The smoky eye look is a classic makeup look that has been popular for decades. The beauty of the smoky eye is that it can be made to suit any occasion, from a night out with friends to a more formal event like a wedding. However, creating the perfect smoky eye can be daunting, especially if you’re not particularly confident with makeup. Fear not, though – this guide will take you through the steps you need to follow to create the perfect smoky eye.
Step One: Prepare Your Eyelid
Begin by prepping your eyelid. Apply a primer to your eyelid to ensure that your eyeshadow stays put and doesn’t crease throughout the day. A primer will also make your eyeshadow colours appear more vibrant. You can use a special eyeshadow primer or just use foundation, concealer, or powder.
Step Two: Choose Your Palette
Next, select your eyeshadow palette. Smoky eyes are traditionally created using dark shades of black, grey, or brown eyeshadow, although you can always experiment with other dark shades, such as deep blues or purples.
Step Three: Apply Your Base
Once you have chosen your colours, take the lightest shade and apply it as a base all over your eyelid, up to your eyebrow. This will create a blank canvas for the rest of the colours you apply.
Step Four: Add Darker Colours
Now, take the next darkest shade and apply it to your lid, starting from your lash line and blending upwards. Use a medium-sized brush to blend the colour through the crease of your eye to create a gradient effect. Repeat this step with other, darker shades until you achieve your desired level of smokiness.
Step Five: Line Your Eyes
Using an eyeliner pencil, line your waterline, and tightline your upper lash line. Tightlining refers to lining the upper waterline of your eye, giving the illusion of thicker, fuller lashes. Follow this up with a liquid or gel eyeliner to create a winged tip, or a smudged-out look.
Step Six: Apply Mascara
Mascara completes the look. Apply mascara to curled lashes, starting at the roots and working your way up, in order to give your eyes an extra pop. You could try using a volumizing mascara, which will make your lashes appear fuller, or a lengthening mascara, which will help make them longer.
Step Seven: Strut Your Stuff
Finally, it’s important to remember to keep things balanced. If you’ve gone for smoky eyes, keep the rest of your makeup minimal. Opt for a nude lip, and avoid heavily blushed cheeks or bold contouring. Let your eyes do the talking.
Creating the perfect smoky eye may seem like a daunting task, but by following these seven simple steps, you’ll be able to create a showstopping look in no time. So, find the perfect palette, prepare your eyelids, and get to creating your perfect smoky eye.
