Smokey Eye Makeup Tips For Small And Big Eyes

Smokey eyes look gorgeous and dramatic, but nailing them takes some practice. The right smokey eye makeup tips can make your eyes look glamorous and prevent them from turning into ghastly raccoon eyes. Unfortunately, we often mess up the eyeshadow shades or the techniques needed to get perfection. Smokey eye is an extremely versatile evening eye makeup that looks stunning on all eye shapes if done well with the right tips and tricks. Keep reading this article to nail this eye look!

Keep In Mind

• Eye Shape: Eye Shape While smokey eye makeup complements all eye shapes, it looks best on almond-shaped eyes.
• Skin Tone: Eye Shape Smokey eyes look stunning on all skin tones, but they appear more prominent and captivating on pale skin.
• Durability: Eye Shape Since this makeup requires heavy and highly-pigmented eyeshadow, it is more prone to smudging and falling out.
• Lipstick: Eye Shape With heavy smokey eyes, it is best to opt for nude or muted pink lipstick and soft makeup look.

Smokey Eye Makeup Tips

Here are a few eye makeup tips that can be useful when choosing a smokey makeup effect for different sizes of eyes.

A. Smokey Eye Makeup Tips For Smaller Eyes

Some people have smaller eyes as compared to the overall size of their face. Smokey eyes for small eyes has a whole different approach to it. So if you are one of them then these tips might be helpful:

• Prime your eyelid; that’s the first step. Then use a concealer as a primer on the lids, under the brow, and to conceal the darkness under the eyes.

• Next, if you want you may apply small little dots of foundation and blend well on the part where you might be having dark circles, it’s very important to cover them up. You can apply 3-4 thin layers of concealer instead of one thick layer. Avoid powder as it just shows creases and lines. 

• Make sure that you use not too dark, brown or black or bronze or purple for smokey eyes when your eyes are small. Depending on your skin tone, select an eyeliner that is not too intense and will not overpower your eyes.

• Do not use dark color cosmetics all over your eyelids.

• Use a Q-tip or an applicator to use the dark color only from half the end of the eyes extending towards the brows but not reaching them in a tail.

• Use a lighter color to make eyes pop out onto the frontal lids.

• Line your upper lids with a very thin line of liner. You can add a slight winged touch at the ends, near the outer ends of your eyes. Preferably with a shade near to black but not jet black. The more black the more shrunken your eyes will look.

• You may line the lower rim too, but for some people it works and makes eyes look popped up and for others it depresses the look. So do a trial and error run for lining the lower rim. You can line your lower rim with a milky white liner also.

• Now take a shimmer white or silver eye pencil and just put a dot between the nose and the eyes. Also just below the brow cover the area with silver shimmer to high light the brow bone.
• If your lashes are small, don’t hesitate to use false lashes. Do a double curling before and after mascara application for both the upper and lower lashes. You may also use individual lashes instead of strip lashes.

Did You Know?

The Silent Movie era popularized the application of smokey eye when Hollywood stars acted as flappers or vamps with smudged out kohl liners for popping their eyes.

B. Smokey Eye Makeup Tips For Big and Elongated Eyes

Big eyes are a canvas to play with. Smokey eyes on big eyes are simple and easy to do. You can even play with the darkest of shades and also multiple shades at the same time by blending 3-4 colors together. You can use either or a combination of matte, metallic, glossy, and glitter eyeshadows. Follow this simple eye makeup tutorial:

• Prime your eyelids and then use concealer and foundation (if required) like usual for a natural and nude canvas.
• Sometimes it’s like your eyes seem sort of out of proportion and too big than your face’s area. In such cases, you need to focus on using bold and darker colors. When you want your eyes to appear smaller, dark colors are the key!
  
• Use a bronze or dark mauve shade (a shade lighter than dark purple) and so on for any color like blue or green and do your eyelids frontals. Plum is the perfect color to make those green eyes look even greener.

• Next use darker shade like black for bronze or dark purple for mauve and so on to the crease.Now blend up this darker shade to a shade near t black from the extreme end point of crease extending in a tail to just below the brow bones.

• Use a very small amount of shimmer white on brow bones and that too in a thin line just below the brows. Keep the center of the eyelids light, with a shimmer of white shadow under the brows.
• Use a liner in a darker shade, preferably jet black and line in a thick fashion.

• Line the under rim line as well, nothing to experiment here since your eyes are big enough. Just make them proportionate by using kohl or kajal or liner whatever you prefer. Use a shadow on top of the liner, it will soften the look and give longevity to your makeup.

• Use mascara along with false lashes if you don’t have lash extensions but want to go for big sexy dark eyes. You may curl the lashes before applying the mascara.

• Use mascara on both the upper and lower lashes without any restrictions. Take the mascara out to the corners and make sure that it is extra heavy on the outer lashes.

• • You can use just a small tiny dot of shimmering white pencil (elle 18 eye sparklers is good ) for that start point of eyes near the nose.

C. Tips To Create A Soft Shimmery Smokey Eye

You can add color and glitter to your eyes without drawing too much attention by adding a soft shimmer to your smokey eye look. With the right application technique, you can be assured that your shimmer look does not make your skin appear crepey. For those seeking more inspiration, these smokey eye tutorials provide step-by-step instructions to perfect the look.

• If it is your first trial with shimmery eye shadow, start with neutrals.
• Powdery shimmery, glitter makeup can cause fallouts and have you doing touch ups to your face if eyes are the last part of your makeup routine. Opt for cream formulas and apply with your fingers for the right blending with negligible fallout.
• If you have oily eyelids, use a mattifying primer before applying eyeshadow to make the shimmer last longer.
• Do not pile up the shimmer eyeshadow, as it will look bulky.
• To balance out the whole look, tone down the rest of the makeup and let the eyes take center stage.

Here are some step-by-step instructions to help you create a flawless soft, shimmery smokey eye look:

• Apply a neutral eyeshadow to your creases to create depth.
• Use a flat brush or your fingertip to dab a shimmer eyeshadow on the lids.
• Blend the inner corners and the outer corners evenly with a fluffy eyeshadow brush.

Quick Tip

If you have round eyes, it is recommended to apply mascara only to the top eyelashes for an effective cat-eye smokey look.

Smokey eyes are everyone’s favorite look. But, if you don’t do them properly, the look will lose its charm instantly. Both beginners and even experienced makeup lovers make certain mistakes while creating smokey eyes. Want to know what these pitfalls are? Continue reading.

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Creating Smokey Eyes

Smokey eyes transform your look from ‘meh!’ to fab! But, it takes patience and practice to perfect the look. The smallest mistake can ruin the entire look and make your eyes appear dull and unflattering. Scroll down to explore the common pitfalls and avoid them.

• Applying Too Much Of Eyeshadow: Excessive eyeshadow can make your eyelids appear messy. It gets difficult to blend as well. Instead, start with light layers and gradually build the intensity of the eyeshadow.
• Skipping The Blending Process: Forgetting to blend is a big no-no for eye makeup, especially for smokey eyes. It can lead to the formation of harsh lines and uneven layers.
• Not Setting With Powder: Powder sets the eyeshadow, preventing it from smudging off. If you forget to set the eyeshadow with powder, your eyelids will look patchy and creases will form.
• Applying Thick Eyeliner: Overdoing the eyeliner will make your eyes appear heavy and unflattering. Stick to thin, even lines.
• Skipping The Lower Lash Lines: If you do not enhance the lower lash lines, the smokey eye look will remain unfinished. Lightly smudge the eyeshadow on the lower lash lines to create a cohesive look.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best brushes for applying smokey eye makeup?

You need three kinds of brushes to achieve seamless smokey eyes. You need a fluffy blending brush to diffuse the eyeshadow into the creases, a flat brush to apply the product evenly onto the lids, and a small pencil brush to line and smudge the shadow flawlessly along the lower lash lines.

Are smokey eyes out of style?

No. Smokey eye makeup is one of those timeless beauty trends that never go out of style.

How many types of smokey eyes are there?

There are various types of smokey eye makeup to choose from, and different styles suit different people. There are popular smokey eye makeup looks, such as the classic black, brown, or gray one, suitable for evening get-togethers and formal events.
Then you can also try the colorful smokey look with gold, silver, blue, purple, or green shades, suitable for creative events, concerts, and festive celebrations. Last but not the least, consider the soft, shimmery look, suitable for casual day-outs and semi-formal parties.

How do you do smokey eyes on dark skin?

Smokey eyes look stunning on dark skin tones when done correctly. To achieve this look on dark skin, prep the eyelids with an eyeshadow primer, then apply a neutral or light-colored eyeshadow, followed by a darker shade like black, dark brown or dark grey to the outer corner of the eyes, blending it inwards towards the center of the eyelid for a seamless and smudged effect. Highlight the inner corner with a shimmery or metallic eyeshadow and line the eyes with black or dark brown eyeliner, smudge it out slightly for a more natural look. Curl your lashes and apply mascara to finish off the look. Experimenting with different shades and intensities of eyeshadow would help one find the perfect smokey eye look that works for them.

How do I make my smokey eye makeup last all day?

To make the smokey eye makeup last all day, use an eyeshadow primer to prep the eyelids, choose waterproof or long-lasting eyeliners and mascaras to prevent smudging and fading, layer the eyeshadows by starting with a light base color and building up the intensity with darker shades gradually, use a setting spray, avoid touching the eyes as much as possible and carry touch-up products like a small eyeshadow brush and a compact mirror to quickly touch up the makeup whenever needed and look fresh and flawless throughout the day.

How do I prevent fallout when applying dark eyeshadows for a smokey eye makeup?

Learning how to apply eyeshadow correctly is essential for creating a seamless smokey eye that blends effortlessly. Applying an eyeshadow primer, using a sticky base like glitter glue or concealer and taping off excess eyeshadow from the brush before applying the eyeshadow can help the eyeshadow adhere better and reduce the risk of fallout. One may also apply eyeshadow before applying foundation to easily wipe away any fallout without ruining the foundation. When applying dark eyeshadows, one must always use a light hand and build up the intensity slowly and use a makeup shield or a tissue under the eyes to catch any fallout while applying eyeshadow.

Illustration: Smokey Eye Makeup Tips For Small And Big Eyes

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

Few things are more sensuous than smokey eyes. Learn how to create a soft, rosy, smokey eye look with the following easy-to-follow makeup tutorial!

Was this article helpful?

Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Christina FlachHair & Makeup Artist

   

Christina Flach is a celebrity hair and makeup artist with 20 years of experience and the founder of Pretty Girl Makeup. Through her craft, she aims to make her clients feel like the best versions of themselves by allowing their natural beauty to shine through.

Read full bio of Christina Flach

Jyotsana RaoBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

 

Jyotsana Rao is an engineering graduate from NIT, Nagpur, who discovered her love for writing during her undergraduate days. She is passionate about writing about everything related to beauty - makeup, fashion, hairstyles, skin care, or hair care and has 4 years of experience on writing in these genres.

Read full bio of Jyotsana Rao

Madhumati ChowdhuryAssociate Editor

Madhumati is an associate editor with seven years of professional experience. She has previously worked as an editor, proofreader, and a writer with various organizations, helping her navigate through the various facets of content creation and refinement with ease.

Read full bio of Madhumati Chowdhury

Bhumika DagaBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Bhumika is a content writer with 2.5 years of expertise in crafting articles across diverse genres. She graduated from the University of Delhi and completed her post-graduation from Indira Gandhi National Open University, Delhi.

Read full bio of Bhumika Daga