Winter is in full force here in Chicago, and I’m holding on to these last few days of beautiful makeup before it’s too cold to care. Once it gets below 20, I have to cover my whole face, so lipstick is basically worthless. However, the coldest days have just begun, and that gives me time to use my most beautiful deep lipsticks for glam looks! One of the most stunning way to enhance your eyes is to do a smoky eye. I’ve toned down the intensity of this look for a daytime eyeshadow that is perfect for any activity! Read on the tutorial.

I pulled out my trusty Naked3 palette yet again for this look. I find that the complimentary tones in this palette tone down a smoky eye (especially because the black isn’t matte). I started off with the shimmery gray-brown color Mugshot. This color adds a dark shimmer that creates a great base for the lid.

Next up was Darkside, an almost-matte gray that works well as a smoky crease color. It isn’t a pure gray, so the brown tones help the look seem more casual for the daytime. I blended this well into my crease to create a soft dimension.

The final touch of shadow comes from the ever-helpful shimmery black color, Blackheart. The color has a softness to it that looks very smooth and keeps the eye look from being harsh. You can keep the color light if you want, or pack it on quite easily for something more intense. I packed this color into the outer corners while blending it into the crease a bit with darkside.

I put the finishing touches on the look by doing my eyebrows as usual, adding more of darkside to my lower lashes, and slapping on some winged eyeliner. I find that a nice black wing is the perfect way to bring together any eye look with black eyeshadow. It makes things a bit less harsh.

I also used a soft layer of my Clinique blush in Cupid. I pulled the whole look together with one of my favorite winter matte lipsticks, Colourpop’s matte lippie stix in Creature. I love the almost-black deep berry tone of it.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on a casual smoky eye look! I think this look is a perfect contrast to the mounds of cold hard snow I have to scrape off my car *sob*. Look out for a holiday tutorial this Friday as well!

-Kate