How to: simple smokey eyes

A lot of people ask me how I do my everyday smokey eye makeup, and they also ask me how I can be bothered to do it everyday but it's actually really simple and only takes about 15 minutes. I thought it was about time I did a beauty blogpost and so I've put together a step-by-step guide so you can do your eyes like I do, with details of all the products I used (everything you see in the photo is everything that I used) and why they're my favourites.

Right so to start off you need to create your base. I don't personally wear foundation (I hate how clogged up it makes my skin feel) but I know that most people do so apply that first, making sure to apply it to your eyelids (it'll help the eyeshadow stay on better and last longer). If like me you don't wear foundation, then just apply moisturiser all over your face (eyelids included). I use Garnier Moisture Match Crème Bienfaisante (it's actually the only thing I used which isn't in the first photo) which I really love because they do 5 different ones specifically for different types of skin. Then go on to your eyebrows. I think to support dark eye makeup, you need good strong eyebrows. Obviously tweeze any stray hairs first and then apply eyebrow pencil using small feathered strokes. I used Rimmel Professional Eyebrow pencil in 001 dark brown, which is a really nice soft pencil and only about £3.

I think when doing makeup tutorials its important to point out that everyone's eye shapes are really different and so you should tailor it to what suits you best. Like I have really small eyes so I avoid applying eyeliner on my waterline as that would close them up, and instead apply it under my lower lash line to give the illusion of bigger eyes. Whereas if you have really big eyes you might want to apply it to your waterline to give a more sultry look. I also apply my eyeliner thicker in the outer corners to avoid making my eyes look too round. My eyeliner is also Rimmel, Soft Kohl in 061 jet black and I love it for the same reasons as my eyebrow pencil. Infact most of the products I use every day are Rimmel; I just think it's a really good brand and it's really affordable and lasts ages (so you don't have to replace everything in your makeup bag every 5 minutes).

 
I see so many people applying eyeshadow in completely the wrong place and it just makes me cringe. Obviously its different for everyone depending on your eye shape, but you should use the crease of your eyelid as a guide. It's easier to get it right with an eyeshadow brush rather than an applicator, plus you don't need to use as much pressure. With your eyes half-open, you should apply the first stroke along your crease, and then close your eyes fully and sweep your brush across the rest of your lid, making sure not to go above the guideline you created with the first stroke. Pay particular attention to your lashline to make sure you don't end up with any gaps as that would not look good. My eyeshadow is Rimmel again (surprise surprise), the Glam Eyes mono eyeshadow in 200 spicy bronze, but you can pretty much use any shade you like. I think shimmer tones work better than matte ones as they blend better and help you to look more awake, and I use a bronze shadow as I have brown eyes but you have to find what works best for you. Also I do have the Real Techniques eye brushes on my shopping list, but until I have some spare money to get them I just use this small one that came with an eyeshadow palette, so don't worry about not having nice expensive brushes.

Then its time to create the 'smokey' part. For this part I use an eyeshadow applicator rather than a brush as I think it gives better definition and helps the shadow to go on darker. You should use your crease and your lashline as guidelines again; apply your chosen shade of eyeshadow (it should ALWAYS be darker than the one you applied over your lid) from the outer corner of your eye to about halfway across your lashline, and then apply it from the outer corner to about halfway along your crease and use small strokes to fill in the space between the two lines you just created, blending as you go to avoid any harsh lines. Like with every stage of this makeup look, you should tailor it to your own eyes, so I apply it heavily in the outer corners to make my eyes look more oval rather than round. Finally I've used a product that isn't Rimmel; this eyeshadow is the darkest shade in the Bourjois Paris Smokey eyes trio palette in 01 gris dandy. I also love using the middle shade as a base instead of the bronze Rimmel shade, but that's more when I'm going out or wearing fake eyelashes; I prefer the bronze for my everyday makeup as I like the warmness of it.

Then its time for mascara. I used the 'volume' brush of the Rimmel Day 2 night Glam Eyes mascara and I applied two coats, but you can do however many you want. Just remember that the dark eyeshadow will take focus away from your lashes, so if your used to just wearing mascara by itself, you may want to apply an extra coat than normal to make your eyelashes really noticeable. Also, always remember to apply your mascara to your bottom lashes before your top ones. If you apply it to your top ones first, and then lean your head forwards to apply it to your bottom ones while the top lashes are still wet, then you'll end up with mascara all over your eyelids. Not a problem if you have bare eyelids because you can just wipe it off but its really not ideal when you've just spent time blending and getting the perfect smokey eye. And curling your eyelashes is a definite must; it'll open up your eyes and make your lashes look longer. My curlers are from Primark for £1 so you really have nothing to lose by getting some! Then you just need to apply the finishing touches. My bronzing powder is Rimmel sun shimmer in medium matte (I can't stand shimmery bronzers and it took me so long to finally find a matte one that I liked) and I apply it lightly all over my face with a powder brush. Its also a good way to dust off the lose shadow that gets under your eyes. I love this makeup look because I think it's really simple and easy to do and very wearable, whether you want to team it with a nude lipgloss, a pink lip butter or a bright red lipstick; it literally works with anything!