Smokey eye: learn how to do smokey eyes once and for all

Also called smokey eyes, it ranges from more informal day-to-day occasions to events that call for extra elegance. However, the smoky can be a complicated task for those who don’t have the practice, especially when it comes to mixing eyeshadow tones. Learn the detailed steps and tricks to change that and become a smokey expert:

How to make a smokey eye without mistake

With a good explanation, we were able to accomplish the most difficult tasks. With this step-by-step guide you will learn once and for all how to make the perfect smokey eye!

Black smokey eyes are the most common, and have a more loaded look. However, smoky is a technique that can be adapted to any color. The point is to use different shades of eyeshadow to create a gradient, making everything more natural and uniform.

pro tips

To make it even clearer how this technique works, we talked to makeup artist Carolina Visintini, who gave her tips for making a good smokey look:

1. Eye preparation: for the eyeshadow to adhere well to the skin and get the desired color, it is necessary to use an eyeshadow enhancer or a concealer in the tone or tone below your skin. It is important not to leave any fingerprints or brush marks in the application, so as not to harm the application of the eyeshadow.
2. Base eyeshadow: after preparing the eye, we go in with a base eyeshadow, which can be in colorful tones, such as orange or peach and pink, or with more neutral tones, such as brown. It will depend a lot on the color chosen for the smokey. The background shadow serves to create a gradient between the others that will be applied and your skin, leaving everything more beautiful and well finished. To apply, use a fluffy and large brush, making “back and forth” movements to spread the shadow well.
3. Intermediate shadow: at this stage it is necessary to analyze the chosen tones to define the best transition color between the background shadow and the main one. For example: when an orange shade is used as a background for the black (main color), a warm brown can be used to make the connection between the two. Use a brush that is also fluffy, but smaller than the one used previously. Repeat the same movements, circular ones are also good for blending.
4. Main color: with a more boring brush, deposit the main shadow in the desired place, then use a fluffy brush again to blend everything. It is important not to leave any markings. See if all the colors are showing, if any have worn out when blending, touch up and blend again lightly.
5. Lower part of the eyes: it is practically a repetition of the steps for the rest of the eye, however, using smaller brushes and always taking care not to go too far beyond the limit of the eyes.
6. Finishing: You can use eyeliner and false eyelashes to give a really nice finish. If you don’t want to, just use mascara on the upper and lower lashes.

With a little patience to blend all the colors evenly, you’ll have a gorgeous, professional-looking smoky eye. The trick is to pay attention to the shadow transition.

The best blogger tricks

As every good makeup has a trick to make it even prettier, we’ve separated the best of them for you to create the perfect smoky eye.

Smokey eyes black, by Mariana Saad

This tip is great for those who are starting and/or love the classic black smokey. Blogger Mariana does a very detailed step-by-step so you don’t miss your black smokey eyes.

Smokey eyes with brown, by Bruna Malheiros

Very similar to the previous technique, in this tutorial you use more brown and make the black softer. It is ideal for those who are afraid of getting dirty with black, as the brown shade creates a safe base so that this does not happen.

Smokey without marking, by Duda Fernandes

A professional-looking makeup, which seems to be very difficult, but believe me, it is not! The secret is patience to make everything well smoky. Check it out and learn this perfect make-up!

Smoky Diva Wine, by Bruna Tavares

This smokey eyes is a great option for a colorful smokey eye that is well enhanced with shine and a good eyeliner. You can adapt to the color you want and even use more neutral tones.

The big trick after all is patience and delicacy when blending. Leaving the colors well blended and without marking you have a smoky eye without mistake!

4 tips for a smokey eyes lacquer

Now that the great smokey secret has been revealed, there are only a few tips left on how to use new tricks to become an expert in this technique. Carol gave some tips to improve and vary this look:

• Use something with pigment to set the eyeshadow: for brown and black smokey eyes, you can use a very soft black pencil or a gel eyeliner on the mobile eyelid to make a background for the eyeshadow, making it pigment even more.
• Bet on a lighter concealer: concealers one tone below your skin also allow for greater pigmentation of the shadow.
• Choose the right brushes: a good blending calls for very fluffy and soft brushes, which will allow a smoother movement of the shadow on the skin. It’s nice to vary sizes, but one big and one small might be enough. Carol recommends those with natural bristles, as they give a better finish.
• Play with glitter: a good tip to vary this technique is to apply glitter. It can be in the inner corner of the eye, in the middle of the eyelid, or even in the outlined.

Use your creativity to innovate the smoky technique. There are no rules to create. Blending well, what’s wrong with it?

Right products for your smoky eye

There are infinite makeup products on the market to make a smokey makeup look. But how do you know if that eyeshadow has the right pigmentation or if that brush is soft enough? With that in mind, we have selected some products for you to buy, recommended by those who already know them. Check out beauty blogger darlings for perfect smokey eyes:

Where to buy

1. Eudora black matte eyeshadow

“It’s super black. She also doesn’t leave anything to be desired when you smoke.” – Andressa Gomes

2. Alice Salazar brown eyeshadow, at Lojas Americanas

“A basic eyeshadow that everyone should have” – Alice Salazar

3. Smudge brush 808 Belliz, at the Shop Bela Store

“I love this brush more than anything, I would have at least four of these! The shape is perfect, the size is perfect, the bristles are synthetic and super, super soft.” – Naiady Souza

4. Tokyo Index black pencil

“I thought he was amazing! It is very pigmented and is soft and dry at the same time.” – Bruna Malheiros

5. Rule MAC matte eyeshadow

“’Rule’ is a very pigmented matte eyeshadow. Its color may seem a bit exaggerated to the layman, but it looks divine in the transition with brown. Gives that sophisticated touch to makeup!” – Claudiane

6. Inglot pigment

“The good thing about a shine like this is that you can make a more or less smokey look, put the shine on the eyelid and it hides all the smudges/smudges.” – Bruna Tavares

7. Bless cosmetics eyeshadow fixative

It’s time to run to buy your products and start this smokey at once!

20 smokey eyes photos that are works of art

Nothing better than a good inspiration to open our minds and fill our eyes. We separate some amazing makes to make you fall in love with this technique even more.

A smoky black eye is always a wildcard

Just like brown matches any look

The pink tones are super high and match a lot with this technique

A good smokey under the eyes makes all the difference in makeup

The smokey goes very well for more discreet makes

The orange tones guarantee an incredible gradient

Cool colors mixed with warm ones create an enchanting make-up.

Black smokey eyes look beautiful in a smoother reading

Colored smokes have a lot of personality

Photo: Reproduction / Raíssa Campos

It’s a great makeup for everyday use.

With just one eyeshadow and the right brush, you can achieve an incredible smudge

It’s a technique that ranges from a basic make-up to work

The greenish tones look amazing in a smoky

No matter the amount of colors, the important thing is that everything is well blended

And for classic black smokey eyes, the rule is the same.

Play in the smoky!

Now it’s much easier to get that dreamy smokey eyes. The more you train, the better you will be at technique. Leave the laziness aside and start smoking now!