How do I stop my base settling into fine lines?
Use less product than feels right, and press it in rather than dragging it across the face — a damp sponge tapped over the area encourages the formula to sit in the skin instead of on top of it. Skip powder over the eye area and around the mouth entirely, or use a tiny amount on a small brush only where you actually get shine, because powder is what turns a soft line into a visible one by the afternoon.
Can I wear a skin tint if I have visible pigmentation?
Yes, if you treat it as your all-over layer and let a concealer do the specific work. Apply the tint everywhere for tone, then use a slightly more opaque concealer only on the dark patches, tapping the edges out until they blur. That combination almost always looks lighter and more natural than trying to build a sheer product up to full coverage, which tends to go grey and heavy long before it hides anything.
How do I test a shade properly?
Test along the jaw in daylight, not on the back of your hand, and leave it for at least ten minutes before deciding — many formulas oxidise slightly and settle a shade deeper than they first appear. If you are between two, take the one that leans slightly warm; skin tends to look healthier in a shade that is a touch warmer than it does in one that is too cool and pink.
