Dan's Papers - January 16, 2009 -

Since the ink on our New Year's resolutions may still be damp, I began to think about some of the advice I have given throughout 2008. I told you how and where to shop for cheap thrills, how to find the right bridal makeup-artist, and even how to be a beauty for Halloween. But there are some tips that are worth repeating. These will keep you a raving beauty not only into 2009, but for years to come.

Tell your Stylist What Is on your Mind: "While a picture is worth a 1,000 words," said Carol Rosenberg, a stylist at the Oscar Blandi Salon, on Madison Avenue, "you and the stylist should understand which cut is going to work best before the cutting begins. If you hate your ears showing, or if you always want your hair long enough to make a ponytail, these are concerns you should make clear. Even though you may get the same cut as the picture you have brought with you, it's important to have the cut customized for the shape of your face and the texture of your hair. You should also discuss lifestyle, if you have wavy hair and you want it to look sleek and you're not good with a blow dryer you might want to consider a style that does not require a lot of daily maintenance."

How Now Fair Brow: Eyebrows frame our face and give us expression. If you're blessed with abundant brows, keeping them perfect is easy. Tweezing is better than waxing. Even the thickest and coarsest brows have a fragile root, and over time waxing can retard the growth. For filling in skimpy brows pencils are best. It must be a true brow pencil, which is drier and less waxy than eyeliner pencils. The secret to using a pencil is to make short strokes - almost as if you were drawing on tiny hairs. Make these short strokes in the opposite direction of the hair growth. This will assure that the brows never look "drawn on."

Line by Line: Celebrity makeup artist Bridget Trama had the following advice for Dan's readers when applying eye liner: Be sure to get the eyeliner brush as close to your lashes as possible, otherwise you'll look like you have drawn a line on your eyelid. Do not close your eye or pull the eyelid taunt while applying - this changes the result when the eye is opened and in a neutral position. Hold the pencil or brush like a pen, and position it either parallel or perpendicular to the eye. Look in the mirror and steady your hand by resting your pinkie on the face, thereby balancing your hand. Think about it this way, you would never write a sentence on a page without resting your wrist for balance.

Brush Strokes: Good brushes are investments that, with proper care, will last for years. Keep brushes standing up in glass or a decorative cup, just the way they're displayed in stores. Washing them weekly with gentle soap not only keeps them clean and bacteria free, but you'll get a better application.

Lip Service: Freelance makeup artist Kathy O'Donnell said: "The most common mistake women make is not moisturizing or conditioning their lips regularly and before applying lipstick." One favorite is Olay's Lip Regenerist. A trick for creating a matte natural lip is to use a neutral shade lip-liner all over the lip. "But don't try this without applying a lip conditioner first, or you'll get an uneven result." Even if you like a creamy or glossy lip applying the lip liner all over the lips gives any lipstick or gloss staying power.