The look uses minimal products and one eyeshadow brush, making it perfect for days when you want a quick, yet smokey, effect on the eyes.  The steps are relatively simple as well – great if you are starting out in make-up.

Tip 1: You can easily adapt this look by using a different eyeshadow colour on the lid.  Click here to see a purple variation of this look.  Charcoal grey, forest green and navy would also work well.

Tip 2: Using a clear, skin-toned or black eyeshadow base means you can use it with any eyeshadow colour and don’t have to invest in extra products.  Keeps things nice and simple!

Here’s how to re-create this look:

Click here to read my article ‘Parts of the Eye’ for help on where to place eyeshadow colours.

Products

Base: MAC Paint Pot in Eclair (deep satin chocolate)
Upper+Lower Lashlines: Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Zero (black)
Blend Upper and Lower Lashline: MAC Typographic eyeshadow (muted matte black)
Lid: MAC Romp eyeshadow (medium shimmery chocolate with gold)
Crease: MAC Haux eyeshadow (medium matte neutral rose-brown)
Highlight: MAC Shroom eyeshadow (light satin beige)

Steps

1. Use your fingers to apply Eclair over the lid as a base.  Sweep a flat eyeshadow brush (e.g. Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush) over the lid to blend out any harsh edges.

2. Use Zero eyeliner to line your upper and lower lashlines.  The lines do not have to be perfect as this look is meant to be soft and smudgy.  We will also be applying eyeshadows in the other steps, which will help blend and soften the lines.

3. Take the same flat eyeshadow brush (e.g. Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush) and smudge Typographic over the eyeliner you applied (along upper and lower lashlines) in Step 2.  Using an eyeshadow over the eyeliner helps to ‘set’ the lines you have drawn, tidy up any uneven edges and smudges them out to create a smokey effect.

4. Pat Romp onto the lid, using the same flat shader brush (e.g. Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush).  You can overlap this with the liner in Steps 1-3.  This will smudge things out even more.

5. Take the same flat shader brush and sweep Romp over the lower lashline, along where you applied the eye liner.  This will create a soft, smokey effect.

6. Apply Haux in the crease of the eye with a crease/blender brush using a windshield wiper motion (e.g. Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush).  I like to apply eyeshadow in the crease to add some extra shape to the eye and soften the edges from the lid colour.

Note: You  can skip Step 6. if you want to keep things really simple.  The highlighter eyeshadow in Step 7 will also help to soften the eyeshadow lid lines.

7.  Take your flat shader brush (e.g. Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush) and sweep Shroom on to the browbone to highlight. Take this down into the inner corner as well to brighten the eye.

8. Apply plenty of mascara to the top and bottom lashes.  This step helps to frame the eye and finish off the smokey look.

Here is one more picture of the finished look: