Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Never underestimate the power of a sexy and smoky eye. When applied to your lids for a hot date or a special holiday party, a dramatic evening eye doesn't disappoint the wearer. If you have prominent eyes however, you'll want to reduce the appearance of your large lids without creating a beauty disaster. To transform your eye from same-old, same-old to smoldering, apply dark-colored shadows to your lids to reveal a smokin' hot and foolproof evening eye.
1.
Create a smooth canvas for your smoky eye by coating the eye with a few drops of cream concealer. Don't have any concealer handy? Liquid foundation is the perfect concealer substitute.
2.
Need a smoky eye that is the perfect hue for you? Use your skin tone as your guide. Complement cool-toned skin with charcoal gray eyeliners; black pencil colors flatter warm-toned skin best. Swipe the charcoal-gray or black pencil liner on the top of your lash line. Create a small thin line of makeup from the inner corner to the outer corner of the eye. Add a little smoke and minimize the lid by smudging the liner with an angled eyeliner brush or a cotton swab.
3.
To make your lids appear smaller, sweep a dark green, brown or gray shadow over your lid from the crease to the lash line. Paint chocolate brown eyeshadows on cool-toned skin; dark green and gray shadows flatter warm-toned skin tones beautifully. Create contour on your prominent eyes, by depositing another swipe of shadow into the crease, blending the color outward and up toward the temples. Want to add more drama to your sexy and smoky eye? Extend this extra shadow beyond the outer corner of your eye.
4.
Apply a pale silver, vanilla or white shadow to the inner corners of the eye, and under the brow bone to lift and lighten the eye. These versatile, pale shadows complement all eyecolors from blue to hazel and green to brown. Instant eyelift!
5.
After curling your lashes, finish this eye-popping look with two coats of jet-black mascara. Voila! You've got a sexy and sophisticated smoky eye.
While navy blue shadow is a great charcoal-gray and black alternative, don't use the color for your smoky eye. In fact, "Marie Claire" magazine reports "Blue hues can make you look like you have undereye circles."
Fix any eyeshadow or liner mistakes with a cotton swab dipped in makeup remover.