Smokey Eye Makeup: Easy Tutorial, Best Eyeshadows & Trending Styles

Luthra helps us decode the perfect eye makeup steps to follow to create a smokey eye makeup look yourself. If you're trying smokey eyes for the first time, she recommends starting with a brown look. "They're far more forgiving and help you understand blending before moving into blacks," she says.

1. Step 1 Prep your base:

It's important to start with a clean, prepped base. Luthra prefers using concealer over an eyeshadow primer to even out the lids and give you the perfect canvas to work on. From there, begin with a transition shade in the crease. The ideal transition shade is a neutral eyeshadow shade that is darker than your skin colour.

2. Step 2: Layering eyeshadow is key:

The most important principle of a smokey eye is gradual build-up. Don't rush the process; layer step by step. You can choose to work with just eyeshadows in light to dark shades or include eyeliner and blend that for a smokey effect.

3. Step 3: If you're using eyeliner:

After the transition shade application in the crease, move to applying eyeliner and then smudging it across the lids and working your way upwards. When you're smudging liner, remember to soften only the top edge rather than blending the entire line. This way you avoid the dreaded panda-eye effect. Use a fluffy brush in windshield-wiper motions to diffuse any harsh lines and create that seamless blend. 4. Step 4: Blend till you achieve a seamless fade:

When using eyeshadows, keep the deepest shades closest to the lash line and then fade upward into lighter tones for that soft ombre effect. She prefers starting with cream eyeshadows as a base and then layering powders on top to add depth and dimension. Most importantly, don't dump pigment onto the lids at once. Build the colour gradually so it doesn't look patchy or blotchy.

5. Step 5: Shimmer at the centre is the star of the look:

After you've worked with your darkest shade close to your lash line, you can fill the middle of the lid with a matte or shimmer colour that fits into the transition and darkest shade family. For example, if you're creating a brown smokey eye, your transition shade will be a nude darker than your skin, darkest shade will be a chocolate brown and middle shade will be a medium brown.

6. Step 6: Add mascara or lashes and you're done:

Finally, complete the look with false lashes or generous coats of mascara to add drama and balance.

Here's a handy guide by the makeup pro on tailoring your technique depending on the shape of your eyes.

1. For hooded eyes:

Keep the darkest shades slightly above the crease so the smokiness is visible.

2. If you have round eyes:

Focus on elongating the shadow outwards for a lifted, almond effect.

3. For people with almond-shaped eyes:

Create a smokey eye makeup look the way they like since most styles suit this eye shape. Just follow natural contours.

4. If you have monolids:

Use a gradient wash of colour across the lid, and add intensity with a liner close to the lash line.

5. For downturned eyes:

Lift the outer corner with a winged smokey placement to avoid drooping.

Luthra enjoys creating different smokey eye makeup looks depending on what the overall vibe and occasion demands.

• Classic Black Smokey Eye:

"The most timeless and dramatic, of course, is the classic black and grey, it never goes out of style," she says. "If you really want to go all out, nothing beats a full blown black smokey eye. It's timeless, bold, and always impactful."

• Brown Smokey Eye:

"One of my personal favorites, and what I'd call my signature, is black to bronze and brown smokey eye makeup. It's soft yet sultry, and works beautifully across skin tones."

• Natural Smokey Eye:

"If you're looking to up your daily eye makeup game with a smokey look, you can always play with shades of nudes and use a brown as your darkest shade to be diffused, creating a natural smokey eye look."

• Mauve Smokey Eye:

"For a more romantic twist, plum and mauve tones complement the eyes beautifully, adding depth without feeling too heavy."

• Metallic Smokey Eye:

"On Indian olive-toned skin, I absolutely love an olive and gold smokey eye — it's understated yet regal."

We put together the perfect smokey eye makeup toolkit including eyeshadows, eyeliners and mascaras. Trust us, you'll want to add these to cart ASAP.

• Matte Eyeshadows: These make for the perfect foundation for your smokey eye makeup look, allowing you to build as you go.
• Shimmer Eyeshadows: Shimmers are essential to highlight the inner corners, brow bone and use at the centre of your eyelid for make your smokey eye pop. We recommend the Lakmé 9to5 Eyeconic Shadow Stack in Smokey Diva.
• Kohl Pencil: This helps to add dimension to your lids and can be easily blended out for a diffused look. We recommend Lakmé 9 To 5 Eyeconic Kajal.
• Cream Eyeshadows: If you're looking to layer your eye makeup, start with a cream eyeshadow and set it with a powder for a smokey eye that lasts.
• Mascara: It's the essential final step to finish your eye makeup and make your lashes appear darker and more lifted. Try the Lakmé 9 To 5 Eyeconic Curling Mascara.

The different types of smokey eye makeup looks include a brown smokey eye, full blown black smokey eye, metallic smokey eye using shades like gold, silver and bronze, and a natural smokey eye. You can also use bright colours like blues, greens, mauves and purples that make for a statement eye makeup look.

You need an eyeshadow palette with light and dark shades, eyeliner, a flat makeup brush, a blending brush and a liner brush along with mascara for a smokey eye makeup look.