We All Wish We Could Live Like Birthday Girl Supermodel Karolina Kurkova

Here's a secret I learned early in my career: Tensing the muscles in your calves provides more balance so you can walk, not wobble, in even the most towering heels. For me, Pilates is the best exercise regimen to strengthen legs without making them big.

Instead of trying to do my makeup first thing in the morning before I leave the house (nearly impossible when you have two kids), I just slip on a big pair of shades. They hide tired eyes and allow me to get ready in a more peaceful environment, be it the office or at a photo shoot.

DampG sunglasses, $159; sunglasshut.com.

There are lots of creams that will make your skin look and feel nice. But I still believe that drinking at least a liter of water and several cups of peppermint tea a day is the easiest way to make your skin glow.

My recent work modeling for DampG has taught me about having a fragrance wardrobe. Now after I shower in the morning, I apply L'Impamp#233;ratrice, which is very fresh and green and makes me feel like I've really woken up. In the afternoon, I switch to La Lune, a sophisticated floral.

DampG No. 18 La Lune and No. 3 L'Impamp#233;ratrice eau de toilette, $65 each/3.3 oz.; at Nordstrom.com.

A stylist on a photo shoot once told me that to enhance hair's natural texture and to make a blow-dry more interesting, you should never dry it 100 percent. I use Kérastase Creme to keep my ends from frizzing. It also helps prevent split ends, which I tend to get because my hair is dry.

Kérastase Creme UV Defense Active hair cream, $34; kerastase.com.

When I started modeling at 17, makeup artists were always using too much foundation. I learned you get a more natural finish by skipping foundation and applying concealer only where needed. I buy three shades and use the darkest on my cheeks and forehead, and the lightest under my eyes.

L'Oreal Paris Infallible Never Fail concealer in fair/light, light and light/medium, $10 each; at CVS.

Brown-rice crackers and a packet of dry miso soup make for a really delicious energy boost that you can eat anywhere-all you need is a cup of hot water. I always take two or three servings with me on international flights. Plane food is never, ever a good idea.