Hey Makeup Lovers!
How is it possibly November already??
As we are quickly moving along through fall what could be
a more iconic eye look than smoky eyeshadow?
A fall trend this year (as it is most years) is a
“worn-in” or “slept-in” smoky eye.
Which is pretty much just your classic smoky eye with a
bit more blending.
So today I have a tutorial for you that will give you the dark smoky eye of your dreams!💤
You can check out my video tutorial here
What is a Smoky Eye?
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A smoky eye is pretty much what it sounds like; eyeshadow
that is hazy, fuzzy and/or diffused.
The trick is starting with a dark, saturated (typically
black) eyeliner or eyeshadow concentrated on or near the lash line and then bleeds out into lighter and lighter shades of black until it disappears.
The history of the smoky eye is most commonly thought to originate in the 1920s and 1930s with the Roaring ‘20s and Flappers getting the credit for
the look
(Check out my 1920’s inspired makeup tutorial here).
However, some believe that this makeup trend dates back even further, to the times of Ancient Egypt.
The smoky eye had a massive rebirth in the nineties when
grunge makeup came on the scene.
And throughout the 2000s more refined smoky eyes were all the rage and have continued to dominate the eyeshadow world nearly every season, be it original sultry black or more colorful alternatives.
However, some believe that this makeup trend dates back even further, to the times of Ancient Egypt.
And throughout the 2000s more refined smoky eyes were all the rage and have continued to dominate the eyeshadow world nearly every season, be it original sultry black or more colorful alternatives.
Is It Hard to Create a Smoky Eye?
Although it isn’t truly hard, it does require a bit of
patience.
You could create a smoky eye with just a dark eyeliner and
a blending brush. Or a dark eyeshadow and a blending brush.
The secret to the
smoky eye look is blending. Tons and tons of blending, and adding more color and then
blending again until you achieve that perfect smoke effect.
With a little practice you will be blending like a pro
and achieve that iconic smoky eye.
Eyeshadow or Eyeliner?
That is more of a personal preference.
I used both in my tutorial because I think it gives more
texture and inkiness to the look.
A few tips for each:
Eyeliner: opt for a crayon/pencil eyeliner.
Eyeliner: opt for a crayon/pencil eyeliner.
Liquid liners
are for precision and dry too much to be smudged right for a smoky eye.
That
being said, make sure your crayon liner doesn't dry too quickly either or it will be
hard to blend.
Eyeshadow: Powder is the formula you want for a smoky
eye.
Cream or liquid would be messy and likely not give you the desired gradual
color shift.
You want a deep shade (if you aren’t using black), so dark purple, navy blue, forest green, etc. Remember, a smoky eye goes from dark to light shades so you need to start with the darkest you can get.
You want a deep shade (if you aren’t using black), so dark purple, navy blue, forest green, etc. Remember, a smoky eye goes from dark to light shades so you need to start with the darkest you can get.
My choice is always a matte finish for smoky eyes, but you could use a shimmer or glitter finish for a smoky glam look.
Metallic
finishes aren’t ideal for smoky eyes because the desired out come of metallics
is an entirely different foil effect.
How Do I Create a Smoky Eye?
I’m so happy you asked. Below is my step-by-step tutorial.
Again, you can watch my video tutorial here.
1. Black Crayon Liner & a Blending Brush: Take an
inky black eyeliner and run it across your top lash line. Don’t worry about
being too neat right now.
Then using a blending brush start to buff out the eyeliner using a back and forth "windshield wiper" like motion and blend upward.
Then using a blending brush start to buff out the eyeliner using a back and forth "windshield wiper" like motion and blend upward.
2. Matte Black Eyeshadow, a Shading Brush + More
Blending: Use a short shading brush to apply a matte black shadow to the lower half
of your eyelid.
Use the blending brush again to buff the shadow upward.
Add more liner to the lid and blend up into the crease of
your eye.
3. More liner, More Shadow and yes, More Blending: Next
take your eyeliner and run it through the lower water line of your eye and
across the lower lash line.
Use the blending brush to smudge it out.
Then use a small flat eyeshadow brush to trace the eyeshadow along the lower lash line.
Then use a small flat eyeshadow brush to trace the eyeshadow along the lower lash line.
And then, you guessed it, blend that out and wrap it
into the crease of the eye.
4. Cream Colored Shadow, More Blending + Mascara:
With a fluffy eyeshadow brush dust a cream-colored eyeshadow onto your
browbones.
Use the blending brush to soften the line between the cream-colored shadow
and the smoky black shadow in the crease.
Take a black volumizing mascara and generously apply it to your top and bottom lashes for extra drama.
5. Concealer, Matte Contour & Highlighter: To clean
up any fallout from the black shadow swipe a concealer under your eyes.
Keeping with the matte look, use a matte contour shade and
sweep it under your cheek bones, working it into your skin with your fingers.
Use a matte highlighter and dust it onto the top of your cheek
bones and under eyes.
6. Cream Blush & Pink Lipstick: Add a pop of color
with a rosy cream blush on the apples of your cheeks and use your fingertips to
meld it with your skin.
Swipe a satin magenta pink lipstick on your lips as a
bright contrast to your deep smoky eyes.
Put all these steps together and you will get...
There is so much blending and building color and blending again to smoky eyes.
Like I said at the outset, it takes a good deal of patience to really achieve this eye look.
But like with anything great, it's worth the wait in the end.
A good blending brush is what really makes the difference in creating a smoky eye.
Soft bristles that are firmly packed make the best blending brushes.
And always start with a clean brush or you will transfer color from your last look to your new smoky eye (learned that the hard way lol😅).
And practice, practice, practice!
All the right brushes and products won't matter at all if you aren't practicing blending shadows often.
And you can't have a smoky eye without blending.
Products I used for my Smoky Eyeshadow Look:
Urban Decay: 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion
MAC: 217 Blending Brush
MAC: Carbon Eyeshadow
MAC: 239 Shader Brush
Too Faced: Eyeshadow in Gelato-Ohh!
Complex Culture: Precision Eyelid Brush
Ilia Beauty: Limitless Lash Mascara in After Midnight
Tarte: Double Duty Beauty™ Shape Tape™ Concealer in N12
Fair Neutral
NYX: Highlight & Contour Pro Palette
Real Techniques: Pointed Foundation Brush
F.A.R.A.H: Tapered Blending Brush 35E
Ilia Beauty: Multi-Stick Cream Blush + Highlighter + Lip
Tint in At Last
Clinique: Pop Lip Colour + Primer in 13 Love Pop
Again, you can catch my video tutorial here
Thank you so much for reading!
If you are interested in fun eyeshadow looks check out my Graphic Eye Liner Tutorial
And don't forget to subscribe to my blog so you won't miss a post 📪
Thanks again for stopping by!
See you soon!
XOXO
Ultima Beauty
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