Smokey Eye: How To Create A Glamorous Look In 7 Steps

Are you looking for the perfect night makeup look? You know, the one that makes you look like a seductive diva, whether it’s for date night or a night out on the town with your gal pals? Then ladies, look no further than the glamorous smokey eye.

Key Takeaways

• A smokey eye uses two or three dark, blended shades, usually black, brown, gray, navy or deep green.
• Start with primer, sweep the darkest shade over the lid, then deepen the outer corner and lower lash line.
• Line close to the lashes rather than on the waterline, and finish with mascara or false lashes.
• Highlight the inner corners to keep your eyes from looking smaller.

Smokey eyes are undeniably alluring. The darker hues surrounding the eye create a captivating, mysterious, and intriguing aesthetic. Not only that, but it allows your eyes to take on a darker, more sensual color, which only adds to the delectable appeal of this makeup look.

But how’s it done?

If you want to indulge in a smokey eyeshadow makeup look, you’ll be glad to know that it’s not as complicated as it looks. You can pull this delicious makeup look together in seven easy steps.

Keep reading to create the smokey-eye look!

1. Start With Primer

This can’t be stressed enough – you need to apply primer before you add any type of eye makeup.

Primer is essential for two main reasons.

For one, it will allow your eye makeup to glide onto your eyelid like butter. Whether it’s eyeshadow, eyeliner, or other makeup essentials, you can rest assured of a smooth surface, allowing impeccably easy application.

Secondly, the primer will allow your eye makeup to last longer.

Be honest – you’ve likely dealt with the horrible situation of your eye makeup looking sub-par and “meh” a few hours after application. This is a travesty, especially if you plan to be out for a while.

With primer, you don’t have to worry about your eye makeup going flat or diminishing over time. Primer allows for long-lasting wear, so your eye makeup will look as good as new – even after hours of dancing on the dance floor.

2. Choose Your Colors

Now it’s time to decide what colors you’re going to use.

For the most part, smokey eye looks go with blacks and browns. However, some people opt for gray, navy, and deep green tones. Adding these colors ensures that your eyes don’t get lost in the mix of ultra-dark shades.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to use these colors. Honestly, you can use whatever color you’d like, as long as it’s not tremendously bright. For example, you could use a sultry, dark pink shade if it goes with your outfit for the night!

Choose two or three colors to pull your look together.

3. Apply All-Over Eyeshadow

Once you’ve decided on your color combo (two or three colors only), you can start to get to work.

The first step in creating a smokey eye makeup look is to apply eyeshadow to the entire lid. 

You’ll want to use your darkest shade. This will be the base for your smokey eye look.

Apply the eyeshadow to your entire top lid, even in the crease. However, don’t go over the crease up to the eyebrow. It simply won’t look right, and it’s a sure way to make your eyes appear smaller – and that’s something you need to try to avoid with the smokey eye look.

To make your smokey eye appear more dramatic and put-together, use a lighter shade in the inner corner of your eye and above your crease. This will help outline and define the darker shade.

Use a fluffy blending brush to blend the colors ever so slightly. You shouldn’t have sharp lines separating your lighter and darker eyeshadow colors. 

4. Apply Eyeshadow on the Lower Lash Line

The smokey eye makeup look has two main goals: drama and sex appeal. 

While you could leave your upper lash to bear all the hard work in bringing this style to life, you’d be doing yourself a significant disservice by forgetting about the lower lash line.

To enhance the overall dramatic and sensual appeal of the smokey eye, apply some eyeshadow onto your lower lash line.

Opt for the darker color if you’re looking to create a bold and seductive look. Use the lighter shade if you want to tame it down a pinch.

5. Intensify the Outer Corner

For a more dramatic look, add a deeper shade to the outer corner of your eye. This will give your eyes a sultry, elongated appearance. This technique adds depth, dimension, and drama to your eyes, making them appear larger and more captivating.

For the outer corner, select a more intense eyeshadow color than the one used in the crease. Typically, dark shades like deep browns, charcoal grays, or black are popular choices. The contrast between the lighter shades on the lid and the deeper color in the outer corner will create a stunning gradient effect.

Concentrate the darker color on the outer V of your eyelid and blend it slightly into the crease color. Use a smaller blending brush for more precision.

6. Don’t Forget Eyeliner

Eyeshadow is great and all, but it typically doesn’t create incredibly deep colors.

That’s where eyeliner comes into play.

You want to apply black eyeliner along the top lash line and the lower lash line. (You can skip the lower lid if desired, but it creates a seriously tantalizing finish.) Many people also line the waterline, but eye doctors suggest keeping makeup outside the lash line so it doesn’t block the eyelid’s oil glands; if you do, use a clean, freshly sharpened pencil and never share it.

The best eyeliner option for smokey eyes is black or dark brown. Again, you have the option of mixing and matching with other shades if they meet your needs. For instance, you could go with red if you want something truly intoxicating, or go with a fun navy blue to break things up a bit.

7. Finish With Mascara

Last but not least, you’ll want to finish off your smokey eye look with some lashes.

Reach for your favorite mascara and apply a generous amount. It can be easy for lashes to get lost amongst the dark eyeshadows and eyeliners, so use a mascara designed to lengthen and add intense volume.

Again, any color will do, although black and brown tend to be the top picks. Don’t be afraid to try out some different, fun shades if you want to break the smokey eye mold. 

Tip: If you want your lashes to make a statement with your smokey eyes, false lashes are an excellent choice. On their own, false lashes can be a bit much, and they’re not ever really appropriate for natural styles. But smokey eyes? False lashes are the perfect fit. Go as bold and eye-catching as you wish, using a lash glue made for the eye area, and remove them gently at the end of the night.

Extra: Highlight Your Inner Corner

At this point, you should be more than satisfied with your smokey eye makeup look. Your eyes should appear deliciously seductive, and you should feel confident stepping out with your intriguing makeup look.

However, there’s one more thing you should do (if you haven’t done so already): highlight your inner corner.

You see, the problem with smokey eyes is that the eyes can sometimes get lost and appear way too small. You can combat this pesky problem by applying a lighter color to the inner corner of your eyes.

This will make your eyes “pop” and reduce the risk of dealing with beady eyes that nobody can find. 

Just add a small pinch of light eyeshadow to your inner corners, blend ever so slightly, and enjoy your flawless look. 

Tip: Wear Lipstick to Enhance Your Look

There’s one last thing you need to know before heading out with your gorgeous smokey eyes – you need some lipstick to pull it all together.

If you want your eyes to do the talkin’, go with a subtler hue, like nude or brown.

If you want your lips to fight for attention, opt for an ultra-bright red shade.

A soft pink or wine shade will be ideal if you want something in between.

Smokey Eyes Are Easy, But Oh-So-Dramatic!

Well, ladies, now you know how to pull together a smokey makeup look. Who knew it was so easy? With two eyeshadow shades, eyeliner, and mascara, you can create a sultry style that will turn heads wherever you go.

The only question remains, which stunning outfit are you planning to wear with this bold and sensational eye makeup look? Whatever you choose, take it all off before bed.

Sources

• American Academy of Ophthalmology – How To Use Cosmetics Safely Around Your Eyes
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Eye Cosmetic Safety