You’ve seen it time and again, a well-dressed woman wearing the wrong foundation. That one small mistake can make a woman look more clownish than polished and even possibly washed out or over done. There’s nothing worse than looking at a woman who face is three shades darker, or lighter for that matter, than her neck.

Finding the right foundation can be tricky, but making the right choice can make you look like nature blessed you with flawless looking skin.

The first thing you need to do before considering any type of foundation is determining your skin type and color. Most women fall into one of four shades of skin color or tone; pink, yellow, olive or brown and five types of skin; normal, dry, oily, combination and sensitive. Understanding your color and skin type will help you make the best possible choice and give you a spotless complexion.

Normal skin works best with a powder, liquid or cream foundation.

If you have dry skin, look for a stick or liquid foundation that contains moisturizing agents that will ease the dryness. Be sure to avoid cream-to-powder or powder and pressed foundation. These create a powder finish when dry and this will only make your skin looking drier and, at times, flaky.

Oily skin needs a foundation that will help control oil as well as shine. Look for products like an oil-free powder or liquid. Matte coverage tends to work best with oily skin so cream-to-powder or powder best for this skin type, but there are a number of liquid foundations on the market that are also suitable.

For combination skin use a powder or stick foundation. This gives you the option of applying more in the oily areas and less in areas where excess oil absorption is not needed. You need a foundation that will handle any T-zone oils but that will give you moisturizing agents in other areas of your face.

Sensitive skin needs special attention. Many foundations can cause irritation and redness. Look for a foundation that lacks fragrance or oil. It’s also a good idea to select a foundation that has been tested for allergies or irritation.

Once you have decided the type of skin you have, determine your color. Most foundations are based on one of three colors; ivory, natural or tan and beige.

For fair-skinned women ivory is your best choice, darker-skinned women are typically successful using a tan or beige base and natural is the best option for women that are not considered dark skinned but have skin that is considered slightly darker than those with fair skin.

Keep in mind that your skin tone and condition changes with the seasons so don’t hesitate to make a change in the foundation you use. As a general rule you will use two different foundations during the course of the year.

Regardless of your skin type, when possible, avoid foundations that contain alcohol, mineral oil, fragrances, wax or animal byproducts. For healthy skin that will last a lifetime, try to choose products that are as safe and toxin free as possible.