Here’s a quick and easy neutral smokey eye tutorial, featuring the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette. I’ve been wearing a subtle cut-crease a lot for work lately, so I decided to give it some intensity and smoke it up a bit for a fun date night look. Side note: We ended up going glow-in-the-dark mini putting just after I took these photos, haha! There’s no better place to show off your work than in a dark room :-P
*The tools and products mentioned are the exact items I used and are only suggestions for similar results.
To start, use your primer of choice to prep your eyelids for the eyeshadows we’ll be using. My favourite is the 24-Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer by Smashbox. Tip for using primer: Wait about 30-60 seconds between applying primer and putting on any eyeshadow. Let the primer set so that it has a nice, long-lasting base for the eyeshadow to adhere to.
Now let’s get to it, shall we?
Step 1: Warm up the crease
Start by swiping a warm shadow in and along your crease with a fluffy blending brush — starting off with a warm tone helps harmonize all the different shades we’ll be using and keeps from looking too harsh against your own skin tone.
Eyeshadow: MAC Cosmetics – “Always Sunny”
Brush: MAC Cosmetics – 224 Tapered Blending Brush
Step 2: “Limit” — All over the lid
Using the Naked 3 palette, apply the dusty-pink shade “Limit” all over the eyelid.
Brush: Flat end of the dual-ended brush provided in the Naked 3 palette
Step 3: “Nooner” — In the crease
Apply the shade “Nooner” deep into the crease of your eyelid and the outer corner of your eyes. I like to build up this shade little by little to get it true to the way it appears in the palette — from a deep rose to a subdued, faded taupe/purple.
Brush: Fluffy end of the dual-ended brush provided in the Naked 3 palette
Step 4: Blackheart — In the corners
Very lightly pick up the shade “Blackheart” on your brush — and I mean very lightly because this shadow is highly pigmented… and gorgeous! Apply it just as lightly, concentrating on the outer corners of the eyes. It’s described as a “smokey black with rosy red microglitter” but with the way the light hits it, my eyes usually perceive the overall shade as a deep, dark eggplant. Build it up for your desired level of drama. For me, a little goes a long way with “Blackheart.”
I like to go no farther than the outer edge of my iris because my eyes have a naturally round shape and I like to elongate them by concentrating the darkest shades of my eye makeup outwards.
Brush: MAC Cosmetics – 217 Blending Brush
Step 5: Blend and finish!
Gently swipe a clean brush over the outer corners where you’ve applied “Blackheart” to blend it in with “Nooner” for a seamless look.
Brush: MAC Cosmetics – 286 Duo Fibre Tapered Blending Brush
Step 6: Lower lash line
You could stop here but for a complete smokey eye look, we want to involve the lower lash line, too! Take a pencil brush and apply “Always Sunny” along the outer corner of your lower lash line to warm it up the same way we did with the crease. Clean the brush and repeat with “Blackheart” to smoke it up. Using the same brush, blend it through, again not surpassing the outer edge of your iris if you want a more natural look. For a dramatic evening look, go ahead and swipe all along the lower lash line.
Brush: MAC Cosmetics – 219 Pencil Brush
Here’s the full look, straight on:
Apply your favourite eyeliner, mascara and false lashes (optional) and you’re done! Here’s what I used:
Eyeliner: Bobbi Brown Longwear Eye Pencil in “Jet”
Mascara: L’Oréal Telescopic Mascara in “Carbon Black”
False lashes: Ardell Natural Lash in Black 120 (Demi)
Eyebrows: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in “Dark Brown”
Lipstick: Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss in “104”
Contact lenses are prescription and I’ve been using the same brand and colour for 10 years. They’re the FreshLook Colors in “Blue”. All their available shades in this line are natural looking and I highly recommend them, even over the FreshLook ColourBlends.
Hope you enjoyed this quick tutorial. If you’re interested in more — like a tutorial on how I apply eyeliner for round-shaped eyes, or more with the Naked 3 palette — let me know in the comments section below!
Have a good one :)
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4 comments
Thanks for sharing! I have the Naked 2 pallet and have been thinking about purchasing the 3. You have fully covinced me I need it, it looks so good!!
Thanks for sharing!
Holly – http://www.teachmestyle.com
Oh, yay! Glad to hear this helped you come to a decision. I skipped the first two Naked palettes but the “Nooner” and “Blackheart” shades were calling my name in this third one. Enjoy and let me know how you like it! Thanks again for the kind words :)
Jesilou, you look gorgeous as always! This makeup look is very pretty and not too heavy, I so love it!
Aw thanks so much, Natalie! Was definitely going for a more subtle impact so I’m glad it didn’t come off too heavy. Cheers xo