First smokey eye

Aug 13, 2016

Sabrina K.

Hi Abi, please add some more information to your thread. When posting a picture in the talk section you must make it a talkable subject. What products did you use? Was it a new look? Did you use new products? A new technique? Did you like the outcome? What kind of feedback are you looking for from the other users?

All this will help to make your thread talkable and engaging

Aug 13, 2016

Alexis C.

What you've created is more of a gradient eye and not a smokey eye, but that's a common mistake (I actually didn't know the difference myself until I joined Beautylish).

For what you've created I would suggest deepening the outer corner with a darker shade to intensify it and apply it along the lower lash line as well so the look isn't so top heavy. It also seems like you used just the one shade so if suggest adding a transition color above the crease as well.

Aug 13, 2016

Sabrina K.

Abi please add the product information for this look. And please do go an read the forum rules to understand what is expected when posting threads in the talk section.

Aug 14, 2016

Jacqueline H.

I haven't seen a smoky eye thread on her for a long time, and I love a smoky eye. ;)

I don't even know if I would agree that what you did is a gradient. A gradient flows from one color into the next left to right. You have a light shadow on your upper lash line closed in by a deeper color right next to it. You also brought that deeper color all the way over and on top of of the lighter shade, and extended it all the way to your upper inner lash line. That's not really a gradient in my opinion..but that's just being nitpick-y. ;)

What is a smoky eye? A vertical gradient. Darkest or deepest on the bottom flowing in an upwards fashion transiting into lighter colors. All you need to do a smoky eye is 3 shadows(light, medium and dark) and some kohl liner.

You start by using the lightest color, and apply if from your lash line to your brow bone. It's the layering of these shades that creates the depth and effect. Now take your second darkest color and apply it just above your crease, and then blend it down towards your lid. Next... take your deepest color and apply it to your lid and lower lash line. On your upper lid, blend the edge of the dark shadow into the second deepest shadow color. With a smoky eye, you do not want to be able to tell where one color begins and the last one ends. If you can see where one color begins or ends, keep blending. Last but certainly not least, take your kohl liner and smudge along your upper lash line and in your water lines. Now just take a pencil brush and make a few passes under your eye to blend the residual kohl liner into the shadow and you've got yourself a smoky eye.

There are a few different schools of thought in relation to what constitutes a smoky eye, but the whole foundation of this look is based on the smudging of dark rich colors around the eyes, that's why if you put a winged liner ( structure) with a smoky eye it throws everything off.

A smoky eye is a relatively easy look to do in theory, but you have to know how to blend to get it just right, and that takes some practice. ;) Don't get discouraged. I do like that deeper color you used on your eye, and it would have been nice to know what that shade was. That's why moderators ask that you add such information to threads like this.  ;)