How to create a classic smoky eye

Makeup choices are often dictated by the atmosphere where you will spend your time in. If you work in a conservative office in a professional role, you probably rely on neutral colors to enhance your features. Even though the winged liner has gone mainstream, and false lashes have lost their risqué reputation, what is the rule when it comes to wearing smoky eye makeup?

This nighttime staple has been around far longer than most people realize. Think back to Cleopatra, and you will find that smoky looks have prevailed throughout the ages. For most people, this dramatic style is an occasional indulgence, but if you've never tried it, you may find that your efforts leave you looking more grunge than glam.

To master a smoky eye, take a tip from the experts and don't limit yourself to a single color. Eye makeup needs dimension, and this tutorial will show you how to achieve both drama and depth.

Materials
- Brow pencil with screw brush attachment (Revlon ColorStay Brow Pencil)
- Liquid foundation (Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Foundation)
- Concealer brush
- Flat-topped buffing brush
- Yellow-beige cream eye shadow (MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot, Soft Ochre)
- Warm medium matte brown eye shadow (Melt Cosmetics Dark Matter Stack, Unseen)
- Fluffy blending brush
- Black gel eyeliner (Inglot Cosmetics AMC Eyeliner Gel)
- Mixing medium (Inglot Cosmetics Duraline)
- Flat eye shadow brush
- Brownish plum matte eye shadow (Melt Cosmetics Dark Matter Stack, Enigma)
- Small fluffy brush
- Black matte eye shadow (Melt Cosmetics Dark Matter Stack, Dark Matter)
- Yellow matte eye shadow (Huda Beauty Warm Brown Obsessions Palette)
- Shader brush
- Damp beauty sponge
- Black mascara (L’Oréal Voluminous Original Mascara)
- False eye lashes
- Tweezers
- Lash glue (not shown)
- Black eyeliner pencil (Wet n Wild Color Icon Kohl Liner Pencil)
- Setting spray (NYX Dewy Finish Makeup Setting Spray)

Instructions
1. Define your brows and fill in any sparse areas with the brow pencil, then diffuse the pigment and brush your brows into place using the screw brush attachment.

2. Conceal any stray brow hair and clean up the brow outline by applying foundation with a concealer brush. Slowly drag the brush under the brow bone, then sweep the brush above the brows as well. Use a flat-topped buffing brush to press the foundation into place using tapping motions.

3. Pat yellow-beige eye shadow onto the eye area from the lash line up to the brows using the concealer brush. Buff the product in fully using the buffing brush. Tip: If the under-eye area is discolored, you can also apply cream shadow here to conceal the darkness.

4. Sweep warm medium matte brown eye shadow onto the crease of the eye with the fluffy blending brush. Tip: Use gentle windshield wiper motions to diffuse the pigment.

5. Black gel eyeliner can be difficult to blend when used as an eye shadow base, so add a few drops of mixing medium to the pot first. Dab the flat eye shadow brush into the thinned mixture, then apply it to the eyelid. Diffuse the pigment with a fluffy blending brush, and smudge it under the lower lashes as well. Don’t worry about cleaning up the under-eye area yet.

6. Sweep brownish plum matte eye shadow onto the crease with a small fluffy brush to create a transition between the black and brown colors. Buff the same color under the eye as well.

7. Pat black matte eye shadow onto the lid and below the lower lashes with the flat eye shadow brush.

8. Brighten the inner corner of the eye by patting yellow matte eye shadow near the tear duct with a shader brush. Sweep away any excess shadow with the fluffy blending brush.

9. Remove excess shadow below the eyes with a damp beauty sponge. You can also use the buffing brush and a small amount of foundation to improve the look of the area above and below the eye.

10. Deepen the color below the eye by applying more brownish plum eye shadow with the fluffy blending brush.

11. Apply one or two coats of black mascara to your upper and lower lashes.

12. Hold the false lashes with the tweezers, then apply a small amount of lash glue onto the lash band. Let the glue set for 10 seconds, then apply the lashes just above your upper lash line.

13. Fill in the lower waterline with black eyeliner pencil.

14. Set your makeup by spritzing your face with setting spray. Hold the bottle at least 6 inches away from your skin to avoid leaving wet droplets of moisture behind. Wave your hands in front of your face to help the spray dry.

Enjoy your sultry self! Stay pretty!