The smoky eye made easy

Eye makeup can really change your look, so for the New Year, learn how to do an easy smoky eye.

Here, I will explain how to do one of the easiest and most forgiving night eye-makeup techniques that doesn’t require you to be a complete makeup pro.

1. The base

The smoky eye is a very dramatic and sexy look. Although, before going straight to the dark color, we first have to prepare the eyelids by applying eye primer. Eye primer is very important because it locks the eye shadow in place. Even if you are dancing the whole night or going to a fancy dinner, your makeup will stay put until morning.

The second step for base is to apply a light-colored eye shadow (white will do) all over your lids with a makeup brush. This neutralizes your eyelids and creates the perfect canvas before applying any dark colors. One tip I would like to point out is that shimmer eye shadows are easier to blend compared to mattes. If you aren’t used to makeup, I would suggest trying shimmering eye shadow first.

2. Smoke it up

To truly achieve the smoky-eye look, you need to use a makeup brush. Using a brush allows you to create a more blended look, which is what the smoky eye is all about. The goal is to make the color of your choice have a gradient — from darker on the lash line to lighter on the crease — thus creating a smoky effect.

The smoky eye is all about layering. Using the color of your choice in a medium shade, apply it from your lash line to the crease. Avoid applying it with a heavy hand because you can always add more after.

Then, using the darkest shade, apply from the lash line to the midpoint of your eyelid. Again, don’t be too heavy-handed, and remember to blend, blend, blend! Without blending, you might end up with panda eyes. Remember, the more gradient, the better.

3. Liner

Now that you’ve finished with your eye shadow it’s time for the liner. Eyeliner is just as important as eye shadow. It creates extra character for the look as well as adding boldness. It is part of the reason why this makeup look is so dramatic.

Using the darkest eye shadow, line the lash line. Then, using a gel or pencil eyeliner, line the top of your lash line. To make the liner look even smokier, use your brush to buff the eyeliner. Don’t forget to line your water line if you want to. Then, using the medium shade, add eye shadow to the bottom of your eyes. This creates continuity to the whole eye look.

4. Lashes

The lashes tie the whole look together. They have to match the intensity of the eye makeup so they have to be bongga! Apply two to three coats of mascara. Then, if you want to add extra bang, apply false lashes. A trick I like to do is cut the eyelashes in half, then glue only the end of the false lashes to the ends of your real lashes. After that, use mascara to attach the false lashes to your real lashes.

This look is dramatic, but at the same time one of the classiest and most beautiful eye looks ever to exist. It can open up any eye and add a sexy touch. Just remember to not go overboard, especially if you are working with very dark colors. The more you look like yourself, the better. A new look for the new you!

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You can email the author at [email protected] or visit her website www.clarapettersen.com.