Smokey Eye Tutorial

Here is a Smokey Eye tutorial and catwalk trend / beauty article that was published on the TstylesU.com website that I wrote a few weeks back.

If you're having trouble mastering a smokey eye I hope this article helps you out a little.

SMOKEY EYE TUTORIAL

‘Sparkle Sparkle Everywhere’

Vogue magazine call this season’s must have eye trend ‘Heavy Metal’ – a twist on the traditional much loved black smokey eye, this trend is all about metallic and sparkle. And what girl doesn’t love all things sparkly!

Models for Libertine, Gucci, Emilio Pucci, DSQUARED 2, Kinder Aggugini and Giorgio Armani looked sensational on the SS2012 runways with their heavily kohl lined eyes and dark glittery or heavy metallic Bardot esque lids.

So let your imagination run wild and get your shimmer on girls!

Here are our tips to super sultry smokin’ hot eyes:

1:  

Firstly decide just how intense you want to make your smokey eye. For cocktails in town with your beau why not channel the über chic Emilio Pucci eye (incorporating some Metal X cream shadow in ‘Venetian Tarnish’ by Mac). Whilst for a jet set weekend away at Coachella Fest in the Californian desert, (oh how we wish!) be bold and beautiful with the DSQUARED 2 fallen gold glitter and black liner look.

Emilio Pucci SS2012

DSquared2 SS2012

 

2:

Start with your eyes and do your base last. Often when doing a smokey eye, you get fall-out.

3:

Apply eye primer to your eye lids. Eye primers prevent creasing, your eye shadow remains

long lasting and rich in colour.

Tried and tested eye primers we recommend are:

M.U.A. Professional Eye Primer, £2.50 from Superdrug

Laura Mercier Eye Basics, £20.50 These primers come in a variety of colours from ‘Buff’ to ‘Peach’ through to ‘Wheat’ and they actually camouflage eye lid colour imperfections, creating a flawless base – perfect if your eye shadow colour is very light in tone.

Mac Prep & Prime Eye, £12.50  in Light, Medium or Dark.

3:

If you’re using powder eye shadows, apply a light dusting of your usual face powder over your eye lids. This creates a silky base making eye shadow application very easy.

4:

Choose your eye shadow colour: smokey eyes don’t always have to be black. You can still create a smokey eye using for example burnt bronzes, rusty browns, or antique gold colours,

Apply your chosen colour or colours to your eye lid, up to the socket line.

5:

Open your eye and decide how far up above the socket line and how far out from the corner of your eye you want to take the colour. How far up you take it depends on your eye shape and how much space you have between your eye lid and brow bone. Sometimes less is more. Then blend. Blend blend blend blend blend!

The key to a fabulous smokey eye really lies in the blending. You need the edges to be perfectly buffed. The Mac 217 Blending Brush, £16 is excellent for doing just this. Blend all the way along the socket line and then using small circular motions blend the eye shadow upwards and outwards until you have created your desired smokey eye shape.

6:

Sweep some of the eye shadow colour down and along your lower lash line. Blend.

If you want to add extra glitter to your eye lid, you can mix some glitter with ‘Sealing Gel’ by Illamasqua and using your finger tips, dab the glitter onto your eye lid. The ‘Sealing Gel’ will dry and will secure the glitter in place. An alternative way is to apply some Vaseline to your eye lids and then using your fingertips dab the glitter onto your eyes. If using Vaseline prepare for the eye shadow underneath to crease.

7:

Line your eyes along the top lash line, inner lower lash line and lower lash line with a long lasting eye pencil or gel liner. Again this doesn’t have to be black.

Stop to think how far along your lower lash line towards the inner corner of your eye you want to take the liner. For a really dramatic effect line the eye the whole way round. For a more subtle effect line only where the lower lashes are and on the inner corner of your eye add some light coloured sparkle to open your eyes. Illamasqua’s Loose Pigment Powder in ‘Furore’ (a beautiful champagne gold) is great for this.

Then smudge and blend the liner. Add a touch more shadow to the lower lash line and blend again.

8:

To highlight your brow bone add a dusting of light champagne gold.

9:

Curl your lashes and add several layers of mascara.

10:

For added definition apply some individual or strip lashes with Duo Eyelash Adhesive in the dark tone (black) £4.99.

And that’s it. Not being afraid to experiment and nailing your blending will ensure you’re on trend with this season’s smokey eye.

Good luck ladies!