"Somewhere along the way, the conversation about foundation and its purpose [have] been lost," Patterson says. Meaning: Your foundation should be used to lightly even out any color variations in the skin, but you may need a little help from concealer for more obvious imperfections. After you apply your foundation, go back with concealer to spot-correct any blemishes.

Add a hint of bronzer to bring depth back into your face. If you want to look tan, Patterson recommends applying bronzer underneath your foundation to subtly warm up your complexion. If you're aiming for contoured look, use liquid bronzer instead. If you're wearing bronzer to work, opt for a matte powder product. "Nothing gives away a bad bronzer job and a fake tan like shimmer or glitter bronzer in the office," Patterson explains.

"In order to ensure skin looks like skin, [I] balance out the texture of products I apply," Patterson says. "You don't want to be heavy with liquids or creams or ... the foundation won't be able to set." On the flip side, you don't want to use a ton of powdery products or your finished look will be too matte and lifeless.

Strike the perfect balance by using a combination of matte and dewy products to achieve a flawless finish. For instance, if you use a liquid foundation, you can still use a cream concealer -- just make sure to balance the look with a powder blush and a light dusting of translucent setting powder.