Buzz
Attending a concert or a glamorous gala night? The smokey eye makeup look will give you a chic and striking appearance. You don’t need to be a professional makeup artist or a celebrity to master this style. With the right tools and a few tips, anyone can achieve it. Discover how to create a classic and impressive smokey eye look with quick and easy steps outlined below.
Steps
Getting Started
Choose your colors. Any color can be used for a smokey eye, but you’ll need at least three shades of the same hue. The classic smokey eye is created using black or gray, but copper and brown are also popular choices.
- Green eyes pair beautifully with gray and plum tones, while blue eyes pop with gold or copper, and brown eyes perfectly complement navy blue and gray.
- Select three shades for each tone: a light cream, a medium base, and a dark smokey shade.
- Avoid overly bright colors if you have a darker complexion. The goal is to enhance your beautiful face, not just make your eyes stand out.
Use the right makeup tools. While selecting three complementary shades and a sponge might seem quick and easy, the perfect smokey eye requires the right makeup products.
- Powder eyeshadow makes blending colors seamless, which is essential for a stunning smokey eye. While you can use pressed or cream eyeshadows, powder remains the ideal choice.
- Enhance your smokey eye with a dark eyeliner. You can choose between pencil, gel, or liquid eyeliner. Gel and liquid liners provide sharp, precise lines, while pencil liners offer a softer, more natural look.
- Ensure you have concealer and eyeshadow primer ready for your eyelids before starting. A concealer brush can be used for both steps.
- Keep a large fluffy brush, makeup remover, and cotton swabs handy to fix mistakes or clean up any fallout.
Prep your face. Before creating a smokey eye, even out your skin tone. Use concealer under your eyes and on any dark spots or redness, then apply foundation.
- Add a touch of flair to your face with pink or bronze blush. For bronze, use a large brush to sweep it into the hollows of your cheeks. For pink blush, apply it to the apples of your cheeks. Blend gently for a natural finish.
- Ensure your eyebrows are well-groomed and defined, as the smokey eye will draw attention to them. Overly thin or light brows can make your eyes appear too dark and unnatural.
Classic Smokey Eye
Apply the highlight shade. The highlight shade is the lightest of the three eyeshadow colors you’ve chosen. Use an eyeshadow brush to apply it to the inner corners of your eyelids, both upper and lower. Extend it just below the brow bone, from the start to the end of your brows.
Use the medium shade. Apply the medium-toned eyeshadow across the entire eyelid. Blend it seamlessly with the highlight shade at the inner corners for a natural gradient. Unlike the highlight shade, this should only be applied to the upper lid, not the area below the brows.
Start with the darkest shade. Begin at the outer corner of your eye, blending the color across the lid, crease, and around the inner lash line in a C-shape, starting halfway inward (from the outer edge of your face).
- The darkest area should always be right above the lash line. Whenever you need to deepen the look, start from this point and blend upward or downward.
- To add drama to your classic smokey eye, sweep the dark eyeshadow in a "<" shape instead of a "C," extending it toward the end of your brow. Ensure the darkest points remain at the outer corner of the lid.
- Apply a small amount of the dark shade along the lower lash line. Start from the outer corner and blend halfway inward. This balances the dark tones on the upper lid.
Blend the eyeshadow. Clean your eyeshadow brush with brush cleaner or soap and water. Dry it with a clean towel or cloth by quickly swiping the bristles back and forth. Then, use the clean brush to blend the colors seamlessly.
- Start by blending the lightest shades. Ensure the medium shade (on the lid) transitions smoothly into the darkest shade. Gently move the brush in a C-shape at the intersection of the two colors to create a natural gradient.
- Apply the black shade along the lash line, extending it toward the brow bone. Keep the application light and gradually fade it out, avoiding heavy overlap with the highlight shade below the brow.
Line your eyes. For a sharp cat-eye look, line your eyes from the inner corner to the end of your brow. Finish with a slight upward flick just before the edge of your eyeshadow (where the darkest shade meets your bare skin). For a bolder smokey eye, draw a thick line along your lash line, then use your finger or a small brush to smudge the edges.
- To intensify the look, tightline your eyes by applying eyeliner right below your upper lash line and above your lower lash line. This can be tricky as it requires getting close to the eyeball.
- Line the inner rim of your lower lash line with a white eyeliner pencil. This brightens your eyes, making them pop even with the dark tones above.
Curl your lashes. Carefully apply mascara, wiggling the wand to separate and lift your lashes. Avoid applying more than two coats to prevent clumping. For the lower lashes, apply just one coat to avoid a smudged, panda-eye effect.
Clean up any fallout. If any eyeshadow or mascara has fallen onto your cheeks, use a large makeup brush to quickly sweep it away. For smudged mascara, dip a cotton swab in makeup remover to clean it up, then touch up the area with your makeup brush.
Dramatic Smokey Eye
Apply the highlight shade. Use the same technique as the classic smokey eye, applying the lightest eyeshadow to the inner corners of your eyes and just below the brow bone. Blend the highlight shade downward toward the inner corner of your eye.
Apply the darkest shade along the lash line. Instead of starting with the medium shade, take the darkest eyeshadow and use a brush to apply it along the upper lash line. Focus on making the area closest to the lashes the darkest, then gradually blend it upward toward the lid.
- Use a small amount on the lower lash line, but only apply it to the outer half. Blend inward toward the darker area of the eye, stopping halfway across the lower lid.
- Only use the darkest shade on half of your eyelid. Avoid applying it to the entire lid, as this area is reserved for the medium shade.
Apply the medium-toned eyeshadow. Use your medium shade and start from the middle of the lid, blending the brush toward the crease. Apply this shade next to the darkest area.
- You can blend this color above the crease and into the highlight shade if desired. The goal is to create a gradient that fades from the lid to the brow bone.
- Use a small amount of the dark shade on the remaining half of your lower lash line.
Blend the colors. Clean your eyeshadow brush with soap, shampoo, and water, or a dedicated brush cleanser. Dry it thoroughly on a cloth or towel before using it to blend the dark shade. Then, use gentle, sweeping motions to blend the colors where they meet on the lid.
- Blend horizontally along the lash line, but ensure the color transitions upward toward the brow.
- Make sure the lashes are the darkest part of the lid. If needed, apply a bit more of the darkest shade directly above the lashes.
- Don’t forget to blend outward and into the corners of the eye, allowing the eyeshadow to fade softly into your natural skin tone. Repeat this process for the lower lash line.
Use eyeliner. For a truly striking smokey eye, it’s best to apply a thick, bold eyeliner. Use a pencil with a sturdy, broad tip to draw a thick line along your upper lash line. Then, use a makeup brush or your finger to smudge the liner for a seamless blend.
- Tightline the inner rim of your eyes to deepen the darkness. Draw a line along the waterline, closest to your eyeball, right beneath your upper lashes.
- If using eyeliner on the lower lash line, keep it subtle to match the natural tone of your lower lashes. Flick the line slightly at the end and blend it with the eyeshadow to avoid a harsh, disconnected look.
Apply mascara. Use your mascara carefully to avoid any mistakes. Start with the upper lashes, then quickly move to the lower lashes. Wiggle the wand to separate and define each lash, preventing clumping. Avoid applying more than two coats to keep your lashes looking natural.
Clean up any smudges. If eyeshadow or mascara has smudged onto your cheeks, use a large makeup brush to sweep it away. Use quick, broad strokes to avoid spreading the mess. For accidental smudges, dip a cotton swab in makeup remover to clean the area, then reapply the eyeshadow to restore the look.
Tips
- Remember, it’s easier to add more makeup than to remove it. Start with a light base and gradually build up the intensity as desired.
- For a sharper look, use cream-based eyeshadows.
- A cotton swab dipped in a bit of oil can easily remove smudges, even waterproof makeup, without disturbing your foundation or other makeup.
- Invest in high-quality makeup. Visit beauty counters like Sephora or Ulta for the best options.
- Be extra careful when applying makeup around the eyes. Keep your hand steady to avoid smudging or smearing. Shaky hands can ruin the entire look.
- For a crisp eyeliner edge, use a piece of tape as a guide and gently remove it once you’re done.
- Invest in good makeup brushes—they’ll help you achieve a more professional finish.
