Cosmic Cosmetics

There’s more than one way to choose the right makeup, but Linda Mason’s may be the zaniest. She suggests that you let the zodiac be your guide. Geminis, for example, ought to play up their distinctive brows with smoky shadows. Leos look best in ruby-red lipstick. Libras, on balance, need matte finishing powder. Mason, who made her reputation painting the famous faces of Paloma Picasso and Brooke Shields, in addition to those of the top models of Paris and New York, has compiled dozens of astrology-oriented tips in her first beauty book, “Sun-Sign Makeovers” (Farrar, Straus & Giroux). It’s in the stores this week.

Beauty and the Bike

Exercisers who want to work out on their way to work are taking to sturdy, multispeed, wide-tire “city” bikes. An urbanite’s alternative to car or bus, they do more than keep you in shape: They cut down on gas use and parking fees and help prevent smog. You might have noticed the growing numbers of bike racks popping up in parking lots of local businesses, and bike shop owners say they’re stocking up on bike-size briefcases for executive types to strap onto their cycles. The Fuji Boulevard XC pictured here sells for $399 at Bikecology in Beverly Hills.

Makeup Meets Its Match

Got a Matchstix? That’s the trade name for a pack of match-size lipsticks that come five to a slip-top box. The tip of color is what you put on your lips. There are Eyestix (shadow matches) as well, and both little beauty aids fit into the tightest jeans pocket or the tiniest purse. Sav-On and Longs Drugs carry both items and sell each for about $2.