The dramatic smoky eye is one great way to play up your beautiful eyes. Learn how to create three different smoky-eye looks for day or night.
Smoky-Eye Essentials
Pick up the tools and colors you need to create this look.
Colors: You’ll need three eye-shadow shades: light, medium and dark in the same color family. Use an eyeliner that’s darker than your eye shadow. Or, line your eyes with a wet brush dipped in your darkest eye shadow for a similar “eyeliner” effect.
Tools: Have three tools on hand: a soft, medium-sized eye-shadow brush, a fine, angled brush and a few cotton swabs.
Smoky-Eye How-To
Go Undercover: Because dramatic eye makeup draws attention to the eyes and under-eye circles, start with concealer. It’ll help you minimize any darkness under the eyes.
In the Shadows: Use your medium-size shadow brush to apply the lightest shadow from the lid to the brow bone. Sweep the medium-shade shadow back and forth in the crease. Apply the darkest color all over the eyelid or just at the outer corners (don’t go higher than the crease).
Blend, Blend, Blend: Want that soft, smoky look? Blending is key. Use your medium-size brush to help soften the color lines.
Line to Define: Apply eyeliner to the top lash line. Start the line at the inner corner and extend it all the way to the outer corner. The line should be thinner at the inner corner and gradually thicken. Smudge the line with the angled brush or a cotton swab — it’ll help you create a smoky effect. Use the same liner (or the darkest shadow) to line the lower lashes. Smudge this line, too.
Love Your Lashes: Finish up with several coats of mascara. Want a more dramatic look? Pick up some false lashes.
Clean It Up: Clean up mistakes and eye-shadow dust with a cotton swab dipped in makeup remover. Dab a little concealer on these spots, and blend well.
Stay Focused: Keep blush and lip colors subtle. You want the focus to stay on your eyes. Plus, you don’t want to look overdone.
Three Different Looks
Daytime: Want a soft daytime look? Use subtle brown- or gray-based eye shadow. Avoid black, which can look harsh during the day, and skip lining the bottom lash line.
Nighttime: Choose darker, richer shades — they’ll help you create a bolder, more dramatic look. Or, add shimmery, metallic or sparkly shadows — they’ll help make your eyes really pop. Finish up with a black liner and even more mascara.
Colorful: You don’t have to use neutral colors to get a smoky eye. Add a pop of vibrant color like dark green or plum to the eyelid.
Daytime to Evening
Want to get a smoky eye without completely reapplying your makeup? Just enhance what you’ve already applied for your daytime look.
Eye Shadow: Since the colors of your smoky eye will be darker than your daytime eye shadow, all you have to do is touch up your daytime colors with darker hues.
Eyeliner: Dip a dry, angled brush or cotton swab into your darkest eye shadow. Smudge the dark color over the liner that you applied earlier in the day.
Mascara: Apply a few fresh coats and you’re ready to go.
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