Real girl beauty problems ... solved!

We love our freckles, but what makeup works with them?--Katie and Shelby

If your freckles are light, don't bother covering them up! "Show them off by using a sheer foundation," says celeb makeup artist Janice Kinigopoulos. "If your happen to have the darker ones you just can't live with, choose a cream foundation to even out skin tones." When choosing eye, lip and cheek color, pick shades with a rosy-golden undertone and a little shimmer. "Those shades will brighten up your face without overpowering you. Then, all you need to finish up your look are a couple swipes of brown/black mascara to bring out your eyes.

My hair is sooo damaged. My flat-iron just flat-out kills the shine in my hair. Please help me get it healthy again!--Clare

Put down the flat-iron, and step away slowly. Good girl. Same goes for you, blow-dryer babes, curling-iron queens and hot-roller hotties. Using heat tools on a daily basis dries hair out like nobody's business. Cutting down to occasional use is the first step to restoring your locks to their previously lustrous state.

Can't go cold turkey on your daily 'do? Minimize damage by using protective shampoo and conditioner (try ThermaSilk Moisture Infusing, $6 each, drugstores) to ward off split ends and fight the frizzies. Once a week, deep-treat your hair with a conditioning mask (we're addicted to Bumble and bumble's Dehydration Therapy, $45, 1-800-7BUMBLE). Finally, get regular trims. Getting your locks snipped every six weeks helps get rid of fried ends.

I have a bunch of ugly acne scars from pimples I had months ago. How can I get rid of them?--Jen

Let's start by saying this: The best treatment for acne scars is prevention. See your dermatologist to get on a treatment program, or try a great over-the-counter remedy like Pro-Activ ($40, proactiv.com). To help improve the look of your skin now--and avoid future breakouts--try Neutrogena Advanced Solutions Acne Mark Fading Peel ($13, drugstores). This is the only at-home product that comes even close to delivering the kind of skin-smoothing results you might get in a doctor's office after a strong (yikes) chemical peel.

I like wearing my hair down, but it just goes flat and lifeless. Ideas? --Meg

Who doesn't like a flat stomach? Heck, we even like our flat chests. But flat hair? About as much fun as a flat tire. Time to pump it up! Start by washing and conditioning with a volumizing formula, like Pantene Pro-V Sheer Volume ($5 each, drugstores). Towel-dry your hair, then blowdry with your head flipped upside down until hair is half-dry. Work in some mousse, then section off hair into parts--back, top, bangs and sides. Clip each section up.

Starting at the back, undo each clip and dry with a big, round brush. Lift hair at the roots, then dry down the length. Spend the most time on the front and side sections, saving your bangs for last. Hit your style with a cool shot of air to set it, and finish with some light hairspray. If your hair starts to drop during the day, grab a comb and lightly backcomb the underneath sections, letting the top layers fall over it. Instant volume!

I have very thick hair, and lots of my friends are jealous. But it's so hard to straighten, curl or anything else!--Kristen

Girls with short hair wish they had long. Brunettes wish they were blonde. Fine-haired girls wish it were thicker. Blah, blah, blah. Enough with the hair hatred! OK, thick hair can be a challenge, but your first step is to learn to love what you've got. Next step? It's all in the cut.

Your stylist has lots of tricks to help you "debulk" your hair, including thinning out the underlayers and putting face-framing layers in the front. No blunt 'dos for you, sister. Having the right cut makes curling or straightening hair a whole lot easier. Next, experiment with styles. Try pulling up the front section of your hair and clipping it back with a cute barrette. Or go with a double pony, making a higher pony with the top section and a lower pony with the remaining layer. The basic concept? Divide and conquer.

All my friends wear makeup, but I can't because my pores get all clogged up. Is there a special kind of product I can use?--Meredith

Here's your new favorite word: non-comedogenic. Look for foundation and powder that contain those magic words (or try non-comedogenic's less spelling-bee-worthy cousin, oil-free). One new brand we love? Maybelline's just-introduced Pure makeup ($6, drugstores), which has 50 percent water in place of the usual pore-cloggers.

I have super-red cheeks. They are not cute at all. I wash my face all the time, but that doesn't help. What should I do?--Nic

Eek! Stop all the washing and scrubbing! The more you wet and rub your skin, the more irritated and red it gets. Lots of products work a little too well, stripping skin of natural protective oils or emollients in the name of "clean." Switch instead to a mild cleanser, like Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ($11, drugstores). If the problem persists, visit a dermatologist who can suggest treatment options and confirm the redness isn't from a treatable skin condition.

I have a problem. I bite my nails. They're really short and disgusting. How do I stop?--Tallie

You're not alone, Nibbles. Half of girls 10 to 18 bite their nails at some point and, for whatever reason, the problem is at its worst when you are going through puberty (like you need that bonus). Nail-biting can be a "nervous habit," like hair-twirling, or it can be something you do to beat stress. You already know it looks gross, but nail-biting also increases your risk for infections and can even lead to dental problems and, in the long term, might even cause deformed nails (ew).

Nip the problem by giving yourself a manicure with bitter-tasting polish like Control-it ($25, stopbitingnails.com). The awful taste reminds you not to nosh on your nails. Next, substitute another activity that keeps your fingers busy, like drawing or writing, when you find yourself beginning to bite. You could even snap a rubber band on the inside of your wrist to create a negative physical response to nail-gnawing. In a few short months, get ready to show off your new divine digits.

I am totally clueless about makeup. Help!--Lily

Did you know there are now over a million beauty products on the market? Who knew? And, for that matter, who knows what to do with them all? The real trick to makeup actually isn't knowing what to do with all of it--it's simply figuring out what works for you. Just about anyone can put on lip gloss. Mascara takes a little practice. Blush isn't too hard, unless you venture into blushing gels and cheek stains--those get more challenging. Eyeshadow can be tricky, and eyeliner should, in an ideal world, only be put on by makeup experts. So, how do you become one?

Head on over to your favorite cosmetics counter at a local department store. Trained makeup artists will teach you, step-by-step, how to put on makeup--and even help you pick the right colors and products for you. Of course, they are hoping you'll buy everything they use, so some really load it on. A better bet? Splurge on a one-hour lesson--it runs around $50, and many companies will forgive the fee if you buy a certain amount of product. And don't be afraid to experiment with different looks at home. Makeup is supposed to be fun, even if it does take some amount of practice. The best part? You can wash off your mistakes with soap and water ... and start over.

I have problem skin, What's the best way to heal and conceal?--Holly

Step one is to treat skin with the right products. "A cleanser containing salicylic acid helps remove surface oil and decrease shine," says Dr. Diane Berson, a top dermatologist in New York City. Step two? Conceal. Makeup pro Margret Avery suggests following up with an oil-free moisturizer (yes, oily skin needs moisture) to help keep makeup on. While it's tempting to load up on foundation and powder, that can look superfake and even cause more probs. Try a two-in-one, like Lancome Dual Finish Powder ($33.50, department stores). Finish by dotting still-visible spots with a yellow-undertone concealer that matches your skin.

I love my eyes, but they look small. How can I get them to POP?--Asia

Open up those gorgeous eyes! The trick. "Eyebrows frame the eyes, so they need to be well-groomed," says makeup pro Margret Avery. "A neatly arched shape keeps the eye looking more open." Hold a long, thin makeup brush parallel to the side of your nose--the inside of your brow should begin where the brush meets your brow. To find the end of your brow, extend the brush diagonally from your nostril, following the outside edge of your eye toward the brow. Hold the brush parallel to the outside edge of the iris--where the brush meets the brow is where your arch should be. No, you can tweeze ... but, please, don't overdo it!

I have big features. How can I look more balanced?--Chelsea

Bigger is better! "Chelsea has great eyes, to-die-for lips and a prominent nose, which make her gorgeous and unique," says Janice. "Get all your features working together by playing up what you love." For Chelsea, that means high-lighting her lush lips with a berry-red lipstick (Clinique Different Lipstick in Angel Red, $14, clinique.com). "Lipstick adds drama, and it looks newer than gloss." For balance, Janice went light on Chelsea's eyes with a soft-brown shadow for her lids and a champagne shadow for her browbones. A coat of Maybelline Great Lash mascara ($4.50, drugstores) finishes off her look.

I love my curls but, some days, I totally lose the frizz fight!--Kate

To fight frizz, start by using a creamy leave-in conditioner like Charles Worthington London Results Moisture Seal Hair Healer Intensive Leave-In Conditioner ($7, drugstores). Then, while hair is still wet, work in an anti-frizz serum "This coats the hair shaft with silicone to seal the cuticle and weigh the hair down so it doesn't absorb water, which causes it to swell and frizz," says stylist Tim Rogers. The biggest key for curly hair? Keep your ends blunt. "Your best cut lengths are very short or below your shoulder." says Jet Rhys, owner of Jet Rhys Salon (www.jetrhys.com). "Bobs just make your hair look wide!"