Von Teesing yourself ...

Who would have known the ultimate retro goddess once worked the Sorority Barbie look, and worked it good?

This image is proof of the power of makeup (and a good hair colourist).

If it doesn't inspire you to try a different look once in a while, nothing will.

I've received a few requests from women who are bored with the same-old same-old and want to try a classic retro look for a special occasion, but...

Their biggest concern is a total fear of red lipstick. "I couldn't pull it off" is the most common reason why women constantly favour the natural look over full-on reds.

The secret to wearing red is knowing which type of red suits you - and it's all about your skin tone.

Creating a retro look to rival Dita on a 'good-face day' is easy and requires only 5 basic steps:

Skin: This is obviously not the time for tinted moisturiser. Go for a primer followed by a full coverage, quality foundation but apply it sparingly to avoid looking too 'done'. Retro skin should look flawless and velvety smooth - Napoleon's China Doll foundation is an incredible product to achieve this look. Blot with a translucent powder to minimise shine.

Cheeks: Back away from anything bronzer-related. Go for a deep, true pink - again, MAC do one of the most comprehensive ranges of pink blushes on the market, or try a cheek stain.

Eyes: A secret tip is to prep your eyes first with whitening eye drops. Keep the eyelids very bare with a matte (not shimmery), light beige shadow from the lid to the brows. Sparingly apply a tawny brown colour to the crease. Next, channel the zen-like calm of Mr Myagi, as you're about to apply a single sweep of black liner in a graceful motion, winging it upward and outward to the edge of each eye.

Lips: The single most vital thing to remember when choosing a red lipstick is your skin tone. Are you a warm red or a cool red? If your skin has pinkish undertones you should stick to reds that have a pink base (think of the colour of a cherry). If you have have warm yellowish tones, you will best suit a red with a touch of blue (think of the colour of a ripe apple). One of the most fail-safe reds for most skin tones is MAC's Russian Red. For a precise, neat finish - prep your lips first with a red liner, accentuating your cupid's bow.

Eyebrows: Little coat hangers for your face. If you've over plucked your coat hangers, give them a holiday for a few weeks and have them professional shaped by the experts, such as the gurus at Benefit.

Tips:

~ Having red lips does strange things to women. Beware of the effect if you're attached...

~ For the eyeliner-phobe or novice, avoid liquid eyeliner (it's too watery and even the tiniest of errors will show). For the easiest application, use an angled brush and a black gel liner. Gel liner is the ultimate secret weapon for achieving that perfect cat-eye look. The robust consistency ensures it glides on slowly and smoothly. Practice makes perfect, so rehearse this and you'll be an eyeliner master in no time.

~ You don't have to be porcelein-skinned to pull this off. In fact, you can work the retro look even if you're a bronzed beach babe. Red lipstick with a touch of gold looks stunning against bronzed skin.

~ Keep red lips totally matte. Avoid the temptation to apply any form of gloss over the top - it's just way too "Simply Irrestible filmclip".

~ Ultimately, have fun with makeup and experiment with a new look every now and then. If you're too reluctant to go the whole hog, just invest in a red lipstick. Teamed with nude eyes (except for a swoosh of mascara), it looks sexy, modern and polished.

~ Rosie x

Next blog-topic, due to reader feedback, is "How to Choose a Good Makeup Artist for a Special Occasion". Watch this space...