Ladies, when it comes to smoldering smokey eyes, the secret sauce is in the blending. Dark eye makeup looks best when it’s blended really well, and nothing can steal smokey eye thunder like a patchy makeup job that draws attention away from your eyes and onto your makeup. Lawd knows I’ve rushed through my share of smokey eyes. Regrettably, there are few eye makeup looks that can so easily go awry.
But don’t be discouraged! Try one of these tips the next time you’re feelin’ smokey.
1. Fingers Are Built-In Brushes
If you’ve never tried a smokey eye using your fingers before, give it a try. Using fingers can even be easier than using a brush. Start by loading up your ring finger with black shadow. Dab over your lid. Follow the black up with a shimmery gray shadow, and blend with a finger. Add mascara and you’re done! Just be careful you don’t drag shadow out of the lid area or too far into the inner corner of the eye.
2. Use Liner Pencils as a Base for Eyeshadows
Color the entire lid with a dark pencil before applying a lighter coordinating shadow (not necessarily the same color) on top of it. It’s a quick way to add more depth than eyeshadows alone and looks amazing!
3. Black Eyeliner and Eye Gloss Mashup
For uber-easy smokey eyes, use a jet black eyeliner smudged out with a bit of eye gloss. You won’t get a look that lasts forever, but a little loose powder patted over the edges will help prevent smearing. NOTE: don’t rub those eyes!
4. Get to the Root of Things
When lining your waterline with black, cover every nook and cranny. Get as close to the root of the lash as possible, even going in between them, to add as much black to the look as possible. What you don’t want is some of your natural skin tone along the waterline showing through to sabotage all your hard work.
5. Dab a Dot for a Pop of Color
For a pop of color, apply a neutral shadow to the entire lid. Then, smudge a dot of brighter shadow in the center of the lid and thoroughly blend.
Happy Hump Day!
How’s your week coming along? I’ve had better, but we don’t get to choose our days. All we can do is choose how we deal with them.
Have you seen the new holiday palettes for Shu Uemura? They’re called mika shu, and I think they’re adorable! I’ll post thoughts and swatches very soon.
Hang in there this week. This kind of comes out of nowhere … but that’s the kind of week I’m having. I’ve got something big on my mind. Our family’s going through some stuff that I’ll be ready to share with you soon, but for now I just want to thank you all for brightening my days and sharing your time with me.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Laura B says
October 29th, 2008 at 5:20 amI’ve been trying for a work approriate smokey eye for a while now, but I’m evening oriented and have a bit of a heavy hand…these tips are interesting and can’t wait to try them out. Also, your swatches are making me llemming the MAC holiday collection bigtime!
Whatever it is that’s troubling you, I hope you and the family get through it unscathed. Know you’re loved and stay strong!
ParisB says
October 29th, 2008 at 5:54 amThese are some really great tips – I usually use my fingers but I gotta work on getting closer to the lashline. Hang in there Karen and hope things work out ok soon.
Almira says
October 29th, 2008 at 6:02 amThanks for these awesome tips, babe! I love the easy-to-follow advice you give. =3
I know how you feel, with the rough week thing. I swear I’m inches from choking my family, room mate, and friends to death–all of them! But if it helps you, share when you’re ready =3 I am sure that all of your readers are ready to help!
Almira´s last blog post..W: (dub-ya) Movie Review (I liked it, will you?)
Indian Girl says
October 29th, 2008 at 6:10 amYay ! Thanks for sharing my tip too !
Have a great day, Karen !
Indian Girl´s last blog post..Who tops your chart ?
hillary says
October 29th, 2008 at 7:02 amHi first time commenter. Long time reader.
I am in mad love with the idea of a smoky eye lately. I am a natural red (auburn) head with light green eyes. So I have done the smoky eye with “colors” thing like they say but I don’t like it. I want the angelina jolie smoky eye. The I am too damn hot for this world smoky eye.
The pic above is EXACTLY the colors I want. Could you please say what colors they are? Also any tips for the angie look?
hillary´s last blog post..Pixi Eye Beauty Kit – Neutralizing Cover-Up Review
Violet says
October 29th, 2008 at 7:30 amThanks for these tips. Lots of great suggestions to try out! Sorry you are having a rough week. I hope things get better. Take care!
Katee says
October 29th, 2008 at 8:38 amExcellent tips!!!!
Katee´s last blog post..November is National Pomegranate Month: Essie and Pama Promotion
Dao says
October 29th, 2008 at 9:11 amInteresting tips Karen, especially number 3 🙂 I hope everything is going well for you and challenges will make you stronger. Just remember to take care of yourself *hug*
Dao´s last blog post..Sephora Brand The Lash Stash: Perfect for Mascara Addicts
gio says
October 29th, 2008 at 9:16 amThanks for sharing these great tips! 🙂
I hope things will get better soon.
gio´s last blog post..Inside Heidi Range makeup bag
Glosslizard says
October 29th, 2008 at 10:15 amGreat smoky ideas!
*sending virtual bouquet — lilies and dahlias* If you hang in there, I will too! 🙂
Bisi says
October 29th, 2008 at 2:59 pmThanks for all the tips Karen – I think I need to bookmark this entry. Or print it out. Or both!
Whatever it is that is on your mind – hang in there. I am sure things will get better soon, and we’ll all be thinking about you and your family in the meantime!
Marisol says
October 29th, 2008 at 7:18 pmGreat tip Karen. On Tuesday I went with a smokey eye that I saw on youtube and omg, I loved it. I used TF Shadow Insurance, MAC Hot Contrast, MAC All Girl pigment, MAC Shroom, MAC Feline e/l and DiorShow. I sooo loved this look. You gotta try it one day.
Hang in there! We are all here for you.
Marisol´s last blog post..Online Tarot Card reader
KK says
October 29th, 2008 at 7:51 pmgirl, you are in my thoughts!
keep your chin up!!
xxoxo
Karen says
October 29th, 2008 at 8:11 pmHi Laura B.,
Oh girlll, you gotta get some Red She Said! 😉
And thank you for your words. Seriously, they mean a lot.
Karen says
October 29th, 2008 at 8:16 pmHi Paris B.,
Thanks, sweets. 🙂 Big hugs to you…
Karen says
October 29th, 2008 at 8:17 pmHi Almira,
Awww, you’re welcome. I think October’s been a rough month for a lot of people. You hang in there… I will too. 🙂
Karen says
October 29th, 2008 at 8:17 pmHi Indian Girl,
🙂 You have some great ones! I hope you had a good day, girlie.
Karen says
October 29th, 2008 at 8:17 pmHi Hillary,
That’s the Chanel Smoky Eye quad! Here are a few posts I did on it:
Chanel Smoky Eye Quad Face of the Day
Chanel Smoky Eye Quad swatches
Karen says
October 29th, 2008 at 8:18 pmHi Violet,
You’re welcome. 🙂 Hope you are having a good week… I’ll hang in there if you do.
Karen says
October 29th, 2008 at 8:18 pmHi Katee,
Thanks!
Karen says
October 29th, 2008 at 8:18 pmHi Dao,
Thanks, hon. I’m trying to hang in there…
Karen says
October 29th, 2008 at 8:19 pmHi Gio,
🙂 You’re welcome. I hope so, too.
Karen says
October 29th, 2008 at 8:19 pmHi Glosslizard,
Awww… I love lilies. 🙂 (And Princess Lily, too).
Karen says
October 29th, 2008 at 8:19 pmHi Bisi,
Glad to hear that you like the tips! I always feel like there’s room to improve and grow when it comes to smokey eyes.
And thank you for your words. They mean a lot!
Karen says
October 29th, 2008 at 8:19 pmHi Marisol,
Thank you. I’m trying to be strong… it’s hard when you’re tired and burnt out though.
Gotta remind myself that it’ll be okay. 🙂
I have a few of the products from your look! What did you put where? I gotta see if I have those shades… hmm, maybe I can dupe it!
Karen says
October 29th, 2008 at 8:20 pmHi KK,
Thanks, sweetie. Hope you are doing well… it’s been a while since we’ve chatted. How have you been?
Marisol says
October 29th, 2008 at 9:51 pmLet’s see if I can remember:
TF Shadow Insurance all over the lid
I used the marbled red/silvery side on the lid. Packed it on using Fix+.
Then I used the black side and using the good ole windshield wiper motion I applied it on the crease and the outer part of my eye.
Shroom as a brow highlight
MAC All girl pigment on the inner 1/3 of my eye to give the look a bit of pop. Applied it wet again using Fix+. I put just enough to give it some pop but not to take away from the smokey eye.
I lined my upper lashline, water line, lower lash line and tightlined with Feline khohl.
Plenty of coats of DiorShow.
Although it was a smokey eye, it wasn’t as dramatic as I thought it would be so I felt ok wearing during the day, I even got a compliment from a coworker.
I got the idea of using that shadow duo from this YT tutorial but I added the pigment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX7FYlkNHDs
Marisol´s last blog post..Online Tarot Card reader
Anna says
October 30th, 2008 at 9:41 amHi Karen,
Sorry to hear you’re having one of those weeks, hopefully whatever is playing on your mind will be sorted, stay strong, thinking of ya.
I wanted to ask what shadows did you use that the picture in the picture above, its smoking and I want to recreate it !
Thanks hun, big hug for ya ! x
Diva Style says
November 13th, 2008 at 9:33 pmHi Karen! I am relatively new to your blog, and I just saw this post. I dabble in makeup artistry, and I kept seeing all your tutorials where you were using liner, and I was like…why is she doing that, LOL….So, I was playing around in my makeup tonight and referencing your blog, and I was using the liner…and thought…wow…this does work. Then I found this particular entry of yours…Thanks so much! I wish there was a way I could upload my looks to show you! 🙂
Diva Style´s last blog post..Makeup Mondays~