Make-up tips
smoky eyes
It’s beginning to look a lot like party
season so I have decided to dedicate
this article to all smoky-eye lovers. This
look never goes out of fashion and can
suit everyone, whatever your age or skin
tone. Smoky makeup is a highly effective
way to highlight and emphasise the eyes.
I know what the majority of you are thinking
now. You are just about to turn the page
and say ‘’No way, I will never be able to do
this makeup look, it’s not for me’’. Let me
stop you right there! I will guide you step
by step on how to create smoky eyes and
once you’ve finished reading this article,
you’ll be keen to give it a go. Remember –
practice makes perfect, just be patient.
There are many ways to achieve this but
the key is always in the blending. It’s also
important to have the right tools. You will
need a flat eyeshadow brush, a blending
brush, a pencil brush and/or a smudge
brush. Remember that smoky eye makeup
shouldn’t have any harsh lines but should
be softly blended at the edges - and they
don’t always have to be black, brown or
charcoal shades. Soft colours for smoky
makeup are ideal for brides and evening.
I would recommend doing your eye makeup
prior to foundation application as you will
get eyeshadow fallouts under the eyes.
So let’s begin!
• Apply eyeshadow primer. Blend it over
lids and under eyes to ensure that your
makeup lasts. If you don’t have a primer,
use a foundation instead but don’t
forget to sweep a small amount of loose
powder over it to stop it from creasing.
Photo credit: Albert Pocej
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• If you are going for a typical black,
brown or grey smoky eye, apply kohl
pencil (as it is easiest to blend) in one of
those colours above the upper lash line.
Thicker on the outer corner of the eye,
getting thinner as you work towards the
centre. Work from the inner corner to the
outer and from the outer corner inwards.
The line should be solid but doesn’t have
to be neat as it will be smudged and
blended over with eyeshadow. Use the
same pencil to line your lower lash line
- thinner on the inner corner, becoming
thicker on the outer corner.
• To create an intense look, smudge the
upper eyelid with a blending brush up to
the crease and lower eyelid downwards
using smudge, pencil brush or simply a
cotton bud.
• Choose your colours for the look. There
are many smoky eye shadow palettes
available to purchase.
• With a flat eyeshadow brush, tap and
press a dark eyeshadow over the
smudged kohl pencil to intensify
the makeup.
• Now take a medium shade and apply
it into the crease. Always blend your
shadow upwards and outwards into the
crease. Apply this colour on the lower
eyelid too by blending it downwards and
into the dark shade.
• Take a lighter shade to accentuate the
brow bone and blend it with a medium
shade. There should be no harsh lines.
• Don’t forget to apply a small amount
of lighter shade in the inner corner of
your eyes. It will help to make your eyes
appear bigger.
• Take a dark kohl pencil and apply it over
the top lash line and blend. This will give
the look extra definition.
• Curl your eyelashes with an eyelash curler.
• To intensify the makeup even more,
apply dark kohl eye pencil on the water
and lash line. Make sure there are no
visible gaps between the lashes. It will,
however, make your eyes look smaller,
so if you have small eyes skip this step.
You can replace the dark pencil with a
cream colour instead which will make
your eyes look bigger and `awake`.
• Apply jet black mascara and be very
generous as one coat will not be enough
to pull this look off. If you are a false
lashes lover, now is the time to use them.
You will look like a million dollars no doubt!