A smokey eye does not always have to mean super-dark shadow, sharp lines and a full glam look. Sometimes, a softly smudged kajal with a little brown eyeshadow is all you need to make your eyes stand out.
The best part? You do not need to be a makeup pro to get it right.
If you have been saving makeup tutorials but never actually trying them because they look too complicated, this one is much easier. Grab your W7 King Kohl Eye Pencil, your favourite W7 eyeshadow palette and a couple of brushes, and you are good to go.
Start With a Soft Base
Before going anywhere near the black kajal, start with a neutral eyeshadow across your eyelid.
A soft nude, peach or light brown from the W7 Romanced Eye Palette works nicely here. Blend it through the crease so there are no harsh edges.
This little step makes a big difference later because your darker shades will blend much more easily.
Bring In the Kajal
Now for the fun part.
Take the W7 King Kohl Eye Pencil and draw it close to your upper lash line. It does not need to look perfect. In fact, slightly messy is completely fine because you are going to blend it anyway.
Use a small brush or even your fingertip to soften the kajal before it sets. Keep the darkest colour close to the lashes and gently fade it upwards.
That is really the trick behind a wearable black smokey look: dark at the lash line, softer as you move up.
Add a Little More Depth
Once your kajal is nicely smudged, layer a brown or smokey shadow on top.
If you want the look to feel a little deeper for an evening out, the W7 Seduced Pigment Palette gives you plenty of warm and smokey shades to play with.
Press the shadow over the kajal first, then blend the edges. Do not rush this part. A good black smokey eyes tutorial is really less about adding loads of black and more about taking your time with the blending.
Don’t Forget the Lower Lash Line
For a more finished look, lightly run the King Kohl along the outer half of your lower lash line.
Smudge it with a little brown eyeshadow so it connects with the upper eye makeup. This keeps the look soft rather than making the eyes appear too heavily outlined.
If you like eye makeup with kajal and eyeliner, this gives you the same definition without making everything look too sharp.
Want a Wing? Go for It
You can stop here, or give the outer corner a tiny lift.
Simply extend the kajal slightly upwards and smudge it into a soft flick. It is an easy way to wear eye makeup with wings when you do not want a super-precise liquid liner look.
Finish with mascara, and you are done.
Keep It Soft, Not Perfect
The nicest thing about a smokey eye is that it does not need to look overly polished. A little smudging actually makes it better.
Start light, build the colour slowly and blend as you go. With W7 King Kohl and the Romanced or Seduced palettes, you can keep the look subtle for dinner plans or add another layer of shadow when you want something a little more dramatic.
And once you get comfortable with it, you probably will not need another tutorial open beside the mirror.
