat the color under the eyes, then gently blend with your finger.

For dry skin and redness: Choose a hydrating liquid foundation like Estée Lauder Perfectionist Youth-Infusing Makeup SPF 25 to moisturize skin while you camouflage. The formula is infused with the brand's Perfectionist serum technology, which brightens and firms skin while reducing the look of fine lines.

For fine lines, smile lines and crows' feet: Don't pile on concealer and foundation in an attempt to fill creases. Instead, keep these areas well-moisturized and use a light layer of hydrating foundation.