How to Apply Black & Silver Smokey Eyeshadow
Smokey eyeshadow has been an alluring accoutrement to evening attire since the 1920s, according to Penny Delamar's book "The Complete Make-up Artist: Working in Film, Television and Theatre." Back then, smokey lids were composed by smudging them with black liner then filling them with a gray shadow. Though more contemporary versions of the smokey eye include color, black and gray are still used to create this look. And, to turn this look up one glamorous notch, the gray shadow can be substituted with silver for more sparkle and shine. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Eyelid base foundation
- Black eyeshadow
- Silver eyeshadow
- Light silver eyeshadow
- Medium eyeshadow brush
- Small eyeshadow brush
- Precision Brush
- Blending Brush
- Black liquid eyeliner
- Black mascara
- Cosmetic sponge
Instructions
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1
Apply eyelid base foundation to entire lid with the finger tips or cosmetic sponge. Use foundation specially formulated for the eyelids; it will keep the shadow in place on the lid.
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2
Pick up light silver shadow on the small eyeshadow brush and distribute it from the inner corner a third of the way across the eyelid. Cover only from lash line to top of eye socket, not all the way up to the brow bone. This color is to highlight the eyes.
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3
Paint the inner corner under-eye area with the precision brush and a tad bit of the light silver eyeshadow. Keep it close to lash line. Again, it is only necessary to color about one third of the length of the under-eye lash line.
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4
Paint silver eyeshadow across the middle third of the eyelid --- right next to the light shadow --- using the medium brush. Brush shadow on up to the crease, then blend it with the lighter color and into the lids' crease line.
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5
Dab black eyeshadow onto the outer corner of the eyes with the medium shadow brush, then blend into the lids' crease. Switch to the blending brush and start blending all three colors together, starting from the light silver to the dark. This will help softened any hard lines.
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6
Switch to the precision brush, and with a little bit of the black shadow, line the bottom lash line from the outer corner, inward. This color should be blended with the light silver color already applied to the inner lower lash line.
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7
Line the top lids with black liquid eyeliner, getting as close to the lash line as possible. The liner can really help to frame the eyes and make them pop.Blend the product using the precision brush to eliminate any hard lines.
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Finish the look, by applying black mascara to the upper and lower lashes. Start at the base of the lashes, wiggling the brush as it glides outwards towards lash tips. Apply two or three coats on top lashes and a single coat to bottom lashes.
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Tips & Warnings
Some makeup manufacturers sell a "quad" compacts containing four eyeshadow colors used to create the smokey eye look. If the quad isn't available, purchase the colors individually.
References
- Photo Credit applying eyeshadow image by Tracy Martinez from Fotolia.com
