What I Do: Marianne's Easy Smoky Eye

"When using dark colors on your eyes, it is important to use a good eye shadow base to avoid having the colors move around or crease. I apply MAC's Paint Pot in Bare Study all over my eye, from my lid to my brow bone, and blend until the product is distributed evenly. I like this particular color because it blends in easily with my skin tone while still providing a slight pearly finish."

$16.50 at maccosmetics.com

"Next, I take my Sue Devitt Eye Intensifier Pencil and line my lash line, winging the liner out on the end to create a cat-eyed shape. I try not to use much — the liner is creamy and very pigmented, so a little goes a long way! Taking the end of the pencil with the sponge tip, I blend the liner upward into my crease and take some of the excess into my lower lash line to tie the look together. Then, I line my lower lash line with the pencil and blend out any harsh lines with the sponge tip."

$22 at suedevittbeauty.com

"Using a small brush, I blend this shadow right under my eyebrow to highlight my brow bone. I also like to blend a little into the inner corner of my eyes to open them up a bit more, and add some overall shimmer to the look."

$17 at sephora.com

"Curling my eyelashes is something that I absolutely have to do before completing any look. It really opens up the eye and gives lashes an instant boost. The NARS Eyelash Curler is my favorite because it gives my lashes a natural-looking curl instead of just looking bent, and my lashes hold the curl all day. I hold the curler closed over my lashes for about 10 seconds, then apply one or two coats of mascara immediately after."

$20 at narscosmetics.com

"I have a love affair with this mascara. I've tried a variety of different mascaras, from drugstore to department store brands, and this one is my favorite. The formula is amazing for making your lashes really stand out, and the brush does a good job of separating each lash so you don't have to worry about having the product clump together."

$7.50 at ulta.com