This tutorial is for a very dramatic smokey eye that is basically black. It is considered sultry, sexy, and some might refer to it as the “Victoria Secret Model” look.
Skill Level: Beginner
You will need the following products: a matte black base (Blacktrack fluidline), a matte black powder eyeshadow (Carbon eyeshadow), a matte highlight that’s similar to your skintone (Performance eyeshadow), another matte highlight that’s similar to your skintone, but darker than the one before (Malt eyeshadow), a black eye kohl (Graphblack technakohl, Blacktrack fluidline) and [optionally] a shimmery silver or black eyeshadow if you want a shimmery look (Silver Ring eyeshadow).
You will need the following tools: a separate brush or sponge-tip applicator to use with the black base (like the 252), a blending brush for the black shadow (cheap Target brush), and a blending brush for the highlight colors (Philosophy blending brush). To clean up fall-out, using a cosmetic remover wipe works best and is easiest to quickly eradicate the black fall out underneath the eyes.
Using a firm, flat brush, pick up just a dab of Blacktrack fluidline. This is all we are going to use for one entire eye, and yes, it will really be enough. A little goes a long way, and it is better to start small and add as required rather than deal with an overabundance of product!
Begin applying Blacktrack fluidline as your base on the inner portion of your lid. You want to place the brush as pictured and pull the color upwards and outwards to begin covering the lower part of your lid. You want to make sure you establish some sort of shape, whatever your preference in. I prefer something similar to the curvature of my natural eye. Do your best to make it fairly curved, but it does not have to be perfect - a few imperfections will disappear through the process.
You have applied most of the product initially on the brush, and you will spend the next few steps spreading it out by pulling the color upward and outward from the middle portion of your lower lid.
Continue covering your lid in Blacktrack fluidline by making sure to color your outer lid as well.
Pulling the color upwards and outwards will cause the color to look faded and streaky. This occurs and is expected, but is easily remedied by simply brushing downwards once you have pulled the color the appropriate height. You can also gently pat the color back into a smoother place.
This is the positioning of your brush when you are patting color into place or if you wanted to pull your brush downwards to ensure a flat surface, rather than a streaky one, as mentioned in the previous step.
This is what your finished product should look like.
Using a separate blending brush, pick up Carbon eyeshadow. You may need to return and pick up more of the black shadow as you work on the look.
In a similar fashion as applying the base, start packing on Carbon eyeshadow all over the black portion of your lid.
You want to make sure you get the shadow on all of your base, because it helps the eyeshadow and the base to set.
You want to go all the way to the edges, and if you go over, that’s perfectly okay!
Keep your brush at this angle as you apply Carbon eyeshadow to the outer edge of the base. This will help you be more precise with application and keep you in the same line as the base itself.
To help soften some of the line, gently swish your brush back and forth over the outer edge.
It will take a few times before you see the edge soften. Do not spend forever doing this, because we will help soften the edge further using our highlights.
Using a separate brush for the highlighter colors, pick up Performance eyeshadow with your brush.
Apply Performance eyeshadow directly underneath your brow onto your browbone. You want to place it towards the inner portion of your brow.
Gently slide your brush over the space beneath your eyebrow as you make your way towards the outer portion of the brow.
You can choose to continue using Performance eyeshadow, or you can use a slightly darker color like Malt eyeshadow. Keeping the brush at the pictured angle, cover the very outermost edge of black with Malt eyeshadow. Do not worry about all the fall out on the black eyeshadow - it is such a cinch to fix.
Gently brush the black shadow into the highlighter colors to help soften the harsh edge of black.
Using the brush you used to apply Carbon eyeshadow, hold it horizontally against your lid, along the outer portion of the black shadow and brush upwards and outwards, to help create a gray area that creates a gradient of black to highlight.
Gently swish the brush along the curve of the outermost edge of the black shadow.
This is what you should have when the eye is closed.
This is what you should have when the eye is open.
I prefer the shadow to go higher, so I am using my brush from applying Carbon to help heighten the black portion of the shadow by repeating the previous steps.
Similarly acting out the steps before, only this time increasing the amount of black space.
Using the brush you used to apply Carbon eyeshadow, pick up a touch of the black shadow and hold your brush horizontally against your outer lower lash line. Gently dab the brush against the outermost portion of your lower lash line and then carefully move it towards the inside of your lash line, but ensure that you stop one third to one half of the way.
This is what it should look like. You can clean up as you go, or you can clean up when you are finished (there is a fairly prominent stray black line underneath the lower lash line that will be cleaned up).
I find that kohl pencil liners are easy to use, but Blacktrack fluidline is fabulous for staying on the waterline. Both Graphblack technakohl and Blacktrack fluidline will give the same dark, black liner, though. I take my technakohl and dip the tip into Blacktrack fluidline, just to get a touch of the fluidline.
I apply the fluidline I had picked up with the technakohl liner by starting in the middle of my lower lash line and moving outwards in both directions, continually sliding back and forth over my lower lash line and lower waterline.
Add mascara of your choice, curl lashes if desired, and your eyes are finished. To complete the look, minimize focus on cheeks and lips by using a light-handed blush like Pearl Sunshine beauty powder and a deeper contouring color to dramatize features. Lips are best if left in either neutral or nude shades, but a slight pink or coral coloring will not destroy the look.
If you wanted a shimmery black shadow look, then read the following four steps.
Using your blending brush, pick up a shimmery black or silver eyeshadow like Black Tied eyeshadow or Silver Ring eyeshadow. Since I do not have Black Tied, I will be using Silver Ring. If you have a shimmery black shadow, you can simply apply that on top and you really do not need to do more.
This is what it looks like after you’ve applied Silver Ring shadow.
Using the brush you used to apply Carbon eyeshadow, pick up more of it and apply all over lid; make sure to cover the silver portions.
This is what it should look like - a bit more shimmery than before. Alternately, you can use a shimmery base and a matte black shadow to achieve the same effect. For my typical shimmery smokey eye, I use Silver pigment as my base, which has plenty of shimmer in it.
Thank you so much for this tutorial, Im going to try it later on!
My pleasure Ami! Oh, awesome! If you do, I’d love to see pictures :)
I LOVE IT! I will so try this! Thank you!!!
Yay! Thank you! I hope you do :D
Great tutorial! Thanks for taking the time to do this!
Thanks Jayme! My pleasure as always :)
Wow, all your looks are so great! Here in Germany, we love your site… Thank you so much!
Aww! I’ve gone international! lol :) Thank you!
Absolutely gorgeous! Thank you so much for this one!
Thanks so much for this. Its really helpful, and it looks so pretty on you.
What do you have on your lips? I’ve been trying to get that kind of nude look to no avail.
:)
I used Style It Up lipstick with Mouthwatering lipglass!
My favorite smokey eye tut I’ve ever seen. I love how it’s dark, and not shiny. Definetly will try it!
Thank you! Tough to get it sooo matte/flat, but I tried, lol.
Your tutorials and everything you write is very helpful.
BTW you’re very pretty.
Thank you x2 :)
i think this looks so well on you!!! and i LOVE this tutorial, probably the best one i’ve seen on a smokey eye - i’ll definitely have to try this =]
Oh, wow! Thank you so much :D So sweet of you to say. I hope it works for you!
I love your entire makeup in this tutorial. Could you please share the type of lipliner, foundation and moisturizer you use? You’re absolutely gorgeous!
I didn’t use lipliner, actually! But for this one, I’d recommend Summerfruit as a good neutral lipliner. I used Style It Up lipstick with Mouthwatering lipglass for the lips… foundation? I use Studio Fix Fluid in NC30. No moisturizer for me!
Thanks :D
both the lipstick and lipglass colors are not available anymore - can you recommend something similar that is available still? thanks!
Hi Allie,
There are tons of easily substituted lipsticks you can use! It’s really just a simple neutral color underneath a neutral lipglass. My lips are a tad pigmented, so there’s a slight pink undertone from my natural lip.
You can try Gel, Freckletone, or Myth for a great nude lipstick. Myth might give you a hint of pink, but just barely. C-thru would make a great lipglass substitute for Mouthwatering.
hey Christine
ur ossumly talented n gifted !!:)
all ur tutorials are simply beautiful , gr8, fantastic, excellent, fabulous, WONDERFUL !!:D
absolutely LOVED ur latest tutorial, and you looked absolutely GORGEOUS !!!
i showed my mom ur site and i it’s already one of her favorite sites !!
i just have one question :)How did learn to apply make-up??
thanx again:)
Aww!! You are too sweet! And soo cute showing your mom :D I learned just through practicing! I’m sure some of it came from just looking at different people’s styles of makeup, too, and learning to adopt my own technique based on what I liked and didn’t. But really, practice, practice, practice!
Could you do my makeup? Haha. This is awesome! :) I would try it, but I find that makeup for my eyes always comes out weird.
Aww, I’d definitely love to try if I could! ;)
I don’t think there is a better lip shade you could have chosen for this look. I adore it, but I hate lipstick. Is there a lipglass that is close to the shade that you’re wearing?
Hi Denise! Hmm… I would say Chai or Underage maybe :) Depends on how pigmented your lips are, you might be able to get away with just a slightly tinted, but mostly sheer gloss like C-Thru.
I actually have pretty rosy pigmented lips when they’re moisterized, so I’m going to try Underage. Thanks :)
That is simply beautiful! What did you use on your lips?
Thank you Emmanuel! I used Style It Up lipstick with Mouthwatering lipglass on top :)
Omg thank you so much for that tutorial! I usually spend so much time trying to intensify my black eyeshadow and I never even thought of applying my Blacktrack Fluidline as a base! I’ll have to give it a try. Thanks again hun!
No problem! :) Blacktrack will definitely help on the intensity!
Wow, definitely the most thorough tutorial I have seen when it comes to make up, I’m impressed by your effort and the final effect. One question though, I’m not a huge make up doer spender buyer type (hence the search for tips) and I have no idea where to purchase those products or anything similar in quality to them? Where are the best places to get stuff like that and are there any alternatives that you found to be suitable substitutes? Thanks
Jo
Thank you so much :) MAC comes from the MAC counter or store, often found at shopping malls and department stores (not sure if you were asking about MAC specifically!). Else you can use your local drug store and peruse their section of cosmetics. Some great alternative brands are NYX and Milani.
Thanks and yes MAC specifically but also suitable substitutes… thanks again
your ,mascara is excellent for smokey eyes,which one is that?
I use CoverGirl LastExact and Maybelline’s Full ‘n Soft!
Sweetheart what other eyeshadow bases do you use and recommend? I love fluidliners as bases but I don’t really think of buying the MAC shadesticks. I heard they don’t last for a long time. Plus I do not like MAC that much.
I use pigments with MAC’s water-based mixing medium, personally, but fluidliners are good bases. I personally don’t like shadesticks because they tend to be harder to use. Paints are similar to fluidlines, only they’re creamier and come in tubes.
A lot of people like Urban Decay’s Primer Potion. You can also try out L’Oreal’s Decrease. HTH!
your tutorial on another site! email me if you’re not okay with it. you are gorgeous btw :)
Normally it’s not allowed, but since it’s in another language, it’s fine (since it’s obvious I won’t be translating it into any other languages myself) :) Thanks for letting me know, and continue to let me know if anything else I’ve posted gets translated, too, just for my curiosity’s sake. :)
THANKS!! never can i thank you enough!
I liked how you didn’t miss out any step. very helpful!
No problem ;) I try my best, so I’m glad you found it helpful!
i really have a problem with your lashes… i am in love with everything else. but the lashes, they have some issues. get a new mascara buddy. this one ain’t workin for you.
i just re-read this comment, and it sounded kinda harsh. thats not what i was intending to do, just so you know. i was just looking forward to seeing the final product and in my head i kept seeing beautiful, thick, long, soft lashes and then i saw what you did and i was disappointed. =/ i use maybelline’s volum’ express turbo boost. it gives great length, and 7x the volume. i love it, you should try it out.
I’ve used it, and it doesn’t do anything for me… :/ I use Last Exact & Full ‘n Soft, though currently I’m using Telescopic. I’m not sure what is it that you don’t like about my lashes, though - that might help me understand your comment better.
Thanks again, Stephanie!
It’s not that I don’t like them, i just think it would look really fantastic if they were more voluminous.
Thank you for posting your version of the smokey look. When I have tried the smokey look in the past, I had gotten only so far just to chicken out and take it all off! With your multiple pics laid out like that, I can see the entire process and have more confidence that halfway through I can keep on blending! I am so glad I came across your site (found a link in a Makeup Alley notebook) Next time I am going out this is what I will try. I only have the brown version of fluidline so I think I will try the brown smoke first. Then off to the MAC counter, they are going to love me…
Aww! I am so happy to hear that, Kristie :D The smokey eye is such a great look on so many people, so don’t be afraid to keep on going with it!
Good luck with the brown smokey eye!! And of course, feel free to tell me how it goes :)
OMG!
I have the mac fluidline and I had no idea that it could also be pulled off as an eyehadow!!
I love it!
Yep, it definitely can! It’s a GREAT base, too. I’ve only tried a few as bases, but I’ve been impressed thus far ;D
FYI… Rimmel has an awesome new mascara that’s made with Lycra. It goes on great, even with several coats, and stays soft. It stays on all day… sometimes too long. I have had to use an oil-based remove to get it off, but if you’re going for a dramatic look, getting it off probably isn’t an immediate concern. I’ve used MAC for years and while I do a relatively good job applying the ‘paint’ as I call it, I’ve never understood how to get the really dramatic look like you have here. I definitely need to sit down and try this one when I don’t need it so I’ll have it down when I do. I have found that using a business card (those expensive plastic ones work great) to hold up to my eye when getting to the outer edge gives me a great defined line to work with. It’s also awesome for getting that ‘cat eye’ look or for fun party makeup.
Love your site… thanks so much. You should put some full face shots up of your overall makeup; I bet you look like a million!
Hi Bonnie! Thanks for telling me about it, I’ll have to see if I can get it when it goes on sale.
I’m happy to hear you like the site, and I hope you get some time to experiment and play soon :D
You are perfect… great tutorial, great knowledge about to build a smokey-eye. I´d like you to suggest 2 MAC eye shadows for a NC 50 skintone , that can be used in the places of
matte highlight that’s similar to my skintone (Performance eyeshadow), another matte highlight that’s similar to my skintone, but darker than the one before.
Thanks
Hi Cris! Thank you - I am so glad you found the tutorial helpful :) You might want to check out Omega or Charcoal Brown eyeshadows. Soft Brown might be nice, but it might be too red-brown.
Hot Momma! That looks fan-freakin-tastic! Absolutely love it! Thanks for your inspiration.
lol! Thank you Christina. This is probably one of the more go-getter looks of mine!
what did you use for your lips they look fantastic.
bitchin’ contrast to those eyes ;)
I used Style It Up lipstick, which is a fantastic nude, with Mouthwatering lipglass (extremely warm sheer color).
i take it they’re both M.A.C
ps: you’re on my bookmarks bar! keep at it, girlie :)
Yep, both MAC ;)
Love Black Smokey Eye? Learn how to do it right!…
This tutorial is for a very dramatic smokey eye that is basically black. It is considered sultry, sexy, and some might refer to it as the “Victoria Secret Model” look….
Love this tutorial. I’m going out this weekend and plan on trying it. But I have a question about what I can use as an alternative…
I don’t have Blacktrack fluidline, but I plan on getting it within the next few weeks. Is there any other steady base I can use? My sister suggested using liquid eyeliner, but I’m not too sure.
Thanks,
Jocelyn
Hey Jocelyn,
Do you have any dark base? Liquid liner might work, but I’d do a test run first, because it might end up creasing. You can use just about any base, but lighter bases will require a lot more packing of the black shadow to really get it that dark.
I have one of the paint tubes, but it’s in a very light pinkish tone. I think I’m just going to experiment with the both of them tomorrow and do one eye with the liquid, and one eye with the paint and see how that works out. Hah.
Thanks again,
Jocelyn
Sounds good, Jocelyn! When in doubt, experiment ;)
Really well done tutorial,I don’t even wear makeup but found myself intrigued….
You should do more if you haven’t already.
Thank you, Shelby! :)
Hello Christine!
Thank you foy your tutorials they are beautiful so easy to understand!
I really want to try this look and bought all the cosmetics from here, except for “Performance” and “Malt” eyeshadow. I was told these were limited edition and not available anymore. Can you please reccommend a susbstitute for these? It could be any brand too BTW!
Thanks so much!
Hey Sara! Performance and Malt are both highlighter colors - extremely light taupe-y neutrals. Easy to replace with just about anything that’s similar to your skintone :)
Impressive, must admit smokey eye make up really does it for me… Now why is that???
Thank you!
I’m not sure!
great site, could you have any suggestion for smoky eyes ‘n darker skins?
Hey Mia! You might want to try putting a touch of a lighter color on the inner lid to help dramatize your look. A white or beige kind of color would look great in a smokey look.
I love it!
Thanks, Stefanie!!
I’ve tried a few sites and it took me forever to understand what it’s been told.
I like step by step photos.
Will definitly give it a try (with the products i am allowed to use, as I am allergic to quite a lot of products).
Oh, there are smokey eyes in brown.
That’s my girl!!!! Thanx.
Tiana
Yay! I’m happy to hear that the step by step photo approach is working for you :) Good luck, Tiana!!
Re: A Good Site for Eye make-up?…
Temptalia’s website has a good "smokey eye" tutorial. Here’s the link: http……
Hi - great tutorial,
I have a question - if you were to add false eyelashes would you apply them before the make up or after ?
Thanks
Thanks Cherie! Apply them after :)
Hey Cherie! Afterwards so you don’t end up with fall out all over them :)
Smokey Eyes…….
I have been playing with dramatic eye looks lately. I used to doll up all the……
This tutorial has been very helpful. This look totally makes men go speechless.
I totally agree!
Hey Christie,
Oh my god!!how cud anyone be so talented and wud give us such a ”A WHOLE WHOLE WHOLE EXPLAINED TUTORIAL”this is surely unbelieveable,i really luv the way u define it,Im sure ur boyfreind wud be jealous of ur looks!!And of ur admirers,aint im rite???
Luv
Zainy.
Hi Zainy! Thank you so much :) You are way too kind!
hi christine! i’ve just seen this tutorial for the first time yikes! I LOVE IT!!!!! i am going to do this smokey eye for my graduation night on wednesday i’ll let u know how it turns out! I’m also doing a smokey purple eye for a friend so i’m off to see what u have in purple:)
Went to mac today