Smoke out: How to create this season’s smoky eye

Autumn/Winter’s must-have make-up trend is moody and intense. Sarah Young investigates the beauty industry’s new take on a nostalgic favourite

The smoky eye is timeless, adding drama to any look (Getty)

The smoky eye is much like the little black dress; categorically part of our beauty furniture and timelessly seductive. It can seem like a tricky art to master with the risk of turning out more panda-like than polished but creating a smoky eye is really rather simple – it just requires a little blending to soften the blow. Black smudged liner and shimmery charcoal shadow are officially the look du jour so get ready to copy the catwalk because this season colouring outside the lines is in.

The smoky eye adds mystery to Julien Macdonald Spring Summer 2016 line (Getty) (Getty Images)

This is a make-up look we’re no stranger to and neither is the runway with Julien Macdonald offering intense smoky eyes just last season but this time round, it’s been given a bit of an update. Think more smudge, wet-look pigment and lashings of mascara. At Elie Saab, make-up artist Tom Pecheux created his sooty lids by overlapping black shadow with shimmery pigment and filling in an almond shape with grease-like gel liner. Saint Laurent continued this trend for slick black eye paint taking theirs up to the brow bone and coupling it with a vibrant orange-red lip. While a smoky eye should never have any harsh lines, there’s nothing subtle about this season’s rock chick lids.

A bold look from the Saint Laurent Autumn Winter 2016 line (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images)

Whether to start with your eyes before applying foundation is an area of contention but if you’re worried about ruining your base with hard to avoid shadow dust it is advisable. Start by covering the eye with a black shimmer shadow, keeping it contained to the lid, the other corners of the eye and run it into the bottom lashes. The shimmer will help to keep the eyes bright while adding a black cream pigment to the inner and outer lines of your lid will create density. Make sure to blend, blend, blend, using a fluffy brush to help fan out and fade the black shimmer. Finish with liner on the waterline and tons of mascara for come hither lashes.