You don't have to be a celebrity to get those sexy, smoky eyes. If you have five minutes to spare before you head out the door, this popular nighttime look will give you the dramatic, mesmerizing appearance that will grab anybody's attention.
The trick to applying any kind of eye makeup is to use a very soft pencil. In this case, you would need to outline the whole eye to achieve that striking effect. To achieve a really edgy look, use a black pencil. For a slightly less over-the-top effect, you can use brown or a gray color.
The best part about this look is that it takes virtually a few seconds to apply. Simply lift your upper eyelid and gently shade the rim under your eyelashes. Then draw a line down and around to the inside of your bottom eyelash line. For the finishing smoky touch, just smudge dark eye shadow on your lids and underneath your bottom lash line. Be careful! A little smudge goes a long way and should never be more than ΒΌ" from your bottom lashes at the most.
Don't worry if you don't get the hang of this right away. Applying eye makeup can be a tricky business! You might want to try a trial-run application before you plan on going out in it. If you have sensitive eyes (or perhaps just really shaky hands), use the pencil like an eyeliner on the top lid. Then just smudge gray or brown under your lower lashes and you're all set to go! For that little extra oomph, try dusting your eyelids with shimmering powder and watch the heads turn.
Have you tried any of the natural liners from The Body Shop or Clinique?
Dear Neetha,
It's hard to change naturally dark skin, but you can certainly brighten it with some good foundation. Visit a cosmetologist or skin doctor for suggestions to match your exact skin tone and to lighten up darker skin areas.
Dear Denise,
It's important to balance your look. If you go heavy with the eyeshadow and eyeliner, but have a pale complexion, it may end up looking quite startling or, as you put it, make you look sick. Give it a try and see how it looks. Remember, not all looks are for all people. You may do well with something more subtle.