Dec 05, 2024

How to Do a Smokey Eye

Hey, want to rock a smokey eye look? It's all about blending your eyeshadow like a pro! Go bold with deep shades, layer colors, and textures for extra depth, or keep it low-key by smudging your eyeliner.

Wanna level up? Add a cat-eye flick for that sleek finish. No matter what you choose, this eye-catching style will make your eyes the center of attention.

Smokey Eye Makeup Tutorial

Like any other makeup routine, eye prep is essential in achieving the perfect smokey eye look. Let’s dive into the steps and get you prepped for your new smokey eye makeup look.

Step 1: Cleanse & Moisturize

Start the process by cleansing your entire face. We suggest opting for a gentle, eye-safe cleanser to remove oils and impurities. Cleansing your eyelids before applying eyeshadow can give you more even pigment coverage. Next, apply eye cream to moisturize, address any dark circles, and minimize puffiness.

Step 2: Use Primer for a Longer-Lasting, More Vibrant Look

Ever wonder why artists start by painting their canvas white? It's to make their masterpiece pop, Same goes for your eyelids.

Apply eyelid primer before your eyeshadow to make those colors blend smoothly and stay vibrant all day. It's like a magic trick for your smokey eye, making those dark and bold colors look even more intense.

Use Revlon's ColorStay™Eyeshadow Primer, a lightweight, primer that works with every skin tone. It provides up to 24-hour hold on your eyeshadow while preventing creasing, smudging, and fading.

Application Instructions: Apply a dot on a brush or at the tip of your clean finger and smooth it all over your eyelids. Let it set for 30 seconds before applying your eye makeup.

Step 3: Choose Your Color Palette

For a more natural smokey eye look, choose an eyeshadow shade that complements your eye color and skin tone.

If you’re looking for a showstopping glam look, consider adding prismatic or metallic shades like the So Fierce!™ Prismatic Eyeshadow Palettes.

Skin Tone

For that subtle smokey eye makeup look consider the following color palettes:

Fair skin tones: Opt for warm eyeshadoweye shadows like gold, copper, and bronze for an inviting smokey eye. You can also make cool shades like gray and navy work.
Medium skin tones offer versatility with warm, cool, and neutral shades. Combine warm and cool browns for a classic smokey eye, or add a pop of color with emerald green or sapphire blue shades.
Deep skin tones shine with rich colors like plum, burgundy, and emerald for a dramatic, glamorous smokey eye.

Aside from your skin tone, consider your undertone, the subtle warm or cool hue beneath your skin tone.

Learn How to Find Your Skin’s Undertones.

Eye Color

To make your eye color really pop, select complementary colors to your eye color. Think of it like a color wheel, where the colors opposite each other are besties. So, if you've got blue eyes, shades like pink, orange, or purple are going to make them stand out because they're on the other side of the wheel.

But hey, if you're more about embracing your natural color, you can totally go for eyeshadows that match your eye color too. Either way, you'll look amazing.

Some color suggestions to consider:

Brown eyes go well with brown, gold, copper, bronze, plum, burgundy, emerald green, navy blue, gray, and silver.
Blue eyes stand out with gold, copper, orange, peach, pink, brown, purple, plum, gray, and navy blue.
Green eyes look best in brown, gold, olive green, copper, bronze, purple, plum, burgundy, navy blue, and gray.

If you are having trouble settling for colors, go for the PhotoReady™Eye Contour Kit with pre-chosen colors that blend well together.

Step 4: Eyeshadow Application

The traditional smokey eye consists of three shades of eyeshadoweye shadow applied on the outer corner, center of the lid, and inner corner to create a gradual smokey effect.

Outer Corner: The darkest shadow colors create depth and dimension, define the eye shape, and create a gradient that enhances the look's dramatic effect.
All over: The transitional color goes here, blending the lightest and darkest colors. Choose a color tone that falls between the darkest and lightest colors in your smokey eye makeup look.
Inner Corner: Use a lighter shade to brighten, open, and enlarge the eye.

Apply the All Over Shade

Using a flat brush, apply your preferred medium-tone shade on the entire eyelid from the So Fierce!™Prismatic Eyeshadow Palettes. It will help blend your darker and lighter shades. The creamy shadow palettes contain high-intensity shades, which create a bold, modern, smokey eye look.

Apply the Darkest Shade in the Outer Corner

Next, use a blending brush to apply the darker shade in your outer eye corner. Blend it upward and outward until there’s a smooth transition from the all over shade to the darkest shade. Keep the shadow away from the brow bone because it can make your eyes appear smaller.

Apply the Lightest Shade to the Inner Corner

Grab a light, neutral shadow that's a shade or two lighter than your main color. Sweep it from your crease up to your brow bone. This is your highlight shade. It can smooth everything out and give you that sweet gradient effect.

Want a little extra sparkle? Dab some of that highlight on the inner corners of your eyes. It's like coffee for your face - makes your eyes look bright and awake.

Step 5: Add Definition with Eyeliner

Once your eyeshadow is complete, line your eyes to add definition and depth to your smokey eye makeup look. Lining your eyes defines your eye shape and enhances the smokey eye.

Using the ColorStay™Liquid Eye Pens or the ColorStay™Eyeliner, trace a slender line along your upper lash line. Start from the inner eye corner and proceed outward. Extend the eyeliner upward and outward to form a wing. Ensure the wing has a subtle angle directed toward your eyebrow's tail.

Step 6: Finishing Touches with Mascara

Finish your smokey eye look by applying mascara to your upper and lower lashes. Choose from the following products depending on your desired effect.

To darken and add volume, use the So Fierce!™ Big Bad Lash Mascara. The mascara lasts up to 24 HRs, and has the added lash darkening effect after just seven days of use.
To lengthen and be smudge-proof, use the Revlon ColorStay Xtensionnaire Lengthening Mascara. It’s a serum and mascara in one, with B5 vitamins that nourish and condition your lashes.
To lift and add volume, opt for the So Fierce! Eyes Wide Open™Mascara. The Eyes Wide Open mascara contains Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, which conditions your lash while thickening it from root to tip.

Troubleshooting Common Smokey Eye Mistakes

While the concept of a smoky eye is appealing, achieving it can often prove quite challenging in reality. Here are common pitfalls and how to avoid them.

How to Prevent Eyeshadow Fallout

Eyeshadow fallout occurs when your eyeshadow particles scatter or drop under your eyes or the rest of your face during application. Cleaning the fallout off can potentially remove the layer of foundation or concealer you previously applied.

The effects of fallout can be prevented using these six tips:

Apply a primer to grip the eyeshadow to your face to prevent fallout.
Use high-quality precision brushes for blending.
Build the eyeshadow in small layers while blending.
Use cream eyeshadow or our hybrid powder-cream formula because they have less fallout.
Always tap out excessive product from your brush.
Apply eyeshadow before your foundation and concealer

Avoiding Over-blending

Over-blending can dull the eyeshadow and lose the distinct shade definition, creating a single, muddled hue lacking contrast.

Limit the number of brush strokes for each shade, use a light touch, and build color gradually. Stop blending when you achieve the desired level of color diffusion and maintain shadow definition.

Learn More About Eye Makeup and More Techniques

A smokey eye is an achievable look with proper products and techniques. Keep practicing to discover the techniques and looks you love. Learn more about eyeliner, eyeshadow, mascara, and more for glamorous eye looks.