How To Do A Smokey Eye

You need:
-Gel eyeliner (or Kohl eyeliner)
-Eyelid Primer 
-Eyeshadow trio 
-Mascara 

Step 1. Prep & Prime
To keep eye shadow from creasing throughout the day, thou must prime thy eye. Simply swipe an eyelid primer across the eye, (we love Elizabeth Arden Eye-Fix Primer RRP $40 Stockists Ph.1800 015 500). Give it about a minute to dry before moving to step 2.

Step 2. Liner time
A Kohl eyeliner pencil creates a great smokey eye, but for flawlessly fluid application, we love a long-wearing gel liner (try Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner RRP 32.95 Stockists Ph. 1800 814 572). Line the eye above the upper lash line, and into the lower lash line using an eyeliner brush. Gently sweep and subtly smudge out using the brush or your finger.

Step 3. Ace your base colour
The medium shimmery colour in your eye shadow trio is your ‘base’. For a stunning smokey eye that lasts the distance, (we love Dior 3 Couleurs Smoky Eyeshadow Palette in Smoky Black, and Smoky Nude for a softer look RRP $72 Stockists Ph. 02 9695 4800). Using an eye shadow brush, sweep the medium base colour into the lid, carefully keeping below the crease of your eyelid. 

Step 4. Highlight
Sweep the softest hue from your palette above the crease, up into the brow bone to highlight. Tip: you can also apply the light, shimmery colour around the corners of the eyes to make them appear larger. 

Step 4. Blend baby, blend
Take the darkest hue from your palette and sweep around the outer corner of the eye–working your way onto the lid. Blend a little bit of the darker eye shadow over the base colour and into your crease by wiggling the brush back and forth.

Step 5. The lines are blurred
Using an eyeliner brush, gently trace on one last layer of the darkest colour over your gel or kohl eyeliner on the top lid, as well as on the bottom lash line. Blur and smudge it out with your finger for that extra sexy smokey eye effect.

Step 6. Lashings of lashes
Finish off the look with lashings of mascara (we love Smokey Lash Kapow Mascara RRP $34.95) which is packed with glossy smoky-black and is both waterproof and smudge-proof. 

Expert tip:
Make-up Maestro Napoleon Perdis’ tips on pulling together your smokey eye look: “Make sure your brows are groomed and in shape. Apply a peachy blush onto the apples of the cheeks for colour and sweep back into the hairline to create some contours in the face. For the lips, try a fleshy pink hue in either lipstick or gloss,” he says.
 

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Image credit: style.com