What He's Thinking

Heavy makeup is a turnoff. I've always been the type of guy who appreciates a natural look as it is, and when a girl does her makeup well, the results can be magical. But the one thing that should never happen is excessive application: too much, too many colors, or if it's just a botched attempt at a good makeup technique. Seems like as time goes by, makeup makes like the earth and erodes and changes with weathering. There is nothing more ghastly than makeup run amuck in the morning after spending the night together.

 Blend Images Photography/Veer

What He's Thinking

We do think you're crazy sometimes, but only because it makes things easier for us. Once I accepted that women were "crazy" (many older guys had insisted they were for years), it seemed to take a huge load of pressure off me. No longer was I trying to rationalize moves that women made that got me into crazy analysis cycles. When I just throw it all out the window and dismiss it as "crazy," it makes it easier to deal. We don't really think women are insane, we just say it so we can be done thinking about their antics and move on.

Had a fight? Count to 10 before changing your Facebook status. New world, new rules to make love work now

Have Quickies

Fast sex may seem unromantic, but short bursts of passion keep you bonded because they release dopamine and oxytocin, two chemicals that trigger loving feelings. "If you're having regular sex and stoking those neurochemicals, it doesn't have to be amazing every time," 

Get a Prenup

"It's a backup plan offering protection in case of divorce," says Peter Morris, a New York state matrimonial lawyer. "Prenups open a dialogue about the type of lifestyle you want, how many kids you'll have, even what your core values are." Prenups are even more key when the woman is the breadwinner because if the marriage ends, she may lose a large chunk of her earnings and 50 percent of joint marital assets. Already hitched? Consider a postnup, the postmarital version of the deal.

Call a Money Summit

Couples don't usually split because they don't have enough cash, but because they can't agree on how to manage it. "Discussing your finances each month is crucial," says financial adviser Manisha Thakor. Do you pool your money or separate it? Do you know how much each of you has at any given time? Airing your finances regularly will sync you two for the long haul.