This article was originally posted on Byrdie.com
We love our smoky eyes sparkly. We love our smoky eyes metallic. And we love our smoky eyes in every color of the rainbow. However, none of those looks are exactly daytime-appropriate. But when we hear the words “smoky eye” we can’t help but reach for the black eyeliner and silver shadow—the heart wants what it wants, right? To help remedy this “more is more” approach we’ve grown accustomed to, we called in celebrity makeup artist Lauren Andersen. Andersen assured us we can translate our love of the sultry smoky eye into a much more daytime-friendly version that’s just as captivating.
Keep reading to see how it’s done!
Before
Before you begin your smoky eye, make sure you have groomed brows to frame your face.
Step One: Lid Shadow
Using a large eye shadow brush, press a slightly shimmery, light taupe color,
like the one from Dior’s 5-Colour Eyeshadow palette in Montaigne,
into the center of your lid. Then, flip the brush to soften it at the crease,
and push the color into your lower lash line as well.
Step Two: Crease Shadow
Using a darker brown shadow, take a blending eye shadow brush
and swirl the color in small circles into the outer corner.
Create a little more depth by blending it up into the crease.
Resist the urge to take this step into your typical night-out application.
Andersen says it’s always better to start with less, and build up as needed.
Step Three: Liner
With eyeliner, Andersen says you want to define the eyes, but not see the liner.
Start at outer corner and use short strokes right at the base of the lash line.
As you work in toward the inner corner, make your strokes even lighter.
Then, grab the flat brush you used earlier and smudge it in.
We defined both upper and lower lash lines, but that choice is all yours.
Just skip the waterline for daytime. We used Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Roach, a cappuccino color.
Step Four: Mascara
Day or night, no smoky eye is complete without curled lashes and a healthy dose of mascara.
Done!
And when in doubt, blend. A daytime smoky eye should be blended out to a soft, hazy finish.
When you can’t blend anymore, you’re done!
See more beauty tutorials on Byrdie.com.
Photographer: Justin Coit
Makeup Artist: Lauren Andersen
Hairstylist: Gregory Russell
Manicurist: Barbara Warner
Producer: Jenna Peffley
Take a look at Bridget’s portfolio and follow her on Instagram.