Dark Eyeshadow- how to do it

I watched The Dark Knight for the second time last night and it just keeps getting better each time! Interestingly enough the joker's warped makeup reminded me of something that I had always wanted to learn how to do well but always failed in...


...how to put on eyeshadow to achieve a 'smoky eye effect', that is. Ha!


Personally, I do feel that eyeliner around the eyes can be a double-edged sword. As much as it emphasises the contours of one's eyes, it does have quite an opposite effect if your eye isn't sculpted as desirably as that of Eva Mendes - it does make your eye look smaller!

Soften the bold edges of eyeliner-drawn eyes with a bit of grey eyeshadow to blur it out for a less aggressive look.


Angelina Jolie has gone for the extreme kohl-drawn eyes in this one, and it does quite suit her. I'm not usually a big fan of gold jewellery, but they came out pretty well in this combination of strong eyeliner + tied up hair.

Keira Knightley sports a somewhat more played-down version and more youthful style of what Angelina has; with an extra addition of brown eyeshadow around the eyes. At first glance I was quite put off by this look - it reminds me somewhat of someone who's just stayed up all night studying for an exam tomorrow - but after a while, it looks quite passable.


It is also worthwhile to note that vamping strong eyes with an equally strong counterpart of red lipstick, just as Kim Kardashian has done in the left picture, achieves a very good effect as well. Be sure to powder your face real smooth to pull off this one though!! You don't want ugly skin against strong features; that just kills it.

Courtney Cox has gone for a heavily subdued, mature version of the smoky-eye look, which goes wonderfully with that shade of lipstick and her dress + silver jewellery too! Everything fits.


Oh, dearie dearie me. Not the catty look that Pamela Anderson is sporting here! Anything but the cat! Drunkedness and bad eyeshadow don't go very well together, I don't think.

HOW TO DO IT
Kudos to eHow.com

Step 1: Start by first applying your foundation, concealer, eye brightener, highlighting powder and other basics before you start your eyes.

While eyeliner is almost always applied after eyeshadow, to create a smoky look, start with black eyeliner.

Create a line from the outer corner of your lid and work to the end of your lashes, working as near to the lash line as possible.


Step 2: Use an angled eyeshadow brush to apply your dark eyeshadow, placing it directly over the eyeliner and gently working it in with the brush to smudge the liner pencil.

Make sure that the edges and entire length of the line is well blended.


Step 3: Blend your eyeshadow gradually up your eyelid to the crease, working the powder into your skin and then apply a light white or cream shimmer eyeshadow above the crease to the eyebrow to make your eyes pop.

Step 4: Apply your eyeliner once again. This time, begin at the outer corner of the lid, beginning just beyond and above the corner to create an upturned line and then work along the lash line to the inner corner of the eye.


Apply liner to the bottom lid as well and then smudge the lower line, keeping with the smoky look.

Step 5: Finish your sexy smoky look by applying mascara, curling your lashes and filling in your eyebrows if desired.


Hope that was useful! To end off, here's a video for kicks: