How to Apply a Perfect Smokey Eye

Alana Mitchell, Licensed Esthetician, Day Spa Owner

I’m a firm believer that “Smokey Eye” is the ultimate sexy look every woman must try at least once in her life. In talking with some of you, the number reason I’m hearing for having never worn it is that you feel you don’t know how to do it. Here is your guide to getting it right!

Step One- Pick your Colors

Here’s the deal, a great Smokey Eye is simply blending a combination of light and dark colors. You want to start by choosing a mix of hues that flatter your eye and skin color. Most women are surprised to hear that most Smokey Eyes are NOT achieved with greys and blacks. Soft golds with deep purples are great on dark eyes. Champagne with a bright blue or peaches with greens look stunning on light eyes. Make it easy on yourself and pick a pre assembled kit. Here are two that I use. My favorite is La Bella Donna's Midnight Azurite Eye Shadow and I like it the best because it contains the best ingredients for skincare, and its only $55, it lasts forever! Also, the Glo Minerals Smoky Eye Kit ($37)comes with everything you need to get started!

Glo Minerals Smokey Eye Kit - $37

Step Two- Prep

I use the Youngblood Mineral Primer for my face, and the Glominerals lid primer for eyes, they are the best primers I have tried. The difference between a bold and beautiful Smokey Eye and a walk of shame in last night’s make up is all in the prep. Your skin and under eyes need to look clean and flawless if you are going to pull off the smudge effect. Think of it this way, you don’t want to look ALL a mess, just a little bit. Start by applying your foundation and concealer like you always do. I like to wear a little bit of extra concealer under the eye if I’m going Smokey. Apply a primer across the entire lid and let it dry.

Kim Kardashian

Step Three- Eyeliner

Take a black or gray liner and apply in a straight line along the upper lash line. Make the line thicker in the middle of the eye. If you are feeling like a change-up, metallic eyeliners are huge this fall and make for stunning Smokey Eyes! The best Eyeliner I have found for smoky eyes and the eyeliner I use every time I do smoky eyes on myeself is the Gerda Spillmann Bio Blend Eyeliner because it has a blending brush on one end of the brush you can use to smudge your liner for a smoke eye. So easy!

Step Four- Bottom Lashes

Next you’ll want to take an eyeliner pencil and draw a line along the bottom lashes. Smudge the line with your finger. You can apply a little bit of shadow along the smudged line for a more dramatic look. You can use the same eyeliner I mention above by Gerda Spillmann to make it easier on yourself too!

Step Five- Base Color

Take your light color (creams, taupes pearls) and sweep it from your lash line all the way up to the brow bone.

Ashley Olsen

Step Six- Dark Color

Now it’s time to amp up the Smokey. Using an eye shadow brush, apply the darker color to your lash line (right over the liner) and begin to blend up until the eyeliner disappears. Stop your dark color at the crease. Blend, blend, blend..then blend some more.

Step Seven- Double Check

Take time to make sure you have fully blended and both eyes match. It’s easy to make one darker than the other or create different shapes with the darker color. Have a Q-tip ready to clean up any messes. Reapply concealer anywhere that needs to be brightened up.

YoungBlood Outrageous Lashes - $26

Step Eight- Mascara

Mascara is the icing on the cake. You’ll want a formula that allows you to layer. Full, dark, long lashes are needed to pretty up the intended mess you just made:) Try YoungBlood Outrageous Lashes ($26). Don’t feel like you have to stick with black, either. Purple or deep green mascaras give a great “pop” to the look.

Step Nine - Always Seal Your Hard Work

Use Model in a Bottle Makeup sealers to seal your hard work on your eyes, lips, and face so that it will last you all day long! This stuff really works and it will save you time, money, and energy. Click here to see Model in a Bottle.

Be sure and go easy on the rest of you makeup when wearing Smokey Eye. Keep your lips nude! You have chosen your eyes as your one focal point. Now is not the time to bust out a red lip! Have fun ladies!

From so many requests, I have developed a special page on my shopping cart site skincarebyalana.com with a special page set aside for mineral makeup products I love, click here to see it.
Hope this helps, click here to call or email me with questions!