Makeup Shortcuts: Smoke Out Your Lids With Liner, and Avoid Having to Clean Up Fallout [Featuring Chanel Summer 2017]

Cleaning up fallout is one of my least favorite things in this universe, right up there with ill-fitting underwear. I LOATHE having to clean up powder under my eyes. I just have better things to do with my life, ya know?

I recently stumbled on this technique where you smoke out the outer corners using an eyeliner, and it’s the Best. Thing. Ever. Because no fallout. 🙂 Basically, all you need is a pencil liner, your favorite blending brush and your best resting b*tch face.

Ha! I kid, I kid! The RBF is totally optional.

Step 1: Start with your (nearly) completed makeup look

But seriously, what you will need is a nearly completed makeup look, so let’s start with that, OK?

Since you won’t have to worry about cleaning up any fallout (YAY!), you can already have your eyes, base, cheeks and lips done.

Here I’m wearing a few things from Chanel Summer 2017, and I’ll list everything down at the bottom of the post.

Step 2: Apply a dark liner to the outer corner

Grab a dark liner that will complement your look, and reach for something that’s either off-black, gray or dark brown — something that isn’t too dark but will still add that smokiness to the outer corners.

I mean, you could use a true black liner instead, but then you’d have to do more blending.

Also, you’ll want your liner to be somewhat smudgy in a formula that doesn’t set super quickly. That way you can easily push it around with a brush.

I’m using a greenish black to go with the warm bronze and pink tones I’m wearing.

Step 3: Blend with your favorite blending brush

Take that liner, and apply it in the outer corners of your lids on top of your existing eye makeup, and don’t worry if it looks messy. That’s totally fine.

Now, grab your favorite blending brush (I love the MAC 221 because I don’t have a lot of lid space, and the skinny tapered tip is perfect for precisely pushing product where I want it to go).

Lay the brush on top of the liner, and gently swipe it back and forth, making tiny little circles to diffuse the liner and smoke out the corner.

If some liner ends up on your lower lash line, that’s cool. Just go with it! Run your brush along the liner to mellow it out and give some definition to your lower lash line. That color will also help to tie the smoke on your upper lids to your lower lash line and complete the look.

Step 4: Lift the look with a sponge

Finally, gently run a sponge loaded with a little bit of concealer or foundation along the lower outer edge to clean it up and lift the look.

Done!

Isn’t it nice not having to deal with dark powder shadow dropping on your cheeks? None of that nonsense here. 🙂

Makeup worn in this look

I’m wearing a lot of the new Chanel Summer 2017 Cruise Collection, Les Indispensables De L’Ete, which is on counters and online right meow.

FACE: MAC Lightful C Tinted Cream in Medium Plus mixed with a little Make Up Forever HD Concealer in Y41, Chanel Loose Powder (setting powder, applied sparingly to my forehead, nose and chin)

CHEEKS: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour in No. 50 mixed with Les Beiges Healthy Glow Luminous Colour in Medium Light (bronzer), Chanel Les Beiges Blush No. 21 (blush)

EYES: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Luminous Colour in Medium Light (as a wash of eyeshadow all over my lids), Chanel Les Beiges Blush No. 20 (as a cream shadow in the crease), Chanel Inimitable Waterproof Mascara in Vert Profond (lashes) and Chanel Stylo Yeux Eyeliner in Horizon (to tightline as the smoky shadow in the outer corner)

LIPS: Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Golden Sand mixed with Chanel Rouge Coco Stylo in Sepia

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen