Head of the Class

These tutorial kits are the next best thing to having a makeup artist in your entourage

An all-in-one makeup tutorial kit is like going to a beauty academy without leaving your home. These kits are designed to help you expand and perfect your makeup application skills, whether you've never picked up a brow pencil before or you've mastered a basic look. Maybe you want to advance to a smoky eye or perfect your use of concealer and contouring powders (who doesn't?).

"These kits take the guesswork out of applying your makeup," says Tasha Reiko Brown, a top Hollywood makeup artist. "Instead of picking products out one by one, everything is already selected to create a cohesive look. And with the step-by-step instructions that are provided, you can try out new looks even if you consider yourself completely clueless about cosmetics.

Smashbox Step-by-Step Contour Kit:
"This is cheekbones in a compact," says Reiko Brown. "If you've seen Beyoncé or JLo on the red carpet and thought, 'I wish I could get that kind of definition,' this kit gives you a foolproof way to do just that, and it's easy enough to use every single day." Tape the included face map to your mirror, then follow the illustrated guide to using the trio of contouring, bronzing and highlighting powders.

Tarte Eye Couture Day-to-Night Eye Palette:
"The 10 shades in this palette get darker as you move from right to left in the kit," says Reiko Brown, "taking you from daytime to evening to nighttime-glam.

And the kit is what I call 'clutch appropriate,' small enough to carry so if you decide to hit the town at the last minute, you have what you need for a touch-up. Plus, the colors are universally flattering, so this would make a great gift, too."

Benefit Brows a-go-go:
"I call this 'killer brows in a box,' " says Reiko Brown. "One thing I love is that it includes two shades of brow powder that you can blend to create the shade that's just perfect for you." Also packed into this kit are brow wax, liner, highlighter powder, Benefit's cult favorite Eye Bright, mini tweezers, stiff angled brow brush, and a four-step lesson on creating professional-looking brows.

Too Faced Naked Eye Soft & Sexy Eye Shadow Collection:
"This kit takes the blah out of a basic eye," says Reiko Brown. "The shadows are neutral, yes, but they have pigment to them and beautiful texture so you can do a naked everyday eye that's not at all boring." The collection includes nine neutral matte and soft shimmer shadows, an applicator tool and three Get-the-Look cards.