Black Smokey Eye Tutorial

This is a Classic Black Smokey Eye Makeup Tutorial

There is just one color used for this smokey look- black. 😉

Black Smokey Eye
Smokey Eye

Start with priming your eye lid. Apply primer all the way up till the brow.

MAC Painterly paint pot all over the lid
MAC Painterly paint pot all over the lid

Apply primer on lower lash line.

Give a wash of loose powder all over the lid.

This will help blend shadows.

The Body SHop Loose Powder on lid
The Body SHop Loose Powder on lid

Now take a black gel eye liner on a concealer brush.  You can also use a kajal . I find gel liner easy to work with.

Trace the eye liner all around your lid. Draw and outer V and the move inward..

All the way toward the inside of the eye lid.

Trace gel liner on the lid
Trace gel liner on the lid

Start filling in your eye lid area. Move the brush outward and downward.  This will prevent streaks.

Fill in gel liner
Fill in gel liner

Get your eye liner closest to the eye lashes.

Fill in gel liner
Fill in gel liner

With the same brush, start softening the eye liner edges. Start from the center …

Smudge to the top lines
Smudge to the top lines

then move inward and outward. Your smokey eye has started to build up.

This is how it should look. A little smokey toward the top.

Gel liner smudged
Gel liner smudged

Now pick up black e/s.

Start pressing the black e/s all over the lid.

Pat the black eye shadow on lids
Pat the black eyeshadow on lids

Time to create smokey effect. Pick up black e/s just on the tip of blending brush.

While blending, place your brush right below the arch of your eye brow. Then move left and right from that point.

Brush Placement
Brush Placement

Little by little start moving your brush in small circles. You don’t want to on increase the intensity of black , you just want to create the smokey look. So don’t pick up too much colour .

Smoke Out
Smoke Out

Go inward and outward.

All the way in Now pick up a highlight colour.

Place the highlight shadow just below your brow arch.

Go all the way in ..

highlighter in
highlighter in

and out of your brow bone area.

highlighter out
highlighter out

Blend in the highlighter in the smokey black effect you just created to soften the sharp edges and blend the eye shadows together.

Merge in black
Merge in black

Pick up black eye shadow on a pencil brush.

Place it right on the outer corner of lower lash line.

Move inward and stop after lining two third of eye. You can go all the way in to create gothic black smokey eye. I prefer it this way.

Apply kajal or black eye liner on waterline.

kajal on waterline
kajal on waterline

Smudge it with ring finger.

Curl eye lashes and apply mascara.

Now pick up highlight colour with a pointy brush.

Apply it on the inner corner of eye.

There you have simple black smokey eye.

Smokey Eye
Smokey Eye
Smokey Eye
Smokey Eye
Smokey Eye
Smokey Eye

Here is the eye brushes I used . L- R Sigma F 70, Colorbar 119, E 30, ELF eye shadow , MAC 217, E 40, Inglot 30 T

Products used : Painterly paint pot, Lakme Satin kajal, Estee Lauder Blush Tender Petal, Studio Finish Concealer, Chai Latee Quad Estee Lauder MAgnascopic Mascara, Estee Lauder Bunglow Pink Gloss,

MUFE HD Foundation, TBS Loose Powder, Bobbi Brown Gel Eye Liner- Cavier Ink.

More Smokey Eyes:

Brown Black Smokey Eye Makeup
Smokey Eye: How to Get Smokey Eyes
Simple Smudgy Smokey Eye Tutorial

More:

IMBB RECOMMENDS

208 thoughts on “Black Smokey Eye Tutorial

  1. Wowwwieee..is such a super easy look – oh well at least you make it look like that…and and and :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: GREENIE BOUGHT A BLACK EYESHADOW :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:

  2. Me love this – although I substitute the gel liner for MAC Smolder pencil – lots of smudgey smudgey is great for smokey eye 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛

    Louuuuu the look on you Rateeee

    :alien: ie – which black eyeshadow you get ?????????????????

        1. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: It’s so rubbish I have no words to explain it. I have to put tons of loose powder on my cheeks and under eyes to make it work. 😛 😛

          1. You NEED the Chanel duo eyeshadows…the exact same combination that you have used is there… :evilgrin: :evilgrin: you go to the Chanel counter and you explain it to the SA there :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: tell them I buy this….AND you give me the new brown quad freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin:

            1. I know …After getting free stuff from Inglot I think I must ask for free stuff everywhere. Since I shopeed X at your store you must give me Y. Be good now… :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

    1. Nids, might be because all black smokey eyes are done the same way. As for me, I do my looks based on what I learnt in my classes. Thank you. 🙂

    2. achha.. bt u do smokey eye makeup using other techniques too n all of them r fab 😉 :-* ..vaise v can use the same technique using different shades of gel eye-liner too na.. say blue n brown.. does maybelline hav other shades than black in gel-eyeliners???

      1. Nids, yeah, I do it in different ways but mostly when you do classic black smokey eyes, using a gel liner or kajal as a base gives intensity to the look. 🙂

        Coloured gel liners are launching in India within a few months. Right now only black is available. 🙁

        And yes you can use the same technique for different colours. You’d get the similar effect. 🙂

        1. thankuuu :-)) :-)) … i chked their website last wk n saw the shades n got exited bt as it was nt their Indian website so i was not sure whether shades r available in india or not..

        1. I came to your blog and left such kind comments cos you did pretty nail art and you well now and all…and this is what you do to me :-(( :-(( 😥 😥 :-(( :-(( :-(( :-(( 😐

          1. And Rati, :razzmad: :razzmad: :razzmad: :razzmad: :razzmad: you don’t “me me me me ” for everything…am beginning to think you are Hermione Granger!

              1. Rads is going to mount that eyeshadow in her puja ghar and utaaro aarti of it everyday 😛

                thats what make-up is for after all – only plebians like us actually USE make-up 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯

                😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛

              1. Me do me do…me see your videos and me so in awe…me definitely do post..but no tute and all..just look…its because of all of you that I started using eyeshadows properly 😀 😀 :-* :-* :-*

          1. RADS – do a look no – pweeeesh pweeeesh pretty pweeeeeeeeeesh with a cheery on top

            *insert cute puppy dog look*

            PS – love the HP ref – Rati really pulled a hermione there 😛 you an HP fan I gather ?

            1. me too harrry potter fanz!!!!!!!!!

              My hubbbbuuu toooo… :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

              1. Oh me threeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

                  1. Shudddap !!!!!!! No really ?! I havent read the originals in a while – so I survive on a staple diet of fan fiction – keeping the flame alive and all that !

                    1. he he … 😛 He picks then up all the time. Fav pass time is while having meals. On one lap sits happy potter and on other lap the plate..He eats food and words at the same time. 😛 😛

                      But they didn’t do any justice to movies. :((((((((

                      You like HP movies?

                    2. Hahahahhahahaa I am exactly like that at home – now khaane ke time pe ff – I cannot eat without reading something – so totally geddit

                      Liked some of the films not all – Half blood prince was the mostest boring …. saw it the second time (in imax 3d) and couldnt stay awake :yawn: :yawn: :yawn: :yawn: :yawn: :yawn: :yawn: :yawn:

          2. Smita..I missed you among all these crazy comments…just for you exclusive – :razzmad: :razzmad: :razzmad: :razzmad: :razzmad: don’t want you to feel left out cos I didnt :razzmad: you :razzmad: :razzmad: Hehehheheheheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀

  3. Thanks Rati. Will definatley try it. Love the look. I try this look with my kajal and it works well. But I never create such an intense look.

    The look totally suits u. :-))

    p.s. did u get my mails?

  4. Nice tut Rati… :yes: :yes:
    I just love the black smokey eye look…but never had the guts to carry it…. 😐 😐
    May be i’ll try it now :-/ :-/
    It looks great on u… 🙂

  5. Yeah i’ll try..pakka :hugright: :hugright: 🙂
    Oh yes.this reminds me..any news abt the maybelline gel liner? is it coming back ?:-)

  6. Hey!
    I do it the exact same way! infact I was wearing it last night, i used blacktrack and instead of black eyeshadow, i used a metallic blue to go with the dress!

  7. I know, I know – they really ruin it but its like you HAVE to watch it otherwise you dont feel at peace only – chalo now only two more films left – phir quota khatam ………. thankfully !

    Like it would have been great if they had stuck to one director for all the films – its really jarring – so many diff directing styles ! Same with Twilight – Catharine Hardwicke was AWESOME – the other two dudes sucked asss !!!

    1. I am so over twilight now…I went through that crazy phase of reading the entire series. Now I don’t even bother about the movies. Watched the first two. Missed the third one , not even feeling guilty. 😛

  8. I love books more than the movie versions ALWAYS..is like in books its my imagination doing a lot of the work…and what can I sayyyy.. my brains work wayyyyyyy better than the movie version 😀 😀 😀 And I love reading and eating…me like Sanjeev..except that he is such a bent-eared donkey most times…he is quite okay naaa. Ok Rati..is good you married him – me approve 😀 😀 😀 😀 And Janhavi, I stand proudly among the nutcases who stood waiting at 6 a.m. to pick up advanced booking copies of the book :reallyangry: :reallyangry: :reallyangry: why do they make us pay in advance if we have to wait!!! :reallyangry: And hubby was happily pointing out to me how I am the oldest aunty there :-(( :-(( :-(( :-(( :-((

    1. Hmm… I think ‘Godfather’ and ‘Lord of the Rings’ were at par with the books if not better. So was ‘Spiderman.’

      Thanks for approval. 😀 😀

      1. lol Sanjeev – looks like u and I were typing the same thing at the same time – yes would definitely add the godfather to that list – infact I think the movies were better – lets face it the Godfather books are no literary masterpieces

        No comment on Spiderman !!!! I hate Toby Mcguire too much to be objective here 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛

          1. I LOVE THAT BOOK. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE. Every human being should read it..especially a lot of human beings I know and wish I didn’t know :reallyangry: :reallyangry: :reallyangry: :reallyangry: :reallyangry:

            1. Hahahahahahaha me tooo Rads

              and Sanjeev – Ive never seen the movie of the agony and the ecstasy – Ive read the book and it was pretty good, if not a bit on longish side 😛

          2. “one flew over cuckoo’s nest” is such a beautiful film……………………….everybody keeps talking about Harry Potter…………I like Enid Blyton’s boooks the mostest……………. :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* …………………

            1. Is like that Mal movie naaa Jomo..Thalavattam???? Someone tricked me into watching that movie and then I was like so 😥 😥 😥 😥 at one point all Mal movies were soooo 😥 😥 😥 😥

        1. Ahh well, I hated Leonardo Di Caprio after watching Titanic…. But now I really love him. Especially in Blood diamond, the departed and inception.

          I think I have an innate hatred towards actors who appear a little ‘boyish.’ Maybe that’s your axe against Toby Mcguire too 😛 😛

          1. Ive shyed away from One flew over the cuckoo’s nest, toooo depressing – ive seen snippets of it though

            Errr Rads – im guessing its not LOTR but now I have no idea which book you were talking about

            Sanjeev – it may have a bit to do with the boyishness – and the fact that his lips dont exist !!!!!! 😯 call me shallow ….

            1. “his lips dont exist ” :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: I want to watch Spiderman now..with a lot more interest :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: Heheheheee is “To Kill a Mockingbird” and I dont know why I like it sooo sooo much 😀 😀 …..I always always always mix up the two (Cuckoo’s Nest one and this one) for some reason..maybe is birds ?:-) ?:-) …but I don’t usually leave my stupidity in print for whole world to see like this in the comments section :-(( :-(( :-((

              1. No I get it – Cuckoos and mockingbirds – very very confusing !

                But I love to Kill a Mockingbird – both book and movie – I had this huge crush on Gregory Peck when I was younger !!!!!

                Oh and how can one forget – Gone with the Wind – how awesome is that film and Clark Gable *swoon* – and that book …..

                “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn”
                :inlove: :inlove: :inlove: :inlove: :inlove: :inlove: :inlove: :inlove: :inlove: :inlove: :inlove:

                1. Janhavi,

                  I couldn’t stand “gone with the wind movie. ” Loved the book. That was the first book I hvae ever read. Always holds a special place in my heart. :))

      2. Agreed on the first one – Godfather – haven’t watched any Lord of the Rings movies…maybe one or two but never enough to make much sense of what was going on…and the books…I tried one….returned it to the library without finishing…. 😀 😀 😀

              1. The extended ones were all 4 hrs each – you sat 12 hours ? 😯 😯 😯

                And I will always love the gone with the wind movie coz the first time I saw it I was like 8 yrs old – I read the book when I was like 9 or ten (don’t ask me why – its seems a bit of a retarded thing to do at that age) but I guess because I saw the movie before the book – I loooouuuuu the movie

                And like I said – super bad crush on Clark Gable ! :inlove: :inlove: :inlove: :inlove: :inlove:

                1. Janhavi,

                  I must have sat for 12 hours. I am not even surprised.. :shame: :shame: :shame:

                  Guess I must give Gone with the wind a second chance. 😛

          1. mee tooo… all the 3 parts.. sat up all night… :laugh:
            even i luv Harry potter… hav the complete collection of DVDs for tht too.. 😀

    2. lol I would agreee everywhere except maybe with the LOTR trilogy – I liked the movies ALOT – even though the books are a bit tedious and I know every Tolkien fan wants to kill my right now !

      Hahahahaa Ive never actually waited for those books at 6 am – I think its coz i am toooo lazy and I figured Id get the book eventually – though when I was im boarding – i woke up at 5:00 am to get the library’s new copy of Order of the Phoenix and some kid got there before me – so then I bribed him with food to let me have the book for 12 hours – he didnt think I could read that fast – but I like zooooomed through the book and dumped it on his lap after ! It was worth every packet of aloo bhujia I tell you :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

      Also True Blood is infinitely better than the Sookie Stackhouse mysteries !

      1. Lol I waited a lot for the books but never tried to stand in the line. But I remember that in 2003 (I was in Italy at that time and books were expensive) I pestered one of my batchmates in London to send me a soft copy of a HP book which was just released. He found one on the net and sent it to me 😀 😀

        1. That reminds – before Deathly Hallows was due to come out – Shresht sent his best friend a leaked version of the book like 1 week before the release – both of them read it coz they figured it was a fake and they were so dismayed when the book released and they realised they had the read the original in a bad bad pdf !!! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

  9. muah muah …love it! But I have one basic qn Rati. After seeing these fab tutorials of yours, have been trying out a few. Previously I was lazy and just took one colour and swiped it all over 😛 Now I find when I do all the packing and layering and blending..quite a lot of it falls onto my lashes. And if I’m using brown or pink or something.. then my eyelashes look horrible thanks to all this eye shadow dust on it and I find myself struggling to get rid of it. What is the issue? Is it poor quality shadow.. or the brushes? Any idea? Do u ever face this problem?

    1. Heheheheee..happens with me ALL the time….some eyeshadows more than others..so I guess a bit is because of the eyeshadows fault too..but I would love to hear the answer to your question from someone here..I just use mascara and pretend nothing happened :X-P: :X-P: ..heheheee..but seriously though..what’s the answer ?:-) ?:-) ?:-) ?:-) ?:-)

            1. Poutmati……………you love Andy :shout: :shout: :shout: :shout: :shout: :shout: :shout: ……….no wonder your love of life is that Phagwara guy……………….BTW…FYI,,,,,,,,,in one episode……Andy was getting all touchy feely with a really cute guy and was even batting his eyelids… :shout:

    2. Divya, it’s the eye shadows and how you apply it.

      Follow this. Always pick less colour on your brush. Pat pat pat. Don’t drag your shader brush on lids. Keep changing your brushes – like keep a separate brush for applying and blending eye shadow.

      Also depends on the quality of eye shadows. Inglot, estee lauder , lancome eye sahdows barely have a fall out…atleast the ones that I have.

      When I use lakme or VOV everything is on my cheeks and lashes. :((

      1. Get a Chanel quad..and try applying those :reallyangry: :reallyangry: :reallyangry: :reallyangry: :reallyangry: :reallyangry: :reallyangry: :reallyangry: :reallyangry: That thing flies till Mars – not all the colours..but the one I have..the yellowish colour in that ..it has wings and a 1000 legs :reallyangry: :reallyangry:

            1. ohh.. looks like I’ve been doing a lot of things wrongly – pick up more colour, drag the brush.. guilty guilty! No wonder! I thought more colour ==> job done faster 😛 Now I’m developing more patience after seeing how carefully you do it in your tutorials and to think u r even clicking pictures at each step! Thanks Rati 🙂 And NO pepsodent toothbrush for me. I only follow advice from trusted sources a.k.a Rati. huh.. don’t u others try to trick me into the wrong stuff 😀

  10. Rati! This is really pretty & looks very easy coz u explain the tut step by step!You carry the look confidently, but this not my cup of tea I guess , coz I have dark circles & I’ll look like a raccoon! BTW I like yours & Rads “ME … ME” talk :cute:

    PS: Rati, I sent you an email! 🙂

  11. Oh…………once Rads told me that cute Christian Dior guy she keeps hovering around just looks like Andy :kissing: :kissing: :kissing: :kissing: :kissing:

    1. Errr…no he doesn’t..and don’t “Once Rads told me”…I barely know you…why would I “once told you” anything ?:-) ?:-) :smug: :smug: :smug: :smug: :smug: :smug: :smug: :smug:

        1. I noticed, I noticed……….Poutmati…..I lovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvved it….sacchi…………….honestly…sacchi mucchi :-* :-* 😛

      1. Errr….Rads :-X :reallyangry: :-X :reallyangry: …………there are zillions of “Rads once told me” stories…..should I tell everyone 😎 😎 😎 :secret: :meeting: :meeting:

  12. Oh….there are so many strange people around here……….. :cyclops: :alien: :alien: :alien: :alien: :snowman: :snowman: :snowman: :snowman: …………………watched the movie for 9 hours…… :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: …..I usually watch a single movie around three times……………I watch the ending first….then some another day the starting…..another day…..the beech ka part…………….i won’t sit for three hours :yawn: :yawn: :yawn: :yawn: :yawn: :yawn: :yawn: …….but Poutmati is such a lovely human……in fact….I do not even think she is human…and also I don’t even think Rads is also human either……………….she is Lutapi……he he he he

    1. Jomol,

      I think it’s who you watches movies in such a strange way…like who watches the end first… :nerd: :nerd: :nerd: :nerd: :nerd: :nerd: :nerd: :nerd: :nerd:

      1. I do that with all books though – i read the end in the book store – then if I feel like I want to know how the ppl in the book got to that point – i will read the book 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛

  13. awesome Rati…u look so good…n its so nice of you to post what u hav learnt from ur classes..I wanna attend classes too but no time for it..I lov IMBB…. :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*

      1. :-/ :-/ :shame: :shame: 😮 😮 :wilt: :tremble: :tremble: :tremble: :cyclops: :cyclops: :cyclops: :cyclops: :cyclops: :cyclops: :cyclops: is all because of you :cyclops: :cyclops: :cyclops: You don’t have “garlic” icon????

          1. i came home! :(( i also said i will put alarm clocks and set the alarms half an hour apart. :P:P :snicker: :snicker: :snicker: :snicker: :snicker: :snicker: :snicker: :snicker: come come sleep on my blog!!:D:D :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :disdain: :disdain: :snicker: :snicker: :snicker: :snicker: :snicker: :snicker:

              1. :cute: :cute: :cute: :cute: :cute: :cute: :shy: :shy: :shy: :shy: :shy: :cute: :cute: :shy: :cute: :cute: :shy: :shy: :cute: :cute: yeeeeyyyyy okay you. but :clock: :clock: for Rads!:P:P:P

    1. Hi again, Rati…I’ve been around, only reading IMBB very late at night!! I’m fine thanks, just a little bit caught up with things, even though it’s the Puja vacation these days. I will email you later tonight.

  14. ooooo…..u look awesummmm in dat 2nd pic….. :hypnotized: :hypnotized: :hypnotized:
    loveddd it again… :inlove: :inlove:
    i say dat alwaysss…..bt i lovee d way u do makeup…so effortlessly n amazing…. :worship: :worship:

  15. Wow..Rati.. Easy and detail Tut.. I’ve been trying out smokey eyes since yday 🙂 the outcome is not bad, once I feel its good I’ll click a pic and send it to u 🙂

    1. Insiya, Concealer is the solution. Smokey eyes can never look good if your under eye circles are not properly concealed. Apply concealer and set with loose powder.

      Got the mail and replied. 🙂

  16. yaaar Rati, everytime I see your eye makeup I want to try some too, but it never looks even 1/10th as good :(. I think I need some good pencil brushes first. Thx for the tut tho, you make sound so easy peasy.

    1. Renuca,

      I think it comes with time but do start somewhere. If you don’t have a pencil brush, just use a flat brush. Place it flat underneath your lash line and move inwards. Pick less colour on brush and do your makeup slowly slowly. 🙂

      Hope Aidaan is doing fine. :))

  17. 😯 u call it SIMPLE?
    its TERRIFIC!
    rati i am seriously telling u ….these eye tuts of urs are my most favorite on IMBB
    do videos too na …they will be an equal hit
    and please keep these coming…….at least five per week…. :-))
    like one per working day for u

    sorry whats the black eye shadow u used?
    vov pallette ?

    1. he he thankies, Neha.. these would keep coming in. :))

      yeah vov palette. but i am planning to buy a good black eye shadow soon. enough practice ho gayi vov se. 😛

  18. Hi All,

    I need a help from you. I am a person who hates doing makeup. But now I have no choice as my wedding is fixed. I want to do self make up on my wedding day. So I need a help to purchase some of the cosmetics. Can you plz suggest where(company) I can get a good skin primer, Black eye shadow, black gel eye liner and eyelashes curler these are some thing I am looking for. Plz help. My wedding is in Jan. It will be great if u reply befor that.

    Namratha

  19. This one is so gorgeous and i love that you have complimented it so well with nude lippie! it is just fabulous! which is the nude lippie you are wearing?You know I so wanna do a smokey eye soon..you are inspiring me by seconds! Will definitely share with you the pics :))

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