How To Nail Smokey Eye Makeup & 5 Looks That'll Suit Every Mood

Before jumping into the steps, let's be clear about what products we need for an easy-peasy smokey eye:

-Concealer

-Eyeshadow palette

-Blending and tapered brush

-Gel eyeliner 

Begin by priming the eye area to avoid any shadow fallout and smudging later on. To prime, you can use either an eyeshadow primer or a brightening concealer — both will help to smooth out your eye area and will give your makeup something to grip onto as well as a uniform coloured base for your eyeshadow to pup up against.

Then start by choosing your shades — a classic smoky eye includes three different shades; a shade for your mobile lid (the part that moves when you blink), a crease colour (the hollow under the brow bone) and a highlight shade (again for the visible part of the lid).

LBB Tip: The crease colour tends to be the darkest, the highlight shade the lightest, and the mobile lid shade is usually a mid-tone that's applied at the end. A classic smoky eye typically uses matte shades in the black, brown or grey family but you can always experiment with colours if you are feeling more playful. 

Start applying your eyeshadow by adding dimension to your look by starting with your crease colour. Pick a coordinating dark shade that's one to two shades darker than your all-over shade. Then use a blending brush to blend the colour into the outer corner of your eye. Move towards the center of your eyelid as you blend the shade in small, circular motions, adding layers to intensify the pigment until you have a smoky blend.

Keep blending until there's an undetectable division between the colours. Then, its time to apply your highlight shade which is supposed to be a neutral almost-skin coloured matte if you are going the classic route, or a shimmer topper if you are opting for a glittered effect. 

The classic black smokey eye is a timeless look that never goes out of style. This dramatic look is achieved by blending black eyeshadow over the eyelid, into the crease, and under the lower lash line. To balance the look, pair it with a neutral lip color and minimal blush.

The soft brown smokey eye is a more natural and subtle alternative to the classic black smokey eye which might look too loud for a few occasions. You start by blending brown eyeshadow over the eyelid, into the crease, and buffing under the lower lash line for a feathered out effect. Pair it with a soft pink or nude lip for a romantic and feminine look.

A coloured smokey eye is a great way to add a pop of color to your makeup if you are not a fan of basics. Choose a bold colour, such as green or blue or even red or pink, and blend it over the eyelid, into the crease, and under the lower lash line. The idea is to create a gradient effect while depositing colour for a perfectly feathered look.

For those who want to add some sparkle to their makeup, a smokey eye with glitter is a stellar eye look. The look is achieved by blending a dark eyeshadow over the eyelid and crease, and then applying glitter over the eyelid for a finishing touch. Pair it with a neutral lip color and minimal blush or contour to let the eyes be the focus.

Yes, you read it right! Smokey eye can be natural if you customise it accordingly. Basically, opt for the lightest brown you have in your eyeshadow palette and start building over it with a brown gel eyeliner, or slightly darker hue of brown near your lash line. Keep smoking it out upwards until the harsh line of the darker completely blends and there you have it, every B-town diva's go-to smokey eye makeup look!