smoke it up

a sultry smoky eye with color

With this application technique, you will be able to create a sexy, smoky eye. Even though this is definitely a dramatic look, you control just how dramatic it is by choosing how dark your eyeshadow shades will be. You can use lighter shades and create a subtle effect, or choose darker shades for maximum drama. Whatever your eyeshadow color choice is, this application technique will define your eyes and make you look gorgeous in Holiday party photographs. Since colorful smoky eyes are in I chose to use purple, it is the most on trend color shade and is flattering on everyone. This look works fabulously with every eye shape except deep-set.

Application:

• Highlight shade: Using a matte shade so that you only see the purple, take brush #10 and applied a soft cream (sweet cream for ivory/ beige silky caramel for bronze/ ebony) to the brow bone only.
• Midtone shade: Using brush #27 take a shimmering purple (iris) and start at the base of your upper lashline and bring the color up and over your entire lid – all the way up to your brow bone. Also take brush #13 and brush it along the lower lashline: this will help to create definition and help create blend later when adding contour shade.
• Eyeliner: Take a charcoal eye pencil (black) and line your top and bottom lashline, now take brush #18 and a black eyeshadow (coal), lay the brush directly along the line and pull up. This is the reason for the length and shape of this brush; it is perfect for creating smoky liner.
• Contour shade: Again, using brush #27 take a shimmering amethyst (sweet plum) start at the base of your lashline and layer the color over your midtone all the way across your lid and up into the crease. Now using brush #13 sweep the contour color underneath the lower lashline as well. You’ll create a light-to-dark effect with the three eyeshadows, with the darkest shade applied closest to the lashline and fading as you go toward the brow.
• With this look, make sure you line your entire eye all along the top and bottom lashline.

With the smoky eye look, of course your eyes are the absolute focus. Soft, subtly glowing cheeks would look best. You can use color--just make sure it is a soft, sheer color so that it is not too intense for the eyes. Using brush #60 take a neutral sheer blush, for ivory/ beige a shimmering peach (shy blush) for bronze/ ebony a shimmering copper (golden copper) and apply it all along your cheek bone. If you choose deep, rich eyeshadow colors, make sure you wear a very soft, subtle lip color. You never want both your eyes and lips to be dark at the same time! Your lips should be as subtle as possible; close to nude would be best. You are going to want to use brush #80 or #81 to apply your lip color, because we are not going to use lip liner in order to create the most subtle lip possible, for ivory/ beige a shimmering nude (sweet nectar) for bronze/ ebony a shimmering nude (amber glow). Now top your lip off with the perfect shine to pull it all together, for ivory/ beige a shimmering peach (gold rush) for bronze/ ebony a shimmering bronze (beach bronze). Do not forget if you apply lip gloss with a brush it will always look much shinier. 

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