To create a smokey eye, you will need the following materials:
- Eyeshadow palette with complementary colors
- Eyeshadow brushes (crease brush, blending brush, smudge brush, small concealer brush, fan brush, angled definer brush)
- Eyeliner (optional)
- Mascara
- Eye-safe primer or concealer
Here are the steps to create a basic smokey eye:
- Prime your eyelids with an eye-safe primer or concealer to create an even base for vibrant and long-lasting eyeshadow pigment.
- Choose complementary eyeshadow colors that will accentuate your eyes. A classic smokey eye includes three different shades: a shade for your mobile lid, a crease color, and a highlight shade. The crease color tends to be the darkest, the highlight shade the lightest, and the mobile lid shade is usually a mid-tone.
- Apply the lightest shade all over your eyelid to create an even layer of pigment for the base of your smokey eye.
- Apply the crease color to your crease and gently buff the pigment from the center of your eyelid to the outer corner.
- Apply the darkest shade to the outer corner of your eyelid and blend it into the crease color.
- Use an angled definer brush to apply eyeliner to your upper lash line (optional).
- Use a smudge brush to smudge the eyeliner into your lash line for a more natural look (optional).
- Apply mascara to your lashes to complete the look.
Positive aspects of creating a smokey eye include the ability to achieve a sultry and glamorous look with the right colors and application method. Negative aspects may include the use of conventional eyeshadow that is typically formulated with a plethora of toxic and unsafe ingredients to avoid in skincare like parabens, aluminum, thimerosal, talc, formaldehyde, acetate, benzalkonium chloride, asbestos, and heavy metals. However, there are natural and organic eyeshadow brands available that use safer ingredients.
