Smokey eye makeup
can be a tricky look to master—especially around the under-eye region.
Done wrong, the deep shadows can make you look tired, but when it's
applied perfectly, however, smokey eye makeup along your lower lashes
"gives a sort of edginess, a downtown-girl effect," says makeup artist Troy Surratt. Read on for his foolproof tips in this smokey eye makeup tutorial.
[post_ads_2]7 Smokey Eye Makeup Pro Tips
1. Stay Smudge-Free with a Primer
A
little bit of primer goes along way. Eyelid primer is a critical step
when applying smokey eye makeup. Prime your lids to ensure your dark
shadow and eyeliner stays put and doesn't get easily smeared outside
your lids and rims.
2. Use a Bit of Brown
"The way to get the
most attractive smoky eyes is to add warmth," Surratt says. "Even if I'm
doing a black smoky eye, I'll mix in warm, dark brown to give
dimension." He suggests lining underneath the eyes with a black pencil:
"Then take a small shadow brush, dip that into [brown] eye shadow and
put it over the pencil. Blend the two together, to create that rich,
diffused look."
[post_ads_2]3. Play With Colors
Smokey eye makeup doesn't have to be black. Try experimenting with other rich, dark colors, like deep plum, navy blue, charcoal gray or dark olive.
4. Stay Close to the Lashes
"You
have to be careful about how far down you take the makeup," Surratt
says. "As a rule of thumb, the color shouldn't extend too much further
than your lower lashes—it starts to look ghoulish if it extends too far
down. You want the color to be rich and dense closer to the lash line,
diffusing out subtly the further down you go."
5. Blur Your Lines
While
smokey eye makeup is carefully applied, it's not meant to look that
way. Smokey eyes should be artfully smudged. Run a crease brush or
mini-dome brush along your lids to blend out the eye shadow for a
signature smokey look. Gently smudge the color under your eyes, as well.
[post_ads_2]6. Consider Placement
"Keep
eye shadow under the iris and the outer corners. You don't want to
bring eye makeup into your tear troughs," he says. "The tear trough is
the area where women put concealer — from the tear duct down."
7. Clean Up After Yourself
"Apply
the eye makeup first, then clean up with Q-Tips, or eye makeup remover
to keep it looking polished," Surratt says. Keep the color near the
lashes, then brighten the area by applying a little highlighter to the
inner corners.
