You can never go wrong with a smokey cat eye. It’s a sultry, classic look that’s perfect for a Valentine’s Day date night. We’re taking you step-by-step through the process and showing you just how you can create a nude smokey cat eye using just one eye shadow palette. Read on for all the details on how to achieve this classic date night makeup look.
Face
Prime your skin with a hydrating primer like Marc Jacobs Coconut Primer or Veil Cosmetics Sunset Primer. If you’re looking for glowing, radiant skin, mix the Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Skin Liquid Highlighter in with your primer and apply that all over your face.
Go in with your favorite foundation — we like Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick. It melts into the skin beautifully and gives a natural, yet full coverage look. Blend it in using a Beauty Blender or a Morphe M439 for a flawless finish.
Apply a concealer like NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer under your eyes to cover up dark circles and give your face a flawless finish. Set your under eyes and entire face with a powder to lock it all into place. We like the RCMA No Color Powder; it has a smooth finish that blends in easily without making your face look cakey.
Sculpt your face with bronzer like the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer to give a more structured look. Apply it to the hollows of your cheeks and along your hairline to add dimension and slim the face.
Eyes
After doing your foundation, prime your eyelids to help your eye makeup go on smooth and keep it in place all night. Try using Too Faced Shadow Insurance so your shadow has ultimate staying power and won’t crease.
The perfect palette for a nude smokey eye is the Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics — it has all the shades you need to complete this look. Start by using an eyeshadow shade close to your natural eyelid color. Apply with a fluffy brush for an all over wash of color.
Go in with a medium neutral brown color and apply it to the outer corner of the eye up to the tail of your brow to first create that cat eye shape. Blend the excess color in toward the center of your eyes, diffusing it for a smokey look.
Go in with a darker brown and build up the color. Again, apply from the outer corner up toward the tail of your brow for the cat eye shape and diffuse the color toward the middle of your eye. Be sure to blend with a fluffy brush to make sure everything is nice and seamless. Take a dark brown mixed with black and build up the color on the very outer corner with a smaller brush or a dome brush. Apply this where you would apply a winged liner, and once again diffuse the color. The key to a good smokey eye is blending at every step.
Take a small flat brush and apply the medium brown on your lower lash line from the outer corner to the middle of your eye. Go in with a fluffy brush and diffuse the color for a smoked out look. Go back in with a flat brush, this time using black on just the outer corner of your lower lash line. Once again, smoke it out with a fluffy brush.
Take a light, vanilla color on a small brush and highlight the inner corners of your eyes to add some brightness to your eyes. You can also add some beneath your outer brow to give a more structured look.
Add some winged liner using something like the Maybelline Gel Liner and a small angled brush. Follow along with your eyeshadow to create the angle of your wing from the outer corner to the tail of your brow. Then, drag your brush from that line to the middle of your upper lash line, making a triangle shape to create the winged look. Fill in the triangle with your liner to complete the wing. Curl your lashes and give yourself a coat of your favorite mascara. If false lashes are your thing, pop on a pair for a dramatic effect. Try the House of Lashes Lash adhesive with Noir Fairy lashes for a glam, sultry look.
Fill in your brows with your favorite brow product. The Anastasia of Beverly Hills Brow Duo is an eyebrow powder that will give a structured look to the brows while still looking soft.
Lips
Line your lips with a liner close to your natural lip color before applying your favorite lip product. Try NYX Lip Lingerie for a matte, nude pout. Use a small brush to apply product first on the perimeter of your lips, then fill them in. For an ultra feminine look, apply gloss over your lip product — this will also make your lips look nice and full. Jane Iredale’s PureGloss Lip Gloss gives your lips nourishment without being too sticky.
Cheeks
Finally, apply a blush to the apples of your cheeks and sweep it back toward your hairline for a natural looking flush. Apply a highlighter like Champagne Pop from the Jaclyn Hill Palette by Becca Cosmetics. Use a small fluffy brush to apply it to the high points of your cheek bones for a beautiful, radiant glow when they hit the light. You can also apply some to your Cupid’s Bow to make your lips look extra full and plump.
Here’s the step-by-step tutorial in action for this smokey cat eye makeup look.
This classic smokey eye looks good on everyone and with some practice, can be completed in just a few minutes. For a more daring look, you can also switch out the brown shadows for a different color, or pair it with a bold, red lip. Do what you feel best in — it’s your Valentine’s Day!
For more beauty and makeup tips, check out our post on 15 Beauty Hacks, Tips, and Tricks.
Photo credits: Kristen Love
