If there’s one makeup look that has stood the test of time, it’s the smokey eye. Flapper-era icons like Josephine Baker and Theda Bara regularly applied a smokey haze of makeup around their eyes to stand out in film and photography. The ‘60s saw smoked-out eyeshadow, oftentimes accompanied by cool, exaggerated winged eyeliner a lá Sophie Loren. Then, in the grunge era of the ‘90s, supermodels walked down the runways with heavy doses of eyeliner and dark, moody shadow for a smudgy, lived-in look. Meanwhile, the smokey eyes of today can range far and wide, from red-carpet glam to subtle daytime smoke. Smokey eye makeup has evolved over the years, but there’s no doubt of its staying power in the beauty world.
In theory, smokey eye makeup is a simple idea. Celebrity makeup artist Alexis Oakley says as much: “A smokey eye is a look where the lid is a dark shadow, typically black, blended into a lighter crease shade,” she tells Marie Claire. “It adds dimension, depth, and a beautiful pop to the eyes.” However, in practice, a smokey eye can be anything but simple. Trust me—after one too many failed attempts ending in a splotchy mess, I know. But that’s not to say it’s a makeup look left only to the pros. With (lots) of practice, the best eyeliners and eyeshadows, and expert-approved tips, I’ve come a long way from my early days of messy eyeshadow and I’m confident you can too.
Ahead, I’ve rounded up everything you need to know to nail a smokey eye. From a step-by-step guide on how to do smokey eye makeup, courtesy of Oakley and fellow celebrity makeup artist Tobi Henney, to their must-know tips and tricks, this guide has it all. Grab the editor- and pro-approved picks below to get started on the easiest, sexiest smokey eye of your life.
The Best Products for Smokey Eye Makeup
Before you start on your smokey eye, there are a few products you're going to need in your arsenal. First, you'll need some great eyeshadows in your collection that are blendable, highly pigmented, and have a range of tones and finishes for you to play with. Then, you'll want to either add some intensity with a liquid liner or smoke things out even more with a pencil eyeliner. And, of course, don't forget a great set of eyeshadow brushes to blend everything together. For the very best smokey eye look, we've rounded up the best editor- and pro-approved picks, below.
The Best Eyeshadows for Smokey Eye Makeup
Henney counts herself a fan of Tom Ford's eyeshadow quads, especially the "Honeymoon" palette. "This creates the most fun metallic smokey eye look in peach, gold, and plum tones," she says. "It's a must-have!" While this palette comes with a $90 price tag, it's worth the splurge when you consider all of its benefits. Not only is it pro-approved, but you can make a range of day-to-night looks with these four shades, plus they can be used wet or dry for even more variety in your looks.
Pros: Pro-approved; Highly pigmented; Long-wearing; Can be worn wet or dry; Applies smoothly; Blendable; Comes with brushes.
Cons: Expensive.
I'm personally obsessed with just about everything Charlotte Tilbury comes out with, but I'm glad to know I'm not the only one. "These are the perfect quads for creating colorful and playful smokey eye looks," says Henney. "They are great for travel too as they are small in size." While this specific palette is made up of all matte tones, other palettes feature the prettiest shimmery shades in a range of color stories. These quads take out all of the guessing work of choosing complementary shades, too.
Pros: Pro-approved; Long-wearing; Highly pigmented; Includes a mix of shimmery, metallic, and matte shades; Non-creasing; Travel-friendly.
Cons: Expensive.
If eyeshadow doesn't come easily to you, might we suggest picking up a few eyeshadow sticks? They are especially creamy and glide effortlessly across the lid, making it so much easier to blend together different shades. These new Hourglass shadow sticks come recommended by Henney. She says they "allow you to create the base color of the eye super quickly and they blend beautifully."
Pros: Pro-approved; Long-wearing; Non-creasing; Applies smoothly; Blendable; Vegan.
Cons: Only available in metallic shades.
Oakley says she's been "loving" this editor-favorite eyeshadow from Makeup by Mario. Complete with 12 skin-tone-inspired shades, you have all of the necessary tones to create a range of smokey eye looks. Each shadow is especially creamy and easy to blend—a must-have in smokey eye looks. Because all of these shades are timeless, you're going to be reaching for this palette until you reach pan on every color.
Pros: Pro-approved; Highly pigmented; Long-wearing; Blendable; Includes over 10 shades; Applies smoothly.
Cons: Only includes matte shades.
Best Eyeliners for Smokey Eye Makeup
There's nothing like a great brown eyeliner for subtle sexiness, and Victoria Beckham's is one of our favorites. They are dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested so feel free to use them in your waterline, plus they are packed with moisturizing ingredients for a smooth application. Henney counts herself a fan, too. "These are super creamy and can be blended out to create the perfect smokiness," she says. "They also look great if you want to add a winged liner on top of the eyeshadow."
Pros: Pro-approved; Ophthalmologist and dermatologist tested; Waterproof; Long-wearing; Glides on smoothly; Highly pigmented; Comes with smudge sponge.
Cons: Expensive.
There are plenty of drugstore eyeliners out there worthy of your smokey eye lineup—this pick is one of them. These creamy gel liners are the ideal, budget-friendly liner for smokey eyes ("smokey is in the name, after all). I've personally found that they are incredibly easy to blend and smudge out with the built-in smudge sponge, and once it dries, it's not budging. With its mechanical pencil design, you can always get a sharp line, too.
Pros: Editor-approved; Comes with smudge sponge; Applies smoothly; Long-wearing; Highly pigmented; Waterproof; Blendable; Ophthalmologist-tested.
Cons: Dries fast.
This is one of two eyeliners that Oakley says she typically reaches for, and while liquid eyeliner can be especially tricky to nail down, this one is more beginner-friendly. It features a comfort grip so it's easy to hold and a teeny, tiny precise felt tip for ultra-sharp lines. Because of its sharp tip, you can create any kind of line you want, just switch up your grip. Just know that one swipe is all you need for high-impact color.
Pros: Pro-approved; Precise felt tip; Highly pigmented; Long-wearing; Smudge-proof; Waterproof; Vegan; Features a comfort grip.
Cons: Takes longer to dry.
The other eyeliner in Oakley's arsenal is the Jouer Play All Day eyeliner pencil. This budget-friendly pick is ultra smooth, making it a dream to apply across your eyelids and waterline. Because it's so creamy, grab this eyeliner when you're in a pinch for a smokey eye in minutes. Just apply it across your upper lash line and smoke it out for a grudgy look in seconds.
Pros: Pro-approved; Waterproof; Applies smoothly; Highly pigmented.
Cons: Difficult to sharpen.
Best Eyeshadow Brushes for Smokey Eye Makeup
Eyeshadow brushes are absolutely a necessity for smokey eye makeup, and Henney says the particular eyeshadow brush in this kit is a "must-have" for blending. This set not only has an eyeshadow, but it has basically every brush you could need for any makeup look. The smudge and pencil brushes are also great for smokey eye looks. Reviewers say the bristles feel so soft against the skin, a major win.
Pros: Pro-approved; Comes with 12 brushes for both face and eyes; Ultra-soft bristles.
Cons: Expensive.
If you're just in the market for eyeshadow brushes, this is a great, wallet-friendly option. I've personally had these in my makeup bag for years now and they have held up surprisingly well. From a densely-packed smudge brush to an angled liner brush, this set has everything you need to create a variety of eye makeup looks, including a smokey eye. I also love the eyelash separator and use it often.
Pros: Editor-approved; Under $20; Includes eight brushes; Soft bristles.
Cons: Packaging could be improved.
How to Do Smokey Eye Makeup
The smokey eye is undoubtedly one of the most well-known, most practiced makeup techniques out there, so you may be shocked to know it's actually a simple process. In fact, there's really only five steps! Follow these easy steps from Oakley and Henney to achieve the perfect smokey eye and remember: when in doubt, blend it out!
- Create a base for the eye with either eyeshadow primer, a cream shadow, or an eyeshadow stick.
- Run the liner on the top and lower lash line and into the crease. Use a fluffy eyeshadow brush to blend it out.
- Next, apply the dark shadow color of choice (Oakley prefers matte black) across the outer lid and slightly into the crease, and blend, blend, blend!
- Apply a lighter shade in the middle of the lid or opt for a glitter shadow if you want a different texture to your makeup look.
- While optional, Henney recommends finishing off your smokey eye by highlighting the inner eye area, and adding mascara, lashes, and more liner to enhance the smokiness.
Smokey Eye Makeup Looks to Copy
No two smokey eye looks are the same—depending on the occasion and your eye shape and color, you may want to switch it up for a more flattering look. Ahead, we've rounded up different smokey eye looks, from daytime beats to red-carpet-ready eyes, to get your inspiration flowing.
Plum Tones for Brown and Green Eyes
Sure, neutral shades like brown, black, and charcoal may be the most common when it comes to smokey eyes but they definitely aren't your only options. Henney says she likes to use smokey plum shadows on brown and green eyes to make them pop. Scientifically speaking, brown is technically a deep shade of orange, which sits across from purple on the color wheel, so these shades provide extra contrast when placed near each other.
Rust Tones for Blue Eyes
On the other hand, Henney says she "loves" to create burnt rust-colored smokey looks on blue-eyed clients. Rust tones are especially flattering for those with blue eyes since warm shades like red, orange, and gold are across the color wheel from blue, meaning they have the most contrast when worn together.
Smokey Eye Makeup for Small Eyes
The point of smokey eye makeup is "to make the eye look bigger and nearly have a feline look where it pulls the eye upward at the outer edges," Henney explains. Rather than a dark shade, Henney recommends adding white or cream-colored eyeliner in the waterline if your eyes are on the smaller side to create the illusion of bigger eyes.
Smokey Eye Makeup for Hooded Eyes
Hooded eye shapes are notoriously tricky for eye makeup, but don't be deterred. Henney helpfully adds, "Shading on hooded eyes also has to be done when looking forward to know exactly where to place the crease shadow." Additionally, you can try applying your go-to shade all across the lid, up towards your brow bone, and blended out near the outer corner of your eye. Apply the same shade under the lower lash line to finish off your smokey eye.
Tips and Tricks
- For beginners: Henney's best tip for beginners would be to start off simple. "I would recommend starting with softer tones like taupes and chocolates before trying to tackle blacks and charcoals," she says. Once you've nailed the gradient down, then you can move on to bolder colors.
- Blend, blend, and blend some more: A great smokey eye really comes down to how well you blend different shades together. "Take your time blending," recommends Oakley. "This will help you achieve a beautiful and seamless gradient."
- For a smokey eye in minutes: Oakley says smokey eyes are great because they are supposed to be messy and can be done quickly. "I think my record smokey eye I did in three minutes," she says. "If you’re in a quick pinch but still want a grungy eye just take a black liner, apply it all over the eye and smudge it out using your fingers."
- Start your makeup with your eyes and trust the process: "My best advice to anyone doing a smokey eye would be to start with eyes first," Oakley says. "This will help prevent fall out and achieve a better shape." And if you think your eyes are crossing into raccoon territory, that's ok! The pro explains, "I always tell my clients to trust the process. It will give raccoon-eye at first, but that is why I start with the eyes first so I can easily wipe away any mistakes at the end."
