This smoky look will never go out of style
It goes without saying that the smoky eye is one of our favourite makeup options when we’re prepping for a glamorous occasion. Not only does it look super impressive, it’s also universally flattering because it adds dimension and depth to both small and large eyes. The trick, however, is balancing the smouldering look with the rest of your makeup - so taking into account your brows, complexion, and lips. Needless to say, one of our favourite all-rounders, Cara Delevingne, gets it right. Every. Single. Time. Read on to discover how to get her look from the European Premiere of Suicide Squad.
1
Start with primer
Begin by layering a face primer (such as Bourjois Happy Light Matte Serum Primer) that’ll keep your skin underneath nicely hydrated and your base locked into place.
2
Prime your eyes
Using your ring finger, pat an eyeshadow primer (like Tom Ford Eye Primer Duo) onto your eyelids. Apply the product from your lash line to your brow bone.
3
Highlight your peepers
Bring out the inner corners of your eyes and brow bones by adding a light coloured eyeshadow to the area. An eyeshadow quad like MAC Eyeshadow X9 in Amber Times Nine works well here, and for the step below.
4
Colour it in
Sweep a medium brown eyeshadow across your eyelids with a small fluffy brush (like Zoeva Luxe Smoky Shader), creating a wash of colour.
5
Add depth
Next, pick a brown that's a couple of shades darker than the one you started with, and add this colour on and around the medium brown shade. Focus on colouring in your crease, and extend it diagonally upwards (towards the outside tip of your brow), similar to doing a winged eyeliner look. Don’t forget to add the colour to your lower lash line, too.
6
Line your eyes
Using a smoky kohl pencil (such as Sisley Phyto-Eye Twist in Black Diamond), etch around your eyes - go from your inner corner, to the outer corner, then extend the line diagonally upwards. Next, in one movement, draw a line back from that point to halfway across your lower lash line. With the same tool, go over your entire waterline from the outer corner to your inner rim.
7
Blend, blend, blend
Blend the kohl colour with your medium and dark brown eyeshadow with a medium fluffy brush (like Bobbi Brown Eye Blender Brush). Clean up any eyeshadow fallout with a cotton tip.
8
Coat your lashes
Layer a volumising mascara (such as Maybelline New York Volum’ Express Mega Plush Mascara) onto your top and bottom lashes by wiggling the brush from the root to the tips. Use the tip of the mascara to catch the smaller lashes on the inner corner of your eyes.
9
Fill in your brows
In outward sweeping motions, apply a brow crayon (like Givenchy Eyebrow Couture Definer), focusing on filling any gaps that you may have.
10
Add your base
Dollop some foundation (like Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Mousse) onto your fingers, and press the colour into areas that require more coverage. This method allows the finish to look more lived in than applying with a foundation brush.
11
Perfect your canvas
With a concealer brush (like Nude by Nature Concealer Brush) and a tiny bit of foundation, clean up around hard to reach areas to really make your features pop - in particular, underneath your lash line and around the nose, mouth and brows.
12
Add colour to your cheeks
Pick a peach-toned blush (with Dior Diorblush Vibrant Colour Powder Blush in Cocktail Peach), and buff this colour into the apples of your cheeks to warm up the complexion.
13
Finish it off
Swipe a nude lipstick (like L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Moisture Matte Lipstick in Sakura Petal) across your lips to complete your look.
Iantha is BEAUTYcrew's Beauty Editor, and has been part of the team since the site launched in 2016. Besides pinky-nude nail polish and wispy false lashes, she has a healthy obsession with face masks and skin care ingredients. Her previous work can be found in Virgin Australia Voyeur, Women's Health, and SHOP Til You Drop.
