With the plethora of shades, finishes, and coverage levels available, foundation is just as customizable as a your go-to Starbucks order. And that's exactly what makes it one of the toughest makeup products to buy.

The ultimate goal is to find a foundation that looks like your own skin — only better. But this can be hard to achieve when most makeup aisles have less than ideal lighting for swatching and mirrors smaller than most compacts.

Even if you're able to avoid that dreaded mask-like foundation line on your neck by getting professionally shade-matched, there's a host of other concerns like finish, texture, coverage, and formula that factor into buying one that's right for you.

To help you out, we turned to celebrity makeup artists Daniel Martin and Allen Avendaño to break down everything you need to consider when shopping for your new go-to foundation.

1. Find Your Perfect Shade

Sure, there's a lot of space for swatching foundations on your forearm, but the skin on this part of your body is a lot darker than your face. Avendaño says to apply potential shades to your chest to see if they are right. "This doesn't have to be an exact match, but maybe slightly lighter because the color is going to shift throughout the day," he explains. "Foundation oxidizes with wear, and naturally gets darker with the mixture of elements and the oils on your face."

Alternatively, you can test shade options on your face.

"Find a spot towards the center of your face and blend out towards the hairline so you match the sides of your cheeks and down the middle of your neck," Martin suggests. "If your neck is lighter than your face and you don’t want your face to be as pale, choose one shade lighter than your face so its comparable. (You can always 'warm up' the face with bronzer if your complexion still appears light.) This way it’s not too light or that much warmer than your neck."

Whatever method you choose, both makeup artists say it's important to test foundations in good natural lighting.

2. Don't Forget About Your Skin's Undertones

Unless you want to color-correct, don't fight against your skin's natural undertones. If you have a warm complexion, go with a shade that has yellow undertones, and if your complexion is on the cool side, a foundation with pink undertones is your best bet.

But there are also other options. "I tend to go with neutral and warm shades in my kit because it's easier to match on different skin tones and shades," says Martin.

3. Know What Coverage Level You Need

If you hate wearing makeup, you're going to think a full-coverage foundation feels heavy. That's why understanding the look of every coverage level is the key to picking the right one for your needs.

If this sounds like you, Avendaño recommends picking a more sheer foundation when you're not sure exactly what kind of coverage you need. "I always refer people to foundation that is light to medium coverage because it's buildable," he says.

When you want a long-wear foundation that doesn't require mid-day touch ups, or have acne or discoloration, opt for a full-coverage foundation.

Read more