Makeup Trend – Soft Smoky Eyes

Smoky eyes are back this season, but in a slightly different form. In keeping with the ‘barely there’ makeup trend, smoky eyes are now being achieved using softer shades of shadow. Smoky eyes in brown and gold are the most natural options, but can also be created using green and even violet shadows.
(Image from Smashbox)

How to Create Soft Smoky Eyes

There are MANY ways to achieve the Smoky Eye look. The basic way is to start with 2 colors of shadow. With a basic eyeshadow brush, cover the entire lid with the lighter color, going slightly over the crease. With a crease brush, use the darker color to create a ‘V’ along the crease, pointed at the edge of the lid and back along the upper lashes. Blend the shadows together with a blending brush, feathering the dark color up and out. Make sure to keep the inside of the eye and the brow bone light. For a little more definition and shadowing, take the darker color along the lower lash line using the crease brush. You also might want to go along the crease again with the dark color.
Don’t forget to line your eyes with a similar shade of eyeliner and apply a few coats of mascara.

Best Smoky Eye Products

This palette by Cargo comes with a specific color designated for the browbone, lid, crease and outer corner. Offered in a few different shades, you can easily find one perfect for your skin-type. It’s offered at Sephora for $32.

Stila has an amazing quad that actually talks you through the directions for how to create a smoky eye. Seriously, the little box actually TALKS! Offered in quite a few different color combinations, my favorite, and the one most in line with Spring makeup trends, is ‘The Bronzes’.

I’m sorry you can’t see the colors here. Click on the image to see the Bobbi Brown eye shadow shades Mink and Birch. These paired together would work perfectly to create a natural, smoky eye effect.

Drugstore Options

Generally, drugstore eyeshadow options don’t work as well as ones you find in department stores because they contain higher levels of talc. But, they are a great way to try a new look without dropping a lot of cash. Here are a few suggestions for Smoky Eye eyeshadows you can find at your neighborhood drugstore.

The ‘Coffee Shop’ quad by Cover Girl offers a few choices depending on how dark you want to make your smoky eye. For a gold palette, try the ‘Golden Sunset’ trio.

Maybelline makes quite a few neutral palettes, but this duo called ‘Cocoa Delight’ is the richest for the Smoky Eye look.