Sun Lite for March 10, 2003

Monday, March 10, 2003 | 8:36 a.m.

Paying lip service

Here's a holiday you won't find highlighted on many calendars: Lips Appreciation Day. We aren't entirely sure how it's celebrated or why, for that matter but Sunday is the big day, for those of you whose day planners are lacking.

In any case, you know the makers of Blistex lip balm are smacking their respective lips, seeing as how some of the goofy lip trivia on the company's website blistex.com is finally relevant. Or not.

Also on the Blistex site is an ode to lip references featured in Shakespeare's works; a guide for following kissing protocol while abroad; and a lip quiz. Party on!

Stick it

We don't want any lip about our decision to include this item, a leftover from our Valentine's Day file that was simply too strange to kiss off post-holiday.

Cosmetics company Revlon teamed with dating-service provider Lavalife to poll 5,300 of the latter company's members about men's impressions of women and their lipstick. Colorful though they may be, the findings are pretty much pointless.

A sure sign of a good date? According to 54 percent of the men surveyed, it's when a woman "accidentally" smears lipstick on his shirt collar. What's a little dry-cleaning bill in the face of true love, right?

Matte or glossy lips? It's a toss up 50 percent of men like a matte-style lipstick while 49 percent would rather see a glossy shine. Heck, it's shocking enough to learn there are guys out there who can actually tell the difference. Guess they're paying closer attention to their smeared shirts than we thought.

Smiles for miles

Of course it isn't what's on your lips, but what you do with them that counts.

A good smile is all the more important when you're a celebrity, according to another national survey this one sponsored by Trident gum, in an effort to promote its Trident White Spearmint gum which had respondents kissing up to their favorite Hollywood hotties.

The winners in the best overall female smile category: Julia Roberts, followed by Halle Berry and Jennifer Lopez (who says she's all booty and no bite?). Tom Cruise boasts the top male mouth, trailed by George Clooney and Will Smith.

The teen-idol owner of the "grooviest grin"? Gee, that's a toughie: Pop tart Britney Spears took the girly half of the prize, with Britain's Prince William representing the guys.

Best athletic smile honors went to figure skater Michelle Kwan, tennis babe Anna Kournikova and golf great Tiger Woods. For millions of dollars in product endorsements, you'd learn to smile pretty, too.