From celebrities and influencers to brides and make-up artists - they all love to go a little bold with their eyes. But as a person new to make-up, the first attempt to try the elusive smokey-eye make-up look can bring a rush of adrenaline. What if it doesn’t go well?
Worry not! There are a lot of simple and easy-to-understand smokey-eye look tutorials on the internet. However, to master the look, it is important to know the tips and products professional make-up artists (MUAs) consider using, because their smokey eyes create the perfect dimension, and add glamour and edge to any outfit.
Tip: It is important to classify the types of this make-up and the outfits it goes well with because if it doesn’t coordinate well then it can take away the glamour and end up looking heavy.
Why are Smokey Eyes Popular?
Smokey eyes were one of the most popular make-up looks in 1930s Hollywood, the era of black and white movies. Actress Marlene Dietrich would burn a candle under her saucer and mix the soot with Vaseline to create her iconic make-up look.
Smokey eye makeup has made a grand comeback in 2022 and it is better than before. A lot of fun colours, shimmers, kohl and additional details in the inner corner have made it a go-to and signature look for the party poppers.
Things to Know Before Starting Smokey Eye Make-up Look
There are a lot of tutorials, but no one tells the tips that are essential for the perfect smokey eyes look.
Try following these:
1. End from the lash line: The key is to make the lash line the darkest point. It ensures a clean look and the make-up looks fresh for hours. Dusting it off with a kohl for the lash line brings a pop and draws more attention to the eyes.
2. Keep it simple: Stick to no more than three eyeshadows (for example black, charcoal and shimmer) and kohl eyeliner.
3. Blend it well: Brushes are your best friend for this look. Choose the correct ones! Before moving on to the outer corners, blend the eyeliner well. A tape can be used to create a sharper end.
What You Will Need to Create a Perfect Smokey Eye?
Here is a list of the products used by professional make-up artists to create the edgiest smokey eye look.
1. Concealer: Not a normal concealer, but a full-coverage HD waterproof concealer ensures the longevity of the make-up.
2. Eyeshadow primer: Just like a face primer creates a smooth base for the foundation, an eyeshadow primer creates a smooth base for the eyes. Choose wisely!
3. Brushes: There are two types of brushes that are required for smokey eye makeup:
● Shader brush: A shader brush effectively transfers the pigment from the eyeshadow palette to the eyes.
● Blender brush: Blending is essential. Use small fluffy brushes for the outer corner and even smaller ones for the inner corner.
4. Eyeshadow palette: Indian beauty brands have introduced the best quality palettes, specifically for smokey eyes. Buy the ones with a black-ish tone, a brown-ish tone or a mix of the popular smokey eye tones like golden, green or metallic.
5. Eyeliner: The preferred ones are:
● Kohl eyeliner: Used by amateurs, these eyeliners blend smoothly and create the perfect pop for the lash line.
● Gel eyeliner: Used by make-up professionals, gel eyeliners stay longer and have more pigment as compared to other eyeliners.
6. Mascara: The look never completes without waterproof mascara. Generally, black mascara goes well with all colours, but to add more drama, colourful mascaras can be used.
Classic Smokey-Eye Make-up: Step-by-Step Guide
The classic smokey-eye is a play with the black tone eyeshadows - deep black, mid black and charcoal black. Follow the guide to create this look:
Step 1: Prime the lids. Priming is necessary to prevent smudging of the eyeshadow later in the day and create a smooth base to avoid crinkling. Use an eyeshadow primer or a full-coverage HD concealer.
Step 2: Start with the outer corner. Use the mid-black and charcoal-black colours, to define the outer corner with a flat brush. Use tape to avoid messing up the eyeshadow.
Step 3: Apply crease colour. The eyeshadow used on the crease needs to be the deepest shade of black, which is blended from the crease in a circular motion with hyper pigment to the outer corners to create the perfect contrast.
Step 4: Use shimmers. The highlight shade in the eyeshadow palette shall be used at the end of the brows and the inner corner of the eyes.
Step 5: Finish off with eyeliner and mascara. That is the end of the drama, make the biggest wing and apply the mascara.
Colourful Smokey-Eye: Step-by-Step Guide
The trend of 2022 is playing with colours to match the smokey eye with any outfit. Own the look through the following steps:
Step 1: Create a smooth base by priming the eyes with an eyeshadow primer and concealer.
Step 2: Choose the colours. To create a sultry look with colours, choose a shade (say pink, purple, green, or blue) and use its mid-tone for the crease, the darkest tone for the outer corners and a highlight shade for the brow bones and inner corners.
Step 3: Blend the colours. Starting from the outer corners, reach the crease, then the inner corners and blend it to perfection.
Step 4: Use fake lashes and mascara. This look goes well with long dramatic lashes and colourful mascara in the same tone as the rest of the make-up.
Gold Smokey Eye
The go-to make-up of every beautiful Indian bride is the gold smokey eye. Learn how to do it perfectly!
Step 1: Prep, prime and conceal the eyes. The first step is the same as other looks.
Step 2: Choose the colour for the outer corners. The golden eyeshadow will go on the eyelid and it will be complemented by a darker shade (either red, brown or black) on the outer corners. Start by filling the eyelids and outer corners with the golden pigment and finish by blending the dark shade in the outer corner.
Step 3: Line the eyes. Use the gel eyeliner to add definition to the lash lines.
Step 4: Finish with fake lashes and mascara.
Bronze Smokey-Eyes
The most popular eye look after the classic black smokey-eye look is using bronze metallic pigments on the eyes.
Step 1: Prime the eyelids and use the bronze eyeshadow all over the crease and eyelids. Blend it with a fluffy brush.
Step 2: Dark brown shade for the outer corners. Take the pigment and blend it from the outer corners to the crease to bring the smokey contrast.
Step 3: Apply dark brown eyeliner and finish by filling the nude kohl in the lower lash line.
Step 4: Blend any harsh lines and fill in more eyeshadow wherever required before using the mascara.
Other Variations of Smokey-Eyes
Natural Smokey Eye Make-up
Here is the answer to ‘how to do smokey eye makeup with neutral colours.’ In the era where people prefer wearing neutral colours, natural smokey-eye emerged as a new trend. How to do it? The key is choosing the most neutral colours (either nude pink or nude brown) on the crease, a two-tone darker brown shade on the outer corners and a white or neutral highlighter on the inner corners and brow bones. A darker shade of eyeliner can be used with black mascara.
Silver And Grey Smokey-Eye Look
Another simple eye look that compliments traditional Indian outfits is the silver and grey smokey-eye make-up. The make-up artists use a grey shade on the outer corners of the eyes while creating a wing and a silver shimmer on the crease, followed by a white pigment in the inner corners. They prefer using long fake lashes over eyeliners.
Conclusion
Do not fear trying a new make-up look. To attain perfection, perform the same look at home over and over.
Smokey-eye is the make-up of glamourous nights. Pair the classic look with a black shimmery dress, the colourful look and golden look with lehengas, the bronze and silver look for parties and the neutral look for a date or a meeting.
FAQs
What creates the perfect base for smokey eyes?
A full-coverage HD concealer or an eyeshadow primer creates a perfectly smooth base for smokey eyes that prevents the makeup from smudging for hours.
What eye shape gets enhanced with smokey eyes?
Smokey-eyes enhance the shape of smokey-eyes by creating a new crease with a soft brown eyeshadow.
Do smokey eyes suit everyone?
There are different variations of smokey eyes that can match every type of eye. Be it cat eyes, round eyes or hooded eyes.
Are smokey-eyes in style?
Smokey eyes were never out of trend because everyone loved the sultry, edgy and glamourous look for grand occasions.
Which shade of lipstick shall I wear with a smokey-eye look?
To bring all the focus to the eyes, it is suggested to use nude or other neutral lip shades because smokey eyes already bring a lot of definition to the face.