How to Create Smokey Eye Make-Up

Posted on January 16th, 2009 by Carmelia

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Smokey eye make-up is one of those classic eye make-up trends that, when done right, can look good on anyone. It adds a dramatic flair and is perfect for that romantic date or a night out with your friends. Here are the steps to create smokey eye make-up.

What You Need

Eyeshadow primer
Light eyeshadow
Darker eyeshadow, in brown, charcoal or jewel tones
Makeup brushes
Mascara
Eyeliner
Eyelash curler
Cotton swabs (optional)
Makeup remover (optional)

How to Apply

Wash your face with a gentle cleanser. Starting with a clean face is important before applying make-up. Apply moisturizer, creams or anything that you should apply first before putting on make-up.
Put concealer on your eye bags. Smokey eye make-up paired with dark eye bags will make you look ghostly and tired.
Use an eyeshadow brush to apply eyeshadow primer all over your lid. Primer is used to provide a smoother base and to absorb oil. It provides a smoother canvas for the eye make-up you use. While beauty stores sell primer eyeshadow makeup, very neutral eyeshadow or tones that are closest to your skin tone work as well.
Apply eyeliner on the the edge of your upper lid and on the lower lid. Remember, how you apply the eyeliner can affect the overall look of your smokey eye make-up. Dark and dramatic means darker shades with a thicker application, but if you want a more subdued but polished look, use a lighter shade, such as brown, with thinner lines. If you’re a beginner, an eyeshadow pencil should work the best for you, as liquid eyeliner can be very tricky. To apply a straight line, pull from the outer corner of your eye to stretch the skin with the pad of your finger. Draw two small lines and fill between them.
Blend a lighter shade (lighter than the ones you used on the upper eyelid) of eyeliner on your bottom lashes. Smudge it with a brush or a cotton swab. This is an essential step for the smokey eye make-up look.
Apply a light eyeshadow over your eyelids. You can try pearl, gold and silver hues with a sparkly effect for this purpose. If you are going for a jewel tone in your smokey eye make-up, you can use the lighter version of these jewel tones as well. Mousse eyeshadow works incredibly well and will stay on for as long as you need it.
It’s time to apply the darker eyeshadow. Don’t be heavy-handed when applying the darker shadow: Tap the brush to shake off the loose powder, and start filling in the color by degrees. There are different ways you can apply the dark eyeshadow, mainly depending on what you want highlighted, which means putting a lighter coat of the lighter eyeshadow on the area you want to highlight. You can either blend it from the edge of your eyelids going upwards or you can apply the eyeliner from the outer corner of your eyelid going inwards. Again, don’t be too heavy-handed as you might end up coating the lighter eyeshadow color altogether.
Using a brush or a cotton swab, blend in the darker eyeshadow with the eyeliner and the lighter eyeshadow. Make sure that both eyes have symmetrical coloring and shading.
Use an eyelash curler to curl your lashes. Apply two coats of dark mascara to complete the look. Volumizing mascara, or mascara that makes your eyelashes look thicker, will help in creating a more dramatic look.
Use a thick brush to brush away any fallout from the eyeshadow application on your face.

Quick Tips

Got a little part of your eyeshadow application that you don’t like? Simply take a cotton swab and dip it into cold cream. Scrape off the excess and use like an eraser to remove that tiny mistake. You won’t have to re-do the whole make-up from the start.
Smokey make-up has a dramatic effect on your face, so it’s better if you keep the rest of your make-up simpler and cleaner. You should not use bright red lipstick with smokey eye make-up as the effect will look overdone and clown-like.
Choose jewel tones over dark brown and black eyeshadow. Jewel tones are much easier to blend and look more fun, while dark browns and blacks, when applied too much, can end up looking gothic.
Apply a sparkly white eyeshadow on your browbone, right under the curve of your eyebrows. It will draw more attention to your eyes.