A timeless, smouldering smokey eye is the little black dress of the makeup world - it’s classic, bold and timeless. But mastering the look can seem a little bit intimidating, so we’ve devise these five easy steps to help you achieve the perfect show-stopping, sultry smokey eye just in time for the party season.
1. Prime Your Eyes
One key step to creating the ultimate sultry eye is to make sure your base is suitably primed. Stop smearing before it even starts with this Acyl Glutathione Eye Lid Serum from Perricone MD. Containing Acyl Glutathione, a master antioxidant, the formula works tirelessly to dramatically improve the visible signs of ageing, delivering a youthful, wide-eyed appearance, whilst smoothing creases to create that perfect base for applying eyeshadow.
2. Conceal
Read more: Top Beauty Buys From His and Hers Editor, Emma Hill
Nothing kills a perfect smokey eye like a dark circle. Cover those pesky imperfections with this Perfecting Stick Concealer from Shiseido. Swipe a flash on concealer along your under eye area and blend in using a brush.
Expert tip: After blending, gently apply a fine layer of translucent powder on the under eye area to create a flawless finish. This Pixi Quick Fix Powder works perfectly!
3. Curl Your Lashes
Nothing creates that glamorous, come-hither look than a fluttering lash. Before applying mascara, use an eyelash curler to gently clamp down on the base of your lashes and hold for five seconds before releasing.
Expert tip: If you’re feeling adventurous blast the curler with a hairdryer for a few seconds – heating the curler up makes your curl last longer!
4. Pick Your Palette
Read more: The Indulgent Christmas Gift Guide
Your shade doesn’t have to be black. Grey, navy, plum or a forest green all create a super-sultry look. The Le Chrome Luxe Eye Duo from Chantecaille offers two highly-pigmented metallic eye shadows which are perfect for creating a dramatic night-time look – perfect for those office Christmas parties. Cased in a sleek, black compact complete with a handy mirror and two applicators, it’s the perfect all-round addition to your handbag.
How to apply: apply the slate grey powder in an arch shape just above the crease of the lid. Then apply the shimmering platinum shade to the inner corners of the eyes to lighten the overall look.
5. Apply the Mascara
Compliment the whole look with this volcanic minerals mascara from Korres. This long-wearing formula delivers high drama by creating extremely black, stretched-out looking lashes from root to tip. The ultra-volumising formula is enriched with volcanic minerals, cotton extract, sunflower polymers and grape to create a dramatic look that is super lightweight.