SWOONING fans of Patrick Dempsey see her as the main reason the resident heartthrob of the highly-rated TV series ?Grey?s Anatomy? remains one unattainable fantasy.

Obviously smitten, Dempsey once confessed that he fell in love at first sight with second wife Jillian Fink after she gave him the perfect haircut. ?She owned a salon and I went in to get my hair cut. She tamed my hair. She?s the only one who can do it perfectly. When I first saw her, I knew something was going on, but it took four years before we had our first date,? the guy also known as ?McDreamy? recalls.

They married in 1999 and have three children.

Fortunately for Jillian Dempsey, she has a lot more going for her than just being wed to the man of every woman?s dream. The celebrity make-up artist who recently partnered with Avon as its Global Creative Color Director, has a formidable client roster that includes Kirsten Dunst, Kate Winslet and Rachel Weisz.

Interestingly enough, Jillian doesn?t believe in too much make-up. ?Natural is beautiful. Make-up should be used to highlight your own beauty,? she says, summing up her beauty philosophy, and her husband?s preference. He likes natural, soft-looking shades on her lips, she reveals.

In an e-mail interview with SIM, Jillian reveals more of her personal style and a few barefaced facts about this glamorous profession.

The fad in lip color, she says, is coral. ?It?s a great shade for the warmer days and looks good on any skin tone.?

There is no hard and fast rule in choosing a lip color, she adds. Age, skin tone, hair color or the color of one?s clothes don?t really make a difference. ?Most women tend to gravitate to a shade range ? some women like berry shades, some pinks, etc. It?s all about what makes you feel good. And, if the color looks great on you, it doesn?t really matter what you?re wearing or what color your hair is.?

For women thinking of collagen injections to get Angelina Jolie?s voluptuous lips, Dempsey offers sensible advice: ?Avon has a great new plumping lipstick?Ultra Color Rich Extra Plump Lipstick which plumps lips".

Her most important lip color advice? ?Avoid using a liner that?s much darker than you lipstick or gloss shade. It gives a very dated look and just doesn?t look good on anybody!

Dempsey started Delux, her own make-up line, early in her career. Doing so has taught her a lot about the business, she says. ?It was actually a great training ground for my work with Avon ? I know what it takes to develop a product from start to finish, and I understand selling as well as artistry.?

The right make-up just might be the boost most women need to cope with the blues in these economically lackluster days, says this celeb make-up artist. ?I think women always want to look and feel their best ? it?s about confidence ? and I think when times are hard, a little lip gloss or a pop of blush can give you that pick-me-up you need to keep going.? PAC