According to Harper’s Bazaar’s Runway Report for Fall/Winter 2009, dark smoky eyes were one of the big eye makeup trends for the season.  It doesn’t have to be complicated to create a sexy smoky eye that will get you noticed.    

Most makeup artists suggest beginning with a base to help the eye makeup last, keep the colors vibrant and to stop the eye makeup from creasing.  Some bases you can choose from are: an eye shadow primer for all over the eye, white shadow, tinted moisturizer, foundation, and then set with a loose powder all over the face.

Use black or brown eye liner around your entire eye and a Q-tip, shadow applicator, or finger to smudge the liner around your eye.  You can also purchase a few brushes to apply your eye makeup or use what you have at home.  Synthetic brushes are less expensive or you can visit the art store and choose a few inexpensive brushes.   

Begin by patting a light eye shadow all over the lid with an applicator and up to under your brow bone.  Patting instead of swiping it will make the shadow stay in place for you and not end up all over your face.  The light shadow will act as a base for everything, and help to intensify the other eye shadow colors.  Also by adding a light color under the brow bone, it helps to highlight the area.  You can also add the light shadow in the inner corners of your eye to help brighten up the area.

Then use a light to medium color to the entire lid from lashes to just above the crease.  According to Carmindy of 5 Minute Face, you can use any color you like: pinks, greens, etc just stay within the same color family. 

Next Use a medium to dark color start applying it to the corners of your eye and work your way in three quarters of the way over your eye from lashes to just above the crease.  You want the deepest color to be in the outer corner of your crease, and then smudge it over to the other side.  It may be easier to start out light and gradually add more color to make it darker, according to Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual.  You can create either a subtle look with lighter color palette or a more dramatic eye for night time or a special event with dark shadows used more heavily.  Once you have finished making the dark color smoky you can add the lighter color to the inner lid again.

Finish by adding another swipe of eye liner and then use your finger, q-tip or applicator and smudge out.  Finally curl your lashes with an eye lash curler and add several coats of dark mascara.  You will want your lips to be a pale pink and a subtle color on the cheeks so your eyes are the focus.

Now that you have those big, sexy eyes go out and get noticed as that sexy woman you are who turns heads!