You'll Smoke Your Eye Out!

Happy April!

This is my favorite month out of the year  because my birthday is always awaiting me, *cough, cough April 29th* This year it's going to be royal because Kate and Will are getting married on that day. You'd think I'd be mad that they stole my day from me, but actually it just shows how amazing they are. I wasn't planning on watching the wedding; and I'm still not, but at least now I'm not as annoyed by it any longer; Now that I'm finished plugging my birthday on to business....

Ever wanted a smokey eye for going out but always seemed just a little too intimidated by the heavy color and illusive technique? Well, I have news for you Cherry Pie! You don't have to have the MAC look, you know the one with all the black heavy eye shadow and tarantula lashes, to complete a smokey eye. Actually all you need are the proper brushes, tools if you will, a little practice of the technique and you'll be smoking your eye out in no time!

Jayna taught me that it wasn't the colors you used that created a smokey eye, it was actually the technique and amount of color used. One day at work I failed miserably on a smokey eye and the next day I was determined to learn how to do one, properly. I'm gonna show you what Jayna showed me and hopefully a picture's worth a thousand words because I know its gonna be hard to show you the technique with writing and picture stills. Just pretend you're reading your cell manual... No don't use that, f you're anything like me you don't read that, actually just read and after every photo close your eyes and visualize.

This is a soft subtle smoked out eye great for an evening with that special someone, or if you're going stag!

First things first, you'll need the following tools:

small tapered blending brush

short shader brush

wide and stiff (no dirty jokes) shader brush

Eye primer, the darkest mascara and eyeliner you have and your favorite eye shadows I'm using; Lancome Oscillation eye lash primer, Benefit's Bad Gal mascara in Black, Urban Decay 24/7 glide on eye pencil in Zero, Urban Decay primer potion and the following eyeshadows all Urban Decay: Rockstar, Snatch, Perversion, and Suspect. 

Tip: Don't apply your concealer just yet, just in case there's fall out from your eyeshadow.

All the colors are labeled so you know what they look like sorry Rockstar got blocked a bit
Urban Decay Book of Shadows Vol. III  NY edition (which would explain the names) $55,UrbanDecay.com

Now that you've got your colors and brushes together lets start by prepping our eyes. You don't need a lot of primer; remember you're only trying to neutralize your lids. Take less than a pea size and spread it evenly on your lids and crease. Once your done it should look like so:


Neutral lids

 Next, your going to take your base color, mine is Snatch, and using your wide shader brush your going to pick up as much product as you can and pack it into your eye using a soft, yet firm stabbing motion, almost as if your painting a bush or a cloud. At the same time remember to work your wrist slightly so that you'll get the color all over your lid.


Remember pack in that color!
Brush pictured Sigma E55 $9 Sigmabeauty.com

 Once you've got your base color settled all over your lids its time to create that "smokey" look. Take your tapered blending brush and pack as much color into it as possible. Next apply it starting from the outer 'V' of your eye working your way into the crease, keep blending that color in using an outward inward motion (soft swipe of the wrist almost like a windshield wiper) until you reach the inner corner of your eyes. If your wondering how much color you should use, well that's the point there's no "One Way" just keep going until you get the effect you desire.



Outward, Inward like a windshield wiper, Daniel Son!
Brush pictured Sigma E455, $9 Sigmabeauty.com


Now here comes the tricky part, well at least for me. Take your short shader and get a good matte black color; Carbon by MAC is good but I'm using Perversion by Urban decay. Get as close as you can to your top lash line, almost as if you're going to cross over into your lashes and apply the color going across your top lash from your outer most eye until you get to the center of your pupil then STOP! I will admit it's going to take a while to learn to get this close with out poking your eye, amd getting the line as straight as possible, but like everything else in this world; practice makes perfect. You're going to use a soft stabbing motion pointing the top of the brush down towards your lashes (I hope that makes sense, remember visualize!)


Half way there, Cherry Pie
Brush pictured Sigma E20, $9 Sigmabeauty.com

 Phew! We got that out of the way, now its time to line the rest of your eyes; this is a little tricky too, but thanks to the ladies at Pixiwoo, I'm an old pro. Take the blackest liner you have and apply it in a thin layer over the black eyeshadow you just applied to your top lash line. This time instead of stopping at the center of your pupil your going to keep going until you reach the inner portion of your eye the inner 'V' again no dirty jokes, this is a family blog! With that same liner pencil you're going to apply the black under your top eyelid so basically under the top portion of your eyelashes, trust me it makes a huge difference. I know it sounds weird but the Pixiwoo ladies swear by it, and it does work, make sure you keep those lines thin though. Apply the black liner to your bottom water lash as well keeping it thin. Also if you want a more dramatic effect you can reapply some more of your black eyeshadow on top of the black liner using the short shader brush. Using the same technique as before.



Me applying the liner UNDER my eyelashes, I almost lost an eye people!

 last but not least I applied the color Suspect as an highlight for my brow bone. I also used the same color to apply to my inner 'V' that just makes your eyes pop a little more and it's totally optional.

After you've applied all your eyeshadow I'm pretty sure you may have fall out under your eyes, I didn't but if you did take a brush, I usually use a blush brush and wipe away any fall out and apply your under eye concealer.


Using my fingers, no time to dig for the concealer brush, LOL.

 Eyes glamorous; you now need to get those lashes in order. I applied Lancome's Oscillation power booster to lengthen my lashes, and then using Bad Gal lash as a mascara (yup I chose not to go with the Dior show black out) I used three coats. For all you ladies who love the falsies you can now apply your lashes, I'll wait....



A little eye lash primer? Don't mind if I do.
Lancome Oscillation primer, $39 Macy's




Bad Gal Lash, $19 Benefit cosmetics.



To set the whole eye and keep it looking fresh and non greasy I sprayed some Evian Facial Spray on, great stuff in a little bottle don't worry I have a review coming up about it as well as MAC's Fix it +



spritz, spritz, spritz!
Evian facial spray $6, Macy's



All that's left to do now is apply your other essentials, (may I suggest you go for a soft lip) and head out the door! I'm not going to get into all the other products I applied because this is a tutorial for a subtle smokey eye, but just because I can't help myself I will show you all the products I used to complete the entire look. But for now scroll down and check out how my smokey eye came out.

Blush in Laguna by Cargo $26, Macy's

I'm wearing Jubilee lipstick and lipglass in the color Revealing Both MAC Cosmetics $14.50 ea.

Money Shot!
I threw this one in for GP, LOL!

Wow, could it be? I think you did, you just completed a smokey look! Congrats, now pat yourself on the back, and hey if it didn't come out faboosh this time, keep trying and remember its all in the technique. If you want a more dramatic look use more product and darker colors remember to blend, blend, blend. I never do all black for my smokey looks I always feel like a Trampasauraus-Rex, but if you can pull it off; get creative and go for it!

As promised here's a look at all the products I used to get the completed look.

I hope you enjoyed my little tutorial and I was happy to share with you the things I've learned from Mrs. Jayna Love, who by the way if you happen to be in the Texas area, can be found free lancing at the Georgio Armani counter in Neiman Marcus at the Domain, Austin TX. She's sweet as pie and knows her stuff. Also Thanks to the Pixiwoo girls for all their amazing techniques! 

Until next time stay fab Cherry Pies; I know this was a long drawn out affair, but its now come to an end. Just in time too 'cause I got a beer in the freezer and its starting to get that layer of frost in it, me thinks!

Ciao Bella!