Smokey Eye Makeup - Learn How To Master The Perfect Smokey Eye

Smokey eye makeup is equally sexy and daunting! If not done incorrectly, this eye makeup style can look messy and make you look tired, haggard or worse, it can leave you with raccoon eyes. If you are dreading that you might end up with the wrong eye makeup look, don’t worry, we got you covered. Learn how to do a smokey eyes in simple steps and be at the top of eye makeup game!

How To Do Smokey Eye Makeup?

Here’s a simple smokey eye tutorial that will help you create an edgy and glamorous smokey eye makeup look every time. 

Step 1: Start with Eye Makeup  

Doing your face makeup first probably comes to you naturally, but the dark eyeshadow shades tend to fall out and can lead to a messy under-eye area. We recommend starting your eye makeup before applying your foundation and concealer to clean up any mistakes or product fall out later.  

Step 2: Apply a Primer   

‘Not to prime’ is a crime – and this is especially true when creating a dramatic smokey eye look.

 

Since smokey eyes require a lot of blending, priming your eyelids helps create a smooth base, makes the blending process easier, and delivers smudge-free lasting performance.

 

• Use a brightening concealer (pick one or two shades lighter) as a primer to make your eyeshadow pop, prevent creasing before the smokey eye makeup.  

Step 3: Prep the Base  

The next step of our smokey eye tutorial talks further about prepping the eyelids. Once you are done applying primer, move on to layer light eyeshadow hues like light brown, taupe, and champagne shades as the transition shades allow you to create a smooth canvas for blending dark shades for a more diffused effect.   

Step 4: Add Dark Shades   

For stunning smokey eyes, place the darkest shade of eyeshadow along your lash line and blend upwards. Don't go down beyond your lower lashes as it can give an unwanted "ghostly" appearance. Black or nude eyeshadow look are indeed dramatic and when combined with a tint of warm dark brown, it brings depth and warmth. Use black smokey gel pencil eyeliner to line your lower lash line, apply brown eyeshadow over it, and blend for an intense smokey eye makeup look.  

Step 5: Highlight Brow Bone and Inner Corners 

Smokey eye makeup exudes nothing but glamour! Hence, to elevate the glam quotient even more, apply a bright highlighter in the inner corner of your eyes and under your eyebrows to amp up your smokey eye look. 

Step 6: Blend and Blur  

Looking for effective smokey eye makeup tips? Well, blending and blurring all the dark colours together is the key. Smokey eyes are meant to be carefully smudged – in a way that they look undefined without looking messy.  

 

• Use a fluffy blending brush and blur away any harsh lines using small circular motions.  

 

• Make sure that your smokey makeup look appears in a gradient and blurred and has no clear demarcations between the different eyeshadow shades.  

Step 7: Use Kajal When in Rush  

Wondering how to do smokey eyes when in a hurry? Well, grab the kajal and create a quick and easy smokey eyeshadow look in no time.  

 

• Apply creamy and blend-able kajal stick to cover the outer third of your eyelid. 

 

• Use your finger or a dense blending brush to smudge the kajal 

 

• Add your favourite eyeshadow shade to the rest of your eyelid.

 

Voila! It’s done! Now that you know how to do a smokey eye, you can rock a grungy eye look even when in a rush 

Step 8: Experiment with Colours  

While black is the dominant shade when it comes to smokey eye makeup, go beyond it and experiment with different colours like deep wine, navy blue, and more to create stunning smokey eye makeup. Try blue smokey eyes for a fun pop of colour or create a natural smokey eye look.  

Bonus Guide: Natural Smokey Eye Tutorial 

To create natural smokey eye makeup, prep with a matte neutral shade and apply a matte dark colour to the outer corners. Follow with dark eyeliner pencil at the bottom and top lash lines. Blend with a brush for a natural smokey eye makeup. For an extra oomph, use a gold eyeshadow shade from on the inner half of your eyelid and blend it with a dark brown eyeshadow for a soft and subtle smokey eye look! 

 

(Read on to know which 5 eye brushes you must have in your vanity).

 

With this smokey eye tutorial, you will be on your way to mastering the smokey eyes in no time! If this is your first time creating a smokey eye makeup look, we recommend keeping micellar water, and makeup-removing wipes handy to clean up mistakes. 

 

Play with different eye makeup and eyeshadow shades and give yourself a virtual makeover at home with the Maybelline Virtual Try-On tool. You can also experiment with various face makeup and lip makeup products with this advanced tool without any commitments.