The smoky eye makeup style can give a dramatic, elegant accent to your appearance. This makeup style can not only be done by professional makeup artists. With the right tools and a little knowledge of the right techniques, you too can do it. Learn how to apply classic and dramatic smoky eyes in a few easy and simple steps.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Make-up Preparation
Step 1. Choose the color you want
All colors can be used for smoky eyes style. For one color, at least 3 shades are required. The classic smoky eye style is usually black or gray, but copper and brown are also common.
- Green eyes go well with gray and plum purple smoky eyes, blue eyes look even more beautiful with gold or copper colors, and brown eyes go well with navy blue and gray.
- For each color, you'll need to choose three hues: a soft light color, a medium base color, and a smoky dark color.
- Avoid choosing colors that are too light, or too dark for those of you with light skin. Of course you want smoky eye makeup to accentuate your face, rather than distract it.
Step 2. Use the right type of eyeshadow
While it may be easy and quick to choose the first three complementary eyeshadow colors you find with a sponge applicator, the perfect smoky eye makeup has to be done with the right kind of cosmetics.
- Using powdered eyeshadow will give you the flexibility to mix and match the colors needed to create a beautiful smoky eye makeup. You can also use eyeshadow in solid or cream form, but for best results use eyeshadow in powder form.
- Use dark black eyeliner to emphasize the smoky eye makeup. You can choose to use eyeliner in pencil, cream, or liquid form, all of which can give satisfactory results. Cream and liquid eyeliner will give a smoother finish, while pencil eyeliner will give a blended finish.
- Make sure you use a good quality makeup brush. Using a dirty and worn brush, or a sponge brush will result in makeup that looks dirty and doesn't blend evenly. The best makeup brush for smoky eyes is an eyeshadow brush that tends to be round like a dome on the top. You can find brushes like this at many beauty supply stores.
- Make sure you use a concealer and eyeshadow primer to prep the surface of your lids before starting to apply smoky eye makeup. Apply them using a concealer brush.
- Have a large soft-bristled brush, makeup remover, and cottonbuds ready to fix any mistakes or remove any powdered eyeshadow that may have fallen on your cheeks.
Step 3. Apply your makeup
Before starting to make smoky eyes makeup, first use makeup with neutral colors on your face. Use concealer under your eyes and on other parts of your face where you have red or dark spots, then apply foundation over it to keep it from sticking to your face.
- You can apply blush or bronzer to add dimension to your face. For bronzer, apply on the hollows of the cheeks with a large soft-bristled brush. For blush, apply on cheekbones. For both blush and bronzer, just apply a thin layer to give a natural finish.
- Make sure your eyebrows are well shaped, because smoky eye makeup will attract attention in that direction. Eyebrows that are too thin will make your smoky eye makeup look too dark and unnatural.
Method 2 of 3: Making Classic Smoky Eyes Makeup
Step 1. Apply highlighter
Highlighter is the lightest color among the three eyeshadow colors you choose. Use an eyeshadow brush to apply it to the inner corner of the upper and lower eyelids. Also brush just below the eyebrows, starting from the base to the tip of the eyebrow.
Step 2. Use a medium color
Take a medium eyeshadow color and sweep it all over your lids. Make sure you blend it with the highlighter on the inner corner of the eye, so you don't see a clear dividing line between the two colors. Apply upwards only up to the natural crease of your lids, don't go all the way to the highlighter under your eyebrows.
Step 3. Start adding the darkest colors
Start at the outer corner of your eye, and sweep in a C shape until about halfway to the center of the eye from the outer side of the face at the lash line, then continue until about halfway to the center of the eye at the eyelid crease.
- The darkest part should be at the top end of your lash line. If you want to add more dark color, start at this point and work your way in or up.
- Don't apply eyeshadow too far in. Approximately -½ of your eyelid should be left unaffected by dark eyeshadow so that your eyes look bright and fresh.
- To add a dramatic accent to your classic smoky eye makeup, brush dark eyeshadow in an angled shape (more like a "<" shape than a "C" shape) close to your eyebrows. Make sure that the darkest point is still on the outer corner of your lash line.
- Apply a small amount of dark eyeshadow on the lower eyelid. Again, start at the outer corner of the eye and work your way up to about halfway. This will help balance out the dark color at the top of your eye.
Step 4. Blend your eyeshadow
Clean eyeshadow brushes with makeup brush cleaner or facial soap/shampoo and water. Dry the brush by sweeping it quickly and repeatedly on a clean towel. Then use a brush to blend the colors.
- Start blending with the lightest color. Make sure there is no clear line between the medium color of the petals and the dark color of the crease of the petals. Gently apply the brush to form the letter "C" at the meeting of the two colors to produce a subtle color gradient effect.
- Blend the dark color in the crease of the eyelid outwards towards the brow bone. The result should fade subtly into skin tone and not appear to build up on top of the previously applied highlighter under the brows.
Step 5. Add eyeliner
If you want a thick cat-eye look, draw a line of eyeliner from the inner corner of the lash line outwards towards the tip of the eyebrow. Finish with a curved line just beyond the edge of the eyeshadow (where the darkest part of the eyeshadow meets the part of the skin that isn't eyeshadow). For a more blended look, draw a thick line along the top lash line and then use your fingertips or a small eyeshadow brush to blend the line.
- To add a dramatic effect to your smoky eye makeup, put a line of eyeliner right to frame the eyes. The eyeliner line should follow the inner edge of the eye, which is just below the top and bottom lashes. Not everyone can do it easily, because the eyeliner must be used quite close to the eyeball.
- Use a white eyeliner pencil on the inner line of the eye near the tear glands next to the nose. This will make your eyes stand out more and still look bright even if they are surrounded by a mixture of dark colors around them.
Step 6. Add mascara
Use mascara carefully, gently wiggling it between the lashes to make them appear more defined. Do not add more than 2 coats of mascara as it can form clumps and an unnatural look. Just dab once on your lower lashes to define the look without making you look like a raccoon.
Step 7. Use a large soft bristled brush to remove any powdered eyeshadow or mascara that might fall on your cheeks or under your eyes
Sweep the brush in wide, fast motions. If you have smudged mascara around your eyelids or cheeks, use a cottonbud with a small amount of makeup remover to remove it and then retouch any makeup that may have been removed using the brush you previously used to blend the color.
Method 3 of 3: Make Dramatic Smoky Eyes Makeup
Step 1. Use a highlighter
Using the same technique as for classic smoky eyes, apply the lightest shade of eyeshadow to the inner corner of your eye and just below your eyebrow, just above the crease of your eyelid. Apply a small amount of highlighter to the inner corner of the lower eye.
Step 2. Apply the darkest color along the lash line
Use the darkest eyeshadow color to replace the medium color along the upper lash line. The darkest part should be near the root of the lashes and gently blend towards the crease of the eyelid.
- Brush a little on the lower lash line, but only on the outer ends. Use dark eyeshadow on the lower lash line, but only half way through.
- Just apply dark eyeshadow to the center of the eyelid. Do not apply until it reaches the crease of the lid, because this section will be used for a medium color.
Step 3. Add a medium color
Apply medium color eyeshadow starting from the center of the eyelid upwards towards the crease of the lid. This color should be applied on the part of the eyelid that meets the dark eyeshadow color.
- You can blend this color upwards past the crease of your eyelids to the highlighter. The goal is to produce an eyeshadow color that ranges from the darkest color on the lash line to the lightest color under the eyebrows.
- Use a little medium color to blend the dark color in your lower lash line. Continue to sweep along the lower lash line.
Step 4. Blend the colors
Clean eyeshadow brushes by washing them with facial soap/shampoo, or spraying an anti-bacterial makeup brush cleaner. Dry the brush with a towel or cloth before using it to blend the color. Gently sweep the brush over the areas where the different eyeshadow colors meet on the eyes.
- Blend the strokes in the direction of the lashes (horizontally), but create the appearance of the color blending upwards.
- Make sure the lash line is the darkest part, and if necessary add a little more dark eyeshadow directly to the lash line while blending the color upwards.
- Don't forget to blend outwards and around the edges of your eyes, so that the eyeshadow blends gently into your skin's natural tone. Do the same with the shade applied under the eyes.
Step 5. Add eyeliner
For ultra-dramatic smoky eyes, a blended eyeliner look will give the best results. Use a blunt eyeliner pencil to create a thick line along the upper lash line. Then use a makeup brush or fingertips to blend the edges towards the top.
- Draw a line framing the eye right on the inner edge of the eye to add extra darkness. Draw a line on the part of the eyelid that is closest to the eyeball, just below the upper lashes.
- If you're adding eyeliner to your lower lash line, make sure you only line it up to the edge of the dark eyeshadow on your lower lashes. Also make sure you blend it with eyeshadow so it doesn't look too flashy.
Step 6. Add mascara
Use mascara carefully so it doesn't hit the eyelids. Apply on the upper lashes first, then simply brush quickly on the lower lashes. Wiggle the brush between the lashes to help separate the strands and make them appear more defined. Do not use more than 2 coats of mascara because it can form clumps that reduce the beauty of your eyelashes.
Step 7. Remove any eyeshadow or mascara that may have fallen onto your cheeks using a large, soft-bristled brush
Use wide, fast strokes to avoid smearing your makeup. If smudging occurs, use a cottonbud with a small amount of makeup remover to remove it and retouch your makeup with the brush previously used to blend the color.
Tips
- Keep in mind that it is easier to add light makeup than it is to reduce too heavy makeup. Start with light makeup first, then gradually add thickness to your liking.
- Invest in a quality makeup brush, because a good brush will go a long way in producing professional-looking makeup.
- Use quality makeup. Head to the makeup outlets at your local shopping mall, Sephora, or Ulta for a selection of the best products.
