The smoky eye. It’s something women turn to when they want to look sexy. But how do you avoid looking like you have a bruised eye? Makeup artist Larry Yeo shares with us these simple steps to achieve a long-lasting smoky eye:
Start with the base. Something silicone-based like cream eyeshadow will give the other eyeshadows something to hold onto longer. Use your ring finger to blend it from the lashline to below your brow bone This will help contour the eyes.
Larry recommends:
- MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork (a neutral taupe)
- Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow in 24 Stone (a beige brown)
- Shu Uemura Cream Eye Shadow in M Dark Brown (dark brown)
Use a dark eyeliner to draw a thin line at the lashline first. This is to ensure any mistakes won’t be obvious. Then, draw a thicker line over it and use fingers to smudge for a sexier look. Do the same for the lower lashline – line and smudge. But for bigger-looking eyes, draw the line thicker on the outer corner of the eyes and gradually make it thinner as you get closer to the inner corner.
Larry recommends:
- Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Gel Eyeliner in Stay Onyx (black)
- Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner in True Black (black)
- MAC Technakohl Liner in Photogravure (soft black with a brown undertone)
Use a dark eyeshadow and blend well from the lashline to the crease to emphasise the dark eyeliner. For a cleaner look, keep the eyeshadow matte. Remember to blend on the bottom lashline too.
Larry recommends:
- Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadow in Zero (black)
- Fred Farrugia in 12 (black and grey eyeshadow palette)
- Korres Sunflower Shimmering Eyeshadow in 18S (a shimmery grey brown that’s not too harsh – great for fairer skin)
Using a small fluffy brush, sweep a medium brown eyeshadow over where the dark eyeshadow ends. This helps soften any hard lines, making the look natural. Choose something with soft shimmer or sheen if you’re not adept at blending – the shine will distract from your handiwork. Do the same for the lower lashline.
Larry recommends:
- Anna Sui Color Accent in 502 (a pale neutral brown)
- Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Smog (a shimmery copper bronze)
- Laneige Eyeshadow in DY38 Deep Brown (this darker colour is flattering for those with tanner skin)
Choose an all-in-one mascara to really pump up the volume on your lashes. Keep mascara away form the lower lashline though – you don’t want it to smudge at the end of the night.
Larry recommends:
- Laneige Multi Function Mascara
- MAC Opulash Mascara in Bad, Bad Black
- Too Faced Lashgasm in Black
TRY
To make the look even more foolproof, try these all-in-one kits from Sephora:
- Sephora Smoky Eyes kit in Black or Brown, $49
- Too Faced Smoky Eyes Palette, $64
- bareMinerals Smoky Eyes Kit, $66
- Pop Beauty Smokey Eye Primer & Eye Class Wallet in Smokey Eyes, $49
- Pop Beauty Backstage Buzz Midnight Soot, $45
- Urban Decay Ammo Palette, $63
MORE TIPS
According to Larry, you should use just the right amount of eyeshadow. Too much will dry out the eyelid and cause powders to settle into fine lines. Don’t apply too much pressure either as a light hand ensures a more natural look.
