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Our eternal love affair with the conspicuous smokey eye commenced in the roaring ’20s – a century later, and the liaison continues. Predictable, albeit uber-glamorous, smokey eye makeup can save you on dressed-down days, last-minute gal get-togethers, sundowner soirées, and pretty much any other occasion. But if you, like me, get overwhelmed with giving things a fair shot. If I'm being honest, it took me a good few years to ace a hella basic smokey eye. So, of course, I had to share everything I’ve learned and create an everything guide for you to master the celebrity-loved technique in a few simple steps.
Let’s face it, sometimes even the most expert makeup artist can fudge up the perfect smudge. No matter how steady your hand is or how strong your blend game is, there are a few tips and tricks you need under your belt to always get the smokey effect on point. Read ahead if you want to look glamorous (and not raccoon-like) when it comes to smokey eye makeup. Before we get into the nitty-gritty of how to ace the perfect smokey eye and eyeshadow, here are the different types of smokey eye makeup looks and how you can achieve each one of those.
Different Types Of Smokey Eye Makeup
Here are the different types of smokey eye makeup styles you can try the next time you step out.
1. Classic Black Smokey Eyeshadow
This eyeshadow is smoky, classic, and timeless. It includes a charcoal effect achieved with dark black and grey shades. Layer dark black shades and blend them out with some glitter for a seamless gradient effect.
How To Achieve:Step 1: Start with a black eyeshadow below the crease, and start with a little pigment so you can do more if you want.
Step 2: Blend it till your eyebrow bone and stop there.
Step 3: Take some grey eyeshadow and apply it to your lower eyebrow on the bone. Take some silver shimmery eyeshadow and make the inner corner glittery.
Step 4: Line your eyes with a black shadow, add a wing to the outer V and finish strong with a voluminous mascara.
2. Brown Smokey Eyeshadow
A perfect muted eyeshadow look that works perfectly for a nighttime event and a tropical vacation. It is the right shade for formal events when paired with muted outfits.
How To Achieve:Step 1: Start from light beige to dark brown shades of muted brown eyeshadow from the inner corner of your eye to the outer.
Step 2: Blend this to create a seamless ombre effect.
Step 3: Add some glitter to the inner corner and add brown eyeliner and brown mascara.
Step 4: You can also add some beige to the eyebrow bone for a more subtle look.
3. Halo Smokey Eyeshadow
This shade is perfect for full glam events, wedding receptions, girl’s night out, disco nights, and sleepovers with your girlfriends where you put on makeup and dance your heart out. This type of eye makeup gives you a sultry, sexy look that is perfect for luring attention.
How To Achieve:Step 1: Start with a soft brown on the whole eyelid, take some dark black eyeshadow and apply it on both corners of the eye.
Step 2: Take some yellow-gold eyeshadow and apply it in the middle.
Step 3: Add gold glitter on top of the muted gold and make the centre of your eyelid shine brighter and appear bigger.
4. Nude Smokey Eyeshadow
A perfect shade for everyday wear, this nude eyeshadow is the lighter version of the brown smokey eye. It uses lighter shades of brown, nude, beige, and cream. The perfect no-makeup makeup eyeshadow.
How To Achieve:Step 1: Start with a darker brown on the inner and outer corners of the eyes. Add nudes and creams as you go towards the centre.
Step 2: Blend this well to create a dark-light-dark gradient effect.
Step 3: Add every little glitter in the middle, where your eye bulges to make it look naturally highlighted.
Step 4: Add a light brown liner and mascara to finish the look.
5. Colourful Smokey Eyeshadow
For concerts, gigs, or even a summer beach trip, this colourful smokey eye makeup is the best eye makeup choice. With a bedazzled and glittery touch, you can achieve a Euphoria-esque look perfect for a night out with your girly pops.
How To Achieve:Step 1: Start with a white base with an eyelid primer so the colours are better visible.
Step 2: Create a rainbow-coded eyeshadow strip, use pastel or metallic colours for a more fun vibe.
Step 3: Blend the colours with a slight touch to not blend them all together.
Step 4: Apply a darker colour on your under eyes, and smudge towards the outer corner of your eye.
6. Soft Smokey Eyeshadow
This subtle and diffused eye makeup style is best suited for formal events, corporate meetings, and client presentations. It is less intense and soft which can also give a romantic vibe for dates after work or even daytime weddings.
How To Achieve:Step 1: Take some muted pinks, mauves, and blacks and blend them like nude eyeshadow.
Step 2: Make sure the lighter shades are in the middle of the bugle of the eye.
Step 3: Add some glitter to the lighter shade for a natural glow.
7. Grunge Eyeshadow
If you are in your emo era or goth girl vibe then this grunge eyeshadow look is for you. It involves siren eyes, heavy mascara, and dark rich eyelid makeup. Perfect for metal concerts, fine dining events, and masquerade balls.
How To Achieve:Step 1: Start with a dark or black eyeshadow and smudge to the outer corner of your eye.
Step 2: Apply a thick layer of kajal, eyeliner and mascara.
Step 3: Smudge some kajal also toward the V of your outer corner with your fingers for a more dramatic look
How To Prep For A Smokey Eyeshadow
Prep Your Peepers
It’s always a good idea to prep and prime before applying makeup. This Eyelid Primer is your best bet when going in for a smokey eye look. Slather on a thin layer of the long-wearing, waterproof formulation onto your eyelid to extend your makeup’s staying power. Little did you know that a primer also lends a smooth base and keeps caking and clumping at bay?
Ace Your Base
Take it from a beauty editor – this step is not worth skipping every time you do your eye makeup. Swipe a concealer along your eyelids to even out any discolouration and create a clear canvas for eyeshadow application. M.A.C Cosmetics’ long-wearing, transfer-proof, and waterproof Studio Fix Every-Wear All-Over Face Pen is a multi-purpose tool that’ll do the trick sans the mess of a liquid variant.
Play Up Your Eyes
To create your base, blend a matte, mid-tone neutral shade over your eyelid. Following this, swipe a dark-tone shadow on the outer corners of your eyes, blending the ashy hue along your crease and upper and lower lash line. If you desire more intensity and dimension, load up on the colour. This Smokey Eyeshadow Pro Palette promises to see you through today and beyond.
A Stroke of Genius
Be sure to soften any harsh edges with the correct arsenal of eyeshadow brushes. Add the Huda Beauty Empowered Eyeshadow Brush Set to your cart and blend away – believe it or not, smokey eye makeup is all about blending, blending, and blending. The Huda Beauty eyeshadow set includes a blender brush, a shading brush, and a line smudger brush.
Swipe and Win
Last, but not least, accentuate your best feature with a few swipes of a volumising mascara – I’d recommend the Diorshow Waterproof Buildable Volume Lash-Extension Mascara by Dior, which boasts a buildable cream formula for show-stopping eyelashes. Alternatively, you could pull the look together with falsies.
If you’re looking to brighten up your eyes further, press loose glitter foil pigments or a shimmery shadow shade on the inner corners of your eyes with the help of a small brush. While a smokey-eye look may seem daunting at first glance, it’s fairly easy to achieve – especially now that we’ve broken it down for you; let’s be real, this is probably the simplest tutorial ever.
Parting Thoughts
Eyeshadows can look intimidating to those who have not tried their hand at it, once you practice, each time it is going to yield a result better than before. Whether it is halo eyeshadow smokey makeup or soft-girl smokey eyeshadow, you can ace the application and results with the right palette and brush. So, go get your smoke on with these tips and different smokey eyeshadow styles.
FAQ
1. How to apply smokey eye makeup?
Always take colours that go well together when blended for a seamless ombre effect. When in doubt, always add some glitter to your lids, it will surely elevate the whole look to the next level. Start applying from the inner corner and make the colours darker as you move towards the outer end. Blend the colours well for a traditional smokey eye look. Don’t forget to add a layer of eyeliner and some mascara for a complete look.
2. How to avoid creases in my smokey eye makeup?
Creases occur when eyeshadow settles into your natural skin base, to avoid this add primer to your eyelids so the gaps are filled and the colour pops out without settling into the creases causing a creasy look.
3. How to blend my smokey eye makeup?
Use a soft-bristled eyeshadow brush that is rounder than your regular brush. Make sure you blend from lightest to darkest shades so as to not ruin the gradient effect. Always blend in circular motions and not straight motions to avoid a flawed result. Remember to build the colour gradually and not all at once because there’s very little space to move around.
4. How to make my eyeshadow last all day?
Use a primer before applying the eyeshadow so the product lasts longer. Use a powder eyeshadow over the liquid eyeshadow for a stronger base. Finish it off with a setting spray to hold all the pigment in.
5. Which type of eyeshadow is better?
Powder eyeshadow is better than liquid since it’s easier to blend. You can use a powder over a liquid eyeshadow for the makeup to last longer.
