Technique for performing smoky eyes step by step for brown, blue, gray, green eyes. How to do smokey eye makeup Smokey light makeup

What is a smokey eye?

Smokey ice is an eye makeup technique that creates a smooth transition from lighter shades of eyeshadow to darker ones (there could be from two to infinity): the so-called haze effect is obtained. In the beauty sphere, smoky eyes occupy approximately the same place as the little black dress in the fashion world: a recognized classic that everyone turns to sooner or later. The trend for “smoky” makeup appeared in the 1920s: under the influence of silent film stars, Theda Bara and Clara Bow, girls became addicted to dramatic eye makeup. This is how the world remembers the “Roaring Twenties”: short haircuts, equally short dresses and outrageous make-up.

Classic smokey eyes are made in dark gray or black tones, but today to create “smoky” makeup they use shadows of completely different colors - from light brown and beige to bright orange and even. By the way, it is for this reason that “smoky” makeup is no longer considered purely evening: to get a daytime look, it is enough to choose more muted and neutral tones.

Tools and cosmetics for creating a smokey eye

In addition to shadows (darker and lighter shades), to create a smokey eye you need a soft kajal pencil that shades well, black mascara and, of course, a high-quality brush.

How to choose shadows for smokey eyes?

It is best to select shades of eye shadow for a smokey eye based on your eye color.

Blue eyes

Usually blue-eyed girls have fair skin, therefore, too dark shades do not suit them: in this case, the eyes will look like black holes. Pay attention to warm, soft shades: gray, pink, silver. If, on the contrary, your skin is tanned and bronze in color, feel free to experiment with brown and gold colors: they will further emphasize the beauty of your eyes and make them more expressive.

Jill Stuart © fotoimedia/imaxtree

Grey eyes

A classic smokey eye with black and dark gray shades will look very impressive (provided you don't have too pale skin). You can also safely apply purple, brown, and gold colors.

La Perla © fotoimedia/imaxtree

Green eyes

Violet shades will go well with green eyes, also pay attention to the color lilac. Olive and emerald tones will help you highlight your eyes even more. For everyday makeup, you can choose brown tones, or you can dilute them with gray.

The Blonds © fotoimedia/imaxtree

Brown eyes

Brown-eyed girls have a huge choice: most colors suit them. In addition to the basic dark shades (black, brown and gray), use golden, olive, greenish and purple shades. Light brown eyes are perfectly emphasized by shades of warm colors (caramel, honey), while dark brown eyes, on the contrary, require the use of cool shades: gray, blue, purple.

Les Copains © fotoimedia/imaxtree

How to choose brushes for smokey eye?

To create the perfect smokey eyes, you need to choose a good, high-quality brush. Ideally, there should be two of them: for applying shadows and for shading them.

Eyeshadow brush

A basic flat brush with soft bristles and a rounded tip: it should be medium-sized, smaller than your eyelid but slightly larger than your pinky finger. For creamy textures, choose options made from synthetic bristles; for dry textures, choose from natural bristles. However, smokey eyes are rarely created using cream shadows (they are quite difficult to shade into a “haze”), so feel free to buy a brush made of natural bristles. It will serve you for a very long time.

Blending brush

Shading brushes come in different varieties. A barrel brush with a round tip is best for creating smokey eyes. It should not be too dense, but at the same time soft and elastic, so that you can easily achieve smooth color transitions. Brushes for shading dry eyeshadow should be made of natural bristles (for example, sable).

Tapered Blending Brush © urbandecay.ru

It’s better not to skimp on brushes, so makeup artists advise: buy the most expensive brushes you can afford.

We showed you how to properly shade eyeshadow on your eyelids in this video tutorial:

How to make a classic black smokey eye?

Before you start creating a smokey eye, check out our list of tips: they will definitely help you achieve the perfect result.

5 rules for creating the perfect smokey eye

Use concealer

Any bright eye makeup will look ugly if you don’t take care to disguise dark circles and “bruises” under the eyes. A fairly common mistake is to use concealer before applying eye shadow. You need to do exactly the opposite: the shadows that crumbled during application under the eyes will still have to be washed off, and along with them you will also remove a layer of concealer (by the way, we talked about other subtleties of using this beauty product). You can use the following professional trick: stick caring patches under your eyes. Firstly, they will “collect” all the crumbling shadows, and secondly, they will make the skin under the eyes fresher and more hydrated.

Don't forget about the eyeshadow base

Primer is the most important tool when it comes to smokey eyes: it is the one that will ensure the longevity of the makeup and will prevent the shadows from smearing and getting into the creases of the eyelid. In addition, thanks to the primer, the shadow will be much easier to shade.

Once your makeup is ready, use a fluffy eyeshadow brush to apply translucent setting powder to the skin around your eyes. This will make the makeup more durable.

Watch out for color combinations

When creating a smokey eye, several shades of eyeshadow are used - and it is very important that they combine harmoniously with each other. Also follow the application pattern: apply the lightest shadows to the inner corners of the eyes, and the darkest ones only to the outer corners: otherwise the eyes will appear much smaller (this rule, however, should not be followed by girls with wide-set eyes). The shade of medium intensity should be located in the crease of the eyelid.

Follow the sequence of actions

The correct sequence of actions is important not only when applying different shades of eyeshadow. For example, if you want to add arrows to your smokey eye, you need to draw them penultimately - before applying makeup to your eyelashes. If you do the opposite, it will be difficult for you to shade the shadows so that they do not “touch” the arrows. Most likely, they will need to be painted again.

Pay close attention to shading

The key characteristic of any smokey eye is a smooth transition from one color to another. Therefore, close attention must be paid to shading. Make sure that there are no clear boundaries between the shades, and take care that the smokey eye does not “break off” abruptly at the outer corner of the eye.

Black smokey eyes: basic step-by-step photo instructions

We tell you and show you how to create a classic smokey eyelet in black tones.

Use black kajal as a base for the eyeshadow. Use it to shade the entire moving eyelid, emphasize the line of the lower eyelashes and paint over the mucous membrane throughout the eye. This trick will help make your eye makeup more intense.

Using a fluffy brush made of artificial (!) bristles, blend the border of the kajal along the orbital line and the lower eyelid.

Distribute black shadows over the entire moving eyelid, as if dancing them. The most convenient way to do this is with a large flat natural bristle brush. On the lower eyelid, also apply black shadows over the kajal.

Place brown shadows on a fluffy natural brush and blend the border of the orbital line. Do the same action on the lower eyelid.

Add light satin shadows or a little dry highlighter to the inner corners of the eyes and under the eyebrows.

Apply black mascara to your eyelashes.

Look for another version of the classic smokey eye in our video:

Smokey eyes for brown eyes: step-by-step instructions

Apply eyelid base. Using a small flat brush made of natural bristles, use a black shade of eyeshadow to highlight the outer corner of the eye from above and below, moving back about one-third from the edge.

Using a barrel brush, add brown matte eyeshadow into the crease of the upper eyelid, blending the transition between the two shades of eyeshadow properly.

Apply blue shadows to the entire surface of the moving eyelid that remains “unpainted”. Add a little of the same shadows on top, but not with a brush, but with your fingertips: this will result in a more saturated shade.

Add a “highlight” to the inner corner with light, shining shadows or a highlighter, and add them under the eyebrow.

Paint the mucous membrane and interlash space with a black pencil with a soft texture. Apply eyelashes.

What other smokey eye makeup can you do for brown eyes? Here are some suggestions.

Another option for beautiful and spectacular smokey eyes:

Smokey eyes for blue eyes: step-by-step photo instructions

Apply the eyeshadow base to both eyelids, then using a flat natural bristle brush, draw a line under the lower eyelid with a bronze shade of eyeshadow, starting from the middle of the eyelid.

With a brush, distribute the same color over the entire eyelid up to the orbital line, while in the outer corner of the eye the color should be more saturated.

Use a light brown matte shade to blend the edge of the dark shadows and highlight the orbital line.

Using a smaller brush, blend the same light brown matte shade along the bottom edge of the shadow. It is necessary to emphasize the entire line of the lower eyelid.

Paint the space between the eyelashes and the mucous membrane on both eyelids with a brown pencil (it’s better if it’s waterproof).

Using a small brush, add a highlight in the inner corner of the eye with a light shade with shimmer, and apply it under the eyebrow. If you don’t have such shadows on hand, you can use a highlighter for the same purpose.

Apply mascara to your eyelashes.

Four more ideas for blue-eyed girls:

Smokey eyes for green eyes: step-by-step photo instructions

Apply eyelid primer or, if you don’t have one on hand, spread a thin layer of foundation or concealer and lightly powder your eyelids. Use a black pencil to paint the space between the eyelashes on the upper eyelid to make the eyelashes visually thicker and the look more expressive.

Using a flat brush made of natural bristles, apply black shadow over the entire eyelid and under the lower eyelashes. Use light patting movements.

As a middle color, use one of the following: purple, pink or brick: any of them will emphasize the green color of the eyes and make it brighter. Blend the shadows along the orbital line and lower eyelids, creating a “haze”.

Emphasize the mucous membrane of the lower eyelid with a green pencil.

Apply black mascara to your eyelashes.

More green eye makeup ideas:

Other options for “smoky” makeup for gray eyes:

Daytime and evening smokey eyes: what's the difference?

We have already mentioned that smokey eyes have long been no longer considered an exclusively evening option for eye makeup; today you can appear with such makeup even at a business meeting. The main thing is to choose neutral, not too bright colors, and not to use a black pencil: it will immediately make the makeup more aggressive. Find one of the options for daytime smokey makeup using pink and peach eyeshadow in the video below:

Smokey Ice: features for eyes of different shapes

We talked in detail about how to apply shadows depending on the shape of the eyes in the material. Now let’s look in detail at the tips for those who decide to make a smokey eye.

Smokey eyes for small eyes

Smokey eyes for hooded eyes

If you have drooping eyelids, this should under no circumstances be a reason to give up your smokey eye. It’s better to avoid pearlescent shades and sparkles.
Apply shadow to your eyelid just above the crease above it: this technique will visually “open” your eye.
As for the base shadows, you need to be more careful and apply the darker shade only to the moving eyelid, not going above the crease. And to ensure a smooth transition from one color to another, gently blend both shades to create a gradient.

Smokey eyes for close-set eyes

Smokey eyes for wide-set eyes

Smokey eyes for eyes with drooping corners

When applying shadows to the crease of the eyelid, shade them in a diagonal direction, stretching the shape of the eyes towards the temples.
Do not darken the outer corner from below, so as not to “drop” it even more. Instead, leave the lower eyelid “clean.” The second option is, on the contrary, completely fill it with shadows.

Smokey eyes for Asian eyes

To create smokey eye makeup for Asian eyes, watch our tutorial video:

Colored smokey eyes

Brown smokey eyes

A universal makeup option that will suit girls with all eye colors if you choose the right shade. For brown-eyed girls, beige, bronze, tan and chocolate shadows are suitable, for green-eyed girls - copper, brick, brown-pink and rust shades, for blue-eyed girls - shadows of any warm shades of brown. If you have gray eyes, you can choose any shade.

Gray smokey eyes

Girls with blue eyes suit all shades of gray, those with brown eyes should choose graphite, and those with green eyes should look for lighter shades of gray.

Blue or light blue smokey eyes

Blue smokey eyes are the best choice for blue-eyed and, especially, brown-eyed girls. Green eyes can also be beautifully emphasized with blue smokey eyes, but only in this case they should rather be turquoise or with lilac pigments.

Green smokey eyes

Another great option for brown eyes: try olive, copper, or khaki. If you have green eyes, add some emerald shadows to your palette. Blue-eyed and gray-eyed girls should approach the choice of shade carefully: there is a risk that eyes with green shadows will “get lost” on the face.

Which makeup option do you remember the most? Tell us in the comments!

The dazzling, bewitching gaze of mysterious and alluring eyes... Which woman does not dream of this? Skillful smokey eye makeup can radically transform your appearance, even if nature has not blessed you with expressive eyes. Originating in the 20s of the 20th century, it became a favorite makeup technique for actresses and fashion models and has not lost its position to this day. Today, celebrity secrets are available to everyone.

Content:

Application technique

The technique of applying smokey eye makeup is not complicated, but if you are unaccustomed to it, it can cause difficulties that will disappear after several practical lessons. A distinctive feature of smokey eyes (translated from English as “smoky eyes”) is the smooth transition between shades (from dark to light), as a result of which the eyelids seem to be shrouded in a languid haze.

The particular popularity of this technique is explained by the fact that it is universal and suitable for women of all ages with any eye shape and color. And of course, smokey eye makeup is very beautiful: it emphasizes the contour of the eyes (it can even correct it), enhances the natural shade of the iris, provided that the shadows are chosen correctly. The basic rule of the cosmetic process is accuracy and thoroughness of shading, providing a smoky effect.

This type of makeup is the best option for a formal appearance if you want to give the impression of a “vamp”. And by choosing muted and more natural colors, you can create a casual version.

What you need for make-up

To achieve a good result, it is better to prepare in advance all the cosmetics and tools necessary for makeup. This will help you fully concentrate on the makeup process.

So, you need to check the presence of the following items in your cosmetic bag:

foundation (concealer, powder, corrector);
soft, easy to blend eyeliner;
shadows (at least three related or combining shades);
mascara for lengthening and volume;
cosmetic tools and devices (cotton swabs, brushes of different shapes and sizes, sponges).

Step by step guide

Each stage of smokey eye makeup is very important and determines the success of the entire process. It is recommended to perform them in exactly this sequence to ensure accuracy and a spectacular appearance of the makeup:

Evens out skin color and hides minor imperfections. To do this you will need a foundation and compact powder. They should be applied to a cleansed and moisturized face with day cream. To disguise dark circles under the eyes, you can use correctors. An eye shadow base will help maintain the durability of your makeup.
We can say that dark eyeliner plays the main role in “smoky” makeup. It provides a rich line of eyeliner that blends and fades into shadow. The pencil should be soft and preferably with a thick shaft to draw a wide strip along the edge of the eyelid near the eyelashes. Sometimes it is better to apply several layers to enhance the color. The lower eyelid is emphasized with a thinner line of pencil or dark pigment applied with a brush. The tail of the arrow can be raised and directed towards the temples. To give the look more drama, apply eyeliner along the inner, mucous edge of the lower and upper eyelids.
After applying the pencil, you need to carefully shade it. On the upper eyelid, movements are carried out upward, on the lower - horizontally.
To create gradual transitions between shadows, you will need at least three of their shades, best related in color scheme or combined with each other (for a more interesting effect). They should be applied in descending order of intensity from eyelashes to eyebrows.
The darkest eyeshadow color covers the area of the shaded eyeliner, continuing upward. It is rubbed in from the outer to the inner corner of the eye, gradually losing its saturation. The medium shade is distributed over the eyelid up to the crease or slightly above it. The lightest pigment is applied to the eyebrow area. After each stage, it is important not to forget to shade the boundaries of the color transition.
Makeup will not be complete without luxurious, thick and voluminous eyelashes. Mascara can be applied in 2 layers, carefully painting each hair, especially in the outer corners. It is important to avoid the “spider legs” effect.

Advice: To get a rich, neat smokey eye, it is better to apply shadows with a flat brush using patting movements, as if driving in the pigment.

Video: Step-by-step description of smokey eye makeup

Varieties of Smoky Eyes

At the beginning of its existence, Smoky Eyes had only one version, which, by the way, was relevant for black-and-white film actresses. But there will always be experimental people who will try to combine unusual combinations and invent a new vision. Today, there are several varieties of smoky makeup.

Classic version

In the traditional version, smokey eye makeup is a charcoal-black color of the eyeliner and main shadows. The sub-brow area is tinted in a contrasting beige, light gray or pearl shade. Working with such dark shadows must be especially careful and painstaking. But the result will be simply stunning, especially for light eyes. Of course, this option is only appropriate for evening outings and special events.

Choice for every day

Everyday makeup involves the same application technique as classic makeup, but using more muted or natural shades of shadows. The most natural of them will look like a beige-brown option. It is appropriate to use a pencil or coffee-colored eyeliner. This makeup look will look especially attractive on brown eyes. Gray smoky makeup is also suitable for every day.

The darkest shades of shadows can be applied not to the entire moving eyelid, but to half or only to the outer corner.

This is interesting: More recently, in the circles of modern and fashionable makeup artists, such a concept as red smokey ice has appeared. Fiery shadows look too extravagant, but there are probably connoisseurs of this version.

Shadows: color selection

The shade of the shadows should be combined not only with the color of the eyes, but also with the tone of the skin and hair. When choosing, you can rely on the recommendations of color type experts.

The most important criterion for choosing shadows is the natural color of the iris. It is this that can be muted or intensified, made brighter with the help of makeup. The shade of cosmetics that matches the eye color will provide a harmonious monochromatic composition. The iris will become less noticeable and muted. You can apply this idea for everyday makeup.

Contrasting makeup makes it possible to apply many interesting color compositions. Here are the most common eye-shadow combinations:

blue - silver, sand, peach (for muted makeup), lilac, gold, blue (for a grand entrance);
brown - olive, brown (for dark-skinned people), lilac, violet, blue (for fair-skinned people), dark gray, ash;
green – shades of gold, burgundy, dark green, copper, brown, violet;
gray - purple, gray, black, blue, emerald.

There are special “smoky eye” palettes that contain a properly selected set of shadows. All you need to do is purchase a pencil of the desired shade. It can also be easily replaced with the darkest pigment from the palette, applied with a thin brush along the lash line.

Video: Smokey eye shadow palette review

Smokey eyes for correcting imperfections

Smoky makeup will not only emphasize the natural charm of a woman’s look, but will also soften the small features of the eyes:

Correction of drooping eyelids in smokey eyes involves highlighting the folds of the moving eyelid with rich shadows. The maximum color intensity should be observed in the outer corner of the eye.
For wide-set eyes, it is better to apply shading towards the temples and darken the inner corner.
Closely spaced eyes can be visually separated by light colors at the bridge of the nose. In this case, eyeliner is not applied to the lower and upper eyelids in the inner corner.

Video: Everyday Smoky Eyes makeup in brown tones

Possible mistakes and little secrets

With any makeup technique, you can make mistakes that will negate all your efforts and spoil the impression. There are unacceptable errors and the “smoky eye” scheme:

A preference for orange, purple or blue tones can result in tired or sallow looking eyes. Of course, every woman has an individual color type of appearance, so this warning does not apply to everyone. But to avoid any mishaps, it’s better to do a test makeup with different shadows to choose the right ones.
A too obvious and thick line of eyeliner, especially on the lower eyelid, can create a “panda” effect, when the look does not look charming, but funny and absurd. In addition, a strongly defined contour visually reduces the size of the eyes. You can easily adjust your eyeliner line using a cotton swab and makeup remover.
“Smoky Ice” in its traditional version is considered intense makeup. This means that the main emphasis on the face will be on the eyes. Therefore, it is better to cover your lips with light lipstick of a natural shade or gloss. It is also not recommended to clearly highlight your cheekbones with blush or bronzer. As a last resort, you can choose soft tones.
Beautiful eyebrows of the correct shape will enhance the effect of a charming look, but barely noticeable “strings” do not go well with it.

Smokey eye makeup is a classic makeup look that will always be a success. And now you can try on yourself different tones and methods of applying them, analyzing the results obtained. Over time, the speed of execution of this famous makeup and the ability to apply it to demonstrate that very magical look will appear.

Smoky eyes - literally translated from English as “smoky eye”. The name speaks for itself - this is a makeup effect in which a languid and seductive look is achieved through good shading of shadows. Colored smokey eyes, technique of execution - more about this.

Exists false stereotype, What smokey eyes- This is makeup done in black. It's not like that at all. Smoky eyes- This is more of an effect of the transition of dark shadows into light ones. And smokey eyes can be bright (evening makeup smoky eyes) and light (daytime version). The shades of the shadows and their saturation are selected in accordance with your appearance (on how to determine -). If you have fair skin, light hair and light eyes, then you will agree that a smokey eye in black will look foreign. The lighter the eyes and skin, the lighter the shade should be for smoky eyes; The darker the skin and eyes, the darker the tone for a smokey eye.

Examples of smokey eyes

Since, in the classical sense, smokey eye is evening makeup, it should accordingly be quite bright. Therefore, you should pay special attention to your skin - and completely hide the nuances on your face (bruises, redness).

In this makeup, the main emphasis is on the eyes, so lip makeup should be done in neutral shades.

Classic shadow scheme

The first option is well suited for almost any eyes and increases the width of the eye. But be careful: if you move the outer corner too far, your eyes will visually become narrower (but for large, round eyes, this is an excellent option).
The second option is suitable for the drooping outer corner of the eye. Due to the fact that we draw the outer tip of the shadows higher, the eye visually rises.

How to do smokey eye makeup

We eliminate color nuances on the face, tint, powder (including eyelids).
We apply the pencil to approximately 2/3 of the eyelid (the area of application depends on the size of the eyelid and the shape of the eyes) close to the eyelash contour, so that there are no “empty” areas of skin left. Shading the borders.
Apply the darkest shadows onto the pencil base with a brush or applicator (it will be richer). Shading the border.
Apply lighter shadows to the shaded border with a brush. We also shade it.
To make the haze more effective, you can add the third lightest shadows. And, of course, we also shade it.
Using the same pencil, we draw the lower eyelid, reducing the width of the line closer to the iris. Shading.
Apply the darkest shadows. Shading.
Apply lighter shadows to the border of the dark ones and to the middle of the lower eyelid. Shading.
To give your look more expressiveness and depth, you can run a soft eyeliner over the mucous membrane. But pay attention: this way your eye may visually appear narrower. This stage is well suited for those with large, round eyes.
Apply eyeliner to the moving eyelid at the ciliary edge, thickening the line towards the outer corner.
Carefully paint the eyelashes. For more volume, you can stick the bunches on the outer corners of the eyes.
We do makeup for eyebrows, lips, and apply blush.

Shades of eye shadow to match eye color

Remember that the image must be harmonious. Shades and their saturation should be selected not only to match the color of the eyes, but also to the color of the skin and hair.

Smokey eyes for brown eyes, shades: brown-olive (for dark-skinned girls), bright blue, cornflower blue, lilac and purple shades (for fair skin).

Smokey eyes for green eyes, shades: chocolate, dark green, golden, purple shades.

Smokey eyes for gray eyes, shades: bronze and sand (for golden skin), turquoise, blue, green, purple (for fair skin), dark brown, dark blue, green and chocolate shades.

Smokey eye makeup allows you to create an unusually attractive image, emphasizing the beauty of the eyes and hiding small flaws. Many people believe that smokey eyes should be done in black and gray tones. After all, smoky eyes translates as “smoky eyes.” This approach has long been outdated, since smokey eyes can be made in any color. Its capabilities allow you to take into account eye color, skin type, outfit and specific situation.

Features of smoky eyes makeup

This classic makeup technique appeared at the beginning of the last century. The image of a vamp woman was very fashionable back then. This is understandable, since the sophistication of the makeup creates a certain drama in the appearance.

The smokey eye makeup technique is based on shaded shadows with smooth shade transitions. As a result, a light haze envelops the eyes, giving the look mystery and attractiveness. Using this makeup technique, the main emphasis should be on the eyes. Moreover, it is not necessarily done in ash-black matte tones, but also in purple, green, gray and brown shades. The color blue poses some danger, as it sometimes gives a bruising effect.

Today, smokey eyes are acceptable as evening and daytime makeup, although much is determined by the selection of shades of shadows and eyeliners. Evening makeup is done more saturated and dark, and daytime makeup is done in softer shades.

Smokey Eyes performance sequence

Before applying makeup, you should even out your skin color using a corrector and eliminate its imperfections. You can powder your eyelids a little. The following is a step-by-step tutorial for smoky eye makeup.

Eyeliner. This is where makeup begins. Eyeliner is done with a cosmetic pencil. But you can use a flat brush to outline the eye contour with shadows. It must be remembered that this technique does not allow the use of liquid eyeliner. After all, its main difference is obtaining a strict, clear contour. And pronounced lines are contraindicated for smokey eye makeup.
In the outer corners, the contour line rises slightly towards the temples and is made much thicker than in the inner corners.
The contour is carefully shaded. A thinner line is made along the contour of the lower eyelid, which is also shaded.
It is better to choose shadows of similar shades, creating a smooth transition effect after application. It’s good if the color scheme of the shadows matches the pencil.
The shadows of the darkest shade are applied to the upper eyelid in a thick layer from the outer corner to the inner. You need to outline the contour with shadows and emphasize the arc in the eye socket.
Apply shadows to the lower eyelid from the outer corners of the eyes. Moving towards the inner corners, you need to reduce the intensity of the color.
Apply light shadows (for example, light gray, pearl, beige) from the crease of the eyelid to the eyebrows, upward.
All transitions and boundaries must be shaded.
Mascara should be applied thickly to the upper and lower eyelashes. Particularly intense in the outer corners of the eyes.

Other ways to perform a smokey eye

The considered makeup option is not the only one. It's just more common. To know the intricacies of how to do smokey eye makeup, it is useful to try other variations of this technique. For example, the main color of the eyeshadow (charcoal black in the classic look) can be replaced with a thicker pencil line. It should be shaded upward along the moving eyelid. This operation is often performed not with an applicator or brush, but with the pads of the fingers. You can also distribute the shadows with your finger.

Sometimes make-up artists first apply shadows of an intermediate shade (usually colored) to the middle of the upper eyelid. Then the darkest tone (black) is applied along the lash line, as well as under the crease and on the outer corner of the eye. Then they are shaded.

Some stylists do not apply eyeliner with a pencil first, but after applying eye shadow.

Combinations of eye shadow shades with eye color

To create a harmonious image, the shades of the shadows and their saturation should match the color of the eyes, as well as the color of the hair and skin.

Smokey eyes for brown eyes includes rules:

for dark-skinned girls - a brown-olive shade;
Suitable for fair skin: purple, lilac, cornflower blue, bright blue shades.

Smokey eyes for green eyes involves the use of chocolate, golden, dark green, purple shades.

IN smokey eyes for blue eyes used: bright blue, pale pink, charcoal black, lavender, lilac, taupe, silver and golden shades.

Rules smokey eyes for gray eyes:

Sand and bronze shades suit golden skin;
for fair skin: purple, blue, turquoise, green shades;
for other skin types: chocolate, green, dark blue, dark brown shades.

Classic colors (black, light beige, dark gray) are ideal for gray and blue-gray eyes and any hair color.

Fashionistas should not forget that for a smokey eye it is necessary to choose lipstick and gloss in neutral colors. The rules of good taste require highlighting one thing so that the makeup does not look vulgar. So, to the smokey eye makeup you should add a clear eyebrow line, delicate lip makeup and a slightly noticeable blush. For an irresistible appearance, nothing more is required.

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Makeup is one of the simplest and most effective ways to transform your appearance in a matter of minutes, experiment with a variety of looks and styles. Today you are a femme fatale vamp, tomorrow you are a gentle prude. It all depends only on your imagination and preferences. Using a technique such as smokey eyes, you can emphasize the natural beauty of the eyes, giving them depth and expressiveness.

Smokey eye makeup, also called “smoky,” has been extremely popular among millions of women for many years. Among the loyal fans of “smoky” make-up are world-famous fashion models and Hollywood stars who know very well how to give a sexy and expressive look.

Smokey eye makeup creates the effect of a languid, sensual look, which is achieved thanks to a special technique of shading shadows. The classic version of “smoky” make-up is done in black and ash tones. Modern make-up artists invite fashionistas to abandon outdated stereotypes and feel free to experiment with shades of eyeshadow - brown, sky blue, lilac, emerald or any other.

Various combinations of light and dark shades of smokey eye shadow provide an excellent opportunity to create an elegant daytime or luxurious evening makeup.

Important nuances of “smoky” makeup

Make-up in the smokey eye style is ideal for girls with any skin and hair tone - both light-skinned blondes and dark brunettes. This stylish makeup requires strict adherence to several important rules:

For daytime makeup, it is best to choose shadows in light, natural tones - sand, beige, coffee, light gray. Black, rich shades in daylight can look rough and vulgar;
Smokey eyes focus attention on the face, so the skin condition should be ideal. Minor redness, pimples and unevenness should be masked with foundation or concealer;
In this make-up, the main focus is on the eyes, so the design of the lips should be as natural and discreet as possible. An excellent option would be transparent gloss or beige lipstick;
Blondes with fair skin need to be extremely careful with jet-black shades of eyeshadow. This combination of makeup can look unnatural and even provocative. The best option for smokey ice would be smoky gray, chocolate, mint, dark green shades.

Even the most fashionable makeup application technique will not bring the expected result if a woman uses decorative cosmetics of dubious quality. Such shadows are not suitable for creating a luxurious smokey eye effect - they crumble and smudge.

Try to buy only professional, certified cosmetics from leading manufacturers. Buy cosmetics only in specialized stores. And be sure to carefully study the expiration dates of cosmetic products.

What you need for smokey eye makeup

You can get a chic “smoky” make-up by visiting a professional makeup artist, or you can do it yourself. Of course, not every woman has the opportunity to regularly go to beauty salons, so most charming ladies prefer to apply makeup themselves.

Don’t think that a classic smokey eye can only be done by an experienced makeup artist.

High-quality cosmetics, patience, training, the necessary tools - and your luxurious “smoky” look will be in no way inferior to the salon one.

What to prepare before applying makeup

Facial cosmetics - corrector, concealer pencil, liquid concealer, compact or loose powder;
Mascara, eyebrow pencil;
Eyeshadow base - it helps to securely fix the makeup and gives it durability;
Shadows of several shades - dark, light and neutral;
A sponge for applying cosmetics and a brush for shading eye shadow;
Black eyeliner.

Skin preparation

The first thing you need to do before applying smokey eye is to properly prepare your skin. It should not have any flaws. Of course, perfectly even and smooth skin without rashes and redness is a real rarity. Therefore, be sure to use special concealers.

Moisturize your skin with toner, then apply your usual day cream. After the cream is completely absorbed, blot the skin with a napkin - this will help remove any remaining cream. Use concealer to hide pimples and redness, and conceal dark circles under the eyes with corrector.

The yellow corrector is used to disguise dark circles under the eyes; the green antibacterial corrector covers redness and rashes.

Foundation is applied to the entire face, which is carefully distributed using a sponge. Remember that when applying foundation with your fingertips, a thicker layer of cream is obtained, and the sponge helps to apply a thin “veil” of foundation.

Apply powder with a large brush, which will reliably fix the result, eliminating the unpleasant oily sheen of the skin and ensuring makeup durability for many hours. After all these manipulations, you can move on to direct eye makeup in the smokey ice style.

Makeup technique

A spectacular “smoky” make-up is performed in several stages. An important point is to apply a special shadow base, which will fix the makeup and prevent it from spreading throughout the day.

“Smoky” design of eye contours - for this purpose, with a soft black pencil you need to draw a thin line along the upper and lower eyelids, trying to draw it as close as possible to the eyelash growth line. Try to draw the lines as closely as possible so that there are no gaps on the eyelashes.
If you suddenly don’t have a black pencil at hand, draw on the eyeliner using a thin brush and dark shadows. The drawn arrow should be thin at the inner corner of the eye and thicken towards the outer corner, slightly “rising” towards the temple. This will create a beautiful, “cat-like” look.
The next stage of makeup is shading the drawn lines. Using a thin brush, the arrows are carefully shaded. An important rule for a stylish smokey eye is that there should be no clear lines or noticeable boundaries between shades; all arrows are carefully shaded and made as blurry as possible.
Next, shadows are applied. On the outer corner of the moving upper eyelid, you should apply shadows of the darkest, most saturated shade, lightly shading them along the contour line and the eye arch.
Using exactly the same principle, dark smokey eye shadows are applied to the lower eyelid - from the outer corner of the eye to the inner, gradually reducing the intensity of the color. That is, all attention is focused on the outer corner.
With shadows of a neutral, natural shade, you need to highlight the area from the movable crease of the eyelid to the eyebrows. There should be no transition boundaries in the makeup, so shading of the smokey eye should be done as carefully as possible. The color of the shadows should be soft, muted, “smoky.”

The final stage of smokey eye makeup is tinting the eyelashes and eyebrows. Apply several coats of lengthening mascara, paying special attention to the lashes at the outer corners of the eyes. To beautifully shape your eyebrows, you can use a cosmetic pencil or shadows, the color of which matches the natural color of the eyebrows or may be several shades darker.

Apply blush to the prominent part of your cheekbones using light circular movements. Since the main emphasis in the makeup is the eyes, the lips should be as natural and natural as possible. The ideal option for lips would be a colorless gloss or lipstick in a light pink, sand, cream or peach shade.

Even the most skillful and fashionable makeup cannot disguise red, tired eyes. Try to be extremely careful about your eyes, protect them from direct sunlight with sunglasses, and sleep at least 8-9 hours a day. Complete rest will return beauty and shine to tired eyes.

Most common mistakes

Makeup artists highlight a number of common smokey eye mistakes that can ruin even the most skillful and carefully selected “smoky” makeup.

You should not use foundation or concealer as a base for shadows, as this will worsen the quality of the color of the shadows and make-up as a whole.
Shadows on the upper eyelid should be applied with light “driving” movements, but not shading, otherwise the shade of the shadows will turn out dim.
Shading smokey eye shadow applied to the outer corner of the eye is best done with the eye closed. In this case, you may end up with an untidy and blurry outline. “Smoky” makeup does not tolerate untidiness, so shading of shadows must be done with the eyelid closed.
Only with your eye closed can you flawlessly shade all the edges of the transition of shades, creating a smooth and effective smokey eye. Noticeable color transition boundaries are one of the most common mistakes that can completely ruin all efforts to create fashionable makeup.

How to choose shadows

An excellent alternative to the classic “smoky” smokey eye makeup in black and gray tones can be bright, colored shadows. Experienced makeup artists advise girls to choose shadows depending on their eye color.

Green eye color is extremely rare, so such eyes in themselves are a unique decoration for their owner. In order to harmoniously emphasize the mysterious beauty and attractiveness of a rare color, it is best to choose shadows of a similar emerald shade for smokey eye makeup. Also, green-eyed girls are advised to pay attention to shades of golden, sand, coffee, and copper tones.