A couple of weeks back, I learned a 5 minute smokey eye or defined eye makeup look that I was just bursting to share with all of you. We all know how hard it is to ensure a nice defined eye, especially when we sometimes donβt have much time to get ready. Or, maybe you want to convert your eye makeup from day to night, or just tone it down and wear it in the day.
This is a very simple look you can do with any colour combination, and all you need is 1 finger (or optional brush), 1 fluffy blending brush, 3 eyeshadow colours, eyeliner and 5 minutes π Iβve got a lovely pictorial tutorial right here.
- Pick a dark eyeshadow colour. Using your 4th finger (or a brush), pick up a dab of colour and dab it on the outer lid, just above the lash line. Donβt worry if its not smooth.
- Then, lightly blend the colour inwards so there are no harsh edges.
- Take the medium or lid colour with the blending brush, and in a gentle side to side motion, blend it a little way at the eye socket area. Blend the two colours together.
- Take a light highlight shade, gently blend the inner portion of the lid and ensure there are no harsh edges. You are practically done at this point!
- Take an eyeliner (gel, liquid or pencil) and draw in your eyeliner, top and bottom. For the bottom, I prefer to take it just part way for the day or even evening. Its less harsh this way for my eyes.
- Take a dense eyeliner brush or the sharp tipped sponge applicator, apply some powder shadow over the liner to help it set. Use a deep shade at the outer edge and a light shade on the inner rim to open up the eyes.
And you are done! It is incredibly quick although it looks complicated. Give it a go and see π
You can pair this smokey eye look with either a nude or light coloured lipstick or a bright red lip. I realised that nude lips tend to wash me out so I prefer to go strong on the lips. At the counter, they paired me with a bright fuchsia lip that I loved! I know this breaks all the rules about focusing on just one part of the face, but heck! Rules are meant to be broken! π
Blush: Benefit Hervana; Lips on Left: Dior Angelique Pink Right: Le Metier de Beaute Framboise
If you still arenβt sure how to achieve the effect you want, or you want something more natural, you can head down to any Estee Lauder counter, and request for the mini makeover. Its complimentary and part of their Signature Service that anyone can ask for, whether or not they buy anything. You get to try colours, learn your foundation shades and if the products intrigue you enough, pick them up π But the key thing is, its complimentary to start.
Does this little smokey eye tutorial help you? Are you wont to go with the regular black smokey eye or are you more adventurous? I used purple because its different and because I just discovered this Estee Lauder Surreal VioletVelvet Orchids eyeshadow palette and am thrilled that I can wear purple on my eyes without looking like someone punched me! π
Paris B
I can hear Bee squealing with excitement over the purple palette π But youβre right, this is easy peasy! Great for weekend and a dressier day event but too much for the slacker thatβs yours truly:D
Lol!! Right up her alley yeah? This is one of the easier tips Iβve received. Well, other than just using something lovely and complex like the Armani Eyes To Kill shadows which take all of 2 seconds thanks to the lovely formula. Unfortunately not all shadows will work the same way π
You two know me too well, Iβm such a sucker for anything purple! π Looks easy enough to pull off, so imma gonna give it a go with the stuff I have on hand first and pray I donβt end up with a βpunched eyeβ look!
LOL Yes we know you only too well π Its easy to pull off, not only with purple but any combination of 3 or even 2 shades. Try and see!
I am of the same opinion that nude lips washed me out, so loud lips all the way! ^.^ I may use the trick soon! Hahahahaha. Thanks for the tip!
I always look a bit sickly when I wear nude lips. Thank goodness that bright colours look good on me or Iβd probably have to suffer looking sickly all the time lol! Which trick are you planning to pull? The bright lips, smokey eyes or the smokey eyes? π
All of them!!! Weeeee~
Awesome! Share your look π
This is really pretty and you made it look so easy! I will have to try this out!
Btw, I think you look great with the nude lip and smokey eyes-vavavoom!
Thanks Monstro π I guess they both have different effects as it were. Do try it. I promise you its as easy as it looks
ooohβ¦.another Estee Lauder palette. Iβm recently very much taken by the Pure Color Five Color Gelée Powder Eyeshadow Palette from the Bronze Goddess Capri Collection for Summer 2012. However, it seems itβs not coming to Singapore! π
It is however available at KLCC as i read from Joeyspaceβs blog. Have you seen it yet? If you have, what do you think of it? I hope itβs still available in Aug so i can get my friend to purchase it for me. Crossing my fingers.
Hey Lisa I did see it. i think its the one in the post I did about the new estee lauder counter? I wasnβt too taken by it because it looked too warm toned for me. I hope youβll be able to get your hands on it though. I didnβt realise the formula was different. Thought was just the print! Tells you how little attention I pay to this brand huh? π
My friend tried to pick it for me yesterday but itβs sold out.
I pay very little attention to this brand too. Only like their ANR and the Resilience Lift Night Firming Face and Neck Creme.
I donβt know WHY it never occurs to me to do a smoky eye with anything other than black brown or grey! This is lovely. π
Thanks! Iβm glad it set you thinking! π Now, which colour would you pick for your smokey eye? π
You donβt look washed out in nude lips at all! I think you look sexyβ¦ Very nicely done smokey eyes too π
mrrrwwwβ¦ <- sexy purr LOL! Thanks Lily! Its comforting to know I don't look like the walking dead π
oooβ¦ i cant wait to try it! U make it seem so easyβ¦.
Thatβs because it is, Sue! Good luck and let me know if it works for you π
Very nicely done! Youβve mastered the way to create the look for your eyes! I love it! and I have Benefit Hervana and itβs fun to see how different the blush looks on others π
Ooh NIkki! Coming from you, makeup artist maestro, its praise indeed π Thanks and yes, Iβve quite mastered the art of doing my eye makeup by now i.e. all done the same way all the time LOL! π I just realised I havenβt reviewed Hervana!
this looks really easyβ¦ i will definitely try this β¦ you look good with the darker lip colorβ¦. for me, i think i would look better on the nude lips π
Thank you Issa, and its terribly easy π Do let me know how it goes for you π
awesome tip! it makes purple look so wearable and it looks sophisticated on you. π
Thank you Stacey π I was very surprised that this purple palette worked for me too. I usually look like someone punched me in the eye!
Is that Angelique Beige, Paris? I like it on you! Itβs a little paler, itβs true, but I think itβs a very subtle, sexy look π
Aww thank you Larie! Yes, thatβs Angelique Beige which is about the nudest (is there such a word?!) lipstick I own π
I just checked EL website, and canβt find this beautiful violet one- should it be there, Paris? Your smoky eye is gloriously beautiful on you- the shades are to die for with your coloring. I love both lips with this on you, but the LMDB is too lovely!! Thanks so much for this and I canβt wait to try β¦ xoxo Beth in Pgh π
Oh dear, I think this palette might have been limited edition π Do try checking Ebay or any online stores to see if they may still stock it? Or in the alternative, try a different colour, Beth. Iβm sure youβd look beautiful in something like a bronze or even emerald green smokey eye! π
Hiya Beth, I made a mistake with the name of the palette. It should be Velvet Orchids! π
what a pretty look! iβm getting excited about going for an estee workshop this weekend, reckon iβll need to pick one (or two) of the palettes up π
Thanks Germs π I find thereβs always something to take away from every beauty workshop so sit up and pay attention! π Iβm sure youβll enjoy it tons!
i just tried and OMG this is SO LOVELY!
it made a huge difference by putting the darker colour FIRST!
THANKS Paris! this tip is SO HELPFUL!
<3 <3 <3
by the way, purple is gorgeous on you! should wear more of it!!!!
Wow Gin, youβre quick! π Iβm glad the tip worked well for you and now you can wear a lovely smokey eye any day π Iβm only slowly starting to get to grips with the Purple. Iβm glad the Estee Lauder SA urged me to get that palette! π
Such a pretty look on you! I like the classic smokey eye, but I also love the colorful fun versions. Have never tried it with purple though, and Iβm surprised at how well it goes with a red lip. Will have to remember this one π
Thanks MM! Its actually my first time trying it with purple too, and the results were surprisingly pretty π I think itβd look quite stunning on you too, with the red lip too of course π
Holy crap, this is sosososooo pretty!
Thank you Dani! <3 Coming from a talented MUA like you its praise indeed π
Iβm going to give this a go and wear this look to work later! I prefer nude lips but you look great with bright lips too! Also, thank you so very much for doing a step-by-step guide for people like me who struggle with wordy instructions :p thank you very much!
Did you manage to get this to work for you Sukie? π I thought for something like this, pictures speak much louder than words β canβt promise that itβd happen often though LOL!
Pretty! Iβve actually never done a traditional black smokey eye. I might have done dark brown but thatβs really about it! I like to incorporate colors in my smokey eyes. Itβs more interesting that way! Thanks for the tutorial Paris!
Iβve never done a really black smokey eye either, maybe because it jars a bit against my skin colouring π Iβm going to try an emerald colour next. I reckon itβll look pretty amazing too π
No doubt it will! I personally adore jewel-toned shades!
Thanks for the tips Paris!! I would definitely try it out if I have time!! My eyes tend to become panda whenever I wear purple colour. Hopefully this time will make a different on it π
Youβre welcome Michelle. If you have oily lids or a tendency for shadows to travel, put down a layer of eyelid primer first. It should help π I did not include this step because I donβt use lid primer π
You look good with the bright red lips! This look like a simple and easy to follow steps to achieve smokey eye with killer effect, good one π Oh the EL palette looks great too.
Thank you Jennifer! I hope it was easy enough to follow and you can do it with any palette or combination of colours, not just this EL one π