#SmokeyEyeTutorial

The smokey eye—a blended, gradient eye makeup look transitioning from dark lids to lighter brow bones—remains the most-searched makeup tutorial of all time. The classic technique dates back decades but exploded on YouTube/Instagram in the 2010s.

The Classic Technique

Traditional smokey eye steps:

1. Prime lids (prevent creasing)
2. Apply dark base (black/charcoal pencil on lid)
3. Blend dark shadow into crease
4. Add medium shade above crease
5. Highlight brow bone (light shimmer)
6. Smudge lower lash line (matching dark shadow)
7. Finish with mascara (volumizing, dramatic)

Color Evolution

• Classic black smokey (2000s-2012, timeless)
• Brown smokey (2013-2015, wearable alternative)
• Colored smokey (2016-2018, purple, blue, green)
• Soft smokey (2019+, taupe, gray, neutral)

YouTube Era (2010-2015)

Smokey eye tutorials dominated early beauty YouTube:

• Michelle Phan (“Sexy Smokey Eye,” 40M+ views, 2009)
• Lauren Curtis (beginner-friendly tutorials)
• Wayne Goss (makeup artist technique breakdowns)

These videos made professional techniques accessible to amateurs.

Common Mistakes

Tutorials addressed frequent errors:

• “Raccoon eyes” (too much black, not enough blending)
• Creasing (skipping primer)
• Harsh lines (insufficient transition shades)
• Fallout (glitter/shadow under eyes)

Product Essentials

Smokey eye staples:

• Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette ($54, launched 2015)
• Anastasia Subculture (smokey neutrals)
• MAC Carbon (matte black eyeshadow)
• Morphe 35O (affordable warm smokey shades)

Modern Variations

• Glitter smokey: Add sparkle to center lid
• Halo smokey: Light center, dark corners
• Graphic smokey: Sharp wings, cut creases

Sources:

• YouTube: Top Smokey Eye Tutorials
• Glamour: Perfect Smokey Eye Guide