Knowing how to apply foundation (opens in new tab) is no mean feat. The ultimate goal is glowing, blemish-free, flawless skin. But even if you make the effort to apply foundation the right way, "See, I did it!" often results in a visibly slightly crusty mask that screams, "I did it! This is because makeup should not be an enigmatic feat. To simplify the foundation process, we've broken down the exact steps, products, and techniques that will help you get the most natural finish every time.

To maintain a beautiful canvas for your foundation, it is extremely important to wash your face every night to remove all traces of makeup. (If cleansing is done properly, there is no need to wash thoroughly again in the morning.

To catch makeup residue, oil, and dirt, dab your skin lightly with a cotton ball soaked in cleansing water to start your foundation routine clean and free of oil.

Foundations are often maligned for looking dry and flaky, but 99 percent of the time this is actually due to user error (sorry, users). Even the heaviest matte foundations can look soft and natural as long as the skin is properly conditioned and hydrated with a good moisturizer.

After washing, massage a thin layer of moisturizer over the face (avoid eyelids) and leave on for 5-10 minutes before applying foundation. Not sure which moisturizer (open in new tab) to choose ......" If so, try one of the following favorites.

Take that bottle of too-thick foundation you've had lying around in your drawer since high school and throw it away. Now. Then buy a foundation that is creamy, medium coverage, and actually matches your skin type and shade. Try the cult-favorite foundation:

To apply foundation, take two pumps in the palm of your hand and blend with a foundation brush from the center of your face outward. Don't worry about getting a perfect finish yet.

This is where Second Skin Magic comes in. Take a damp makeup sponge (squeeze excess water onto a paper towel) and gently dab, dab, dab the sides of the sponge over the face to blend the foundation seamlessly into the skin. Be sure to use the pointed end of the sponge to blend the foundation around the nose and eyes. You'll get great results with the beauty sponges ahead, including the cult favorite Beauty Blender:

Lightly tap concealer with your ring finger to hide pimples, acne scars, and redness; let sit for five minutes, then lightly bounce the tip of the sponge over the concealer to blend to avoid smudging. Full-coverage concealers work best for concealing:

To avoid foundation slippage by noon, use a giant fluffy brush, like Real Techniques' Powder Brush (opens in a new tab), to sweep semi-permanently over the T-zone (where all skin types first become oily). Dust translucent powder onto the T-zone (where all skin types first become oily) with a huge fluffy brush like Real Techniques' Powder Brush (opens in a new tab). Dip the brush into the powder, tap off any excess, and then gently swirl it in concentric circles over the forehead, nose, and chin.

Congratulations-you have officially mastered the application of foundation for smooth, shiny, speck-free results. Take a few (100) selfies and then share your new wealth of knowledge with the world.