The Most Flattering Cool-Toned Smokey Eye Tutorial, by Elena Rachitskaya on YouTube. 9 min 1 s.
- Video length
- 9 min 1 s
- Time to do it
- 25 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Start with clean, moisturised skin. Apply a light face oil or serum and let it sink in so foundation sits smoothly and looks satin rather than flat.
Apply a thin layer of foundation with a dense brush, starting at the centre of the face and blending outward. Build a second light layer only where you need more coverage.
Draw a cream contour stick in a cool shade under the cheekbones, along the jaw and at the temples. Blend upward with a brush so the shadow looks like natural bone structure.
Place concealer in small dots under the eyes and on any redness, then tap it in with a small brush. Keep it light so the skin still looks like skin.
Line the upper lash line with waterproof pencil. Keep the line close to the lashes and flick the outer corner slightly upward to lift hooded eyes.
Smudge the liner with a small brush, then press a dark cool-toned shadow over it to set the line and stop it smudging.
Sweep a mid-tone shadow through the crease with a tapered blending brush. Blend in small circles so there are no hard edges.
Tap a pale icy shadow into the inner corners and onto the centre of the lid. This brightens the eye and makes it look bigger.
Apply two coats of mascara, wiggling the wand at the roots. Clean up any fallout or smudges under the eye with a cotton bud and concealer.
Add cream blush to the apples of the cheeks and a soft highlighter on the high points. Finish with a nude lip.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep the darkest shadow below the crease on hooded eyes so it does not disappear when you open them.
Use waterproof liner if you have oily lids or the line tends to smudge by midday.
Build dark shadow in thin layers rather than one heavy pass, so you can control the intensity.
Clean up shadow fallout after the eyes so you do not drag it across your foundation.
Questions
Can I do this smoky eye with drugstore products?
Yes. Any cool-toned palette with a light shimmer and a dark matte shade will work. A waterproof pencil and a basic mascara are enough to start.
How do I stop dark liner smudging on hooded eyes?
Set the pencil with a matching dark shadow pressed right over the line. Waterproof formulas and a light dusting of powder underneath also help.
Do I need all the brushes listed?
No. A tapered blending brush and a small flat or detail brush cover most of the look. Use your fingers for cream products if you prefer.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
