This month is all about our favorite trend this season- sexy nude lips.  What goes with this look-  sultry smoky eyes.  Smoky Eyes are still the hottest thing, and we'll show you in 5 easy steps how you can get them.

What You'll Need:

Concealer

Eyeshadow Primer

Smoky Eye Kit (a light, medium and dark color powder eyeshadow)

Eyeliner

Darker Mascara

Eyeshadow brush, flat and pointed sponge, Q tips

General Tips:

For Eyeshadow:

-the base (light) color for your smoky eye should  be slightly darker than your skin tone, a rich shimmering powder eyeshadow works best.  A beige or this season grey a great look  

-the contour (dark) color is best when it's matted with a very slight shimmer. Although black is the color everyone thinks of, this season deep blues, purples,browns and grey are in smoky palettes 

-the highlight (medium) color, can be slightly shimmering and applied just under your eyebrows.  (this highlight acts to make your eyes look bigger and soften the transition from the light to dark shade)

For Eyeliner:

-a soft pencil or kohl pencils work best, since they are easier to smudge than a liquid eyeliner (which is more for precise lines)

We recommend:Chanel Crayon Kohl, MAC Kohl Liner or Urban Decay's 24/7 Eyeliner 

For Mascara:

-a good mascara that adds volume and thickens your eyelashes would work best

We recommend: Dior Diorshow Mascara ($27.00), Prescriptives Lash Envy ($)Mascara,Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils ($)

For Eyebrows:

-strong brows help to accentuate and balance your smoky eyes

Get your lids ready:

Preparation:

When applying your foundation and concealer, apply concealer (better if it's creme based) to your upper lids and around the eye, this helps to set a smooth foundation for your eyeshadow.  

To prevent bleeding and wearing away of eyeshadow, we also like to apply an eyeshadow primer to your entire eyelid (we love Urban Decay's Primer Potion) and let it set for a few minutes.

5 Step Application:

1)Apply eyeliner:  You want to outline the entire contour of your eye with a black (or whichever color your smoking with) eyeliner.  The line should be thicker on the upper lash line and even thicker on the middle of the upper lid. The lower lid should have a lighter amount of eyeliner, that you will smudge to give a smoked out effect.

2)Apply your base (light) color eyeshadow: Using a sponge or brush (or q-tip but be careful), apply the base color on the entire upper eyelid and above the crease (about halfway up to the eyebrows). Then blend slightly with sponge.

3)Apply your contour (dark) eyeshadow:Using a pointed sponge applicator, apply the darkest eyeshadow all the way around the contour of your eyes.  Blend well with the pencil line from step 1, so that they appear to blend into each other.

Then close your eyes, and apply the dark (contour) eyeshadow into the crease of the entire upper lid.

4)Define the outer corners of your eye with the dark (contour) eye shadow: Just follow the natural contour of your outer corners, making a horizontal V pattern, starting from the middle of the upper lid contouring out, so the pointed end of the V follows the natural outer edge of your eyes.  This will help to define the shape of your eyes.

With a flat brush (held sideways), blend the eyeshadows on the upper eyelid.  Then blend the eyeshadows on the lower lid.

5)Apply the highlight (medium) color:Apply just under your eyebrows, this will help to add volume, and ease the blending of the dark contour.

Apply your several coats of mascara, and your set!  Smoky, sexy eyes in 5 easy steps, perfect for that night on the town!

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