I frequently get asked how to do a simple smokey eye. Not everyone is extremely savvy when it comes to blending 4,825,582 colors, nor does everyone have the time to do that. So I’m going to share with you, what I share with my clients, a super simple smokey eye can be done using 3 colors in a full, 3/4 and 1/2 technique. This can be done as light or dark as you’d like, and can be used with any color scheme. You want to choose a light, medium, and dark shade of your choice of color. For example, if you’re doing brown, use a light brown, a medium brown and a dark brown/black. If you’re doing purples, choose a light purple, medium purple, and dark purple/black. Make sense? It’s super easy! Let me show you how..

Before I did anything, I primed my eyelids to ensure my color is bold and brilliant. It also guarantees your makeup will stay on all day. I used Urban Decay’s Potion Primer.

I choose a light creme color eyeshadow – I am using Morphe Cosmetics Soft Satin in #3. I also am using Bdellium Tools #785 brush. It’s a fluffy, blending brush that will disperse the shadow all over the eye area.

The first step is the full technique, applying your lightest color all over your lid. Make sure to not go above your crease, you don’t want to take your color all the way up to the brow. Instead, choose a brow enhancing color or a luminizer that will make your brows pop. Pay close attention to the inside corners of your eyes, this is where you want the color to be the lightest to make sure you have a full, open eye. You don’t ever want to make the inside corner dark, as it will enhance your dark circles and make your eyes look small. Eek.

Next, I am using my medium color, which is a pretty golden brown. The color I am using is Trish McEvoy’s Glaze Eyeshadow in Bronze Patina, it is available in her new Sexy Emergency Card palette.

I am again using a Bdellium Brush. I am using #778. The bristles of this brush are stiff, which allows you to pack on the color without it moving around too much. It will apply your color directly and boldly to where you’re putting it.

This is the 3/4 part of the technique. You want to apply this color only up to your crease, and only 3/4 along the lid. Don’t bring this color into the corner. You can see exactly how I applied it.

For this last part, I used Urban Decay’s Faint from their Naked Basics palette. It’s a dark chocolate brown, and this is what I’m using to really smoke out the eyes.

I am also using a smaller packing brush by MAC. It is # 233. Again, the bristles are tight ensuring the color will only be applied where the brush touches.

With the dark color, I usually recommend only covering 1/4-1/2 of your eye area, starting in the outer corner. Get just a tiny bit of color on your brush and work it into the corner, bringing it up in the crease area. Make sure to blend all 3 colors together so that you don’t have any defined color lines.

After I applied the color, I added my liner, concealer, and mascara. Again, you can tone down your liner to your liking, and either soften it or make it bold. I chose bold, only because that’s how I usually prefer my makeup, but do whatever YOU’RE comfortable in.

I used MICA Cosmetics gel liner in black on top, and Urban Decay’s Zero on the bottom waterline. For concealer, I used Trish McEvoy’s Correct & Brightening pen in shade 1.5, and for my mascara I layered YSL shocking in black, and on top of that, put Lancome’s Hypnose Star in excessive black. 

I hope by seeing the pictures, and exactly how I applied my own color helps you with your smokey eye! Whether you’re starting out, or already a makeup pro, this technique really helps and can save you a lot of time & grief!