How To: Smoky Eye
Last week, when I posted these images, I received numerous requests for a make-up tutorial. I’m no make-up artist, but I’ve mastered a smoky eye to my liking. Here are my steps for creating the nighttime look:
Products:
Mascara: Define-a-Lash Mascara
Eyeliner: Clinique Kohl Eyeliner
Eyeshadow: Stila Ebony Shadow
Highlighter: Benefit Mr. Frosty Highlighter Pencil
Concealer: Time Balm
135 comments
Oo I’ve always wanted to try the smoky eyes-now I can! Thanks!
Pretty! And so simple. Must try this!
very nice- the brow bone highlighting makes a huge difference, i find it interesting you apply the mascara first tho
you don’t need it but additional tip for those of us with dark under-eye circles: lining the lower lid will accentuate them so make sure to apply concealer for a fresh look.
Seriously i love how the eyeliner is so thick and so black! I used bobbi brown but probably will get clinique kohl to try next time I go to a make up store. Very handy for people with smaller eyes like me.
I sometimes use silver/grey eyeshadow instead of black, looks nice as well. Thank you for the tutorial!
Gorgeous!! You make it look easy!
Just a question… do you use a nude shadow or concealer on your lids as a base? I assume the kohl is applied to the top lashes too?!
You make it look easy! Good to know “the messier the better” is part of the process – applying thick eyeliner has never been my forte!
Gorgeous! I always try the sexy smoky look then end up rubbing it off cause i look stupid! You make it look so easy
x
I am a makeup DISASTER but maybe if I’m feeling adventurous, I will try this for my next big night out on the town!
It looks great! Thanks for the tutorial, I can never master the smokey eye.
stunning, love it!
Looks beautiful. I’ve always put my mascara on at the end. Is there a reason you do it first?
pretty!
Wow! You really DO do a great smoky eye! I love extra messy kohl lining for added smudgability! Also like the concealer as lipstick…quite clever. I always have to add powder right under my eyes to prevent my transformation into a raccoon. Jotting your products down to check out!
Beautiful work but may I suggest a couple of things? You should wrap the liner around the entire eye. You’ll be amazed at how much it will add to the dramatic look. Also, your eyebrows are beautifully arched but could use some coloring in. Left unattended, they appear to thin. Just a brush of the same color eyeshadow is all it takes.
Cheers!
this is 1,000 times simpler than any other tutorial i’ve ever seen for the smoky eye! thanks emily! looking gorgeous as usual, can’t wait to read/ see more from you
xoxo
thanks for the makeup lesson… normally when i try to go for smoky effect, i would end up like a mess, i’ll try out this make up later…
this is so pretty! i like how it’s tidy and creates a depth
Thank you for this!
Great tutorial! I’ll have to try this. Never would have thought to put concealer on the lips!
Great tips. Thanks for sharing!
LOVE. Posting on kirtsy.com now!!
great tutaorial, thanks for sharing!
I can never seem to master the smokey eye but I’ll definitely try this and see if it works. Thanks!
But.. would the eye makeup start smudging during the day? how to avoid messy smudging especially when i have oily eyelids?
Gosh, why is it that every time I try to do a smoky eye I end up looking like a street walker!? I’m so jealous of everyone that can pull it off so beautifully. Le sigh.
You make it look so easy and fresh! I’m going to try it because I’ve always wanted smokey eyes, but if my friends start calling me Bandit . . .
Thank you for the tutorial. I love this look. I also started using the Define-A-Lash mascara and I really really love it!
sultry…love it for a night out!
Beautiful! Now if my makeup challenged arse can just duplicate it!
fabulous tutorial!
Yeah I love makeup tutorials! Great post!
C’est magnifique!!!
so pretty! concealer & lipgloss is my favorite for a nude lip too !
love it! I will have to try it out soon
great post! I love using concealer as nude lipstick, i do it all the time! its so easy and a great budget fix
That’s a good post.
So sexy and mysterious! Do you have any techniques for preventing the {maybe inevitable} creasing on the eyelid? I still haven’t figured out a way {or a brand of makeup} to keep the shadow and liner from hiding there, but I haven’t given up.
See, you look amazing. I would look like a crazy racoon.
You do a fabulous smokey eye! I have a different technique and colors, but it’s interesting to learn how you do it- I’ll try it!
Great tutorial! I will definitely have to try this the next time I’m going for a night-out! Thanks for posting this!
Lovely! I wish I read had this tutorial on Saturday when I was getting ready for a wedding. (Although I’m not sure that I would have been able to pull it off anyway… I’m all thumbs when it comes to putting on makeup.)
Helloooooo!
Love your step by step version than the one I did! I’ll have to try the black shadow OVER the kohl next time. I always do the reverse.
I’m addicted to smoky eyes. Today included ; )
Karen x http://www.wheredidugetthat.com
love it! you are a lady of many talents miss emily!
Mascara first! Concealer as lipstick! Learn something (sometimes two things) new every day! Thank you! GREAT smoky eye!
Look fantastic! You make it seem so simple! I’ll give it a try – hopefully I don’t turn out to look like a raccoon! You look gorgeous!
I absolutely love this look. I love how it looks on you with your eyes! I am obsessed with nude lips that’s all I wear.
You look stunning and you make it look so easy! I will most def be trying this out!
Fabulous tutorial! This would make a great video, too. (hint hint) I’ve been trying to persuade my sister to help me do one for my blog because she’s a makeup whiz. Me…not so much!
Awesome! Thanks for the tutorial!
Lovely! The smokey eye has always been so tricky for me. These tips are fab! Thanks!
Thanks for the tip! I wonder if it will work for my eyes … they’re such an odd shape! I’m a total “Euro-mutt” with some Native American thrown in there, even though I look as white as can be. I think my eye shape comes from that tiny bit of Native American. I’ll have to try it, and if it works will do a blog post and link it back here
great instructions!! so helpful
Amazing !!! I cant wait to do this the right way everytime i tried it didnt work ! So helpful!
great tutorial!
Fabulous tutorial! It looks great.
very beautiful! and easy to understand too .. maybe i’ll try this sometime! i’m such a scaredy cat with make-up!
somehow you managed to make that look so easy! i’m a huge fan of highlighter in the corners of the eyes and on the brow bown. it really makes everything pop.
this sounds pretty easy.. i’m definitely going to try it out, since i have never done smokey eyes before.
hey emily..
cant believe all it took was 5 steps–simple and chic! my smoky eye involves a lot more eyeshadow thou. lol. maybe smudging liner may be better…i love that snakeskin belt BTW. awesome.
and YES you have been added to the list! great!
andrea oxoxx
Life In Technicolor.
Hi pretty!
I love this look on you! I’m definitely going to have to pick up your highlighter pencil. I like MAC’s eye kohl in Smolder–it is the perfect shade of black and goes on smooth, and blends perfectly.
I think you should be a make-up artist. Fabulous tutorial!
Thanks!! I’m going to have to try that!!!
benefit has the best make up ever I’m addicted..love this tutorial easy & quick!
Time Balm!! How I love that brand!! Thanks for the great “how to”…I’m going to try it. Simple and easy is perfect for me.
gorgeous! i have never tried putting on mascara first. will have to try that out!
Love that you did this… I actually searched for a youtube on how to create the smoky eye in efforts to figure it out.
Great look! The smoky effect looks so amazing on you! They make your eyes pop.
may i suggest cute nudes: subculture lipliner by MAC, wildly lush lip gloss (almost color of concealer with great stingly feel) and Trish McEvoy lipliner in bare- an amazing liner!
You look absolutely fabulous with out any make up in the first photo!!! You look great in all of them, but you could totally pull off the au naturale look!!
What an awesome tutorial! Loooove the smoky eye! Such a fab blog, Emily!
http://cablecarcouture.com
I’ve always wanted to rock this look. Thanks for the tutorial! Looks great!
You make it look so easy! I love the makeup tutorial… i would love to see more! I am always lost when it comes to changing things up. Maybe some hair tutorials too? Not sure..
I love reading your blog and getting so many fun ideas! Thank you!
aaaawe! i’m so glad you did this ‘how to’! i’ve been trying to practice makeup techniques and looks to get a feel for how i want to do mine for my wedding. i’m so bad at this considering i rarely wear makeup and if i do it’s just a little mascara!
and you are absolutely fabulous at doing the smokey look!
I love your blog but PLEASE get rid of that safecount.net advertisement. It is so annoying.
Looks gorgeous! I love a smokey eye and nude lip. I love how the eyeliner goes on so dark. I’m going to have to buy it! And the highlighter. Great post!
so simple! thanks for the tips.
hey emily! i love the tutorial! sometime i would love to hear what your spring/summer staples are!
angelina
Pretty..=) My sister like the way you put the make-up.So easy too,thanks for sharing.Have a great day.=)
A Writers Den
The Brown Mestizo
Wow, I have never thought to apply mascara first, that’s usually the last thing I do. I love how the highlighter looks, I may just have to try it this way next time!
LOVE
THIS!
you have the best ideas!!
love your blog…
http://www.orangeviolet.blogspot.com
Great tutorial but why mascara first?
wow … so lovely. thanks for sharing!
So, I think I perfected your “smoky eye” tutorial. It looked great, and my BF loved it!! Thanks again Emily.
Great step by step! Love how you captured every progression!
http://www.wreckedstellar.wordpress.com
These are the perfect smokey eyes, smokey but not to smokey.
awww, very cool! thanks for posting
xoxo
uau.. SO HOT!! love it!
you look lovelier natural xx
I’ve noticed this look works soooo MUCH BETTER, with light colored eyes…good contrast.
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WTF?
That look really brings out the eyes. good job.
as a boy, i vote no on this.
Personally, this is a turn off for me (I’m a guy who happened to stumble on this for some reason). I think the heavy mascara and eyeliner makes girls look like creepy plastic dolls.
WOW, So Cool! I still can’t make up nicely, but I like this smoky eye makeup
Fun! I always Put on mascara last. Makes it easier to blend and keeps my lashes from clumping together (at least for me).
you have the exact same eye color as me and if this look goes that well with your eyes then i am going to do it one day.
I absolutely love this look, I like it in brown shades as well. I needed some tips on which products to use, I’ve had some troubles with previous eyeliners, so thank you!
-styleforest.blogspot.com
Just wanted to say I’ve come across this article a couple of times while searching for smokey eyes recently. Yours is one of the BEST tutorials I’ve seen (and I’ve seen a *lot*, believe me)! I recently bought a dark green (MAC Tarnish) kohl and used my finger to smudge, similar to you, with beautiful results. Thanks for the great how-to and I love your blog name!
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Thank goodness I’m not the only one that applies concealer to my lips (especially with played-up eyes)!
This is a great tutorial! Love the look, thank you for sharing it — I am going to try it tonight
Have you seen Smokey Eye Tutorial? You should submit your write up there! I just found it on Google right before I stumbled here.
I’ve been reading your blog for about a week now, found it on Jane Aldridge’s blog Sea of Shoes. I love the tutorials that you post, especially this one. I tried it last night for a night on the town with my boyfriend and some friends, and everyone was raving about my smoky eye! (I barely ever wear makeup, just sunscreen on my face and spf lip balm…but I will definitely do this look again!) Thanks much!
Great tips for a “light” version of the look.
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Awesome tutorial
I love they smokey eye look.
the steps u showed r so simple and easy. it makes me feel confident enough to try it! a lot of times when i see how-to-do smokey eye tutorials theres tooooo many steps involved. i tried it and succeeded!! thanx girli <3
Before the make-up girl looks a lot prettier than after.
Question: When did having colored lips become a bad thing? Not that it doesn’t look *bad* per say, but it would look better if you picked a light rose or pink that compliments you’re complexion, rather then looking like you’re trying to hide your lips.
Love it! It took me way too long in life to love makeup! Thank goodness for women with the know-how to teach the late-bloomers!
Just GORGEOUS!!! xx
i love that you are showing us older post! For those of use who haven’t been following for that long!
xoxo
Michelle.
ps. cuteness
http://www.chellbellz.com
Oh my goodness…you make this so much easier than what I’ve tried in the past! Thank you!
~Sarah
Fast, simple and fabulous looking
Good job!
thanks for the simplicity! xo!
this is my favorite smokey eye! you should make more how to’s
never never never put concealer on your lips… it is not flattering on any skin type
With a blending brush (big fluffy) add a neutral brown (I don’t want to mention it because it is so hype, but it basically contains all the browns you can need, yes Urban Decay Naked…) just above the crease and blend up to the eyebrows. It will add more drama and also soften the dark black contour.
I’ll try it hopefully I can get it right LOL
Thank you – the way you showed it seems so easy, but then again I never seem to get it right.
thanks! it seems easier the way you did it!
xoxo
thanks! it seems easier the way you did it! i think i’ll try it!
xoxo
I just recreated this look. Check out my post: http://leahhg.wordpress.com/2011/08/04/benefits-eye-bright/
Thanks for the tutorial Emily!
I liked your tutorial but more steps and more explaining would have helped.
Wow… this tutorial was easier than i expected.. thanks a lot for sharing.. this has helped me a lot.. maybe now i’ll be able to do smoky eyes..
SO practical! I love this idea pretty
If you have trouble with the shadow staying all day, I suggest using an eye primer. It makes a huge difference in the long run!
Love the way your pictures are staged. They turn out great.
I am a new follower.
http://savgrace.blogspot.com/
Giveaway going on right now!
me encanta!
Thanx soo much! Doing this for Christmas tomorrow! So excited!
Omg amazing! Love the makeup tips. If you’re like me and have a hard time getting it to look perfect, I just bought a celebrity makeup artist Daniel Blaylock package on http://www.mintcastle.com
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