Tired of your eyeliner fading before lunch? Not sure how to pick the perfect foundation? Wondering what shade of red lipstick works best for you? Wonder no more because Debra Macki, Boston's most sought-after professional makeup artist offers her time-tested tips and tricks to help you conquer you're biggest beauty blunders:

Dear Debra: My best friend is getting married in February. I am one of the bridesmaids and I just know I will be bawling my eyes out. How can I prevent my makeup from smearing? Signed, Always the Bridesmaid.

Dear Always: If you're doing your own makeup, you should use as many waterproof products as possible. This includes eyeliner and mascara. Also, try not to rub your eyes if they water. Use a tissue to gently blot tears at the inner corners of your eyes.

Dear Debra: It never fails. I apply eyeliner under and above my lashes, and follow-up with a coat of mascara. Yet, by lunchtime, my eyeliner has headed south. What can I do to make it last all day? Signed, Faded But Not Forgotten.

Dear Faded: Use a concealer and powder as a base around your eye area. This will help make your eye shadow last longer as well. My Camouflage Cover Cr?me concealers and Pro Powders do the trick!

Dear Debra: I love the look of red lipstick, but I'm terrified of wearing it. Any advice? Signed, Wimpie.

Dear Wimpie: Red can be intimidating - if you don't know how to pick the right shade. I suggest wearing a sheer red lip gloss like my Boom Boom. It's great for beginners.

Dear Debra: I'm hopeless when it comes to picking a foundation that works with my skin tones. How can I find the right shade? I've heard you should test it on your wrist. Signed, Hopeless.

Dear Hopeless: Always test your foundation/concealer/powder on your face. Most of the time your wrist is a completely different color than your face. So unless you're planning on wearing foundation down there, test it on your jaw line.

Dear Debra: I have blue eyes. Will wearing blue eye shadow or liner make me look like a throw-back from the Seventies? What colors should I be using? Signed, the Disco Diva.

Dear Diva: To make the color of your eyes stand out, choose a complementary color. Using the same color as your eyes can be fun, but it won't be as eye catching as a warm brown like my Snap eye shadow. Also, any color that has a hint of orange will make the blue in your eyes pop.

Dear Debra: I'm a working mom, any tips on how to shorten my a.m. beauty ritual? Signed, Mrs. Mommy.

Dear Mrs.: Opt for a powder foundation if your skin is normal to oily. Dust over your face to even out skin tone. Apply a little blush, like my Twinkle or Posh - two light pinky colors, or a bronzer on cheekbones - try my Cheeky, a silky-smooth bronzing powder. One all over eye shadow that adds just a hint of color paired with eyeliner and mascara will give a nice, clean eye look. Skip the lipstick, and go for a gloss instead like my Meow or Soiree glosses. Voila - done!

Dear Debra: How can I hide a pimple so no one will know it's there - except me? Signed, Sweet 13.

Dear Sweet 13: When concealing a pimple, make sure the concealer matches your skin so you aren't drawing attention to the problem area - which defeats the whole purpose. Set the concealer with a powder for the best coverage and staying power.    

Debra Macki is a Boston-based professional makeup artist. She is available for photo shoots and interviews. To view her entire cosmetics collection, visit www.debramacki.com or call 1-800-463-3272.