May 25, 2011 17:51 GMT  ·  By

She’s the most famous burlesque dancer of today and, at the same time, a style icon. Dita Von Teese not only managed to make the vintage and retro look fabulous again, but she also set beauty trends, whether she knew it or not. Now, she dishes out beauty secrets.

Dita’s style is one that many women have tried to replicate in recent years, some with excellent results. When it comes to her makeup, there is only one gold rule, she says in a new interview with the NYT Style Mag.

Having flawless skin is essential: otherwise, all other efforts are vain. Some foundation and red lipstick can do wonders for a woman, as also can a pair of exquisite sunglasses, Dita explains.

“Flawless skin is the most important thing, then red lips. In exactly that order. Red lips don’t look good on blotchy, uneven skin. I use Dior Capture Totale Foundation, and a dusting of Mineralize Powder by MAC. Dior Dolce Vita is my favorite red lipstick,” the star says.

When she doesn’t have time to apply a full face of makeup, Dita has an ace up her sleeve: elegant shades.

“When in a rush, I tie my hair back and throw on a great pair of sunglasses…and voila! Don’t underestimate the cosmetic power of sunglasses. It’s worth spending a bit of money on a quality pair. I usually go for Dior or Louis Vuitton,” she says.

A natural blonde, Dita dyes her eyebrows at home to match her pitch-black hair. She also says that she likes to do her own makeup, hair and styling, which sometimes takes a lot of time.

“I’m kind of a do-it-yourself person as far as my hair, makeup and styling go. I’m in the process of writing a beauty book, where I do it all. It’s hard work. But nothing good comes easy,” she says.

Of course, the same goes for her enviable, hourglass figure. While Dita doesn’t strike you as a woman who sweats out at the gym every day, she knows it’s important to stay in shape.

Still, the focus is on staying toned and not on developing muscle mass, so her favorite workouts are Pilates and yoga.