Teach me how to do the "smoky eye" thing, please!
 

OK, girls, I need help. I am a makeup fiend so you'd think I was an expert at eyeshadow application :p, but I just cannot seem to pull off the smoky eye look. I always end up looking like I have two black eyes! What am I doing wrong?

I use an eye pencil (Clinque), and it has the pencil on the one end, and the "smudger" on the other. It's served me well!

But how do you keep from looking like a ghoul? That's my problem. Maybe it's just me... :confused:

Very thin line, very big smudge, and a q-tip with some mascara remover to keep it under control!

Thanks...I appreciate the tip! :p I've been thinking hard about this, and I think my real problem is that I can't find the right eyeshadow color...they're all either too dark (so I look like I've been in a fight or I have no eyelids), or too grey, or too this, or too that. I think maybe it's just me--there's a lot of eyeshadow colors I just cannot wear.

I think there's some people that just can't pull off the smoky eye look. Myself for example... all of my features are too light- I look like a raccoon who got into a bar fight with the dark smoky eyes. You may want to try to go for lighter shades, like some browns.

I would try to explain it to you, but it's a little hard without being able to physically show you how to do it. If I were you I would go to your nearest mall and go to the MAC counter(Nordstrom or the MAC Store). Tell them exactly what you want and ask them if they can show you how to do it and suggest colors. You may have to buy a shadow from them, but it's totally worth it for makeup knowledge. :)

my suggestion: use 2 colors--a medium shade and a darker shade. it doesn't always have to be black. anyway, apply the medium shade from eye lashes to just above the crease of your eye. using an angle brush and small wisp-like movements, apply the darker shade from eyelish up. then, line and smudge that. the key is to make sure that everything looks blended.

My suggestion . . go to the Clinique counter and ask an expert to apply it for you while you watch . . . assuming they are experts . . .

If not i would ask a make-up artist that works for photgraphers or something . .

Those are all good suggestions. :) I have figured out that my main problem is more finding an eyeshadow color that doesn't make me look sick rather than a problem with application, so I think I might go to the makeup counter and play in the testers.

One thing I've noticed on myself is that the gray/black/silver color scheme makes me look sick also. So when I do the smoky eye thing I usually use the MAC colors Agate and Mulch or various other dark purple/browns. Agate is a dark purpley color and Mulch is a shimmery brown. When the girl at the counter recommended them together I thought she was sniffing glue, but they actually look really good together. I don't know your coloring, but I have green eyes, brown hair and medium tan skin....so the purple/brown family just looks better on me.
Also, get a contour eyeshadow brush. It allows you to blend the color into your crease without in looking over done.

Hope this helps!

I am very pale and cannot do the dark grey charcoal thing at all. One day on Style, though, the make up artist was doing a smoky eye and she used browns and plums and it was awesome. She commented about using different colors based on your complexion and that you just need the right color combination and to blend, blend, blend. A smoky eye of browns and beiges with gold can be beautiful.

I've never been able to master the smokey eye thing either. Like AB80 I always end up looking like I just got in a fight :p

I tend to do smokey either with navy or browns/deep pinks - I'm very fair and the black on me tends to be overwhelming.