Five Minute Friday Smoky Eye

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"Five Minute Friday Smoky Eye" by Undercover Beauty Agent

Living in New York has taught me that people are always on the go. Sometimes the city literally feels alive because everyone is moving around so quickly. I notice women doing their makeup on the bus, the train, or in the backseat of a taxi. The ladies who have a few extra seconds to spare? Well, they'll visit my counter. I tend to get the person who has a bus to catch in five minutes, but still wants a smoky eye.

During the summer, every Friday night I'll always have a last minute customer who needs a quick look before hitting the clubs. Security is usually very strict about customers leaving after we’ve closed, and only five minutes to do a makeup look can stress a girl out (especially if she’s the makeup artist).

Luckily, I’ve created a special system for these emergencies. It involves sanitizer, a few key products, and my fingers. I normally ask clients what colors they’d like me to use. It’s almost always the same look: a silver/gray/black/dark look with sparkles. I’m still not exactly sure what that means, but I’ve learned to improvise.

Five minutes isn’t a lot of time to create an entire eye look and add glitter on the lids. Using glitter eyeliners as a cream shadow or as a mascara helps, though. After putting some glitter liner on the back of my hand, I use my fingers to tap on the product all over the lid. Other times, I’ll just apply the sparkle to the tips of lashes.

I’m thankful I’ve found the best products for on the go, or I might never get home at night. These items have become my fast faves for sultry smoky eyes.

Undercover Beauty Agent Fast Faves for Smoky Eyes

1 Benefit Cosmetics Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow

This two-in-one product comes in some great colors and can be applied with your fingers. Because the formula is creaseless, you don’t have to put on primer either. You can also mix different colors to create a smooth gradient of tones.

2 Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Shadow Pencil

Think fat eyeliners, but specifically made to be applied all over the lid. This pencil goes on smoothly (like butter!), but dries to a long-wearing, waterproof finish. The colors are highly pigmented and have loads of shine.

3 Bare Escentuals High Shine Eyecolor

For the girls who don't like to get their hands dirty, this eye color comes with an applicator. One swipe across your lids, and the look is done. The almost cream-like formula has a foiled effect making the colors look rich and intense.

4 Too Faced Starry Eyed Liquid Liner

A multi-purpose liner that lasts all night? Yes, please. You can apply this as a liner, as a shadow, or as mascara and it still looks seductive. The pigmentation is phenomenal, and it comes in a variety of colors.

Images courtesy of pinterest

Undercover Beauty Agent is just an average makeup artist at your local beauty counter who's reporting true stories exclusively for Beautylish: "I love what I do because I get to make people feel beautiful on a daily basis. Working with so many different people in New York City has definitely been interesting. I've learned a lot and not all of it is very pretty. I'm a beauty advisor by day and a secret beauty agent by night, totally ready to share all my insider secrets and gossip."