A smoky eye is a smoky eye is a smoky eye, right? Well not exactly. There’s more than one way to nail this beauty classic – just ask the lovely ladies at the Golden Globes. Here are three different but equally beautiful ways to create a smoky eye:
1. Lined & Lovely
Girls actress Allison Williams sported a stripped-back version of the smoky that was all about delicately applied kohl liner teamed with shimmering hints of silver in the inner corners for brightness and definition.
To achieve the look, start with charcoal eyeshadow on the top lid, then draw a thin line of black kohl along the upper lash line, getting as close to the lashes as possible, then gently flick it out from the outer corners. Try Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Eye Pencil in Jet, $35, from department stores.
Next, line the lower waterline with black kohl, and then add silver liner or eyeshadow to the inner corners to help brighten and open the eyes. Finish with mascara and false lashes.
2. Smudged & Smokin’
Kate Mara took the look a step further by carefully blending eyeshadow and softly smudging her eyeliner to elongate the eye area.
Copy Kate by applying black or charcoal eyeshadow on the top lid, then blend it out and up from the outer corners to create a smoky cat eye effect. Next, use a creamy black eyeliner pencil with a blender on the end to line the top lash line. Try Elizabeth Arden Smoky Eyes Powder Pencil in Smoke Black, $36, from department stores.
Next, line the lower waterline as well as the lower lash line. Use the blender end of your eyeliner pencil to gently smudge the eyeliner. This will break up any solid lines and create that sexy ‘smoky’ effect. Finish with mascara and falsies.
3. Full Throttle
Enter the BAM-factor. Emma Roberts has gone for a fully-fledged, classic smoky eye that blends multiple shadow colours to amplify the contours of the eye area and add extra drama.
To create the look, get your mitts on an eyeshadow quad featuring shades of grey and black. Try Avon True Color Eyeshadow Quad in Urban Skyline, $29.99, from Avon representatives.
Wash the lightest eyeshadow shade over your entire lid area and under your brow bone, then apply the next lightest shade over your eyelid. Use the medium-dark eyeshadow onto the outer corner of your eyelids, working it up into the socket crease and smoking it out by blending it outwards and upwards from the outer corners of your eyes.
Complete the look by lining your eyes with black shadow or liner, then finish with false lashes and mascara.
Lauren x
Which of these three looks do you prefer?
Is the smoky eye part of your regular makeup repertoire?