For minimizing the lips, yes; for very young faces, yes; for some great faces, to dramatize magnificent bone structure and emphasize the eyes, yes; for every woman, no. Too often. no lipstick tells the person looking at you that you have simply forgotten or tried to erase your mouth; it is not a correct look. Fortunately, the cosmetics industry countered this trend trend with gloss---for a natural shine without color. Many women still use it alone.

Often the question depends on individual preference. I feel that most women could use the little bit of help that lip- stick does provide. It's a cos- metic that's fairly easy to use, and none other has as wide a range of colors from which to choose. The The possibilities for experimenting are endless and a lot of fun. You can even create your own colors by blending two prepackaged ones. A mar- velous new shade of lipstick puts a touch of color into a dull day, a monotonous situa- tion, a tired face. A new lipstick can give an instant lift that many women will find thera- peutic. What can put a bright and instant smile on a face if not lipstick?

Of all the makeup products in use today lipstick disappears fastest from the face--its only drawback. But its great advan- tage is the moisturizing effect most new formulations have on lips. Old lipstick formulations---- those dark purples and garish oranges of the twenties and thirties---were practically indel- ible, as they were made from harsh, harmful dyes. Today's formulas are softer, creamier, lovelier, as are today's colors. But how fast it disappears!----- faster than last season's fashions. Yet every time you put it on again during the day or night you will add to its beneficial, conditioning effect.

At times the lips require even more soothing protection. Like the rest of your body,

they are exposed to wind, cold, heat, and other drying elements such as air conditioning, which can all cause peeling, cracking and chapping. Lipstick's creamy formulations help, but you may want to supplement their effec- tiveness by using other products. An eight-hour cream has mar- velous moisturizing qualities. Lip lubricants, such as pomade will help keep the lips smooth. Lips need a great deal of lubri- cation; use pomade or mois- turizers as often as you can, even when you're at home, even when you have no other makeup on. An especially good time is when you're using a

mask.

..APPLICATION.......

Putting on lipstick is a very simple thing. You can, if you wish, use a pencil to outline the lips before coloring in with a stick. If you do, be sure that the pencil is as close as possible in color to the lipstick. You don't want any contrast between them. The pencil can be especially helpful if you have a problem with lipstick running into the tiny lines in the skin above the upper lip. The pencil will prevent this spreading.

If you forego the pencil, simply apply lipstick first to the contour of your lips and then fill in. Fill the entire area, blot with a tissue and apply again to help set the color.

You can use a lipstick brush for a velvety smooth application and a more pro- fessional look. The brush tip, being finer than that on the lipstick, will give you a nice degree of control once once you get used to handling it. Brush- strokes agree with the texture of the lips as the artist's brush agrees with the canvas----a lovely approach and a helpful tool.

For some women, a light coat of face powder before the lipstick goes on may help the color to last longer. For others,

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often the more you apply, the faster it disappears. It all depends on your lips---their tex- ture and condition. Unfortunate- ly, you can rarely do without freshening lip color--always in thin, smooth applications.

COLOR

COLOR is a very impor- tant consideration. I love color that is compatible with the rest of the face. You do not need seventy different shades to match everything in your wardrobe. I like a light color for the brightest hours of the day; a pale, murky shade for no-lipstick look; two or three brighter shades for evening.

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While I don't believe in matching what you wear on your mouth to what you wear on your body, there must be a color compatibility. Lipstick, unlike eye shadow, must be co- ordinated with your clothes; they should never clash.

Bright colors first. If you are wearing green, you can wear orange and brown shades. For red I suggest a com- plementary red or brownish shade. Avoid pinks.

Light, bright or dark blues. in clothing go very well with the clear reds, pinks and stronger colors. The one to avoid here is orange.

For an orange outfit, how- ever, you should have at least a suggestion of orange in your lipstick. It doesn't have to be bright; it could be a lovely shade of mandarin or apricot or coral. A pink or red--espe- cially one with blue tones--will clash awfully.

Brown takes very well to shades of coral and a wide range of pinks and reds. All of the tawny colors work well here.

Lavender and purple shades can take light pinks or won- derful burgundies. Brown bur- gundy is good with formal haute couture, as are all the smoky shades.