10 Step-by-Step Smokey Eye Makeup Tutorials

When it comes to a makeup look that’s equal parts sexy and classic, the smokey eye wins in my book. Getting that flawless, blended finish is everything.

To make it totally foolproof, I’ve collected 10 amazing tutorials with super simple instructions. Get ready to find your new favorite look!

1. Black Smokey Eye + Gold Glitter

Step 1. First up, you’ll want to prep your eyelid with some primer and let it set completely. This step is honestly a must for making your smokey eye last longer.

Step 2. Use a black eye pencil, like NYX “Knight,” to create your base. Then, bring some of that black eyeshadow down to your lower lash line.

Step 3. Gently pat a black eyeshadow right over that pencil base.

Step 4. Grab a light brown eyeshadow and a big, soft blending brush to bring it all together.

Step 5. Once you’re happy with how everything is blended, it’s time to highlight the brow bone using a silver or white shadow. Keep blending until there are no harsh lines.

Step 6. Now for the fun part! Let’s add a little something extra to the lower lash line. Take a small brush and apply some baked gold eyeshadow along the bottom.

Step 7. To really make it pop, build up that color by adding in some gold glitter. Finish off the whole vibe with a pair of long, wispy falsies.

2. Black Smokey Eyeliner

Step 1. Start by applying a thin layer of eye primer. Then, sweep on your base eyeshadow, picking a neutral shade that’s close to your skin tone. Take a crease brush and blend a light brown or peachy shadow into the crease. To give the look a little more intensity, pat a dark brown shade onto your lid.

Step 2. Using a black gel liner, trace your upper lash line. You’ll want to go for a thick, big wing. Don’t stress about making it perfect!

Step 3. Now, you’ll smoke out that liner with a small pencil brush and some black eyeshadow.

Step 4. With the same brush from the last step, apply all four of those eyeshadows to your lower lash line.

Step 5. A little gold sparkly eyeshadow on the inner corner is the perfect finishing touch. And lastly, pop on some false lashes.

3. Blue, Brown & Purple Smokey Eye

Step 1. Kick things off by putting on an eyeshadow primer and letting it dry. I’d highly recommend this step if you tend to have oily eyelids. After that, apply a neutral eyeshadow that matches your skin tone for your base.

Step 2. Highlight your brow bone. With a big, fluffy brush, sweep a light brown eyeshadow into your crease. Next, pick up a dark brown eyeshadow on a blending brush and apply it above the crease, extending it toward the outer corner. A little trick is to use scotch tape for a super sharp, clean edge. You’ll also want to put some brown shadow under your waterline.

Step 3. Brighten up the inner corner of your eye with a shimmery silver or white eyeshadow. Then, apply a dark blue shadow over the entire eyelid and add a touch of purple to the outer corner.

Step 4. Draw a thin line of eyeliner along the top lash line and add your favorite false lashes. Then, line your waterline with a blue eye pencil.

Step 5. To pull the whole look together, sweep some purple eyeshadow just below your waterline. Finish it off with a coat of mascara on your bottom lashes.

4. Light Blue Glitter Look

Step 1. First things first, put on an eyeshadow primer. Grab a light blue eyeshadow and blend it out right in the crease.

Step 2. Next, sweep a shimmery blue eyeshadow across your eyelid.

Step 3. Time for another blue eyeshadow! This one needs to be a shimmery light blue color. Apply it along the lower lash line and on the inner corner of the eye. I find using a smaller brush gives you so much more control.

Step 4. You can add some depth to the look by applying a bit of black eyeshadow to the outer corner. Make sure to blend the shades together.

Step 5. After that, carefully pat a light blue glitter onto your lid.

Step 6. We’re almost done! To make your eyes look bigger, apply some mascara to your top and bottom lashes. Then, line your waterline with a black pencil.

Step 7. The final step is to apply your false lashes.

5. Brown Smokey Eye

Step 1. You’ll want to begin this look by highlighting your brow bone.

Step 2. Apply a taupe brown eyeshadow. This shade is going to be your transition color.

Step 3. Up next, grab a warm medium brown eyeshadow and sweep it into the crease.

Step 4. To give your eye some depth and dimension, apply a red brown eyeshadow right in the crease.

Step 5. With a deep brown eyeshadow, you’ll create the effect of a soft cut crease.

Step 6. Using a flat eyeshadow brush, pat a shimmery beige eyeshadow onto your lid.

Step 7. Go ahead and apply an eyeliner.

Step 8. Finish things off by smoking out the eyeshadows on your lower lash line.

6. Black Smokey Eye + Pop of Glitter

Step 1. Start by putting a neutral eyeshadow on your eyelid. This shadow will make blending so much easier. With a clean fluffy brush, sweep a dark grey eyeshadow onto your brow bone, blending it just a bit above the crease. This color really helps the transition between the black shades feel much smoother.

Step 2. Apply a black eye pencil or a gel eyeliner all across your eyelid. Then, blend it all out.

Step 3. Take a flat eyeshadow brush and apply a black matte eyeshadow. You’ll want to blend some more.

Step 4. Give the look a little extra spice with some glitter right on the center of your eyelid.

Step 5. Line your waterline with a black eyeliner. Using a smaller brush, apply a mix of grey and black shadows below the waterline. Blend everything so it’s seamless and highlight the inner corner.

Step 6. To complete the look, add a few coats of mascara and some false eyelashes.

7. Grey & Purple Look

Step 1. Lay down a neutral eyeshadow to act as your base.

Step 2. Take a blending brush and apply a pink eyeshadow or even a blush slightly above your crease. This will be your transition shade.

Step 3. From there, build up the look by adding some purple eyeshadow into the crease.

Step 4. Create some depth with a black eyeshadow. Apply it to the inner corner and blend it toward the crease. You’ll want the color to be darkest at the outer corner of the eye.

Step 5. With a patting motion, apply a shimmery grey eyeshadow to the lid, making sure not to touch the crease.

Step 6. Go ahead and apply a black winged eyeliner. You can use either a liquid or gel liner for this.

Step 7. To really make your eyes sparkle, apply a glitter glue to the lid and then pat a silver glitter right on top.

Step 8. Line your waterline with a black pencil. Sweep a mix of the black and purple eyeshadows along the lower lash line. To finish everything off, highlight the inner corner and put on some false eyelashes.

8. Black & Green Glitter Look

Step 1. Put a piece of scotch tape at an angle on the outer corner of your eye. A quick tip is to place the tape on the back of your hand a few times to make it less sticky. I swear, this little trick makes creating a smokey eye so much less frustrating. Using a large blending brush, apply a light brown eyeshadow to your crease.

Step 2. With a light patting motion, apply a black matte eyeshadow to the inner and outer corners of the eye, bringing it slightly into the crease. You’ll want to leave the middle of the eyelid bare.

Step 3. Put a glitter glue on the center of your eyelid and then pat the loose glitter pigment over it.

Step 4. Peel off the tape and sweep some black eyeshadow onto the lower lash line. Line your waterline with a black eye pencil.

Step 5. Apply a black liquid eyeliner along your upper lash line and add some mascara to your lower lashes. Finish off the look by applying your favorite falsies.

9. Dark Brown Look

Step 1. You’ll want to prime your eye with a primer and give it a moment to dry. Then, apply a dark brown eyeshadow over your entire lid and blend it out.

Step 2. Now, choose a light brown eyeshadow and apply it to your crease using a blending brush. Keep blending until you love how it looks.

Step 3. With a flat shader brush, apply a dark plum eyeshadow onto the lid, blending it slightly into your crease.

Step 4. Spray an angled liner brush with some MAC Fix Plus setting spray. Dip that brush into the purple eyeshadow from the previous step and use it to create a wing. This spray makes the eyeshadow more intense and helps it stick better. If you don’t have a setting spray, water works too.

Step 5. After that, line your top eyelid with your favorite black gel eyeliner.

Step 6. Add some copper glitter onto your eyelid to really make your eyes pop.

Step 7. Using a small brush, sweep the same brown shades along your lower lash line.

Step 8. Highlight the inner corner with a gold eyeshadow. Complete the whole look with your favorite false eyelashes.

10. Smokey Cut Crease

Step 1. Like always, you need to prime your eyelid. If you don’t have an eye primer on hand, a foundation or concealer will totally do the trick.

Step 2. Pick a black eyeshadow to create a cut crease. Blend it out using a dark brown eyeshadow. On your mobile lid, apply a neutral or light brown shadow. Then, highlight the inner corner and brow bone with a vanilla colored shade.

Step 3. Create a black winged eyeliner. You can use a liquid or gel eyeliner, whichever you like best. Then, apply a pair of false eyelashes.

Step 4. Line your waterline with a brown pencil and then blend it out with the eyeshadow you used for the cut crease. You’ll also create a gold glitter wing on your lower lid. Finish the look by adding a little gold glitter just above the inner corner.