The Faker isn’t one to second-guess a first lady. So if Eleanor Roosevelt says, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent,” we take her at her word.

Thing is, when hypercritical people strike, the Faker spends a fair amount of time feeling inferior and doesn’t recall consenting even once. So before she heads into another year of tending to her bruised ego, the Faker is determined to acquire a thick skin. Or at least the appearance of one.

We turned to family therapist and dating coach Barbara Hayes for some tips on looking like one tough cookie, even when you’re crumbling on the inside.

• Force a (convincing) grin. “It is a great defusing technique because it lets the person know that you are not going to be provoked into anger, which is their entire goal,” Hayes says.

• Stand tall. “People with thin skin often look defensive or downcast to begin with, so maintaining that look when someone hurts your feelings may not be good enough. Shoulders slumping, frowning, looking downward or nervousness could all look like hurt feelings.

• Side with your tormenter. A good response? Agree! “If they criticize your looks, behavior or performance of some task, you can just say, happily, ‘I know! I can never figure out what to do about my clothes/decor/cooking!’ This takes away their power to make you feel bad,” Hayes says.

• Be consistent. “If you suddenly get angry or sad after the fifth attempt to bother you, the provocateur knows that you are just faking it and will redouble his efforts,” Hayes says.

• Pity the fool. “Try to understand why your tormentor feels the need to rain on your parade. Very often, these individuals have been the victims of chronic criticism in their own lives. They take out their own frustration and anger on an available, vulnerable target. People with thin skin often think, ‘Something is wrong with me that makes others say mean things.’ They need to think, ‘Something is wrong with them,’” Hayes says.