How To Create A Matte Smoky Eye

GLAM SLAM

A few weeks ago, I told you about my fish-out-of-water experience, where I got glammed up for a photo shoot.

I gave up on trying to recreate the hair a long time ago, but I’ve really tried to use some of the makeup tricks I learned… without much success, I might add!

I liked how Uzo, the NARS International Lead Stylist, created a matte smoky eye, going for a “suede” look -instead of the typical metallic makeup.

She used neutral colors, which would work for many people, so I asked her to share tips for how to get the look with Glam Slam readers… (and to give me a crib sheet, so I can keep trying to recreate the look myself!)

Here’s the how-to:

Eyes
For a soft brown smokey eye: Prep eye with eye shadow base. (I used NARS Smudge Proof Eye Shadow Base.) Apply concealer to eyelid and under eye area to even out skin tone and diminish darkness. Fill in the entire eyelid with a soft brown pencil (like NARS Eyeliner Pencil in Mambo) starting from the lash line all the way up to the crease, using fingers to soften the color. Use an eye shadow brush to blend a matte mushroom shade (I used the Portobello side of NARS Duo Eye shadow) onto eyelid to give a soft, suede-like finish. Blend the matte ecru side of the same shadow into the crease. Use the Mambo Eyeliner Pencil again to line the upper and lower lash lines. Smudge with a brush then finish the look with two coats of volumizing mascara.

Lips
For a soft look: Apply a color in the “pink-cantaloupe” family, like Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Bolero to the entire lip – start by outlining and then fill in the entire lip. Next, layer a light melon color lip gloss on top, starting from the center and softly applying outward. I used NARS Larger than Life Lip Gloss in Bimini, which is a sheer guava color.

Complexion
For a barely-there, luminous glow: Apply a pearlescent highlighter directly to the face after skincare. I used NARS Multiple in the “glistening pearl” colored Copacabana (South Beach for medium to darker complexions) along the cheekbones and bridge of nose. Blend with fingertips. Apply tinted moisturizer to center of face and blended outwards and into highlighter for a natural, fresh-faced finish.

Contour & Blush
For subtle contouring: Use a bronzer on the cheeks to give the face more definition and depth. I dabbed NARS Matte Multiple in Altai, a bronze-y rose color (Vientiane or Cappadocce for medium to darker complexions), into the hollow of the cheekbones. Use fingertips to blend bronzer upwards towards temple.
For blush: Apply the ginger pink Matte Multiple in Anguilla to apple of cheeks for a soft pop of pink.

— Ryan Patterson