Party make-up: dramatic smokey eyes

Sultry, smokey eyes are so sexy for an evening do. Whether you go for soft and subtle or bold and dramatic, a dark, smokey hue adds that instant party factor to an evening ensemble.

Now if you’re anything like me, attempting a smokey eye can end up looking a big black smudge of mess, with eye shadow splattered all over your face. Loose black eye shadow is such a pain to master, and despite the theatrical end result, if you’re left looking like a chimney sweep, it’s sometimes just not worth the hassle.

Having said that, it’s all about the ease of the products you’re using. I’ve used a NARS black eye shadow in the past that has a gorgeous, glitzy and sparkly finish. It looks fab once on, but it’s proved such a nightmare to use I’ve ended up hiding it in the back of my bathroom cupboard, willing a make-up artist to come over and teach me how to use it properly!

Never one to be beaten, I was intrigued to recreate Lord & Berry’s smokey eye look. With top tips from make-up artist Elkie Philips, I wanted to test how easy it would be to reconstruct this look.

The verdict? Elkie’s step-by-step instructions are really easy to follow. Using the eyeliner as a base really helps to guide the eye shadow where you want it to go, and I can confirm that it won’t end up a smudged mess all over your face. Just use a really good smudging eye shadow brush and lightly apply, adding more or less depending on the effect you want to go for. I decided to be somewhere in the middle, as pictured below: dramatic enough to make a statement but not so much that I look like I’m performing on a pantomime stage!

My personal favourite product: the Kajal stick – it effortlessly glides onto the eye with a slightly wet, glistening finish. Use to create a gorgeous defined effect on top of the eye shadow and around the edge of the eye lids - with a flick if you like - but a simple outer line looks super glam and makes enough of a statement.
 
Here’s how to recreate Elkie’s statement smokey eye:

Step 1 – Use a Kajal stick to line the entire eye – from the top lashes to the wet line of your bottom lashes.

Step 2 – Use a cotton bud to gently smudge the line you’ve just created ensuring that you’re spreading the colour outwards. This will give you the beginnings of a basic smokey eye.

Step 3 – For a real statement look then apply an eye shadow pencil on top of and beyond  where you’ve lined with the Kajal, paying extra attention to inner and outer corners of the eye. This will help build and intensify the colour.

Step 4 – Get a small eyeshadow brush to apply the loose eye shadow. Be careful not to apply too much at a time and gently dab it onto the eyelids, reaching as far as the crease and just below the brow bone. Be sure to shape the eyeshadow in line with your eye’s natural shape.

Dab a small amount of Vaseline onto your lids for a glossy finish.

The products we used:
Silk Kajal Stick, £12
Sketch eyeshadow pencil, £9
Stardust eyeshadow in Dark Black, £8
Lipstick in Vogue, £12

All available from www.lordandberry.com

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