Simple 1-Color Smokey Eye Tutorial

9:00 AM


Hey everyone! Today's tutorial is my go-to makeup lately for those lazy days where I want to look put together but QUICKLY. I know smokey eyes can seem daunting for those who don't wear darker shadows but I've found that the method that I use actually produces a wearable daytime look.

With only one main eyeshadow, it's all about the shape of the shadow and how it's blended on the top line. Check out how I put this look together below!




PRODUCTS MENTIONED:


ON ME:
H&M Plaid top (similar/similar/similar)
Urban Outfitters headband (similar/similar)
NYX Las Vegas nail polish (my review)



When eyes are closed, you should see an almond shape of shadow on the lid with softly blended edges. Because the color is deep but looks like eyeshadow (versus thick black liner) it's actually very flattering on those with monolids and hooded lids as well as girls with creases. Similar to my Makeup For Uneven Eyelids tutorial, it defines the eyes without the "black hole" effect many girls turn to!


A big key to this look is applying the finishing touches to the shadow shape once eyes are open. This way, you get the right amount of shadow that shows while eyes are both open and closed. The finished look should softly rim the eyes evenly.


On my rushed days, I can literally do this look from start to finish in about 10 minutes which I'd say is quite a success for a "smokey eye". It also tends to last several hours with no need for touch-ups. This is one of the reasons why I love it so much!


Since the shadow shape of this look needs to be adaptive to your own eye shape, it will take some practice to see what shape will look best on you. As I always say, practice on an off day until it looks right. It's always easier on the second and third try! Don't be afraid to try this look in various colors as well like navy blue, eggplant, or hunter green. As long as the color is dark, it should work well. :)

Do you have any tips for smokey eye newbies? What is your most dependable "1 color" shadow? Let me know in the comments!

You Might Also Like

43 comments

  1. I alwaaaays love your eye make-up tutorial! It's so inspiring! Thank you so much for sharing and I'm looking forward your next tutorial :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. I wonder if there's a day you're going to list all your false lashes. They look OH-SO-NATURAL!! I'm always looking for those kind of lashes... Can you do that? ;)
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll try to do a blog post on my favorite false lashes in the future! I'm always looking for natural false lashes as well. :)

      Delete
  3. Wonderful <3 <3 <3
    I love your nail polish too
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! It's NYX Las Vegas. I did a Manicure Monday on it recently. http://www.frmheadtotoe.com/search/label/Manicure%20Monday

      Delete
  4. very beautiful! and indeed inspiring, i should give it a try! :3
    ♥ shushu-blog.blogspot.com ♥

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love the look!

    http://1uckyclover.blogspot.ca/

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi! Since you moved I've noticed that the lighting in your videos has changed a lot. This new brighter, more natural light makes it really hard to see the colors correctly, for example in this video when you show the eyeshadow pallet. I also think that the cokor in your face gets sort of washed out, your eyelook really stands out but the color in your face gets washed out and it's hard to see the differens between your foundation and the blush. Just something to think about for future videos :) Love your tutorials by the way! They are always awsome :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes I've heard a few people saying this! Don't worry, the lighting situation is temporary since we are still trying to find the best recording space/lights for videos in our new place. It's a work in progress! Thank you so much for the feedback!! :D

      Delete
  7. Very beautiful Jen! Now I know what to do with my new Nudetude palette ^^ Thanks for the tutorial xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great look! I love this eye tutorial. :)

    xo - Sheila
    www.sheislovelyblog.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love how there is still a gradient despite using only one color :)
    Looking pretty as always Jen!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love this tutorial!! You're amazing! ^___^b I love dark browns/deep cocoa or chocolate colors! I think it's subtle but still adds a nice glamorous effect like a smokey eye should but it's not too heavy like black or dark blue would be on me. ^.^;;

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chocolately neutrals are my favorite too! It's universally flattering. :)

      Delete
  11. love how you use the reddish e/s! its so hard to use :P
    and your lioele mirror is sooo cute!
    hope you get a better lighting space soon! :)


    sharing my international giveaway here
    http://elinessete.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  12. Very helpful video Jen! Looking put-together in little time is key for my lifestyle. I'm trying to get the hang of makeup and I wasn't sure how a smokey eye could be done in just 10 minutes (or less). Time to practice...=P

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jen, Do u prefer the Holika lashes over the Korean "Darkness?" brand that you've used in the past?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are basically the same lashes! I like the ones that look like this style equally. :)

      Delete
  14. I love this look you did! Your lashes look very natural too. Keep doing these posts. :) x

    ReplyDelete
  15. Would love to see a tutorial on how you're doing those beachy waves nowadays!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi! Im a big fan of your makeup work! Everytime I look at your skin in your videos I just get blown away by how clear it is. Could you please recommend me a face cleanser? Im having really bad break outs and I would do anything to clear my skin :( I have oily skin (not super super crazy oily but still pretty oily, but kinda dry in winter) and Im 17. I can get korean brands too so please help me! I live in Canada!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Suzy, have you ever tried spot topical treatment creams that are salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or sulfur based? I had crazy acne growing up (and my teenage brother has it worse!) that's died down a lot since finding the right chemical that works on the problematic bacteria in my skin.

      Honestly, changing my cleanser hasn't ever affected my skin too much but if I don't use my topical creams, I'm guaranteed pimples within a week. I just make sure to have something that cleans w/o leaving too much residue (DHC cleansing oil), exfoliate every 2-4 days (I have very tough skin that can take even everyday exfoliating), and make sure to use a good toner (something from my local hippie store w/ lots of herbal things in it) & non-cloggy but still well-moisturizing lotion that don't break the bank or break me out (Cetaphil Restoraderm Moisturizer).

      Through a lot of testing, I've found that s.acid & sulfur (that works wonders for tons of people) do almost nothing for me, but benzoyl peroxide (which makes a lot of people's skin flare red and itchy) will kill 95% of all my cystics. I'm not sure if Clearasil in Canada has the same line, but they make both bezoyl p.- & sulfur-based treatments. If you try benzoyl peroxide for the first time, please please please make sure to use only a tiiiiny bit in the beginning. Your skin probably isn't use to it and it'll get red and itchy and possibly peel. I've used it forever so I can smear it on all over my face, but my friends can only take dotting onto cystics.

      Of course, drink LOTS OF WATER! And maybe start taking a vitamin pill? I found my skin clearing up a lot since taking Whole Foods' 365 Women's Multivitamin. I have no idea which ingredient is helping and the smell is awful, but you gotta do what you gotta do, right?

      I have super oily skin, which is annoying for having foundation last, but I figure it'll mean less wrinkles in 20 years for us. :)

      Sorry for rambling so much...I feel your pain about teenage acne and wish someone told me about proper skincare regiment when I was in my teens! (And that there was more to treatments than salicylic acid...)

      Delete
  17. Hi, love this look and your blog! Which brushes did you use, and what color would you recommend if using the Naked palette? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My favorites from the Naked palette are Buck (medium brown matte for a more natural look), Smog, and Darkhorse. :)

      Delete
  18. Thanks so much for all these lovely tutorials for monolids & hooded eyes that don't involve faking a crease (which I find end up looking tragic on my hooded eyes with extra fatty lids). I've only recently come to accept that certain eye makeup will never look right on me, but that's ok. Work with what we've got, right?

    One thing I've got that I haven't figured out how to work with properly: the outside corners of my eyes create a crease that slopes down after they come together, like this:
    http://cl.ly/image/1O0H1K1P2S1T
    I've never seen any tutorials on how to deal with this (nor seen anyone with this type of eye corner irl; thanks for the weird genetics, Mom.).

    Do you have any recommendations? It makes my cat-eyes always look so strange b/c it's like I've got a > thing going on at the corners of my eyes and drives me crazy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually, I've had several people ask me this same question! I'll see if I can track down a willing friend with this eye type to see if they will model for me in a video or blog post.

      Delete
    2. That would be awesome. :D Thanks so much!! :D

      Delete
    3. I have this problem too! I have no idea what this shape is called.. it would be amazing if you could do a tutorial on it Jen! Thanks!!

      Delete
    4. I have this same problem too.... its hard for me to do smokey eyes because of that corner. Please definitely do a tutorial on it! Thanks so much ahead!

      Delete
    5. Yes, please do a tutorial. I have that same problem with the outer corner of my eyes sloping down. Please help. Thank you!

      Delete
    6. Same oily crease/corner that doesn't hold shadow! If you could find a model to do a tutorial with that would be amazing!

      Delete
    7. Same oily corner/crease that doesn't hold shadow! If you could find a model to do a tutorial with that would be amazing!

      Delete
  19. Love this colour, will definitely try this colour for Christmas! xoxo

    Fashions Beauty

    ReplyDelete
  20. Awesome tutorial. Could you perhaps do a tutorial some time in the near future about how you remove false eyelashes? Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Why have I only just discovered this blog!! I think your tutorials are great, lots of information and techniques that I've heard about but when I see it happening it makes so much more sense. No matter what though, I ALWAYS have a hard time with the eye liner. I end up looking like an Egyptian more than anything. I know you are suppose to follow the line of your lower lid, but it's just not working! I think what may help me is if after each step or product when you are adding a color or step to your eye, to pull the camera back to see what it looks like on your face. What's hard for me is when I look up, it looks different than in my tiny mirror. Does that make any sense????

    By they way, after I've seen about 2 of your tutorials it makes me want to run to Sephora and buy EVERYTHING. At this point I've seen pretty much all your tutorials so now I'm going to be in big trouble my next trip to the mall!

    Thanks for the tutes and advice and kudos to you for putting yourself out there for the world to see! That's pretty damn hard.

    ReplyDelete
  22. hey jen, how would you recommend asians doing the eyeliner on the bottom?
    none? what are your thoughts about black eyeliner on the bottom? what about white eyeliner on the waterline? thanks!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I actually have a question about the eyeko liner that you use. How long does it tend to last you? I started using mine mid november and it seemed to have lost a lot of its blackness. Is this typical of felt tip liners? When I first started using it it was extremely black.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Jen, I just bought a balm rockstar eyeshadow Platte from Sasa but I'm not really good in using it. Do you mind to do a tutorial for that? I've been learning from you so much.

    ReplyDelete
  25. This is an amazing look! but can you help on what colors might be good instead of the reddish-brown shadow?

    ReplyDelete
  26. Yes, they no long sell that shadow and this my favorite tutorial of yours. Anyway you can suggest a substitute for the shadow?

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe