January 13th, 2016
Inspired by Lisa Eldridge’s latest Youtube video, the Kendall Jenner Smokey Eye tutorial, we thought it was time for another Trend on Trial feature. We’ll be lifting the lid on our favourite smokey eye products and techniques to achieve the perfect look every time.
Youtube is packed with videos on how to achieve a smokey eye, from colourful variants to speedy shortcuts. A couple of our favourites include Karima McKimmie’s softer smokey eye with a subtle colour haze, and Tina Yong’s tutorial for hooded eyes – the Australians know their stuff!
With so many different ways to achieve the look, it’s very much down to preference. Our Editor, Ali, favours a cream eyeshadow base, concentrating colour at the lashline and blending outwards to achieve the smokey haze. Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Sparkle, £21, is one of her favourites – a multipurpose cream shadow and liner packed with an almost 3D prism effect, bringing some light to the eye and making it very wearable. Try Smokey Topaz for clients who are nervous of dark eye colours, which you can also use as a base to darken and develop as you see fit.
Deborah, our Features Writer, prefers the ease of a pencil – whether that be a cream eyeshadow stick or intense kohl. The Charlotte Tilbury Colour Cameleon pencils (£19 – the shade Amber Haze is a personal favourite of hers, although matte Bewitching Black will suit all) are so easy to use. Simply push them along the lashline and sketch in a V-shape on the outer corner, then grab a brush to blend out before they set. Charlotte has made it easy for you, colour-matching the pencils to different eye colours – and her Nocturnal Cat Eyes to Hypnotise sets (£29) are also smokey eye simplifiers, pairing a concentrated yet luminous powder shadow with her kohl liners.
If you have the time, multi-faceted eyeshadow layers create the most gorgeous smokey eye effects – and are Deputy Editor Emma’s choice of product. Burberry eyeshadow formulas are to die for, and their 4-shade Complete Eye Palette (£40) have been put together so well. For a warm, deep eye look try the shade Dark Spice, or stick to the classic darker colours with Smokey Grey. Most palettes contain deeper shades which you can use to create a smokey eye – remember to use lighter, but tonal, transition shades to give the soft, diffused look, concentrating your darkest colours along the lashline and the mobile lid.
Don’t forget the finishing touches – dark, waterproof eyeliners which you can use to tightline and give that extra definition and edge to the look. We love the Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pens (£12), which are actually pencils, and have a gel-based formula. They come in a load of different colours, including the gorgeous Black Cocoa and Deep Plum, which give the effect but without appearing too harsh – perfect for small eyes or older clients.
Finally, you need a blacker-than-black mascara which is volumising and lengthening, so your lashes hold their own against the eyeshadow. The Make Up For Ever Aqua Smoky Extravagant mascara(£18) has the perfect brush for the job – precise bristles catch and coat each last, while the tapered wand allows you to beef up the outer corners AND carefully catch the tiny lashes on the lower lashline and inner corner.
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