Row by row, left to right, starting at the top left:

Guerlain ‘Super Aqua-Eye’ Anti-Puffiness Soothing Eye Patch $115, nordstrom.com

Burt’s Bees Head to Toe Kit $13, burtsbees.com

Conair Mini Pro 1/2″ Ceramic Flat Iron $19.99, macys.com

Conair Mini Pro 1″ Ceramic Curling Iron $14.99, macys.com

Anya Hindmarch In-Flight Leather-Trimmed Travel Case $195, net-a-porter.com

Benefit Cosmetics Confessions of a Concealaholic $36, benefitcosmetics.com

ALTERNA Bamboo Shine On-The-Go Travel Set $26, sephora.com

Dr. T’s Supergoop!™ Sunscreen Swipes SPF 30+ $10, nordstrom.com

AmorePacific Treatment Cleansing Tissue $40, sephora.com

Dresdner Essenz Rosemint Herbal Bath $2.99, aumarche.com

Conair Mini Pro Hair Setters Ceramic Rollers $19.99, macys.com

The Art of Shaving 7 Piece Manicure Set $160, barneys.com

Boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens $10, bosciaskincare.com

Sephora Collection Travel Hair Dryer $39, sephora.com

TanTowel Full Body Plus 5 Pack $27, macys.com

Bobbi Brown Mini Brush Set $60, barneys.com

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Refillable Buffing Brush $29.50, nordstrom.com

Juicy Couture Couture Couture Eau de Parfum Roll-On $19, sephora.com

Arcona ‘Basic Five’ Travel Kit for Problem Skin $87, nordstrom.com

What are your favorite mini products to take along when traveling? Tell us in the comments below or tweet at me @CrystlMeatballs.

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals All-Over Face Color in Clear Radiance $18 – Sweep this sheer illuminating powder on cheeks, forehead and chin for an instant glow.

JUST ONE LAYER: Avoid layering on face makeup/foundation.  Multiple layers of face makeup leads to oily skin in the summer heat.  Instead of applying multiple foundations (liquid foundation, bronzer, blush, etc.) look for a multitasker foundation such as Neutrogena Healthy Skin Compact Makeup SPF 55 ($12.99 at most drugstores).

Use a brush!

It’s the way of the professionals. It allows the color to really get into the nooks and crannies of your pout. And it’s quite a lovely sensation to paint on your lips.

If you have an extra eyeshadow brush, you can dedicate it anew to lip application. When this happened to me, I sacrificed one of my existing brushes to the cause  [the i.d. | Bare Escentuals max coverage concealer brush], and it’s been working out great.

Or you can get serious about it and invest in an actual lip brush. Like this retractable version from Sephora, so you don’t get lipstick all over your purse.

*PRO TRICK* Once you discover the benefits of applying lipstick with a brush, you might take up this insider’s trick. Take your lipsticks out of the tube and compartmentalize them in a pill box or a crafter’s bead box. Not only is it a sure way to not lose a color, but it’s an easy way to see all your colors at a glance. Still want to be able to take it with you in the tube? Use floss to slice only part of the the stick into the box.

Et voilá! You’ve turned your lipstick’s manic meltdown around into something even better.

Kisses!

[Photo of melted lipstick courtesy of All About You]

Spring 2011 brights: Derek Lam, Christian Dior & Nina Ricca

Start with a primer: There are a few different ways to pull-off this cheery look, but always start with an eyelid primer before trying any of them. Benefit Stay Don’t Stray will guarantee your concealer, shadow and eyeliner won’t bleed no matter how hot it gets.

The Double Bright: Vivid colors on both the lips and eyes can work if done strategically. Start with a neutral base shadow from the lash line to the brow bone like Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Eyecolor in Vanilla Sugar. Use a cool-colored eyeliner to draw a thin line from the inner to outer corners of eyes. Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in Turquoise 7L is the perfect shade to master this look. Finish with a warm lip color that will complement your ultra cool eyes like Hourglass Femme Rouge Velvet Crème Lipstick in Muse.

Mellow Yellow: If you wear yellow eyeshadow from lashes to brow bone, you could look like you have jaundice. Using an eyeliner brush, like Sephora Collection Professionnel Angled Liner/Eyeliner Brush #15, apply yellow liner from the middle of the pupil to the outer corners on both the top and bottom lash lines. M.A.C. Chromaline in Primary Yellow is one of the brightest you can get. Finish with the simplest gloss you can find like Michael Kors Rollerball.

Light bright all over: If you love that smudged, all-over bright look, make sure to use a lighter bright instead of something super electric. Start with a grey eyeliner from the start of your lashes to the outer corners on top lids and along the inner rim of bottom lashes. Try Smashbox Limitless Eyeliner in Smoke for the correct look. Then smudge a lightly colored cream shadow across the lid from the inner corners past the outer corners on both the top and bottom lids, creating an ethereal halo around the eyes. We swear by Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Dab. Turn up the drama and finish with two coats of Buxom Lash Mascara in Blackest Black.

The colorful cat eye: Creating less drama then the bright all over look, you can use any color your heart desires for this modern twist on the cat eye. Just like the classic method, swoop your color of choice from the inner corner of eyes past the outer corner in a light, upward motion. There are two great ways to achieve this look. Use a cream shadow for a richer color, like Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in Turquoise. If you want that shimmery, sparkling look, try a glittery pressed powder like TARINA TARANTINO Eye Dream Hypershadow in Sweetzer.

What are your favorite eyeshadow hues for spring? Will you be trying these runway-inspired looks?

1. Moisturize. Dry skin flakes which means makeup will look scaly when applied to dry skin. Always start with a moisturizer, and give your skin a few minutes to absorb before starting makeup application. Apply over the entire face and neck, then concentrate on dry or problem areas with a little extra. Ole Henriksen Truth Revealed™ Super Crème SPF 15 will moisturize and protect your skin from the sun all day and leaves it with a light sheen and luminous glow.

2. Conceal. The first thing to tackle are those dark circles under your eyes. You don’t want to use foundation for this purpose because concealer needs to be just a touch lighter than your skin. Clinique Line Smoothing Concealer is light and works like a charm – a little product goes a long way for maximum coverage.

3. Apply the RIGHT color foundation. Finding a perfect match for your skin is absolutely crucial to a flawless face. Lines and streaks form when foundation is a different shade than your complexion. The best thing to do is ask for assistance. Find the girl (or guy) at the makeup counter with the clearest, most natural looking skin. They can tell you the best color for your face. If no one is around or you’re in a hurry, make sure to test a few near your jawbone to pick the best looking color for you. When applying foundation, a little goes a long way. Just use it to even-out your skin tone; caking it on blemishes makes them look more noticeable. NARS Sheer Matte Foundation controls oil and enhances, without hiding, your overall natural complexion.

4. Seal it with powder. Foundation will melt away quickly if you don’t apply this topcoat of sorts. Powder increases the staying power of foundation and smooths the appearance of your skin. Again, make sure you find the closest color match to avoid looking like you’re wearing a mask. A sheer powder for day like Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil doesn’t look too heavy. If you are going to a big event where the chance of being photographed is high, nothing looks better on camera than MAKE UP FOR EVER Duo Mat Powder Foundation. Don’t forget a great application brush like Sephora Collection Professionnel Platinum Powder Brush #50.

5. Cut glass with your cheekbones. Although foundation and powder even out the complexion and conceal blemishes, they tend to flatten the natural contours of the face. Adding a highlighter to the cheekbone, starting at the point level with the outer corner of your eye and swept in a light, upward/outward motion toward your hair line, works wonders. This gives the appearance of higher, more defined cheekbones. Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Pure Gold gives your skin a unique, reflective finish that accentuates the cheekbones.

6. Put some flush in your cheeks. A rosy cheek is a lovely cheek, or so we’ve been told since the beginning of time. Give yourself a healthy flush with a little blush on the apples. Not sure where to apply? Smile big -  the roundest part of your cheeks toward the side of your face is the target. Lightly dot on blush with a professional brush, making sure not to overdo it. Too much pink will totally cancel out all of your hard work so far. Your face will look instantly brighter with a dose of Benefit Bella Bamba. The Tokidoki Siberia Blush Brush is both adorable and perfect for application.

What are some of your makeup tips for creating a flawless face?

From left: Oscar de la Renta Fall '11, DVF Fall '11 & Nina Ricci Spring '11

1. Start with an eye primer to create a perfect canvas. Eye shadow and liner can crease or stray after a few hours of wear. Apply a good primer all over your lid, from lash line to eyebrow, and underneath the eye before using concealer. My oily skin causes shadow to crease without fail, but Benefit Stay Don’t Stray keeps it looking fresh all day. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion is another great product and comes in an adorable genie bottle.

2. Line your eyes with a dark shade. Whether black, charcoal, eggplant or any other smoky hue, eyeliner creates the drama for this sultry look. Line your top lashes from the inner to outer corners, dot in between your bottom lashes and line the inner rim. Smudge with an eyeliner brush for more drama. I swear by Benefit BADgal Waterproof Liner because it stays put and is equipped with a blending tip. The M.A.C. Eye Pencil provides rich, consistent color and the Sephora Professional Smudge Brush #14 is both precise and a great value.

3. Apply a medium powder shadow from top lashes to crease. Blend the shadow from the lid to the crease, using upward and outward motions. The matte, dark grey hue of Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow in Anthracite 40 is perfect for all complexions. If you want to try something funkier, Smashbox Eye Shadow in Cabernet is a deep wine shade with a touch of shimmer.

4. Dust a light neutral shadow along your brow bone. This will highlight your eyes and make them pop. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow in Champagne is great if you want a touch of sparkle, and Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Eyecolor in Vanilla Sugar is perfect for everyday wear.

5. Add a light pearly shadow to the inner corners of your eyes. Doing this makes eyes appear larger and brighter. It’s not a necessary step but creates a gorgeous illusion if you have the time. Too Faced Glamour Dust in Pink Fire can also be used on the cheekbones for added drama.

6. Apply two coats of the deepest, darkest mascara you can find. This is like the icing on the cake… it is an absolute must to finish the look. Wiggle the wand from bottom to top so each lash is coated completely. Dior DiorShow 360 Mascara features a spinning wand and the most gorgeous, intricate brush you’ve ever seen. I’m a huge fan of Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! which is clinically proven to increase the appearance of lash volume by 424 percent.

I hope you found our How To guide for smoky eyes helpful. Will you be rocking this look over the weekend?