<strong>What it is</strong>: All you need for evening eyes.

<strong>What it does</strong>: Last week, I had to get my makeup done for a work-related photo. (It was shot by a real photographer and everything—fancy!) There was budget for a makeup artist too, so I naturally called on my friend <a href="http://www.imabeautygeek.com" target="_blank">Janine</a> (a makeup artist and fellow beauty writer and blogger) to give me the pro treatment.

I wanted to look like <a href="http://beautyeditor.ca/2009/05/11/mandy-moore-woman-of-1000-hairstyles/" target="_blank">this</a>, so she smoked up my eyes like nobody's business. (Also because professional lighting requires a heavy hand with makeup... it washes out your features so you need A LOT.) During the shoot, I was more than a little awkward doing the poses—why didn't I study <em>America's Next Top Model</em> beforehand? But at least my makeup made me feel like a supermodel.

Anyway, it got me thinking, why don't I make more of an effort to do this myself sometime? (I know the answer—I prefer sleep to makeup in the mornings.) But then I came across this new little kit from Benefit. You don't have to be a <a href="http://www.imabeautygeek.com" target="_blank">Janine</a>—or have tons of time—to get gorgeous smoky eyes; this contains step-by-step, no-fail instructions. (Honestly, why don't all compacts come with those?) It also has every product you need: Three shadows, a double-sided brush, liner and eye brightening cream. You can even do your brows too, thanks to brow wax and miniature tweezers.

<em>Priced at $42. Available at Holt Renfrew on Bloor St. in Toronto and Murale, Sephora and Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques across Canada.</em>