If it’s true what they say, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” then why not decorate and adorn your precious peepers with the epitome of eye shadow beauty, the smokey eye? The smokey eye is a distinctive cosmetic blend of eye shadow, eyeliner and mascara applied in a way that gives a dramatic, dazzling look to the eyes. Since our eyes are the window to our souls, the smokey eye allows us to see ourselves and the world through gorgeous, mesmerizing eyes!
We all know that eye shadow is a makeup item that is applied on the eyelids and under the eyebrows. Eye shadow adds depth and dimension to your eyes that can complement your eye color, and can be used to make your eyes appear larger or simply draw attention to your eyes. In a nutshell, various forms and shades of eye shadows make your eyes stand out and look more attractive.
Smokey eyes are, well, smokin’ hot!
Smokey eyes definitely radiate with high-end glamour, and the smokin’ hot appearance can be captured in just a few easy steps.
How to Apply the Perfect Smokey Eye:
- Prep the Eyelid: Swipe an eye shadow primer (base) across the upper and lower eye area and let it dry.
- Select the Colors of Eye Shadow: Smokey eyes work best when you use a dark and a lighter color (brown and gold, dark blue and light blue, etc.) Beauty knows no bounds! You can use whatever shade you desire.
- Apply Eyeliner: Apply eyeliner above the entire upper lash line, drawing the line thicker in the middle of the eye.
- Blend in Color on Bottom Lashes: The bottom color is one of the main elements of the smokey eye look. Run an eyeliner pencil under the entire bottom lashes and smudge the line with your finger or Q-tip. You can also apply some eye shadow and smudge the eyeliner and eye shadow together.
- Apply Base Color: The key to a fabulous smokey eye is pairing a lighter base with a darker hue. Sweep in a light, glistening shadow over the eyelids to the brow base.
- Blend in the Darker Color: Blend in the darker color of eye shadow starting at your lash line, blending up. Blend the color into the lash line so that the eyeliner disappears.
- Check Your Work: Make sure that both eyes match and rub out any smears or smudges with a Q-tip.
- Apply Lots of Mascara: Thick, dramatic mascara is a must to finish off an alluring smokey eye effect. Apply enough coats so that the lashes look long, thick and dark. Black mascara works best for the ultimate look. False eyelashes can be applied if preferred.
Congratulations! You have mastered the smokey eye! Sizzling!
Eye Shadow Fun Fact: Have you ever wondered what ingredients are used to make the eye-catching eye shadow that you love to wear? Common ingredients in eye shadows consist of talc, mica, sericite, magnesium stearate, colorants and preservatives. Fillers in eye shadows are primarily talc. The liquid binders are typically silicone and the dry binders are usually magnesium stearate. In order to make a perfectly blended eye shadow, there has to be a balance between the fillers, dry binders and liquid binders.
Nancy, you say, I agree that smokey eyes are beautiful, but when I’ve tried them myself, they never turn out the way I see them on models in magazines and social media, much like when you get a great professional haircut and styling job. Once you get home, wash your hair and try to replicate the same look the stylist gave you, you come up short. Your hair never looks quite as lovely or the same as when you walked out of the salon.
Practice, practice, practice. Over time you will be able to apply the smokey eye like a professional! Practicing and experimenting with makeup is fun!
No matter the size or shape of your eyes, the color or your skin tone, the smokey eye exudes allure, glamour, drama and fire with one look!
The smokey eye is always in style!
Nancy Mangano is an American beauty/fashion/style influencer, fashion journalist, screenwriter and author of the Natalie North murder mystery book series. Visit Nancy on her global online fashion/style/beauty magazine Strutting in Style! at https://nancymariemangano.com, her Facebook page Nancy Mangano at https://www.facebook.com/nancymmangano/ Twitter @https://twitter.com/nancymangano and her author website http://www.nancymangano.com
