No matter what the season, one of the hottest looks for evening is a smoky eye accompanied by a pale lip. While most color combinations for a smoky eye look work well, one of the most dramatic and alluring is a silver and black eye shadow combination. In order to achieve this dramatic and head turning look all you need is a few minutes and a few simple steps.
In order to create a silver and black smoky eye look you will want to have the following cosmetics and tools:
-eye shadow primer
-silver or light metallic gray eye shadow
-black eye shadow
-black eyeliner
-black mascara
-two eye 5430352shadow blending brushes
-eyelash curler
Once you have the products that you need, make sure that you are using a mirror in a well lit room. In order to achieve the best color and application, you want to make sure that your mirror is lit with bright bulbs or bathed in natural light. Fluorescent style lighting is not optimal for make-up application of any kind. You will then want to proceed to apply your base and powder and any under-eye concealer you may need. Adding blush and lip color can be done either before or after you apply your eye make-up. I prefer to do my eyes second to last, with lip color last, simply because most of the make-up artists that I work with tend to go in this order, but the choice is yours.
When your base, concealer and powder are applied, you can choose to apply an eye shadow primer. It is not necessary to use a primer, but it is my experience that using a primer will make your eye shadow color last longer and not crease into your eyelids as easily. If you have a long evening ahead of you, then using a primer to maintain the integrity of your eye shadow is a great idea.
Once the primer has been applied and allowed to dry, you can get started on your eyes by applying a very thin line of black eyeliner to the base of your upper eyelashes starting at the inner corner and extending out to the outer corner of your lashline and eyelid. This will help define your eyelashes and eyeline and will compliment the silver and black eye shadows beautifully.
You will then want to choose a blending brush and the silver or metallic gray eye shadow. Take the brush and swipe it across the eye shadow. It’s best to apply a lighter shade first to see how you like it, and if you prefer a darker shade of silver you can then apply a second or third layer of eye shadow. The silver eye shadow will be applied directly onto your upper eyelid in smooth strokes starting from the inner corner of your eye and extending out to the outer corner. Make sure that you use your brush in smooth small strokes in order to blend the color in well. If you choose, for a more dramatic effect, you can take a little of the silver shadow and dab it lightly with the very tip of your brush onto the lashline on the bottom of your eyes as well.
Now that your base silver color has been applied you will want to take your second blending brush and use it with the black eye shadow. Again, it is better to err on the side of precaution and use just a touch of black eye shadow. It is easier to correct mistakes if you’ve applied a light layer rather then a darker one. If you prefer to go darker you can add more layers of eye shadow until you achieve the shade you are going for.
Once you have dabbed the brush into the black eye shadow you will want to apply this to the outer portion of your eyelid starting midway across your eyelid with a lighter application of the black and getting darker as you go out towards the outer end of your lids. You want to blend the black in with circular strokes creating the smoky effect that you want. Continue to blend the color in and up towards your browbone making sure to stay in the outer edges of your eyelid. You don’t want to get the black eye shadow anywhere near the bridge of your nose or inner corner of your eyelids as this will give you a raccoon-like effect. Once you have blended the black in, you will want to take a touch more of the black eye shadow and dab it onto the outer corner of your eyelid blending it up and then back in towards the lids.
With your eye shadow applied, you will then want to lightly curl your eyelashes with an eyelash curler and then apply one or two coats of mascara to both the upper and lower eyelashes. Some women prefer to not use mascara on their bottom lashes, but I have yet to have a professional make-up artist not use mascara on my bottom lashes. The effect is more eye opening and dramatic and definitely compliments a smoky-eyed look. Once the mascara has been applied, you are done and ready to hit the town, the runway or wherever it is that you chose to go with those fabulous peepers!
Having a gorgeous silver and black smoky eyed look is simple and takes just a few minutes to apply. It’s a classic look that will make you look fantastic for any occasion in which you want to look your glamorous best!
