Who doesn’t LOVE Smokey Eyes?

Growing up I’d sit on my mom’s bed and watch her as she applied her make-up. I know at the same time I’d ask her a million and one questions, until finally she would get fed-up and kick me out of her room! J I don’t blame her.

What’s the trick to Smokey Eyes?

BLENDING and SMUDGING

Where did I learn to blend my shadow? 

Donna Mills - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Mills 

If you ever watched Knots Landing, this lady was Smoking HOT! Her eyes are still to die for!
My mom saw that I had a great liking to make-up and wanted to make sure I learned to apply it well. So what did she do? She bought me the Donna Mills "The Eyes Have It" (VHS) video!!

I remember watching it over and over AND I still own it! I so SCORED!

I love LOVE Smokey eyes, especially when I use browns!

Here are a few images of my favorite style of smoky brown eyes:

Brown Smokey

My cousin Lisa

Smokey Cat Eyes

Try to stay away from the Raccoon Eye look! Not so Glam just looks like a charcoal mess!

What a mess!

  

The Essentials Needed

Here's a list of what works for me: 

Primer/Base - (you don't need it, but it's great for keeping shadow in place and avoiding oily eyelids)  

The primers for a smokey eye that I use are:  MAC's 'paint' and Urban Decay's 'Primer Potion'.

2 Eyeliners – MAC’s ‘Teddy’ Eyeliner and Loreal Carbon Black Liquid Eyeliner

3 Eye Shadows – Mac’s Rice Paper (Light Base Color),  Mac’s ‘Tempting’ and NYX dark brown shadow

Brushes – Mac Brushes –#’s 213, 219 & 266 or QTips & Fingers ( I highly suggest brushes)

Mascara – Maybelline Falsies

  

Here's how I apply my eye make-up to achieve a smokey eye:

1. Prep your Eye - Apply concealer underneath your eye and over the top lid. Apply primer on your top lids.

2. Eyeliner - Apply a soft eyeliner above the upper lash line. The line should be thicker in the middle of eye.Use the pencil liner from the inner eye corner to the outer. Smudge both lash lines with a cotton swab or an eyeliner brush.

3. Shadow for Bottom Lid - To give your bottom lids the color, which will be the key to smoky eyes, apply the liner of a lighter color to the bottom lids: dot it between your lower lashes. The most important point here is to smudge it. To do it, apply a bit of shadow to get full smudge effect.

  

4. Light Base Color on Upper Lids

Sweep light base color over the lids to the brow bones. It’s better to use cream shade of mousse shadow. The shadow should also be shimmery. Thus, you have the eyeliner and the base.

5. Apply Darker Color – Smoky Effect Itself

Choose a darker eyeshadow shade. Using a brush, blend in color starting at your lash line and then applying it into your crease, blending up and outward. Blend color so that the eye liner disappears.

  

6. Correcting Smokey Eyes

Make sure your eyes match and use a Q-tip, if needed.

7. Apply Mascara

Finish your smokey eyes with some coats of black mascara you usually apply. For a more dramatic     look, you can always use some fake lashes!  Make sure to add some eyeliner to your waterline. 

Practice makes perfect...

Jacky, I hope this helps you out for your special date tonight! 

Have a wonderful weekend all! 

Erika