How to Achieve the Perfect Smokey Eye: A Detailed Tutorial

Oct 12, 2024

The smokey eye is an iconic makeup look that can take your style from simple to sultry in just a few steps. Whether you're going for a classic black smokey eye or experimenting with browns, grays, or bold colors, the correct technique is critical to nailing this timeless look.

In this detailed tutorial, we'll walk you through everything you need to know to create the perfect smokey eye. From prepping your eyelids to blending shadows seamlessly, here's how to master the art of the smokey eye for any occasion.

Start with Clean, Prepped Eyelids

Prep your eyelids before applying eyeshadow. This ensures that your smokey eye will last all day (or night) without smudging or creasing.

Professional make-up artist applying cream base eyeshadow primer to model eye

Cleanse your eyelids: Start with a clean canvas by gently washing away any oil or residue on your eyelids.
Apply an eyeshadow primer: An eyeshadow primer creates a smooth base for your eyeshadow and helps it stay put for longer. A good primer also enhances the intensity of the eyeshadow colors.
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion is a go-to for making your eyeshadow last all day while preventing creasing.

Choose Your Smokey Eye Palette

The beauty of a smokey eye is that it can be done with various colors. Classic shades include blacks, grays, and browns, but you can also experiment with jewel tones like plum, navy, or emerald.

Recommended Shades for a Classic Smokey Eye:

Light Transition Shade: A soft taupe or warm brown for the crease.
Medium Shade: A darker brown or gray for the outer corner and crease.
Dark Shade: A deep black or charcoal for the most intense part of the look.
Highlight Shade: A light champagne or beige for the brow bone and inner corner.
Morphe 35V Stunning Vibes Artistry Palette offers a versatile range of shades from neutral browns to deep blacks and bold colors, perfect for achieving smokey eye looks.

Start with a Transition Shade in the Crease

The transition shade is critical to blending your eyeshadow seamlessly. It helps create a gradient effect, making the darker shadows blend effortlessly.

makeup artist apply makeup brush for eyes. makeup for young girl. brown eye shadow. close up

Apply a fluffy blending brush with a soft, neutral shade (like taupe or light brown) to your crease.
Blend the color back and forth in windshield-wiper motions to diffuse the edges. This will create a smooth transition between your natural skin tone and the darker shades you'll apply next.
MAC 217 Blending Brush is perfect for smoothly applying and blending transition shades.

Build Depth with a Medium Shade

Next, build dimension by applying a darker, medium shade (like brown or gray) to your outer corner and crease.

Closeup face of a beautiful girl with makeup in style smoky eyes.

Apply the medium shade to the outer "V" of your eyelid, focusing on the outer third.
Blend the color into the crease using a smaller brush, ensuring no harsh lines.
Keep blending toward the center of the lid to soften the look.

Apply the Darkest Shade to the Outer Corner

For that signature smokey effect, the darkest shade is applied to the outer corner of the eye and blended toward the center of the lid. This adds drama and depth to your eyes.

Portrait of a girl with beautiful makeup, extended long eyelashes and healthy clean skin. Makeup and cosmetology concept.

Apply a deep black or dark charcoal shade to the outer "V" of your eye using a dense, tapered brush.
Focus the intensity on the outer corner, then blend toward the crease and slightly onto the eyelid.
Keep blending until the dark shade is soft and diffused but retains its depth.
Pro Tip: Apply the darkest shade close to your lash line to create a more defined look.

Blend, Blend, Blend

Blending is crucial for a flawless smokey eye. You want to avoid harsh lines and create a smooth transition between the shades.

Take a clean blending brush and gently blend out the edges of the eyeshadow using small circular motions.
Blend from the outer corner toward the center, softening the dark color into the medium shade and blending the medium shade into the transition color.
Pro Tip: If you've blended too much and lost some intensity, you can always layer more of the darker shades.

Add Definition with Eyeliner

No smokey eye is complete without eyeliner. Whether you go for a sharp wing or a smudged liner, eyeliner adds more drama to your look.

Line your upper lash line with black or dark brown eyeliner. For a more intense look, smudge the eyeliner with a small pencil brush to blend it into the shadow.
Extend the liner into a wing at the outer corner for a cat-eye effect.
Line your lower lash line with the same eyeliner and smudge it for a smokey, cohesive look.
Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner offers intense pigmentation and can easily be smudged for a dramatic finish.

Smoke Out the Lower Lash Line

Remember the lower lash line to complete the smokey eye. This step adds balance and brings the whole look together.

Make-up in the process. The hand of the makeup artist applies eye shadow under the eyes of a young beautiful caucasian model woman.

Apply the medium shade (brown or gray) along your lower lash line using a small smudge brush.
Go back in with the darker shade (black or charcoal) and blend it closer to the outer half of the lower lash line.
Smudge the shades together for a soft, smokey effect.
Pro Tip: If you want extra drama, add a bit of black eyeliner to your waterline.

Highlight the Inner Corner and Brow Bone

To brighten up your eyes and add contrast to the smokey look, apply a light, shimmery shade to the inner corner of your eyes and under the brow bone.

Beautiful woman with long eyelashes and with beautiful smokey eyes make-up.

Using a small detail brush, apply a champagne or light beige shimmer to the inner corner of your eye to open up and brighten the area.
Apply the same shade or a soft matte shade under the arch of your brow to lift the brow bone and define your look.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Amrezy Highlighter adds a radiant highlight to your inner corner and brow bone.

Finish with Mascara (and Lashes, if Desired)

To complete the smokey eye, finish with several coats of mascara to make your lashes stand out against the bold shadow. If you want to take your look to the next level, add false lashes for even more drama.

Close-up of woman eye with beautiful brown smokey eyes makeup

Curl your lashes and apply a volumizing mascara, Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, to your upper and lower lashes.
If you want to add false lashes, apply a pair of dramatic lashes to enhance the smokey eye look even further.

Pro Tips for a Perfect Smokey Eye

Layer Gradually: Always build up the color gradually instead of applying a heavy layer simultaneously. This ensures smoother blending and better control over the intensity of the look.
Clean Up the Edges: If you're worried about fallout or want a sharp edge to your smokey eye, use a bit of makeup remover or concealer to clean up the outer corners of your eyes.
Experiment with Color: Don't limit yourself to just black and gray. Jewel tones like deep purples, emeralds, and navy blues can add a unique twist to the classic smokey eye.

Conclusion

Mastering the smokey eye is about blending, layering, and playing with depth. With these steps, you'll achieve a flawless, sultry, smokey eye that is perfect for any occasion. Whether heading to a formal event or a night out, this look will make your eyes the star of the show.

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