Learn the following tips on defining your skin and you will love the way you look in black smokey eyes. And all this just by using six rather basic makeup products. Let's get started.

Never skip an under-eye concealer. It is something different than a face concealer or a highlighter. It goes under the eyes and makes you look younger and fresher. It can also help cover up dark circles if you have them. A celebrity that uses under-eye concealer to perfection is Kim Kardashian. She always balances out her smokey eyes with this product: that's why she never looks tired even in the strongest makeup. Just remember a few tips on how to use it. Apply very little of the product. Blend it especially on the edges, otherwise you will look as if you are wearing white goggles. And go for a tone or two lighter than your skin.

When wearing smokey eyes it's best to wear foundation. Dark eye makeup, when combined with a totally natural face, might look too harsh and out of place. Whatever product you choose: foundation, tinted moisturizer, powder foundation, make sure it matches your skin as perfectly as possible. Not only would it look more natural but also you would be able to cover only where needed, like the areas around the nose and mouth. Then powder your face to set the foundation.

The modern way to use bronzer is to sculpt your face for definition and a healthy glow. That's why it should not be too dark nor too shimmery. A sheer and rather matte formula would be perfect. When applying, think of two 3s facing each other and encompassing your face. Do your hairline, continue under the cheekbone, then below the chin. As with all cosmetics: harsh edges need to be avoided. Bronzer should be felt not seen.

Although these days bronzer sometimes substitutes blush, I always apply both: blush on top of bronzer. A touch of color is welcome when doing dark eyes. As a rule of thumb, blush goes a bit higher than bronzer. It should not be too harsh or too dark: just a wash of colour is the desired effect.

Now, let's work on the nuance. Enter highlighter. It might be a bit of a confusing topic. First of all it's a relatively new product. Secondly the word "highlighting" is often used with other products. Basically it is a sheer product with just a dash of shimmer. It could come in the form of liquid, powder, stick or other. It can be called illuminizer or brightener as well. Applying highlighter is a small art in itself and I won't get into all of it, although it is fascinating. For now, let's see what it can do for black smokey eyes. The action here concentrates around the eyes: apply it on the brow bone and the inner corner to make the eye appear bigger and add freshness to your gaze. Another great place to apply it is along the cheekbone as if framing your eye from below, all the way towards your ears.

Shiny face and smokey eyes: these do not make a good pair. Smokey eyes, especially dark, definitely require that the face stays matte. But using your powder compact too often to keep the shine at bay might result with a powder overload. That's why blotting papers are such an amazing find! And it's not just me: gossip says that Heidi Klum never faces the camera without blotting her face first. That's quite a recomendation, isn't it?

As you can see, black smokey eyes don't work alone: it's definitely team work. Professional application of the rest of makeup can make a whole difference in the world. Use it to your benefit. Smolder and glow.

If you want that perfect smokey eye get Ewa Linsey's illustrated ebook on smokey eye makeup : it's complete with smokey eyes know-how that works time and time again. Also grab more tips about black smokey eyes : the key look when you want to be noticed!

If you have a medium skin tone and brown eyes, then you are lucky to be able to wear almost any conceivable color of eye shadow. For a conservative daytime work look, stick to various shades of brown such as espresso, beige and mocha. Save the more extreme colors for going out at night. If you have blue eyes, you can wear dark blue and dark browns, but if you are very fair, then stick to the palest shades of these colors. Green and hazel eyes can wear earthy colors such as natural greens and browns while gray eyes look good with any blue, grays and the darkest black.

The eye shape will determine how you put on the eye liner. Lining wide eyes all the way around will make them appear even larger, but you should never do the same to narrow eyes since they will appear even narrower. Just line the outside part of the eye and this will create the illusion of opening them up.

If you have trouble drawing a straight line line with your eyeliner, try this instead: Pull the eyelid flat and make a series of dots on it. Then put more dots between the ones you have made. Go from the inside corner of the eye to the outside. Repeat the process with the lower lid.

When applying eye shadow, you should have a trio or a quad of similar shades from lightest to darkest. The first step involves putting the lightest color on the brow bone, the area directly below the eyebrow arch. After that, line your eyes with eyeliner so when you are putting on the darker shades, you do not smudge your liner. Then put the medium shade in the eyelid crease, covering the entire crease. The darkest shade now goes on the lowest part of the eyelid from the outside corner.

Applying mascara is very easy. Look in the mirror as you apply. Put the mascara on the lash tips. Put it on from the inside top corner of your eyelid and then the outer corner, moving the wand horizontally. For the bottom lashes, hold the mascara brush vertically and very lightly touch the lower lashes.

Like eye shadow, choosing the right color of mascara depends on your skin tone and eye color. Eye and hair color are also factors in your decision. If you are a fair skinned blonde or redhead, black may be too harsh for you unless it is nighttime. Go with dark brown mascara instead. Medium complexions are flattered by dark brown or soft black mascara. The darkest eyes can wear the darkest black possible.

Learning how to apply makeup correctly can help you look beautiful. The colors for your eyes help define how beautiful you will look. There are a number of eye makeup techniques which every woman should know in order to create the perfect look. Discover the latest makeup techniques and how to apply makeup like a pro by visiting Great Eye Makeup Techniques today.

Include these six secrets in your skills and you will gain complete control over how black and how strong your smokey eyes should be.

A black eye pencil is a great tool for creating black smokey eyes. But if you are opting for a slightly softer look try substituting it with another hue. A chocolate brown eyepencil will still give plenty of definition and effect. And it will ensure that your eye makeup looks more natural.

Another way? Skip black eye shadow! Yes, it is possible to achieve "black-looking" smokey eyes without any black at all! Celebrity makeup artist Molly R. Stern recommends very dark (but not black) eye shadows for your smokey eyes: "These shades give you sexy shadow without being too overbearing or dark." (source: Emily Hebert, "Makeup Tip: Black Eye Shadow", elle.com). Such colors might be more flattering. And they will definitely be lower-maintenance to apply and wear. Ashley Olsen wore this sort of look with an eggplant eyeshadow combined with a black eyepencil. It really brought the eyes out without the harshness.

A widely used technique is to apply a lighter eyeshadow as well as your main dark color. An ideal shade for that purpose is something that matches your skin tone. Beige-pink would be perfect if you are fair, peachy-beige if your skin tone is warm.

A less publicized but very effective way of taking the edge off your black smokey eyes is to mix some bronze or brown eye shadow in. These warmer hues will help the eye design blend in better with your skin tone resulting in a more natural look. I see it quite often on celebrities. I especially liked a black and bronze smokey eye that Kate Moss wore last year in New York. It had attitude but was pretty and flattering too.

I will always be repeating this one: blending is key. And even more so when you are on a mission to soften your black smokey eyes. Making the edges less pronounced is the thing to do. To learn all about this essential skill read my detailed ebook on smokey eyes which has a chapter dedicated to blending.

If, after having applied and blended your eye makeup, you decide that it's still too strong, try powdering it. Use something soft like a cotton ball. Or, as Bobbi Brown recommends, a powder puff. Just make sure to use it sparingly, and avoid the powder getting in the under-eye area: it might accentuate fine lines.

Follow the techniques above to make your black smokey eyes just strong enough without the harshness that might bother you. And then work the magic with those eyes!

If you desire that perfect smokey eye read Ewa Linsey's illustrated ebook on smoky eyes : it's complete with smokey eyes know-how that works time and time again. Also grab more tips about black smokey eyes : the key look when you want to be noticed!

In this article, you will find five of the most common mistakes and the best tips to quickly fix them without having to take off all of your makeup...

We hope you'll like them and that they'll help you effortlessly improve your personal image...

"I'VE PUT ON TOO MUCH FOUNDATION"

This is a very common mistake that we all make when we put on makeup. If you are totally made up, to take off any excess foundation, do the following:

* Lightly moisten a clean sponge with water (the sponge should be almost dry and without any makeup residue) and sponge all of your face with downward movements.

TIP: It's very important, most of all, to avoid excess foundation and concealer around the eyes. To eliminate any excess in this area, perform the same step and afterwards use your fingertips to softly blur the product in that area.

"MY EYESHADOW LOOKS TOO DARK"

If you've put on too much eyeshadow, or it looks too dark, follow these steps to quickly fix the problem:

* If it happened on your upper eyelid, blur the eyeshadow toward the edges with a clean brush to reduce the color. If it still looks very dark, apply a little bit of matte cream eyeshadow with a brush (if you don't have cream eyeshadow, you can use translucent powder) and blur the eyeshadow.

* If it happened on the lower part of your eye, use a fine, clean brush to blur, or pat it softly with a Q-tip.

* If as you were blurring, you've left the contour of the eyelid and the shadow looks very dark, blur it with a clean sponge and afterwards apply a little bit of foundation, patting lightly to fix the foundation.

"I'VE PUT ON TOO MUCH BLUSH"

If you applied too much blush, try the following tip:

* Stroke your cheek with a thick, loose powder bush-the brush should be completely clean. If you still have too much blush on, apply translucent or clear powder with the same brush, just over the blush. That way the two powders should mix, clarifying the original color.

"I'VE PUT TOO MUCH Cosmetics ON MY EYEBROWS"

When we put too much cosmetics on our eyebrows, we look harsh and we can't even recognize ourselves. Follow the following tip to quickly solve this:

* Simply brush the eyebrow with a clean Q-tip, going against the grain of your eyebrow. You will see how quickly the color you initially applied disappears.

"I'VE SMEARED MASCARA ON MY EYELID"

That's all right. Just follow these next steps and you'll see how you can quickly fix the problem:

* Continue applying cosmetics and when you have finished, allowing enough time for the mascara to dry, apply a Q-tip right over the smudge. You'll see how it quickly disappears and you don't need to remove the cosmetics from your whole eye.

TIP: A good trick to avoid smudging yourself is applying cosmetics first to your inferior eyelashes and then to the superior.

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Before you dive into your cosmetics bag, take a look at your face. Do an upclose and personal analysis, and look for subtle changes like freckles, moles, acne, or just simply dry skin. You will want to work with your imperfections, and resolve to cover them with the best skin care treatments possible. A good makeup mirror is best for viewing your face, I like the ones that are magnified.

Cleanse The Face Thoroughly

Always wash your face before you apply makeup. This prepares the skin for the makeup, and removing dirt and oil is essential to keep your skin clear and radiant. A good cleansing lotion, or moisturizing bar of facial soap will do the trick. Some good brands include pHisoderm pH Anti-Blemish Gel Facial Wash, Burt's Bees Facial Cleanser, and Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser. These deep cleansing treatments will leave you feeling refreshed, while preparing your face for makeup.

Remember to choose a facial cleanser that is appropriate for your skin type. Gently massage your cheeks, forehead, chin, nose, and the area around your mouth. Be careful not to get any soap in your eyes. Apply the cleanser right back to your hair line, and follow the instructions on the product. Rinse your face clean, and then apply a good toner.

Try A Good Facial Toner

Some really effective facial toners include Clinique Clarifying Lotion, Burt's Bees Rosewater and Glycerin Toner, and Dermalogica Multi Active Toner.

Skin toners are wonderful for shrinking your pores, and they also tend to freshen your face by tightening your skin. There are lots of ways to apply a toner. My favorite method is just to use cotton balls. Simply apply a little facial toner to the cotton ball, and trace along your face, again avoiding the eyes, until you have spread the solution across your face. You will want to rinse the solution off with warm water, following the instructions on the product.

Moisturize

Being over 40, I like to apply a light moisturizer before putting on my makeup. It keeps my skin fresh looking especially if I want to wear a matte foundation or powder. It's also good for diminishing fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes and mouth. Moisturizers are good for adding that extra dewy look to your skin, and it also creates a barrier that keeps moisture in. Some excellent moisturizers that won't dull your foundation include Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream, Bare Escentuals RareMinerals Purely Nourishing Facial Moisturizer, and DML Daily Facial Moisturizer.

It may take additional time to prepare your face for makeup each morning, but it will give you that extra radiance, and spark to start your day on a beautiful note.

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Learning how to enhance this, our most important feature, is any woman's goal when she settles down in front of her makeup mirror. The first thing you need to determine is what color the eyes are and how large they are in comparison to your other features.

Your color selection will depend largely upon your eye color. As a general rule you should never use an eye shadow color that is similar to your eyes. If your eyes are green, do not buy a green eye shadow as it will detract from the natural green of your eyes and make the color appear duller than it really is.

Determining the size of your eyes is important because you will then be able to decide how to apply your eyeliner. If you have very large eyes in comparison with your other features, a trait found amongst European women, then you can apply eyeliner to both the upper and lower eyelids. You can then take the color right into the corners of the eyes to minimize their size.

Where smaller eyes are concerned, less is definitely more. Do not take the eyeliner to the inside corner of the eyes and use less on the lower lid than on the top lid. This will open the eye up while accentuating its shape. Also never join the two lines at the outer corners.

Smaller eyes should be enhanced with lighter or softer toned eyeliners while the darker colors are perfect for larger eyes. As a rule, apply darker eye shadow to the upper lid, towards the outer edge of the eye, using lighter tones closer to the inner corner and just below your brow bone.

If you have naturally heavy lidded eyes you should not use eyeliner as a general rule. If the upper lid is less noticeable then applying eyeliner will leave little space for color application of any kind. Rather invest in a high quality mascara that you can slick onto your lashes. Try any one of the lash lengthening varieties available on the market.

Closing the eye, apply the mascara carefully in a smooth, upwards sweeping motion that applies the product to both upper and lower lashes. The trick is to leave the eye closed for a minute or so while the mascara dries. This will prevent you from transferring mascara to either the upper or lower eyelid and resulting in you having to re-do your makeup.

Heavy lidded eyes benefit from using pale neutral shades on the upper lids. Pick warm colors over cool colors. Blue, dark green, purple, grey, even silver have a darkening effect that can make your eyes seem smaller, more recessed, than they are. Stick to pastels and coral shades with warm autumn tones to really enhance your eyes.

When you are hunting for applying make up tips, it makes sense to go where the experts congregate. Learn how to look your best by practicing the techniques and hints found at http://www.applying-makeup-tips.com .