Look Great In Black Smokey Eyes By Learning How To Define And Highlight Your Complexion

It might seem that smokey eye makeup is all about the eyes. Especially, since the rest of the smokey eye makeup looks like it’s barely there: soft lips, delicate cheeks. Eyes are the key and you can learn all the neccessary techniques in my smokey eyes ebook. But don’t ignore the face. It might be playing a supporting role but it is a very important supporting role. Just look at Jennifer Lopez when she has smokey eyes. She always manages to look defined, sultry yet healthy. How? Mainly because she knows how to enhance her complexion when wearing strong eye makeup.

I will show you six key steps that will help create a perfect and sculpted canvass for your dark eye makeup. In short they are: conceal under your eyes, apply foundation, bronze, blush, highlight and blot.

Step 1: make sure to use an under-eye concealer. It gives that awake look and creates beautiful contrast with the dark eye. Kim Kardashian is a big fan of under-eye concealer: especially when she is wearing smokey eyes. There are three things to keep in mind here. Use it very sparingly: this delicate area should not be caked with product. Make sure to blend: you don’t want to give yourself white under-eye circles. Choose a shade lighter than your foundation.

When wearing smokey eyes it’s best to wear foundation. Dark eye makeup, when combined with a totally natural face, might look too harsh and out of place. Whatever product you choose: foundation, tinted moisturizer, powder foundation, make sure it matches your skin as perfectly as possible. Not only would it look more natural but also you would be able to cover only where needed, like the areas around the nose and mouth. Then powder your face to set the foundation.

Ok, the base is there. Now let’s add a healthy glow and defintion with bronzer. But instead of applying it all over the face which one does in order to look tan, use it on selected areas to sculpt the face. Dust it on your temples and along the bottom of your cheekbones, remembering about your ears too. To add that little bit extra, sweep it under your jaw and chin, as Sienna Miller does (Jessica Hogan, “Beauty Experts”, vogue.co.uk).

Although these days bronzer sometimes substitutes blush, I always apply both: blush on top of bronzer. A touch of color is welcome when doing dark eyes. As a rule of thumb, blush goes a bit higher than bronzer. It should not be too harsh or too dark: just a wash of colour is the desired effect.

After creating the base, defining and adding color, it is time to highlight. Highlighter (sometimes called illuminizer) is a relatively new type of a cosmetic that is all the rage now. It can come in cream, gel or powder. As the name suggests its task is to highlight certain areas. Although there are many great ways to use it I will focus here on enhancing smokey eyes. Highlight the very top of the cheekbone just above where you put blush, towards the temple. Some makeup artists advise to take it further onto the temple itself: I do and it looks great. Also highlight your brow bone. Another great trick is to dab some highlighter in the inner corner of your eye. It refreshes and enlarges the eye.

Finally, keep matte. You can learn so much from celebrities: apparently Heidi Klum never leaves for a red carpet appearance without having used blotting papers. They take away the shine immediately and don’t add additional layers of makeup. It is a great and easy tip especially when wearing black smokey eyes because they don’t tolerate excessive shine. Make sure you always have them in your handbag.

By cleverly combining coverage, definition, color and light you can look amazing in your black smokey eyes. Put these easy strategies into action and attract attention immediately!

If you want that perfect smokey eye get Ewa Linsey’s illustrated ebook on smokey eye makeup : it’s complete with smokey eyes know-how that works time and time again. Also grab more tips about black smokey eyes : the key look when you want to be noticed!