How-To: The Basic Smoky Eye
An easy step-by-step guide to achieving the perfect smoky eye.
Mastering the perfect smoky eye can be intimidating. Don't let that put a damper on your holiday prep. Take the mystery out of this party ready look with these easy steps. Plus, 4 eyeliner looks everyone should master.
How-To: The Basic Smoky Eye
MAC senior artist, Romero Jennings, was on hand to give his tips on achieving the perfect (and easy) smoky eye.
Step 1:
Jennings starts by making the model's eyes look bigger with an eyelash curler (try the Kevyn Aucoin lash curler). Then, he smudges a black kohl liner to the waterline on both the top and bottom lashes.
MAC Eye Kohl in Smolder, $15.00; amazon.com
Kevyn Aucoin The Eyelash Curler, $25; amazon.com
Step 2:
Lifting the lid slightly, Jennings adds the same black kohl pencil to the upper lashes, trying to stay as close to the root line as possible.
Step 3:
Using a stiff, pointed brush Jennings smudges the color out by adding a little bit of the kohl pencil to the brush. Using the same brush, he pulls the line out slightly in a winged shape, towards the temple so it doesn't close the eye in. "By making the line fat and fluffy," says Jennings, "you end up with a younger, softer look."
MAC Eye Brush #219, $26.50; amazon.com
Step 4:
Jennings then uses a black gel liner and blends it into the lid with a fluffy natural bristle brush. "Start close to the lash line," Jennings says, "and blend towards the crease for a softer look."
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack, $16.50; maccosmetics.com
MAC Brush #224, $31; nordstrom.com
Step 5:
With the same fluffy brush (wipe the bristles off on a tissue first), Jennings adds a shimmery golden beige color to the lid, starting close to the lashes and blending out towards the brow.
MAC Eye Shadow in Patina, $15; nordstrom.com
Step 6:
He then takes a stiff, pointed brush (the same one as before) to add the golden beige color to the bottom lashes as well, right over the black kohl pencil.
Step 7:
Don't forget to add a generous amount of mascara. "I love the small brush on this mascara," says Jennings about the MAC Extended Play mascara. "It separates and adds drama."
MAC Extended Play Mascara, $16; maccosmetics.com
Final Look
Click through to see how to add even more dimension to your eyes with just a few more products.
Step 8:
"The key is to use soft bushes and blend with clean bristles." Jennings advises. Here, he adds a cool, plum color right over Lauren's lid, patting it on with a stiff bristle brush.
MAC Eye Brush # 272, $25; nordstrom.com
Step 9:
He adds the same cool, plum color below the lashes as well, using a stiff pointed brush.
MAC Eye Brush #219, $21.45; amazon.com
Step 10:
To add a pop of dimension to the lid, Jennings uses a shimmery gold shadow to just the center of eyelid, right on top of the rest of the color.
MAC Pressed Pigment in Warming Heart, $21; maccosmetics
Step 11:
Finish your look with a dab of a shimmery lip gloss in the center of your lips.
MAC Lip Glass in Perky, $15; nordstrom.com
Final Look
The final look is a sultry, sexy and easy to do smoky eye look that can go from desk to dance floor with just a few simple steps.
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