How to Do a Basic Smoky Eye: A Makeup Artist's Step-by-Step Tutorial

Smoky eyes can instantly elevate and intensify your makeup. However, creating a dark, smoked-out eye makeup look can be tricky. Figuring out which eyeshadows and pencils to use and where to apply them takes some trial and error. However, throughout my career as a makeup artist, I've learned a few tricks and techniques that have made achieving a basic smoky eye easy. Ahead, find my step-by-step tutorial on creating a simple, cool-toned smoky eye.

Prime and Line Your Lids

Priming is the first (and most important) step in any eyeshadow look. Applying an eyeshadow primer ensures your look lasts a while without smudging or creasing. If your lids have discoloration, you can opt for a color-correcting primer. Otherwise, you can use a clear one.

After the primer dries, follow up with an eyeliner pencil like Sisley Paris Phyto-Khol Star Waterproof Matte Eyeliner ($70) in Matte Onyx. Apply it to the top lash line and bottom inner rim of the eye, smudging it out slightly with your finger to create the baseline for the smoke. Waterproof liners are great for this step because liner tends to disappear around the waterline, which is a naturally moist area.

Choose Your Smoky Eyeshadows

Once your liner is applied to your liking, mix two cool-colored eyeshadows from your favorite palette. I used the Makeup By Mario Master Mattes Neutral Eyeshadow Palette ($50) and applied the shades MN10 and MN11 (think: cool taupe and grey tones). For blending, you'll want to use a brush soft and large enough to disperse shadow evenly.

I lightly tapped my brush in each color and blended the shadow in a circular motion in the crease. When blending your shadow, start in the center of your crease and then move back and forth to build contrast. You can apply more shadow as you go to deepen the color and intensify the smoky effect.

Add Sparkly Eyeshadow

Adding shimmery eyeshadow on top of your smoky base is an excellent way to level up your look. I applied Surratt Souffle Eyeshadow ($48) in Nuage D'Argent—a sheer silver grey with champagne shimmer—to the center of my lid and extended it to the outer corner of the eye using my finger. You can also add some shimmer to the inner corners of your eyes if you're feeling extra fancy.

Apply Mascara

Voluminous lashes will make your smoky eye stand out even more, so feel free to apply as many coats of your favorite mascara as you like. I applied a few coats of Lisa Eldridge's Kitten Lash Mascara ($36) to lift my lashes as much as possible. Start at the base of your lashes and wiggle the wand back and forth to create instant thickness. Then, move the brush upward through the lashes to ensure they separate without clumping. For the bottom lashes, hold the mascara wand vertically and lightly tap each lash to get mascara on it without it transferring to the skin under the eyes.

Add Lashes

If you want to add more drama to your cool-toned, smoky look, apply false lashes. I used Lilac St. Lash Clusters ($11) in Midnight 12mm to add instant volume to the outer corners and center of my lashes. These can be applied under the lashes and sealed with the application tool for a natural look.

The Final Look

After your eyes are finished, you can move on to the rest of your makeup. Applying foundation and concealer after your eyeshadow makes it easy to clean up any fallout without ruining your makeup. You'll want to pay extra attention to your brows when doing a smoky eye, as they frame your face.

I applied Kulfi's Free The Brow Volumizing & Laminating Brow Gel ($26) to my brows and brushed them up to get them looking as full as possible. Then I went in and added natural hair-like strokes with Make Beauty's Blade Line Brow Pencil ($22) in Cool Brown to the sparse areas of my brow. To finish, I applied a natural-looking blush and light lip color to offset the smoky shadow and create a balanced look.

Tips

Have some fallout? Put some eye makeup remover on a Q-tip and lightly rub it under the eyes until the eyeshadow is removed.

Read the original article on Byrdie.