It’s her signature look and one
that we all hope to covet for a night on the town. While a smokey eye is always
a GO-TO red carpet look, it may not yet be your GO-TO look for the evening. We’re
going to give you some tips on how to achieve your basic smokey eye without
looking like someone GAVE you a black eye!
1. Primer up!- Make sure to use
an eye primer before you begin the smokification. You can even
use a tinted moisturizer if you do not have a specific eye primer. Make
sure it's dry before you begin shadowing.
2. Begin by applying a neutral toned eye
shadow to even out the skin tone. Use a shadow closest to your natural
skin color, preferably a DEX Mineral Pressed Shadow in Bryant Park Bisque
(PS-23) or Dakota Spice (PS-12).
3. Curl your LASHES- I know an
eyelash curler looks like a scary torture contraption that's
about to chop off your lashes, BUT it is actually a girl's best friend.
Don't shy away! Practice makes perfect, it takes time to get used to eyelash
curling, but it is SO worth it. I started when I was teenager and there was no
looking back! Revlon's Cushion-Grip Lash Curler is by far the comfiest and most effective one I have used.
4. Let the shadowing begin- My GO-TO colors are always DEX New York Mineral Pressed Shadow Wall Street Onyx (PS-01)and Empire State Platinum
(PS-03). Brush Empire State Platinum on the eyelid with Flat Eye Shadow Brush (BR-07), but very lightly in the inner
corners. Gradually make it darker as you move to the outer corner of the
eye with the Blender Eye Shadow Brush (BR-09). The inner corner of the eye should
have very little amounts of grey, while the outer part of the lid should be
dark grey; layer it darker.
5. UPPER Lash Line- Close to
your lashes you can either use a pencil or a shadow to create the dark
shadowing. With a black pencil liner roughly line your lash line and use a Q tip to smudge
it imperfectly and blend in. OR you can use our Mineral Pressed Shadow in Wall Street Onyx by following your upper lash line with our Angled Liner Brush
(BR-06). Blend it into the grey shadowed part of your eye to make it look fading from black into grey.
6. LOWER Lash Line- Using the
Angled Liner Brush (BR-06) line your lashes with Wall Street Onyx and then use
the Eye Smudge Brush (BR-05) to blend in the black along your lower lashes. You can also do the same with a black pencil liner if you choose.
7. Brows- Don't forget about these
bad boys, your look is incomplete without them. Be sure to fill them in either
with a brow pencil or (my personal favorite) an eye shadow color that matches a
blend of your skin and brow hair color.
8. Brighten your eyes; a very
important step that is often forgotten. Dab a silvery or white eye shadow or
highlighter to the inner corner of your eyes. Instantly adds brightness and
enhances the smokey eye look. Try our Mineral Pressed Shadow in The Met Star White or Winter Garden Cream. Also, be sure to add a bit of
highlighter or shadow under your well groomed brows.
9. With your new curled lashes
that you never knew you had, load up on the mascara! With such a sultry look
you should make sure to give your lashes a good coating.
10. A nude lip or pale pink is best for your lips when rocking a smokey eye look! Don't overpower your eyes by opting to apply a bright lip color - it's a big NO NO! Depending on your skin tone try our lip glosses in York Avenue Cream, Franklin Street Nude, or Columbus Ave Copper.
The DEX New York color line has a shade for every woman from Sweden to Sudan, so we've got you ALL covered.
The DEX New York color line has a shade for every woman from Sweden to Sudan, so we've got you ALL covered.
Don’t forget to clean up the
excess shadow that falls!
For more tips, tricks and fun,
follow us on Twitter @DEXNewYork.
Stefanie Thompson
DEX New York Cosmetics, Inc.