Foundation sets the stage for all the other players in your makeup routine. When applied correctly, foundation evens out your skin tone, conceals imperfections and gives you a natural-looking radiance. In the case of Estée Lauder's new Perfectionist Youth-Infusing Makeup SPF 25, it can even give your skin anti-aging benefits. When you properly apply your foundation, it enhances the rest of your look: Your lipstick appears more vibrant, your blush has more "pop" and your eye makeup looks more radiant.

To get the 411 on a flawless foundation application, we turned to Blair Patterson, director of global makeup artistry for Estée Lauder. He shared his expert tips and tricks for everything from choosing the right shade to making your flawless face last all day long.

A natural-looking foundation application starts with the foundation shade you choose. "The color you are in July is most likely not the color you are in January," Patterson says. To make sure the undertone and shade of your foundation match your skin, swatch it along your jawline and inspect it under natural light.

Foundation technology has come a long way. Now, it's possible to find makeup that conceals imperfections in a natural-looking way and reduces the look of those flaws over time.

Estée Lauder Perfectionist Youth-Infusing Makeup SPF 25 is formulated with the brand's Perfectionist technology , which brightens the skin and improves the look of fine lines and wrinkles while camouflaging them. Women love it; 80 percent who used this foundation saw fewer fine lines and said their skin felt more hydrated after just four weeks. Consider foundation a short-term and long-term solution.

"I always ensure my client's skin is clean and prepped before foundation," Patterson says. "Foundation is roughly 80 percent of a finished look and if the skin looks bad, the rest of the makeup will, too."

Patterson recommends washing your face with a foaming cleanser, which nixes excess oils. You should also lightly exfoliate to make your skin's surface ultra-smooth and encourage blood flow. Follow with a serum like Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II. "It works double-duty to help moisturize and sheer out the finish of the foundation," Patterson says. Use a lightweight moisturizer to boost your skin's hydration and "create a moisture barrier under foundation so skin does not look flat and dry later."

For a quick eye-brightening fix, mix a few drop of eye serum with your under-eye concealer and blend it with your ring finger. Apply an illuminator in a "c" shape on the inner and outer corners of your eye and blend to look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

Apply your Estée Lauder Perfectionist Youth-Infusing Makeup SPF 25 with the Estée Lauder Sculpting Foundation Brush for flawless results. The ergonomic shape molds to the contours of your face, resulting in a seamless application. Patterson says to first dispense one to two pumps of the foundation onto the back of your hand in a straight line. Then, dip the brush into the foundation and wiggle it back and forth until the foundation is absorbed.

Then, follow these three Patterson-approved steps:

1. Align the brush near the side of your nose. In a single light stroke, follow the contour of cheek and pull back towards hairline.
2. Center the brush on your chin and brush along the jawline toward your hairline.
3. Align the brush between your brows, and sweep it toward your hairline and down toward your temple.

Repeat on each side of your face. Move the brush in small circles to buff out any foundation streaks.

Remember, it's easier to apply more foundation than it is to take it off, meaning you should slowly build up to your desired coverage instead of piling it on.