How to do a smoky eye with a modern twist

“The key is getting the depth of color in at the lash roots and then blending it out. Use a soft black eye pencil to draw around the eye, right in at the lash line; don’t worry about being too perfect as you’ll then buff this out using a soft blending brush. Repeat this for a more intense black before using a slightly bigger brush to give the smudged liner a final blend.”

“Using a deep, dark metallic shade of midnight blue, chocolate or deep purple looks beautiful for evening and more modern than just the classic black. Use a brush to literally press rather than blend the eyeshadow over the smudged pencil – it helps grab and hold the powder in place. Again, you can build up layers to increase the intensity.”

“For a really professional finish, the secret is to get a soft, fluffy makeup brush and work in small circles to gently buff out the outer edges of the eye makeup. This diffuses the color to almost nothing as it blends into your skin and gives your makeup a seamless, flawless effect.”