HOW TO: NAIL A SMOKEY EYE

Just like the little black dress, George Clooney and drinking Pina Coladas and taking walks in the rain (blow-dry be damned, girlfriend!) the smokey eye is timelessly sexy. However many women skip it altogether, imagining more of a raccoon or panda like effect, than a raunchy smouldering smokey eye. Many of us feel that it’s simply not within our manicured grasp and just too hard to recreate – right? Well we’ve compiled eight easy steps to achieving a smouldering, sexy smokey eye. And all you need to remember is blend, blend, and blend. Do try this at home!

Step One: Primer

There is nothing worse than a smokey eye that likes to travel, smear and settle into fine lines two hours into your night out. Start your smokey eye adventure with a good primer, blend it lightly over your eye lids and under your eyes to ensure that your makeup stays in place way past the last call for drinks and beyond!

Try: Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch

Step Two: Concealer & Powder

Nothing kills the sexiness of a smokey eye like a dark circle, instead of a vampy smouldering stare you’ll simply appear bruised! Swipe a creamy concealer along your under eye area using a brush or your middle finger. Many a makeup artist will suggest then follow using a fluffy brush to tap translucent powder on and under the eye area. The powder will work to catch any loose particles as you apply your eye shadow. Once you have completed the look, gently wipe the powder away with a tissue. Voila flawless! Read our Makeup Tips for an Instant Face Lift.

Try: Clarins Mineral Loose Powder

Step Three: Curl those Lashes

Sporting battable, come-hither lashes are a must when creating a sultry eye. Make use of an eyelash curler and gently clamp at the base of your lashes, hold for the count of five and release. For the truly dedicated, blast your eye lash curler with the heat from a blow-dryer before curling. By heating the curler it actually makes the curl last longer!

Step Four: Dark Shadow

Blend a dark shadow from your lashes to crease, and then use a small angled brush to drag the shadow along your lower lash lines. For those who shy away from the sultry black look, why not try a shimmering bronze or green, a smoky eye doesn’t have to be black and playing with other colours can produce an element of surprise.

Try: Sheercover Eye Palette Smokey

Step Five: Smudge

A perfect smokey eye shouldn’t have any harsh lines; ensure to blend softly at the edges either by using a cotton tip or a smudge brush. Lightly smudge the shadow at the crease and swipe along the bottoms lashes.

Try: Real Techniques Starter Set

Step Six: Line Up

Okay so we’ve got the colour in place and it’s now time to define the eye with a creamy black eye pencil. Drag it along the top and bottom lash lines, ensuring that no skin is showing between lashes and the line. For an ultra-sultry effect, line your bottom lash line too (gently pull under eye skin down to get access).

Step Seven: Highlighter

To open the eye area and add a touch of twinkling radiance to your look, blend a shimmery highlighter along the brow bone and in the inner corners of your eyes. For those with fair to medium skin try a pearl hue for those with darker complexions try champagne shades to truly offset your look.

Step Eight: Mascara

No smokey eye is complete without lush, unbearably hot lashes! For to-die-for lashes with an out there effect try a fibre infused mascara. The fibres will attach themselves to the lashes and in between creating the illusion of vampy volume and lustful length.

Try: ModelCo Fatlash Black Mascara