The best tips of 2003: since it's our mission to help you look hot, the Cosmo beauty team relentlessly quizzes the top hair and makeup experts. Here are our favorite insider secrets from the past year.(Beauty Bonus)

Bronze Goddess Know-How

When we saw the gorgeous sun-kissed models on the Lagerfeld fall/winter runway, we had to know how they got such realistic-looking tans (since they couldn't all have just come back from tropical vacays). "When you're starting with pale skin, you can't just put bronzer on your cheeks," says Susan Sterling, Chanel's top makeup artist. "You must first put a gel or cream bronzer all over your face and neck to look believably radiant." Next, build on that by sweeping a powder bronzer over your cheeks, forehead, and chin. To play up your "tan," gloss your lips in a sheer punchy hue. A duo to try: Chanel Silky Bronzing Powder in Toundra, $45, and Glossimer in Sirop, $24.50.

CREATE CANDLELIT EYELIDS

Have you ever noticed how the light from a candle can make your eyes look all glowing? Well, we found a great way to mimic this effect with makeup. Just use a small eye-shadow brush to dot a shimmery pink shadow in the center of your upper lids. Since this is the roundest part of your eyelid, the shimmer will reflect light in all directions, creating an illuminated look. You can use this technique alone or over another shadow. Two perfect pink shadows to try: Bare Escentuals I.D. Glimmer in Desire, $13, and Estee Lauder Pure Color Eyeshadow in Rose Confetti, $20.

Conquer a Cowlick

Cosmo beauty director Rachel Hayes Gayle is cursed with a serious cowlick on her hairline that she could never manage to smooth out ... until Marc Mena, a stylist at NYC's Warren-Tricomi Salon, taught her this surefire trick for taming an unruly section of strands.

First, saturate the misbehaving area with styling spray. Try Red-ken Spray Starch 15 Heat Memory Styler, $9.95.