How To Create Smokey Eyes With Kajal

One glam eye makeup look that works for everything from the red carpet to date night.

Smokey eye makeup is a true classic and makes your eyes standout. It's one of the hottest eye makeup trends that never goes out of style and can be worn for any occasion. Smokey eye is adaptable, versatile and looks beautiful on all kinds of eye shapes. You can opt for a soft smokey eye, adding some glitter eyeshadow or you can upgrade the basic smokey eye look using a coloured eyeliner or mascara.

A simple smokey eye typically consists of a neutral eyeshadow blended on the eyelids and then you create a shadowy effect by using deeper brown/black eyeshadow on the corners and smudg a dark eyeliner or eyeshadow along the upper and lower lash lines. Creating the perfect smokey eye is not an easy job and to make it simple there is one eye makeup product you can rely on. Hard to believe but using a long-wear kajal or kohl pencil can help you achieve an elegant smokey eye that is hassle-free, quick to do and give you mesmerizing results.

There's no hiding that we're a sucker for dark, kohl dominated eye makeup look and we know you love it just as much as we do. If you've been finding ways to nail dramatic yet simple smokey eye makeup look using a kajal, you've reached the right spot. Here's how you can create the prettiest, smoked-out eyes in just 4 steps, using your favourite black kajal pencil.

Step 1: Refresh and Prep

A lot of makeup artists say – to not prime is a crime. And it applies here as well. Whether you're planning to wear eyeshadow or not, it's safe to always prime your eyelids when you want to wear any eye makeup. Prime your eyelids with a mattifying eyeshadow primer or your concealer and set it all in place with some translucent powder.

Step 2: Kohl for the Win

Step 3: Smudge 'n' Smoke

Take a flat shader brush and start smudging out the kajal. Start by blending out the edges to maintain the opacity and intensity and at the same time, to achieve a smoked out and diffused look. Remember to not drag it too low or your eyes might end up looking droopy. You can gently flick the brush outwards and upwards to create a smoked out wing.

Step 4: Smooth Transition

Applying just a black shade might have you looking like a raccoon. To soften the edges, use a matte brown eyeshadow and blend the edges out. Don't bring the brown colour all the way to your waterline, keep it where the kajal has almost ended. Once you're done, take a clean, small, fluffy eyeshadow brush and gently run over it all. Finish with a few coats of mascara.

Tips and tricks to master smokey eye

Hack #1 – Eyes before base makeup
When doing a smokey eye, switch up your routine and go for the eye makeup before you apply your foundation. So if you get any fallout, you're not messing up the rest of your makeup. Another advantage of this is, you can use your concealer and foundation to clean up any drop-down from your eyeshadow once you're done.

Hack #2 – Use an eye pencil as eyeshadow
Forgot to pack your favourite eyeshadow palette while travelling? Use a coloured kohl pencil or a deep brown kajal as an eyeshadow. Simply apply the eye liner pencil on your upper eyelid as you would a regular eyeshadow. Draw a line at the lash line, from the inner to outer corner of the eye, and then apply it on the entire eyelid. Use your fingertips to blend and if you want, add a second shade to make it more dramatic. Don't forget to blend the eye makeup well.

Hack #3 – Consider the colour wheel
If you're in the mood for something colourful and preppy, have a look at the colour wheel to make a decision. To make your eyes pop, go with the shade on the opposite spectrum. If you have amber-brown eyes, go in with blues and purples eyeshadow shades and if you have blue/grey eyes, go with copper and bronze hues. You can try the Eyes and Shine Shadow Crayon in striking hues of pink, green, yellow gold, warm copper, champagne and much more colours, these ultra-creamy eyeshadow crayons are perfect when you don't want to apply messy powders and need controlled application. The budge-proof formula will stay put for up to 8+ hours of wear without creasing or fading. Swipe it all over the lid, blend with your finger, and you're good to go.

How to create a smokey eye with kohl or kajal1

That's all it takes to achieve a simple yet seductive black kohl eye makeup look. Recreate your classic makeup fantasy look with this easy step-by-step tutorial and rock any occasion or outfit!

Nida S

I like makeup, memes and horror movies! Mildly obsessed with multiverse theories.