Smokey Eye Makeup - A Step by Step Guide to Sexy Smokey Eye Makeup

By Donna Kelly

Smokey Eye Makeup Guide Step 1:

Choose your eye shadow colors.

The traditional smokey eye makeup colors are, of course, black or grey.

You are however not limited to these color choices, you can also use less intense colors such as: violet, chocolate, coffee, dark pink, copper, dark green, dark blue or purple.

Remember when choosing eye shadow shades that colors should be chosen keeping in mind your eye color, hair color and skin tone and not the color of the clothes you wear. For smokey eye makeup you will need to choose 2 color coordinated eye shadows. A darker feature color and a lighter supporting color.

For smokey eye makeup what feature color eye shadow best suits blue eyes?

For Blue eyes, in addition to black or grey, violet, purple or dark blue eye shadow will look great. The dark blue eye shadow in particular, as it will be darker than your eye color, will accentuate your blue eyes.

Smokey eye makeup for blue eyes

For smokey eye makeup what feature color eye shadow best suits green or hazel eyes?

For Green or Hazel eyes, in addition to black or grey, try a deep khaki, dark green, brown, purple or plum color eye shadow.

Smokey eye makeup for green eyes

For smokey eye makeup what feature color eye shadow best suits brown eyes?

For Brown eyes, in addition to black or grey, copper, coffee, and brown will give you a great smokey eye effect.

Smokey eye makeup for brown eyes

Once you have chosen your feature eye shadow color you need to choose your supporting eye shadow color. If you prefer to use single eye shadows, rather than a color coordinated duo or triple eye shadow, choose a light color eye shadow that matches your feature eye shadow color. Possible colors to choose from, for a soft sophisticated look, are: lilac, light peach, champagne, taupe, nude or a sand color. For a more dramatic high contrast look you could use a whitish color eye shadow.

Smokey eye makeup tip: Use powdery eye shadows. Do not use creamy texture eye shadows as they are more difficult to smudge and blend.

Smokey Eye Makeup Guide Step 2: Choose your eyeliner pencil.

Choose a soft eyeliner pencil of the same color or a complementary shade to your feature eye shadow.

Smokey eye makeup tip: If possible choose a Powderliner eyeliner pencil. They are easier to blend and are sometimes available with a sponge tip for easy blending.

Smokey eye makeup tip: Never use liquid eyeliner. Liquid eyeliners are better for sharper lines, not a soft and sultry finish.

Smokey Eye Makeup Guide Step 3: Apply your foundation base.

Normally you would apply your full foundation before applying your eye makeup. This is not the case when doing smokey eye makeup. You should apply your eye makeup first, that way if you get some of your eye shadow on the rest of your face you won’t ruin your foundation. This also helps avoid a raccoon eye look under your eye. For smoother eye shadow application, that lasts longer, you do however want to first apply a thin layer of foundation to your eyelids followed by a thin layer of face powder to set the foundation. This will give you a clean canvas for your eye shadow and will also help to prevent the eye shadow from creasing. This will also give you more even, accurate, eye shadow application.

Smokey Eye Makeup Guide Step 4: Apply your eyeliner.

Line both the top and bottom rims of your eyes with your eyeliner pencil.

Typically you would use a black or charcoal eyeliner pencil but you can also use a dark eyeliner pencil that matches your feature eye shadow color.

Make sure to go into the eyelash line itself (near the root of your eyelashes). Be sure to fill in any bare spaces between the eyelashes.

Start from the inner corner of your eyes with a fine line.

As you go outwards towards the corner of your eye make the line heavier.

If you have any hard lines from using a heavy eyeliner pencil you will want to lightly smudge the line so it is softer and less harsh looking.

This step is made a lot easier by using a Powderliner eyeliner pencil with a built in sponge tip for smudging.

Smokey eye makeup tip: Dark colors tend to make small eyes look even smaller. You can open your eyes up by applying eyeliner starting from the middle of the bottom eyelash line, rather than the inside corner, and going to the outer corner of the eye. If your eyes are not smallish feel free to apply the eyeliner from corner to corner.

Smokey Eye Makeup Guide Step 5: Apply your eye shadows

Using your larger eye shadow brush apply your supporting eye shadow color to your eyelids, up to the base of your eyebrows.

Now, using your feature eye shadow color, and your small eye shadow brush, apply your dark feature eye shadow onto the eyeliner and then blend it upward to the crease of your eyelid.

When blending your feature eye shadow keep as much of the color intensity as possible along the eyelash line and particularly in the outer corners of your eyes.

Smokey eye makeup tip: Remember smudge and blend so the eyeliner and eye shadows go together seamlessly.

Smokey Eye Makeup Guide Step 6: Apply your mascara

Smokey eye makeup tip: Curl your eyelashes before applying mascara, this opens your eyes up.

Apply 2 or 3 coats of black mascara applying the mascara in thin coats to avoid clumping.


*Before*	*After*

Smokey Eye Makeup Guide Step 7: Complete your smokey eye makeup look

Complete your foundation being careful not to mess up your beautiful smokey eyes.

Keeping your lips neutral gives smokey eyes their real impact. Use a flesh toned lip pencil and a pink or caramel shade of lipstick or lip gloss to give your lips a subtle finish.

For your eyebrows you can use your normal eyebrow pencil. You could also use a shade darker than normal to complement your smokey eyes. Follow these eyebrow shaping tips for perfect eyebrows.

Apply a subtle finish of rose or tawny blusher just to the apples of your cheeks blending away to the edges into your hairline. This finishes the face without competing with your smoldering smokey eyes.

Enjoy your sexy, smoldering smokey eye makeup look!

Donna is a trained makeup artist with her own beauty business. As both a business woman and a mom with 2 children Donna understands the time pressures on women today and through this, and other articles, has endeavored to take the complexity out of looking great with some "busy women friendly" beauty tips and advice.

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