When you hear the word smokey eye how does it make you feel? Does it intrigue you, does it confuse you or does it make you want to close your eyes and pretend it doesn’t exist because it scares you? I want to help take the intrigue, confusion, and fear out of this beautiful makeup look so that you can rock this technique with confidence. A classic smokey eye is one of the most elegant, stunning, and sultry looks a woman can wear day or night.
Unfortunately, a lot of women avoid it because they think it is too complicated to achieve or they fear they will look like a raccoon! The first thing to understand is that a smokey eye is a makeup technique. It is all about diffused lines and adding dimension with a a darker color. You are creating an illusion of a haze of color around the eye. I constantly explain to my clients that while you can create a smokey eye using black or charcoal grey eyeshadow colors you are not limited to those colors because it is a technique and not a color. You can rock a smokey eye using neutral tones like black, grey, or brown which in my opinion is a classic smokey eye but you can use bold, jewel tone colors like blue, purple, and green for a twist and still look divine. In fact, jewel toned colors look exceptionally beautiful on women of color with deeper skin tones.
Whichever colors you choose it is ALL about the application and blending. For a day time look I would suggest sticking to browns but depending on your personal style there are no rules. In theory, you can create this look only utilizing two makeup products and two colors. The second thing to understand is that there are two ways to wear a smokey eye. I will attempt to demonstrate this through a face chart.
Technique A: Outer corner smokey eye where the darkest color is applied to the outer third portion of you eye.
Technique B: All over smokey eye where the darkest color is applied all over the eyelid.
The following are products and tools you will need:
- Eyeshadow choice of colors- Brown, Black, Charcoal Grey ( Blue, Purple, Green)
- Eyeliner- Khohl Pencil, Gel liner
- Eyeshadow brushes- Small fluffy blending brush, small flat eyeshadow brush
(L-R) Urban Decay eyeshadow “Blackout, Tarte Gel Liner, 
Rae Morris 7 Deluxe Point Shader and MAC 242 Flat Shader
TECHNIQUE A- *darker outside corner smokey eye*
Step 1. Apply one color all over your eye with fluffy eyeshadow brush.
Step 2. Draw a thine line on top lash line with liner of choice and smudge it with a flat eyeshadow brush. Make a side-ways V shape with liner and smudge it. Apply black eyeshadow on top of liner and blend.
*you can apply the eyeliner on your bottom lash line and pat some eyeshadow on top for added drama.
TECHNIQUE B- *darker color over entire eyelid smokey eye*
Step 1. Apply one color all over your eye with fluffy eyeshadow brush.
Step 2. Smudge black liner all over your eyelid, careful not to go above your natural crease of the eye and blend it out with a flat eyeshadow brush ( or your pinky) and then apply an eyeshadow color on top of the smudged liner.
*you can apply the eyeliner on your bottom lash line and pat some eyeshadow on top for added drama.
For both techniques, finish the look with some mascara and false lashes ( lashes can be optional).
This definitely takes practice and lots of patience to nail down but what in life doesn’t? Do not attempt this right before heading to work. Give yourself time to really play with it. If you feel you’ve messed up, wipe it off and start over. It’s only makeup! As I mentioned earlier, a smokey eye is all about diffused lines and adding dimension with a darker color. It doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact, if you take the concept of “perfection” out of your minds and instead think about the “effect” you’re creating, the idea of wearing a classic smokey eye should be less daunting and you will want to wear it and rock it proudly.
Let me know if this post has been helpful and feel free to ask any questions!
Keeping it Classic…
Jennifer
*Rocking the Smokey Eye*
THE CLASSIC RED 