'The joy of smoky eye makeup is that it suits every age, face and eye shape, and looks better as the evening progresses'
Sexy, smudgy, smoky eyes: everyone seems to want them, while mostly feeling that successful application is beyond their capabilities. This must be overcome, because it is one of the more versatile and egalitarian looks. The joy of smoky eye makeup is that it suits every age, face and eye shape, and is one of the few shadow techniques that works just as well on hooded lids, because it doesn't rely on the crease line. It's also fabulous on deep-set eyes and glasses wearers. Uniquely, it looks better as the evening progresses and things get a little more blurred and grimy. (A supermodel once told me that she applied her smoky eyes before bed for the next day. Mildly emetic, certainly, but I took her point.)
This is what you need: an ivory/bone base shadow; a dark, dramatic shadow (anything from bottle green to charcoal grey, navy blue or aubergine); a dark crayon; a soft kohl pencil (the softness is essential for all-important smudging with a finger or cotton bud); and the blackest, sootiest mascara. I always partner this look with a muted lipstick or gloss and blusher, usually a dusky rose or brownie nude.
Here are the six smoke-makers I swear by. Watch my tutorial to see how to use them.
Rimmel Glameyes HD Eye Shadow Quads, £6.99 (out 2 October), superdrug.com
Impressive. Ideal smoky colours, soft, smudgy formulas, all at a great price.
Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon Crayons, £19, selfridges.com
Über make-up artist famed for her smoky eyes. These are a cinch to use and work brilliantly.
Chanel Quadra Eyeshadow in Mystere, £38, boots.com
I've accepted evening invites just to take this for another spin. Spectacular, sludgy, autumnal grey-greens.
Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara, £22, houseoffraser.co.uk.
Fabulously dense, carbon-black mascara that helps lashes hold their own against shadow.
Smashbox Fade To Black Fade In palette, £32, smashbox.co.uk
Possibly my palette of the year. Seven wonderful shades that give great smoke.
Topshop Kohl in Coal, £4, topshop.com
Smoky eye pencils must be super-soft and densely pigmented: this is both, and is brilliant value, too.