By Melissa Magsaysay, Los Angeles Times staff writer

We've all seen it. Some may even have fallen victim to it - the awkward, mismatched foundation line that draws a distracting distinction between the face and neck. You can have impeccably long eyelashes, perfectly shaded cheekbones and pink, pouty lips, but if the base color is a mismatch in shade and application, the rest won't shine the way it's supposed to. Tim Quinn, artistic director of Armani Beauty, is a foundation pro, having consulted on the development of the brand's popular silicon-based face makeup. He knows what to choose, the best way to apply it and definitely what not to do when it comes to getting a flawless spring canvas. "Most people's biggest mistake is that they try and pick a color that is the opposite tone of their skin," Quinn says. What they should do, he says, is use something that is the same tone. "And many women tend to think that their skin is worse than it really is, when it's actually quite good, but they try and cake on a lot of foundation" to cover insignificant flaws.

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