The bronze smokey eye is a look that I’ve done countless times – from fashion editorials to the red carpet. ?And since I’ve had so many questions about how to create it, here is a quick beauty breakdown.
1: Prep your eyelids by applying a dry concealer and then setting with translucent powder. ?I like Laura Mercier’s Secret Camouflage?concealer for it’s matte finish and?Le Metier makes a beautifully textured translucent loose powder. ?Another option is an eyelid primer like?NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base.
2: Use a large fluff brush in a gentle circular motion to blend a light natural shade across your entire lid. ?I prefer a neutral beige with a bit of shimmer or for darker skin tones, a muted copper.
3: Then start building the drama in the outer corners by blending a deeper color from the lashline to just past the crease. ?Start halfway across the eyelid and continue to the outer corner, leaving the inner corners bare. ?This is your “smokey” shade, generally a true bronze or mid toned brown.
4: With a smudge brush, add your deepest color just along the lash lines of the upper and lower outer corners. ?Blend outward from the lashline to create a soft fade.
5: Apply a shimmering pale shadow (or a matte pale shadow) to the inner corners of the eyes and sweep toward the outer corners on both the top and bottom. ?Keep the pale color the most intense right in the inner corners.
6: To give the eye a finished look, use a small flat brush to tap in a black gel liner just along the outer lash line. ?Fill in between the eyelashes, avoiding the inner corners.
7: Two coats of mascara on top, one on the bottom and you have achieved the bronze smokey eye!
PRODUCTS // ?(my favorite palettes for creating this look)
Tom Ford Eye Color Quad in Golden Mink (dramatic colors that last all night long),?Chanel Les 4 Ombres in Dunes (blends well, very easy to use colors),?Hourglass Vol. 6 Neo Classic Eye Palette (If you could only own one eye palette, this one has everything you need for a variety of classic looks),?Dior 5 Couleurs in Rosy Tan (best on fair skin, lots of shimmer and great texture),?YSL Ombres 5 Lumieres in Tawny?(well balanced shades, easy to blend),?Serge Lutens Eyeshadow Palette (includes a gorgeous plum shade that is an interesting addition to the bronze eye look),?NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Cordura (it’s just two colors but perfect for deeper skin tones)
Note: There are a few brands that allow you to build your own palette. ?Make-up Forever and MAC offer a wide variety of colors that you can customize.
Note:?If you have a deeper skin tone, skip the pale eyeshadow on the inner eye since it can turn an unflattering shade. ?Instead, use a lighter shade of the bronze or even a sheer gold for maximum impact.
