Smokey eye makeup is a dramatic style of eye makeup that gives eyes a dark, smokey appearance. This style of eye makeup is quite popular, though it is generally not a style that should be worn every day. Instead, smokey makeup looks best for fancy occasions. This style of eye makeup makes use of eyeshadow primer, at least two eyeshadows, eyeliner, and mascara.
There are many tutorials to be found online to create smokey eye makeup, along with example photos. The first step is to choose the colors to be used; charcoal and grays are the most popular, but brown, violet, or even greens may also be used to create a smokey eye. Makeup artists generally recommend avoiding any shades of blue, because they can make it look like one has a black eye.
Next, apply a base over the entire eyelid. This may be a primer or even a cream concealer. The idea is to give the eyeshadow a smooth, even base onto which it can be applied, and to prevent it from smudging or blending into the crease throughout the day. Once the base has been applied, the next step is eyeliner.
In smokey eye makeup application, eyeliner should generally be applied to the upper and lower lash line. Those who have larger eyes may go from nearly the inner corner of the eyes to the outer corner with the eyeliner, while those with smaller eyes will most likely want to only line the eyes from the middle of the lash line to the outer corner to prevent making the eyes appear small. Once the eyeliner has been applied, gently smudge it with an eyeliner brush or cotton swab; there should not be a severe line.
Next, apply a darker color of eyeshadow to the eyelid, blending it up toward the brow bone. This means that the color should appear darkest around the lash line and the crease, and gradually lighten as it goes up; once again, it is important to blend. Apply a lighter or sheer color on the brow bone. A "smudged," imperfect look is one of the keys to smokey eye makeup.
Mascara is the final step. Curl the eyelashes with an eyelash curler, and apply one or two coats of dark mascara for a dramatic look. One important tip when wearing smokey eye makeup is to make the eyes the focal point of the face, and wear a neutral lipstick or lip gloss. Wearing a dark lipstick will make the face look very overdone and unnatural.