Spring has sprung and it’s all about dewy, luminous skin. It’s hard not to think about light pastel shades and a flush of pink when we think about Spring. Not to mention, the highlight trend that is not dying down. Everyone is practically bathing themselves in glitter. Slowly but surely, we are all becoming part of Edward Cullen’s crew, sparkling in broad daylight, glowing even at night. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that!

But the thing about living in Singapore is that, it’s constantly Summer.

Constantly one season all throughout the year. So I never thought it made much sense for us to be following the trends set by fashion designers and influential makeup artists. Even more so for us, we should make our own trends. Disregarding whatever “season” it technically is for the rest of the world.

So I say, SMOKEY EYES in Spring! Why the hell not!

Smokey eyes are a classic. It brings attention to the eyes and it’s perfect for a night out. Yet it’s still daytime appropriate depending on how dark you make it. It screams sexy sophistication. While I do enjoy the precise quality of Kim Kardashian’s famous smokey eye, the smokey eye I tend to go for is a more relaxed one. It’s meant to be messy, perfect for beginners. I have always felt the messier the application, the edgier the result.

This is my Two Step Smokey eye! Sexy and Sultry in two minutes flat.

You will need two things for this look; A dark brown eyeshadow and a black eyeliner. Depending on the look you are going for and the undertone of your skin, you can opt for a warmer or cooler brown shade. It doesn’t matter if you choose a matte formula or a shimmer. What matters is that the eyeshadow has high pigment and a very blendable formula. I have chosen my KIKO eyeshadow in #132 (€6), a dark shimmery brown colour with a reddish undertone. These eyeshadows are super affordable and pack a punch.

For your liner, opt for a creamy formula that is easy to smudge and play around. Kohl liners are the obvious choice as they are made for smokey eyes. However, if you are looking for a longer lasting formula, or if you have oily lids like me, you might want to opt for a waterproof gel formula in pencil form. I went for the SANA Super Quick Melty Gel Liner EX  (S$19) in black. An amazing formula from this Japanese drugstore brand that is jet black and comes in an ultra fine nib. Very similar to the Hourglass 1.5mm mechanical gel liner (US$45) that everyone raves about. This is a fifth of the price and lasts all day in the waterline.

Other tools you will need are a pencil brush and mascara. I feel that a pencil brush is absolutely necessary for this look as it will help you achieve that smokey effect, without any effort at all. I recommend the ZOEVA 230 Luxe Pencil Brush (S$14.50).

Step 1 : Apply the dark brown eyeshadow very close to your lash line and use the pencil brush to diffuse the colour. You should have a halo of dark brown rimming your eye.

Step 2 : Line your upper lash line with the black eyeliner. Opt for a thin line as it will be easier to blend and diffuse the colour later on. Use the same eyeshadow and pencil brush to smudge over the black eye liner before it sets. Do the same for the lower lash line. Line with black liner and then smudge using the brown eyeshadow.

**The reason why we use the brown shadow rather than just smudging out the liner by itself, is so that we can achieve that gradient effect where the darkest concentration of colour will be at the lash line and then it diffuses out. The brown shadow cuts down blending time and makes it seamless.

Step 3 : Load up the mascara!! Use your blackest, most volumizing formula and pile it on both your top and bottom lashes. False lashes are also an option, if you want to add more drama and glam to the look. There is no need to be precise with the mascara application and don’t be afraid of clumps because it just adds to the grunge effect.

Step 4 : Line your upper and lower waterline, making sure that everything is covered with black liner. You should not see any spot of ‘skin colour’ around your eyeball. The darker the liner, the better.

And there you have it! The simplest smokey eye that anyone can achieve, even with affordable products like I have. How dark and dramatic you go is entirely up to you!  You can add more brown eyeshadow and smudge the liner lower to add more drama. You can also play with the intensity of the gradient by repeating the steps so that there is more pigment around the eye. Pair it with a sexy nude lip, no blush and a contoured face so that there is little distracting from the eyes.

I love this look!!

It’s dark, mysterious and it gives me a boost of confidence. I feel so badass, without feeling over the top. This technique isn’t revolutionary nor unique. However, that’s precisely why it’s such a go-to look and something ANYONE can achieve.

It’s the makeup equivalent of “smoking” your exams. No skills necessary!

So smoke away!!