Your Amazing Black Smokey Eyes: Doing It Softly
Black smokey eyes should be intense and make a statement. But too strong and too black can sometimes be just... too much. The question I often get asked is: how to get the drama, the sultry look but without it looking too harsh? Here is how you can apply black smokey eyes without looking over-made up.
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!
Tags: advice, beauty, beauty advice, cosmetics, health, makeup, makeup advice, makeup tips, personal grooming, smokey eyes, smoky eyes, women