Smokey Eye ‘Til I Die!
I don’t know if I’ll ever tire of doing smokey eyes. There are just so many different ways to work the look, like this spin on a daytime eye for work. It’s a method I learned from my favorite MAC artist, Jen, using products from the MAC Metal Urge and Red She Said collections.
Featured Products
I use quite a few different products for this look, but the most important MAC ones (because of their overall influence on the look) are…
- MAC Brushed Metal-X Cream Shadow in Gilded Ash ($16.50): shimmery, gray-khaki cream eyeshadow
- MAC Cocomotion Pigment ($19.50): shimmery brown-gold loose eyeshadow
- MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Inter-View ($17.50): Shimmery brown, navy blue and bronze mineral eyeshadow trio
How to Get the Look
For me, the easiest way to do a smokey eye is to layer textured products. Here, I layer powder eyeshadow, pigment and cream shadow.
I start by dotting Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Wheat over my entire lid. It’s a primer used here to prevent creasing and helps the eye makeup last longer.
With my finger, I blend Eye Basics evenly over the the entire lid.
Next, I load a MAC 217 Blending Brush by swiping it across the pan of Gilded Ash, and then brush the shadow onto the lid and just barely into the crease.
I repeat the previous step several times, building upon the color, and fading it from the lid into the crease.
Then, with a MAC 252 Large Shader Brush, I apply Cocomotion Pigment into the crease and use a MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush to mellow out any harsh edges.
Next, I take the 252 and sweep MAC Ricepaper Eyeshadow underneath the entire brow, concentrating most of the color at the highest point of the brow’s arch.
Grabbing my trusty 224, I run the brush head along the edges of the color to soften any obvious lines.
Then, to enhance the smokey effect a little bit more, I pat the dark brown shade from the Inter-View eyeshadow trio onto the outer third of my lid with a MAC 228 Mini Shader Brush.
Still with the Mini Shader Brush, I apply the dark blue shadow from Inter-View onto the outer corner, which adds a little more depth to the look.
Time to line the eyes!
With a Laura Mercier Flat Eye Liner Brush I smooth MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack onto the upper lash line, thickening the line as it moves outward toward my ear.
Next, using the same brush I apply Blacktrack on the lower lash line and soften the edge of the line by smudging it with a makeup sponge.
Almost there!
After covering up my dark circles with MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW 25 and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium, I fill in my brows with MAC Concrete Eyeshadow using a MAC 266 Small Angled Brush.
Then, I curl my lashes using the ever-awesome Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler and finish the eyes by adding two coats of MAC Plushlash mascara.
All done with the eyes!
The rest of the look is super easy. To color the cheeks, I use my fingers to smooth on some NARS The Multiple in Portofino.
Finally, I swipe Chanel Rouge Allure Lipstick in Naive on my lips, topped off with a MAC Clear Lipglass for extra shine.
I hope you have a spectacular Tuesday!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Even if you didn’t snag it yesterday, you have four more chances to win one of the $150 The Body Shop Peppermint Pursuit Gift Packs in time for Christmas by visiting the other blogs in the scavenger hunt…
Tuesday — http://www.makeupbag.net
Wednesday — http://www.christinaloves.com
Thursday — http://www.mythbusterbeauty.com
Friday — http://www.specktra.net
Oh – that was a lovely look! 🙂
Pretty! I love your variations on the smokey eye. The interview trio is very pretty – I like the looks you’ve done with it.
Are you still thinking of cutting your hair? It looks really pretty straight and sleek!
those colours look awesome on you!
i really like your lip and blush colour 😀
Ok I must confess, I am a smokey eye virgin. Well I can give myself a basic smoky eye, but I only use two eyeshadow colors (beyond that I am at a loss) and lots of eyeliner and I’m just getting the hang of the blending technique. Oh and another confession. I have never had my makeup done at a counter before! I have had them test shades here and there on me, but never a full eye or face! I am so ashamed because I am such a MAC addict! This is really helpful, especially seeing which brushes you are using. Thanks!
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Pretty pretty! The Cocomotion pigment looks universally flattering !
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hi karen
very cute look on you !! i am jealous !! i have been leaving my house looking like a hot mess eyebrows need a session at anastasia studio, undereye circles need covering lol even my hair is misbehavin!
its been insanely crazy warm here one day and freezing the next then rainy today just doesnt equate to playful eye makeup looks lol
maybe i will be more inspired or inclined tomorrow – today was out of the question i had an early dentist appt. i hate the dentist luckily but no bad news though lol !
It seems the Cocomotion pigment brings out a bit of green in the Gilded Ash, very nice! I love Gilded Ash, it’s a great colour because it could go with greys, browns or greens.
i bought gilded ash & material gold from the metal-x collection & i love it! it’s the fastest smokey eye i’ve tried lol
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Hi Jaime
Thank you! 🙂
Hi Laurie,
Inter-View is such a great trio. The more I work with it, the more I love it!
As of today I’m waffling back and forth between the cutting! When I straighten it out it’s definitely more low maintenance, but I don’t want to get addicted to heat styling. Gahh! The grass is always greener on the other side.
How’s your Tuesday going?
Hi Vampy Varnish,
You should totally go and get your makeup done! It’s fun and you learn so much.
As for the smokey eye, I still feel like I have so much more to learn! The purple version in particular eludes me.
Hi Indian Girl,
Cocomotion is such a pretty color! It looks kinda blah in the jar, but once you get it on your skin its true beauty shines through!
Hi YadiQ,
I am sure you don’t look a hot mess! 🙂 I can bet that I’ve got you beat in the undereye circle division!
Yowza, you guys are having some crazy weather. Do you end up wearing waterproof stuff?
Hi Cloudburst,
Gilded Ash is so pretty! What do you pairit with?
Hi Roxy,
I’m thinking of going back for Material Gold! I really like those cream shadows. 🙂
What other looks have you done with your colors?
Can anyone describe the Mac creme shadow a bit more? It really lasts? Somehow I missed this one before so will see if it is still available – love the look!
Hi Chris,
Gilded Ash is still available. It’s one of seven eyeshadows from the current Metal Urge release. Here’s a link:
MAC Cosmetics Metal Urge
The shadows are drier than other cream shadows I’ve tried (like the Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadows). While they don’t crease on my semi-oily lids, I do make sure to use a primer before application to make sure that they stay put all day long. If you’ve got really oily lids I’d suggest using a powder shadow or a pigment additionally on top to give it even more stay.
Also, it’s key to apply them with a fluffy brush like the MAC 217. I’ve tried it with regular flat shadow brushes and application ends up cakey and uneven.
Hope this helps!
That’s def. a good color for you!
Have I ever told you that I love your eyebrows? x3
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Hi Almira,
Thanks! I owe it all to the MAC 266… without it I’d have *no* brows, LOL!
How’s your day been?
Karen!
This is gorgeous! But where is your usual “colourgram”? I have all your colourgrams printed out and keep them in my beauty folder where i store inspiration pictures and my Nars make over sheets (yes, I am that anal) 🙂 I love the looks you do and copy them all the time. Please don’t get rid of “colourgrams”. Thank you. XXX
I’ve been loving your hair and your complexion lately.. you look soooo good! Maybe you’re like wine and you re getting better with age =P
kisses from portugal
Glided Ash is a pretty color! You have a pretty but simple look today. How long is Tabs going to be at the kitty hotel? 🙁
Hi Medina,
I like to mix it up with pics and the color maps! I’m glad you find them useful… I’ll do another one with an upcoming look. 🙂
Hi Rita!
Thanks! I’ve been using a different foundation and powder combo — Laura Mercier Oil-Free with MAC Select Sheer Loose. 🙂
Big hugs back to you from the BAY!
Hi Daya,
Thank ya. 🙂
Tabs will be there for ten days, boo hoo! When I dropped him off the kitty hotel folks were happy to see him… they commented on his handsome face and his soft fur. I felt like a proud kitty mama.
How’s your Tuesday going?
Hi Karen,
You look *stunning* =D Ahhh…so pretty!~
I also found it really hard to do a smokey eye because I find that I always take the darkest shade too far towards the inner corner of my eye so it looks ridiculous ( I have eyes which are quite short widthways) and I also always manage to get more shadow on my right eye than my left eye. So I have basically kind of given up haha…
So, I worship you~~ Oh mighty one =D
Oh, I love that Portofino on you–it’s the perfect neutral blush to balance out the smokey eyes! This whole look has a nice polish to it.
Oh really? I’m actually going to tint my brows xD
Awesome!
I hope yours goes just as well!
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That is such a beautiful eye look on you! Very beautiful.
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i likey! i bought verdigris and my mac girl suggested i used my fingers to apply – i like applying it this way so i can build up the color if i need to. i use club as my contour, carbon (wet with eyeliner brush) and plush lash and i’m good to go! if i want to be extra fancy i add the teal pigment (from the little darlings – cool pigment set) on top of verdigris.
OMG! I love your makeup! You look gorgeous!
🙂
Hello, I am new to this. What do you recommend to be the starter kit? I am going shopping and would like to begin using MAC products.
I love the smokey eye look on you! So pretty. Can’t wait to try it at home 🙂
What a gorgeous smokey eye. I love it and adding it to my del.ici.ous bookmarks.
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