The satin-y, shine-free look of matte skin makes it ideal for daytime or nighttime. (Yay! No more 2 p.m. oil slick at work or waiting in line for the ladies' room to touch up at night.)

Matte makeup is like a classic pair of black flats: It looks good on everyone. But to keep your face from looking flat, don't wear matte shades on your eyes, lips and cheeks at the same time. Too much matte all over can be harsh and aging, Piggott says.

Instead, pick a focal point and use a contrasting finish. Think: a matte lip with a shimmery eye, or a bold lip (try Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Moss) with matte eye makeup. Contrasting textures is a "fresh, modern and super flattering" accompaniment to velvet-finished skin, says Piggott.

Skip powders with shimmer or luminizers -- these accents defeat your mattifying efforts. If you have oily skin, use a fluffy powder brush to lightly dust an oil-controlling pressed powder like Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder on shine-prone spots. If your skin is on the dry side, apply powder only to your T-zone; this will keep your lightweight matte finish from appearing cake-y.