here is my smokey eye...step by step and simple as can be... (feel free to substitute lighter shades for the ones i mention)
since you have concerns with dark circles, apply a moisturizing or firming eye cream, and then a layer of oil-based concealer. oil-based is going to offer the best coverage. then put a little foundation, but no powder because it can look cakey, under your eyes. (i like merle norman cover up and benefit boi-ing concealer)
start with a thin layer of shadow base or eye primer (urban decay primer potion, mary kay eye primer, merle norman automatic shadow base, or mac eye primer)
black or dark grey shadow in the shape of a sideways V on the corner of the eye, working into the crease with a flat shadow brush (i use merle norman shadow in ebony and a palladio flat shadow brush)
lighter grey shimmer shadow over the lid with a contour shadow brush, blending into the first darker shade (i use mac shadow in idol eyes and a mark contour brush)
silvery/champagne shimmer shadow under the brow bone and dotted on inner corners of eyes with full shadow brush (i use merle norman luminous shadow in sun beam and an avon shader brush)
black liner all the way across top lid, slightly thicker on outer edges, and 3/4 way across bottom (avon glimmersticks liner in blackest black)
sweep thin line of medium shimmer grey under lower lash line, below and slightly over black liner
curl lashes and add 2 coats of volumizing black mascara (maybelline volum' express turbo boost 7Xs mascara in black)
-you can also do a smokey eye with shades of brown, purple, green... any color.
here are the shades i recommend from a few different brands for the basic black/grey....
-from mac: black tied, charred OR idol eyes, and shroom
-from lancome: the new black, style section OR volcano, and off the rack
-from merle norman: ebony, zinc OR stay steel, sun beam
-from avon: night sky, steel OR slate, iced silver
stila (at sephora) has a smokey eye kit that has 4 shadows in a palette...push a tiny button and a voice speaks instructions to you. there is also a holographic image of an eye that shows where the different shades go when you turn it. $40
also available at sephora are hard candy and smashbox. hard candy makes a shadow quad called "techno" that sells for $28, and smashbox makes a shadow trio called "twilight" that sells for $30. both are good for grey smokey eyes.
for drugstore palettes, try revlon, loreal, covergirl and maybelline. i know all of those lines carry them, but not sure of the names. avon also has a shadow quads.
always keep lips light... glossy nudes are great with sexy smokey eyes.
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