Smoky eyes are easy to create and suite anybody but there are a few foolproof techniques to make sure that every smoky eye looks fabulous.
Preparation
- Apply an under eye concealer.
- Eye base can be used to conceal the upper eye lid. This also encourages clean working, whilst keeping the make-up fresh looking. If there is no eye base to hand then a little concealer can be used on the upper lid, however a proper eye base is better for this to keep make-up from creasing.
Definition
Use a cake liner in the top lash line to give definition. Nothing looks more messy than a smoky eye with gaps around the lash line as the focus is always supposed to be the eyes. A cake liner will accentuate eye shape and give a professional tidy finish to this look.
Kohl Pencils
- For a really quick smoky eye, follow the above two steps then line the eye all around with a kohl pencil. Smudge the pencil with a finger or brush and then press eye shadow over this. Even if the pencil looks messy, the eye shadow will instantly blend everything.
- To finish a dramatic smoky eye, line inside the bottom lid with a kohl pencil. Choose a soft pencil designed for this purpose and always use hygienically.
Experiment with Color
Use colored shadows or pencils for a fresher smoky look.
- Try pressing a colored shadow over a black pencil.
- To darken down a bright look to a smoky finish, add a little black eyeshadow to the top and bottom lash line. Use a small firm brush. Blend this outward, widening it at the outer corners of the eye for a cat's eye shape.
Be Tidy
When using different eye shadows, dark colors and pencils, it is easy to make a mess. If work is done cleanly, the make-up looks better and is much quicker to do.
- Clean excess make-up off brushes by tapping or wiping on a tissue.
- Always work powder shadow into the brush; only the tiniest amount of color should come off on to the eye lid as it is easier to build up than take off.
- Pat and press shadows on to the lid rather than sweeping them. This secures product on to the skin rather than sweeping it down below the eye and it also prevents a 'wing' from developing at the outer corner of the eye.
Brushes
Good brushes aid application:
- A small, firm hair brush is ideal for getting dark color close to the lash line. It can also be used to feather shadow at the outer corners of the eye, create shape and smudge kohl pencil.
- A pony tail brush is useful for blending and is also good for creating soft contours in the socket. Keep a clean one to hand to dust away any color that has fallen below the eye.
For quality brushes try Laura Mercier.
Eye Shape
Different eye shapes can be created with blending.
- Contouring the socket with a neutral color brings out eye shape but a darker color makes eyes look deeper.
- A highlighter in the inner corner of the eyes widens and freshens the look
- For dramatic, rounded eye shapes see the 1920s, 1930s and Gothic fashion looks from the 1990s. The 1980s smoky look used a lot of blending and cat's eye shapes.
- For subtlety, keep the darker smoky colors close to the top lash line.
Adding Drama
Smoky eyes can be adorned even further:
- False lashes are super-dramatic.
- Fine glitter is pretty; chunky glitter gives an opulent look.
- Try a liquid line or flick over the whole smoky look.
- Team with nude lips for the ultimate fashion look.
- Finish with lashings of mascara.
The copyright of the article Top Tips For Smoky Eyes in Make-up Application is owned by Shefali Choudhury. Permission to republish Top Tips For Smoky Eyes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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