Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (but it's a good thing!)

Natalie

Anne

To celebrate the arrival of the weekend, I have decided to pay a small tribute to my favorite going out look, the SMOKY EYE. Often replicated & never perfected, I strive each time to create the perfect one. For some reason I am particularly skilled at doing this look on other people, but have a hard time mastering it on myself. I blame my eye shape & therefore, genetics.

However, I did pick up some extremely helpful hints in a recent issue of In Style magazine, & felt the need to pass it on. Kind of like "pay it forward." Here's to great weekends with sexy, sultry, smoky eyes!!

But what colors should I use??:

Four blendable shades of eye makeup such as the Chanel Quadra eye shadow in appropriately named "Smoky Eye." I love this because when you buy a palette, whether it's Chanel, Laura Mercier, Bobbi or any other brand, you are paying a professional to hand pick the right colors to create your look. I have a light complexion with blonde-ish hair & green-ish eyes so I prefer to use the palette with more browns & golds, less silver & black.

Blondes & light redheads could try a lighter smoky look ( above). Ladies with brown, black or even dark red hair can easily do palette (below). The palettes are $56 each, but are a pretty good investment & you get 4 great colors!

But how do I do it??

1. Prep lid: Important step- just need some kind of base so the makeup stays put.
2. Some people suggest tracing the upper lid with a soft black pencil first & then smudging it. I typically do this last, but either way works, just remember to do a nice line on both top & bottom & SMUDGE away!
3. You will also need a medium dome-sized, soft brush to use in the crease & for blending down. Then, a smaller, stiffer brush to apply to browline. First apply your base color (the light one) & then using the dome brush apply the 2nd to darkest color on your crease. Blending is key with this look so blend away! Blend the color down to get it all over the lid.
4. Next, using brush #2, apply the darkest color along the lashline, pressing the color in to set it. Take the lightest color (with a separate brush) & apply to inner corners of eye & directly under brows.
5. Lastly, a great mascara (preferably black) to really make the lashes POP!
6. Optional- a sheer lip shine. Warning! Do not go for a heavy lip, this will be way too dramatic!

Click HERE for a great video tutorial to accompany you on your journey toward the perfect smoldering smoky eye!