Every woman wants flawless skin, but getting that perfect, luminous coverage starts before you pick up a foundation brush. The first step? Finding the right formula for your skin type. You may have used the same formula for years, but as your skin ages, you need to adjust accordingly.

Celebrity makeup artist Melanie Mills, who created the looks on "Dancing with the Stars" until 2011, says liquid foundations provide the most seamless finish, no matter your skin type. It's all about choosing the right one.

If your skin is on the oily side and your foundation starts to slip by lunchtime, choose an oil-free or oil-control formula like Becca Ever-Matte Shine Proof Foundation, $42.

Dry skin can turn standard liquid or cream foundations into a creased, caked mess, but formulas with hydrating qualities, like Shiseido Dual Balancing Foundation, $38.50, are designed to target your skin's specific needs. Rimmel London Lasting Finish Foundation, $6.99, is a superlong-wear foundation that's infused with a vitamin E-containing serum so skin doesn't dry out.

If you have sensitive skin that reacts to makeup and foundations, a tinted moisturizer can be a good in-between product. BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream, $29, or a cushion compact like Lancome Miracle Cushion, $34, offer coverage without the heavy feeling of typical foundations.

If you're looking for a matte finish, try powder foundations. Whether you choose a loose powder foundation like Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Mineral Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 15, $39, or a pressed powder like Dior Diorskin Nude Compact Natural Glow Radiant Powder Foundation SPF 10, $50, these formulas are designed to keep oily skin in check.

Powder foundation may be too dry for your face in your 30s and beyond. If your skin is showing signs of aging, like larger pores or fine lines, a powder formula will only exacerbate those features. Likewise, if you're prone to dry skin, a powder foundation will settle into fine lines and age the look of your skin.

After breaking up with countless wrong shades, you might think finding the perfect soul mate is an easier job than finding a great foundation match for your skin. And ... you might be right. The simple truth is, there may be no "perfect" color for your skin. When you factor in changing seasons and your constantly changing skin tone, you may not find one foundation shade that transitions with your skin.

The solution? Start blending. Mix two foundations -- one lighter shade and one darker shade -- and custom-blend the color to match your skin. And, yes, if you find a great match, we give you permission to buy both. If you think about all of the foundation you've wasted, tossed or neglected because of color-matching issues, it's a totally justifiable expense. (At least, that's how we rationalize it.)

To find the best mix-and-match, zero in on brands with a great range of colors in their palette.

Circa Beauty Color Balance Liquid Foundation, $15, recently launched at Walgreens and comes in 10 shades.

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, $60, has 25.

And Clinique Even Better Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 15, $27, has a whopping 27 color variations.

Whether you blend two shades of foundation or are looking to find your match with one, it is imperative to check the shade in natural lighting. Foundation that looks #flawless in your bathroom can end up orangey and unnatural in daylight or harsh office lighting. Apply your foundation along your jawline, then check it out in natural lighting. (Yes, we recommend going outside in daylight with a compact mirror for the best assessment -- you want a great color match, right?)

The foundation should be virtually indistinguishable against your natural skin tone. If you really want to try a specific brand's foundation without mixing, choose three shades from the line and apply them next to each other along your jawline. If you have the right shade, it will very clearly disappear on your skin, compared to the wrong shades.