Smoky eyes can be very sexy and give you a dramatic look but a lot of us are afraid to try it in case we get it completely wrong and end up with a ‘black eye’ instead of a smouldering one. It’s really not that difficult once you get the basics right. The key is in layering the shades and blending rather than just plopping on a dark colour. Follow these simple steps and get ready to bat those eyelids.
Prep Your Eyes
The first step is to start with a blank canvas. Use a primer over your lids and on the under eye; this will keep your eye shadow from smudging. If you have dark circles, it will kill all the excitement of a sultry eye, so apply a thick creamy concealer on your under eye using a make-up sponge or your fingers.
Choose the Colour
Smoky eyes can be created in a number of ways. Whether you want to go with the traditional grey and black or bronze and browns, choose shades that complement your skin tone. Brown eyes look great in hues of navy and grey, blue eyes pop with gold and copper, and green eyes stand out in grey and plum. You’ll need three shades of a similar colour to build the layers: a light, creamy colour; a medium base shade; and a dark, smoky one — to get the ultimate look.
Apply the Shadow
Start with the lightest shade on the inside corner of your eye and brow bone, and then apply the medium shade over the entire eyelid. Blend the darkest shade to the outer corners of your eyes and the crease. Using an angled brush, sweep some of the dark shadow onto the lower eyelid. Don’t stick to just black, experiment with navies, greys, plums and coppers to add an extra oomph of sexiness. Whatever shades you use, make sure that you blend thoroughly. Use a Q-tip (ear buds) or a smudge brush to lightly smudge the shadow at the crease and along the bottom lashes.
Define the Eyes
With your colour in place, it’s time to accentuate your eyes with a creamy black eye pencil or eyeliner. Apply to your upper lid and bottom lash lines, and make sure no skin is showing. Add a cat eye flick which works great with liquid eyeliners. To open up the eyes and add a touch of radiance, apply a shimmering highlighter at the inner ‘V’ corners of your eyes.
Curl and Mascara
For a more flirty look, use an eyelash curler. Gently clamp down at the base of your lashes, hold for five seconds and release. Repeat on the other eye. Finally brush on mascara to complete the look. Use only one to two coats, to avoid it looking too clumpy.
Top Tips
• Make sure your eyebrows are shaped well and coloured. Too thin or light eyebrows will make your smoky eyes look unnatural.
• Keep the rest of your make-up simple – use a nude or light lipstick.
• Don’t forget to dust off any excess shadow from your face by using a large fluffy make-up brush.
