Foundation goes further with a little help. Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Concealer in 340 is full coverage and matte, made for blemishes and redness. Fenty Beauty Hydrating Longwear Waterproof Concealer in 420W, is the softer choice, a medium coverage concealer with a natural finish for dark circles and puffiness. Dab either one where you need it and leave the rest of your face to the foundation.

Primer is next. Grip Trip Mattifying & Blurring Primer is the one for shine, and Grip Trip Hydrating Primer has plumping skincare benefits for dry skin. Both are silicone free and, the brand says, help makeup last up to 12 hours. I would tap a little over the center of your face and skip the rest.

For finishing, Invisimatte Instant Setting + Blotting Powder is a pressed powder that fits in a pocket. Bright Fix Instant Brightening + Setting Powder in Lavender is for lighter skin tones and under the eyes. Set it Down Superfine Blurring Setting Powder in Strawberry Milk is loose and light, with a cool pink undertone. Sun Stalk'r Instant Warmth Powder Bronzer in Cream Tea finishes a fuller look with a soft matte warmth.

What I would skip: a matte primer, a matte foundation and a setting powder all on the same dry day. That stack can start to look flat. Match your primer to your skin, and set only the areas that get shiny.

The way you apply foundation matters almost as much as the bottle. The Beautyblender Original in Pink is the round sponge that started the trend, and the brand says it is latex free. Rare Beauty Soft Touch Blending Sponge has a waterdrop shape with a flat edge for detail and a pointed tip for small areas. Patrick Ta Major Skin 5-in-1 Sponge adds a flat edge for sculpting.

Brushes give a more even layer. Makeup by Mario F4 Dual-Ended Foundation and Face Brush has a large sloped end for covering the face and a smaller end for building. Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush was designed to work with its own foundation, and Hourglass Vanish Foundation Brush has crimped bristles that reach around the nose and under the eyes. Saie The Base Brush is a dense but flexible brush for liquids. The PRO Foundation Brush number 64 has mixed fiber sizes and a flexible head for short strokes and a sheer, natural finish.

Tip: dampen a sponge before you use it with a matte liquid foundation, then press and roll instead of dragging it across your skin.

What I would skip: a dense brush with a very light skin tint. It tends to move the product around instead of melting it in. Use a sponge or your fingers.

Start with how much coverage you actually want, because that decides the formula before the shade does. Oily or combination skin will like the Pro Filt'r family, dry skin might lean toward Soft'Lit or an Eaze Drop, and a mineral SPF is for mornings when you want light color. Pick your shade in daylight and by your jaw, then add concealer only where it is needed. A sponge makes it look like skin, and a brush gives more even coverage. Set the parts that shine, and leave the rest alone. A base that still looks like you after a long day is the one to keep.