Well let me clarify… Make that one eyeshadow. I did this look for a challenge on Specktra… I did use an eyeshadow primer, a liner, and mascara (which was acceptable per the rules). It was a lot of fun and had surprisingly beautiful results in my opinion! It really goes to show that most important aspect of a smokey eye is blending…. Blend, blend, blend your little heart out and then blend a little more!!! Since doing this challenge I have actually done a few smokey eyes with just one color (try shadows like Carbon, Knight Devine and Black Tied) and a highlight, and had similarly gorgeous results.

#1 Typographic, Fluidline in Blacktrack, and Benefit BadGal Lash Mascara

A little tip on technique… Using a 217 brush, apply the color heavily to the outer corner of your lid until you get the desired intensity, then spread it upwards toward the browbone, gradually lifting your brush and blending until you get a darker-to-lighter color gradient from your outer corner upwards (no harsh lines!). Repeat this process across your lid to create the smokey effect. Preferably, there should be little to no color in the innermost corner of your lid. A 224 will do a good job of smoothing over your blending job and further blending any harsh edges around the corners of your eyeshadow.

#2 Fig. 1, Fluidline in Blacktrack, and Benefit BadGal Lash Mascara

I tried a different technique with this look… I applied the eyeshadow to the outer corner, inner corner, and the crease with a pencil brush. I then used a 217 brush to lightly blend the corners toward the center of the lid, but kept the very center of the eyelid free of eyeshadow.

Here’s a soft smokey daytime look using Aquavert from MAC’s Sugarsweet Collection…

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Alicia before…

A beautiful canvas, no?

Click here to see the after pictures and the products I used!!

Using a pigment released with the Hello Kitty collection from MAC!

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