Big-Eyes, Smokey-Eyes: Tutorial

Hi everyone! Welcome back with another tutorial: this time it's my go-to smokey eye look! This look is specifically designed to make your eyes look bigger.

To start: prime your eyes with a concealer or eyeshadow primer.

Next: while waiting for your primer to dry, select your shadows. You'll need a dark shade for the outer corner, a medium shade for the eyelid and crease, and a highlighting shade. I usually select matte shades for the dark and medium shades, and a shimmer shade as the highlight.

I'll be using the Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons palette for this look. (As you can tell, mine is well-used!)

Next: put the medium shade in your crease, and buff it out up to your brow bone. I used the shade Almond Truffle. (Optional: add a lighter-than-your-skin-colour matte shadow underneath your eyebrow to make the contrast more striking. I used the shade Divinity.)

Next: put the dark shade on your outer corner (approximately covering 1 third of your lid) and buff out and up into the crease. I used the shades Bordeaux and Dark Truffle. (Optional: use an in-between shade to transition between your medium colour and dark colour. I used the shade Mocha.) Be sure to also add a little bit of your dark shade along your lower lash line, nearest to your outer corner.

Next: pick up the medium shade again and put it in the centre of your eyelid, blending to create a gradient with the darker shade. I used the shade Almond Truffle again. Make sure to put it on the centre of your lower lash line as well. You're welcome to finish here; you've got a nice matte smokey look at the moment, but trust me when I say this last step will really step up your smokey-eye game and make all the difference.

Next: take your highlighting shade, and put it in your inner corner, blending into the middle, and also put it just underneath your eyebrow. I used the shade Satin Sheets. This step will really put some contrast into your look, and your eyes will look bigger for it.

To finish: place a thin line of eyeliner along your top lash line, but only put a small amount from the centre of your lower lash line to your outer corner. By abstaining from putting any liner on the lower lash line near the inner corner, your eyes will look bigger as they won't seem closed-in. Also be sure to avoid putting any liner on your waterline. Optional: if you really want your eyes to pop, put some white or nude liner on your waterline. I skipped this step as I was going for a more natural look.

And there you have it!

These steps will work for practically any colour combination, and you can always choose to forego liner or even do a wing if you want. The possibilities are endless!

If you've never done anything like this before and you try this for the first time, please post a photo on Instagram and tag me! I'd love to see it!

Full face:

CoverGirl Tru Blend Face Primer for Combo Skin

Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation in No 51 Light Vanilla

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 15 Fair

Savvy by DB Mineral Pressed Powder in Light

ColourPop Super Shock Cheek in Bon Voyage, Rain, and Smokin' Whistles

ColourPop Brow Colour in Bangin' Brunette

Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons eyeshadow palette

Gerard Cosmetics Lip Pencil in Nude (buy here!)

Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick in Rose Matter (buy here!)

MAC Cosmetics Brush Stroke Liner