Simple Steps to a Smoky Eye #eye_makeup

The smoky eye is timelessly sexy. But too many women skip it altogether, because it seems too hard to create! Not true. Here, we've compiled eight easy steps for achieving an eye look so smoldering, you'll own every man within miles. Swear.

Step 1: PRIMER

Nothing's worse than a smoky eye that travels, smears, and settles into fine lines three hours into the night. Stop the smearing before it starts with a primer – blend it over lids and under eyes to ensure that your makeup stays put past last call!

Try this: Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer, $21

Step 2: CONCEALER + POWDER

Dark circles kill the sexiness of a smoky eye (instead of looking vampy, you'll appear bruised). Swipe a creamy concealer along your under eye area using a brush or your eff-you finger. Pro makeup artist secret: After blending on concealer, use a fluffy brush to tap translucent powder on the under eye area. The powder will catch loose particles as you apply your eyeshadow – then, when you've completed the look, gently swipe the powder off with a tissue. Flawlessness!

Try this: Loreal True Match Crayon Concealer, $7

Step 3: CURL LASHES

Battable, come-hither lashes are a must when creating a sultry eye. Using an eyelash curler, gently clamp down at the base of your lashes, hold for five seconds, and release. If you're truly adventurous, blast the curler with heat from a blowdryer before curling (heating up the tool makes your curl last longer!)

Try this: Japonesque Pink Go Curl Eyelash Curler, $11

Step 4: Dark Shadow

Blend a dark shade from your lashes to crease, and then, use a small, angled brush to drag the shadow along your lower lash lines. The fun part? Your smoky shade doesn't have to be black – grey, navy, shimmery brown, plum, or forest green add a sexy element of surprise to the look.

Try this: Urban Decay Cosmetics Smoked Eyeshadow Palette, $50

Step 5: SMUDGE

A smoky eye shouldn't have any harsh lines; it should be softly blended at the edges. Using a Q-tip or a smudge brush, lightly smudge the shadow at the crease and along bottom lashes.

Try this: Laura Mercier Smudge Brush, $24

Step 6: LINE UP

Now that your color is in place, define your eye with a creamy black eye pencil. Drag it along top and bottom lash lines, making sure there's no skin showing between lashes and the line. For an extra-sultry effect, line your inner bottom lash line, too (gently pull undereye skin downwards to get access). Smoldering!

Try this: Benefit BADgal Khol Pencil, $20

Step 7: HIGHLIGHTER

To open up your eye area (and add a twinkly radiance), blend a shimmery highlighter along your brow bone and in the inner corners of eyes. If you have fair to medium skin, try a pearl hue; darker complexions look vampy in champagne shades.

Try this: Anastasia Brow Duality Highlighting Pencil, $23

Step 8: MASCARA

No smokey eye is complete without lush, unbearably hot lashes! Create an out-to-there effect with a fiber-infused mascara. How it works: the fibers attach between lashes and at the tips, creating the illusion of volume and length. Genius.

Try this: Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Extensions Waterproof Mascara in Very Black, $9