Smokey eye is one of the sexiest, most seductive looks that you can do with makeup. However, there’s definitely a craft in striking the fine balance between looking like you’re going out to a bar, and looking like you just got into a bar fight. The trick is picking your colors well and blending properly. Perfecting the smokey eye is not limited to makeup fiends and makeup artists alike, but to anyone with the correct tools and a little know-how. Learn to apply both a classic and dramatic Smokey Eye with these fast and easy steps.

I used all natural, cruelty free and Vegan makeup to create this look and it was so fun to shoot!

How To Achieve This Look:

1. Face Prep is important for a natural, sexy look. Dramatic eyes with a bare face can sometimes be off-putting, so use a highlighter, bronzer or blush, and something on your cheeks and lips as well.

Skin Prep:

RMS Beauty Oil

Christopher Drummond Skin Prep

Face:

Christopher Drummond Duo-Phase Concealer

RMS Beauty “Uncoverup” in 11

RMS Living Lumizer

Vapour Organic Beauty Illusionist Concealer

Christopher Drummond Finale Finishing Powder

Cheeks:

RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek in Rapture

RMS Beauty Buriti Bronzer

Vapour Beauty Bronzer in Spicy

Christopher Drummond Matte Summer Titanium Dioxide Free Blush

Lips:

Osmia Organics Lip Luster

Marie Natie Lip Gloss in Sheer

2. Choose Your Colors

You should choose three shades of each color: a light, creamy color, a medium base color, and a dark smokey color.

I went with a blend of Honeybee Gardens Smokey Eye Shadow Palette, RMS Beauty liquid eyeshadow in Karma and Delizioso Skincare Black Currant Eye Shadow, and then lined my eyes with Delizioso Skincare Black Eye Liner Pencil.

I used the Honeybee Gardens brush as well as some home-made brushes to achieve this look. Green eyes look particularly good with a gray and plum smokey eye, while blue eyes pop with gold or copper and brown eyes go great with shades of navy and gray.

3. Apply Your Highlight Color

Apply the lightest of your 2 – dabbing it on the inside corner of your eyelid on both your upper and lower lids. Sweep it directly under your eyebrows as well, from the beginning to the end of your brows.

4. Apply Your Medium Shade

Apply this to your entire eyelid. Apply it upwards only to the natural crease on your lid, not all the way to the highlighter underneath your brows.

5. Add your Darkest Color

By making a “C” shape from about halfway inwards (from the outside of your face) on the lash line, back up and around to about halfway in on the crease of your eyelid. Start at the upper edge of your lash line and work inwards. You can also do this the “opposite way” on the color spectrum like I did, and have your darkest color closest to your nose.

6. To Add A Dramatic Look

To add some drama to your classic smokey eye, sweep your dark eyeshadow to a point (more of a “<” shape than a “C” shape) towards the end of your eyebrow. Make sure that the darkest point still remains at the outside corner of your lash line.

7. Blend Blend Blend!!

Clean your eyeshadow brush with makeup brush cleaner or face soap/shampoo and water. Dry your brush on a clean towel or rag by sweeping it quickly back and forth across the fabric. Then, use your brush to blend the colors together, starting with the lightest color and working out. For the MOST dramatic look, apply your highlighter color directly under your brow again.