Fashion, makeup and hair trends from the red carpet often find their way into less rarefied venues, notably proms and graduation parties. One of the big makeup looks from recent celebrity gatherings has been the smoky eye and nude, glossy lip. A key to pulling this off is to focus on creating one dramatic feature, not two, says Denver makeup artist Michael Moore, who runs Simply Moore studio in Cherry Creek North. Here’s how to create a smoky eye.Photos by RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post; model: Mariel Snyder
1. Start by using an eye primer that will ensure that your eye shadow stays in place and lasts all night long. Apply the primer from lash line to lid. Allow it to dry if necessary.
2. Sweep a base color across your lid using a large eye-shadow brush. Don’t use white; use a matte flesh tone shade to produce the correct gradient that a true smoky eye needs. Next apply a dark enhancement color over lid and into eye crease.
3. Blend color over the lid using an eye crease brush, which has a tight head of bristles and a tapered tip. (Be sure to tap your brush or gently blow the excess powder off to avoid ending up with dark circles under your eyes.) Use more pressure when applying the eye shadow over the center of the eye, and decrease as you move toward your lid to save time when doing finishing touches. Do not go past your eye crease.
Use an eye- blender brush to gently blend the dark color from your crease. A sheer color should be fading into the color you used on your lid. Use a cotton swab to clean any stray eye shadow or to blend heavy spots out of your lid and crease.
4. Apply a liner that is in the same color family of the smoky eye color you are going for, i.e. navy eyeshadow needs a navy liner. Apply the liner from the inner corner moving out. Focus on the middle of the eye and apply a slightly wider line on your upper lash line. Next, use a waterproof liner to line the lash line under your upper eyelid. You may need to gently raise your eyelids with a finger on your other hand.
Add a powder liner under your eye right into the lash line and smudge the line using your finger or your brush. This is where the smoky eye comes from.
5. Finish by curling eyelashes and applying glossy black or navy blue mascara. Maybelline Lash Stiletto is a good brand for special-event makeup. Remember to work the mascara from the root of your lashes to the tip. Try wiggling it back and forth as you do this to work out any clumped lashes. For a little extra sparkle, add a light shimmering shadow in the inner corner of the eye.
Michael Moore is a Denver-based makeup artist and owner of Simply Moore studio. The business offers cosmetics application and lessons, skin care, waxing and such services as custom-blended makeup. Moore regularly hosts group events and seminars, and is on CW2 each Tuesday at 8:15 a.m.
Have a fashion or beauty issue you’d like us to help you solve? Contact Suzanne S. Brown: sbrown@denverpost.com or call 303-954-1697
