– Mastering the smokey eye!

A smokey look done the right way is like a good illusion; when done correctly no one knows it exists, but you. The observer is none the wiser, and knows only what you show them.
Smokey equals no straight lines! Some confuse a smokey look with a dark look. Though it can be dark, that isn’t always the case. Smokey, in the world of makeup, simply means no edges or straight lines. Any well blended look can be considered smokey, whether it’s grayscale or full colour spectrum.
A valid smokey eye looks effortless, and the trick is in the blending of products. No one should be able to see your technique, otherwise it’s just bad makeup. That means minimal brush strokes, evenly applied, and a smooth saturation of pigments.
The reason I love, love, love a smokey look is because it fades well, and has great stamina.
Good makeup is one that lasts even through the hot steamy weather. An example of well applied makeup and graceful technique is makeup that looks better and natural as it settles into the skin. That means it moulds and adjusts to the skin’s natural process with little to need to retouch or reapply, only blotting if necessary to combat oiliness on the T-Zone of the face.
Makeup changes saturation throughout the day, based on body temperature and personal activity, and in that case, quality matters and trumps quantity. It’s important to use the best product you can find with richest ingredients to develop a proper smokey look.
Side note: To appropriately prep facial skin avoid any product that will add gunky residue, like serums, anything with Retinol (Retinol when exposed to sunlight can cause pre-mature aging); try something lightweight like liquids or mousse-like foundations. BB creams leave a flaky ashy look. Opt for moisturizers instead of primers.
Primers also leave an ashy look.
For the eyes however, primer or any eye shadow base is a key factor in achieving the perfect smokey eye. The better the base, the better the outcome.
There are many right ways of applying makeup, but just as many wrong ways…it’s always best to pat or stipple, not swipe or drag. Especially when executing a smokey eye. You’ll want product to look airbrushed, so light bouncing pats with a fluffy brush is the best technique.

The trick is in the eyeliner
You’d have to use an eye pencil, a soft one. You can soften eye pencil with just a flash of heat, using a lighter. Apply eyeliner at the base of lashes, and around the tear ducts, also on the crease of the eyelid, from the inner corners to the outer corners. With a smudge brush (which has a stoutly shape with short soft bristles and a thick edge) gently fade the eyeliner, using horizontal strokes, and blending in small circular motions.

Eye liner first, eye shadow last.
When conducting a smokey eye look, the application technique matters more in producing the right result. Matter of fact, it’s the technique that’s determines whether the look is smokey or not. With a smokey look, eyeliner acts as a base, and a guideline for the eye shadows being applied. The eye liner sets the tone for the entire outcome.
It isn’t until after the eyeliner is applied and well blended that the eyeshadow is now safe to merge and make a happy union. The eyeliner is what gives the pigment of the eyeshadow its gradient ombré effect. It’s a lot more difficult to achieve a well-balanced smokey eye, using only different shades of eyeshadows, because powders especially need something to adhere to.
The opacity of the colour is also determined by the base, which is also why an eyeshadow primer or base is always best to apply before any makeup. Not only do primers make for good adhesion of product, making it last longer, but also it helps protect the skin.

Blend! Blend! Blend!
Once you’ve applied product, blend everything. Cohesion is the name of the game. Where the product ends and begins should be a secret. As mentioned there should be no straight lines, no edges, only smooth, suave transitions… Even if it seems like you’ve blended enough, blend again.

Finish!
Apply mascara and fake lash extensions if desired to complete your smokey eye.