The smokey eye is a classic go-to for people who like to dress up their lids with makeup. It is a dramatic kind of eye makeup that provides the illusion of dark smokey eyes. This eye makeup technique is fairly trendy, but it is not something that should be worn every day. Smokey eye makeup, on the other hand, is best reserved for special occasions. Eyeshadow primer, at least two eyeshadows, eyeliner, and mascara are all used in this look.
Smokey eye makeup is essentially a blended or diffused eyeshadow rather than a single block color. You can use one shade and smoke it around the edges, however, most people prefer to layer several shades and textures.
Things to Know Before Doing Smokey Eye Makeup
- The darkest spot should always be near the lash line. It keeps makeup looking new and fresh and ensures that the focus is on the eyes rather than the makeup.
- Do not use more than three eye shadows and a liner to make your eyes pop.
- Use brushes while doing your smokey eye makeup to achieve the desired blend. It doesn’t matter how dark you are with a smoky eye or what colors you choose; what matters is how well you blend the liner and shadow.
5 Different Types of Smokey Eye Makeup to Try
- Classic Black Smokey Eyes
- Smudged Smokey Eyes Look
- Warm Brown Smokey Eyes
- Glittery Smokey Eyes
- Colorful Smokey Eyes
Step-By-Step Guide to Do Smokey Eye Makeup at Home
- Begin by priming your eye area to reduce shadow fallout and smudging. You can use an eyeshadow primer or a brightening concealer to prime your eyes. Eyeshadow primer and concealer both help to smooth out the eye area and give your eyeshadows something to stick to.
- A classic smokey eye consists of three shades: one for your mobile lid (the part that moves when you blink), one for the crease, and one for the highlight. The crease color is normally the darkest, the highlight color is the lightest, and the mobile lid color is typically a mid-tone. Matte tones in the black, brown, grey, navy, or green family are often used in classic eye makeup but don’t be afraid to experiment with lighter or more colorful shades.
- Apply the color you’ve chosen as your all-over eyeshadow shade (i.e. mobile lid shade) to your lid with a flat eyeshadow brush. Blend it nicely.
- Add a crease color to enhance dimension to your look. Choose a dark coordinating eyeshade that’s one to two shades darker than your all-over shade. Then mix the color into the outer corner of your eye with a blending brush. Blend the shade in small, circular motions toward the middle of your eyelid, adding layers to deepen the color until you have a smokey blend.
- Now apply a light, neutral shadow that’s one to two shades lighter than your all-over color from your crease to your brow bone. This highlight shade will aid to soften the look. Apply the highlighter to the inner corners of your eyes to make your eyes look bright.
- Continue blending with a fluffy brush until there is no noticeable difference between the three eyeshades.
- Apply eyeliner to both your upper and lower lash lines. Gel liners are ideal for eye makeup because they can rapidly create a dramatic, black line that can be smudged out with a smudging brush or left as sharp.
- Next, complete the rest of your makeup and then apply your favorite mascara.
