In the way that a black dress can be accessorised to suit one’s personal style, a smoky, smouldering eye isn’t limited to one “look”- it can be amped up or pared back to suit the woman or man who wears it.
For the minimalist, the tomboy, the smoky eye teeters on the edge of their beauty comfort zone. So often teamed with a bold lip, Old Hollywood curls or a heavily embellished gown, such an overtly sexy look can seem near impossible to pare back.
The keys to making a smoky eye work for the inherently “cool girl” can be boiled down to two elements- the application and the styling.
To make event makeup work for the minimalist, master the lived-in smoky eye. Choose eyeshadows in a warm colour family (think bronzes, taupes and chocolate browns) rather than cool silvers and jet blacks for a slightly more natural take on a traditional smoky eye. Dedicate the bulk of your application time to blending- harsh edges can be your undoing, a soft, well-blended gradient your saviour. Gently smudge your palette of choice along your lower lash line and keep your brows full and natural to give your makeup a worn-in feeling.
Pare back your smoky eye with fresh, almost bare skin and nude lips. A pout in an unnatural hue or an obvious distinction between your cheek colours will can make your look appear overly “done”, the very opposite of the minimalist, French-girl approach to beauty- a smoky eye looks far cooler set against bare skin. Keep your hair minimal and unpolished, leaning in to your natural texture and allowing for natural volume and movement.
Photography: Melissa Cowan
Hair & Makeup: Sophia Pafitis
Model: Amelia Noorani at Precision MGMT
Styling & Art Direction: Gemma Watts
