Colorful Mouths Make a Comeback
  by Robert Huitron

  The Do's and Don'ts

• Do moisturize. Make sure your lips are smooth and supple. Minor flakes and abrasions can be easily fixed using Chapstick or a light coating of Vaseline before applying color. If lips are overly chapped, you can gently brush them with a very soft, clean baby's toothbrush and cream. Follow with an application of moisturizer.

• Do use a dot or two of liquid foundation to neutralize lips that are too dark or uneven toned. This also helps lipstick "grab" better. Think of yourself as a painter starting on a blank canvas.
  
  
• Do use a lipliner in the same shade or as close to your lip color to outline lips. This will enable you to go beyond your natural lip shade if you wish, and it will help prevent color "feathering" around fine mouth lines.
  
  
•  Do apply lipstick straight out of the tube if you're steady of hand. Otherwise, a lip brush will better control the amount of color you wish to deposit and will facilitate the blending of lipstick and liner.
  
  
• Do carefully and gently blot lips on a clean tissue after the first application of color, as this helps to "set" it. Apply a second coat of lipstick and gently press lips togethter repeatedly to blend.
  
  
• Do take a clear gloss such as Max Factor's lip Polish and apply to center of top and bottom lips; this will greatly enhance the existing color. Distribute gloss with a light touch of your fingertip, or , a lip brush.
  
  
• Do be fearless and create different shades using old and new purchases. Just remember what and how much you used in case you want to re-apply. You can use the back of your hand to mix colors, or do so directly on lips.
  
  
• Do dust a little translucent powder through a clean tissue on your lips if you want a more matte look. The type of lipstick, the number of times you blot and the amount of powder used will determine the intensity o the resulting color.
  
  
• Do above all, make sure your lip color harmonizes with your skin tone. For example, a blue read lipstick is not good for women with green undertone sin their skin, and an orange red shade is deadly when paired with a pale or ruddy complexion.
  
  
• Do remember, this is a somewhat high maintenance look. Check frequently to see if a touch up is needed. If pulling out a compact after dinner makes you feel self-conscious, this look may not be for you.

• Don't feel you must match your red lipstick to the red dress you're wearing. A complimentary shade will do just fine. However, beware like tones that clash.
  
  
• Don't apply gloss too far out from the center of lips, as this will make lip color glop off and onto skin.
  
  
• Don't over apply color too far into the inner reaches of your lips, as this will cause lipstick to end up coating your teeth.
  
  
• Don't be afraid of kissing your boyfriend. On the other hand, air-kissing girlfriends and relatives is preferred to leaving them branded.
  
  
• Don't drink without a straw! when eating or drinking from a cup, first blot lips with a tissue to partially remove excess lip color. Which reminds me --

• Don't become a social pariah by soiling fine linen napkins with your lipstick. You may not be invited back.