Smokey Eye Breakdown

A more traditional take on the smokey eye..

Start with a bare eye and a thick line, I used Bobbi's Graphite Shimmer Ink Gel Liner.

Use a darker color from the lash line up to your eye's natural crease, Jane Iredale's Dusk shown. Using something with a shimmer is better, much easier to blend. Using a flat grey shadow, I smudged the liner upwards and then lined all around my eye connecting it at each end. Use a smudging brush and not a precision lining brush, there shouldn't be harsh precise lines.

I used a black pencil to tight-line my upper lid and rim my lower lid too, again meeting at the inside corner of my eye. The look is more polished and easier to pull off when the lines meet and there are no 'loose ends.' Use a non-shimmer flash toned shadow at the brow bone and blend it with the darker color so it appears seamless. Using a matte shade is key here, you don't want shimmer overload.

Additional tips:

- Use the Clinique mascara mentioned below or something waterproof, this isn't the time for your mascara to run making a total mess of it all.

- If you tend to have dark circles, make sure you're using enough concealer (mix with a little eye cream) so they don't appear darker next to the added color of the shadows. If you're really dark around your eyes, nix a purple hue and go for a grey instead so it doesn't amplify them.

- Set the under eye area with a little powder just to lock it all in and you are ready to go!