The 9 Best Products For Creating Smokey Eyes
All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however we may make commission on some products.
Sleek I-Divine Eyeshadow Palette In A New Day, £8.99
Best For: Creating Several Looks
Why We Love It: Recommended by the likes of make-up master Hannah Martin, this affordable palette can help you create a multitude of looks. With softer, smokey taupes, peachy nudes and warm bronzes, it’s a great option if you’re after something less intense and more wearable. You’ll find both mattes and shimmers inside, and each shade is easy to layer up for more intensity. The colour payoff is seriously impressive – trust us when we say these shades won’t start flaking or smudging come 9pm.
Available at SleekMakeup.com
NYX Glitter Goals Liquid Liner in Stage Trooper, £8
Best For: Speedy, Sultry Shimmer
Why We Love It: It’s never been easier to play with glitter – especially with liners like this one. Smooth, and with a gel-like dry down, NYX’s Stage Trooper is a smokey silver tone that adds instant luminosity and definition to the eye. Use a little at the inner and outer corners to open the eye up, or sweep it across lids for an easy, wearable feline flick. For that glossy, wet-look effect, use it to colour in the entire lid – whichever look you choose, you’ll love that it stays put, feels expensive and doesn’t require an overly steady hand to apply.
Available at Boots.com
Danessa Myricks Beauty Colorfix Cream Colour in Cosmic, £18
Best For: A Rich, Pigmented Eye
Why We Love It: If you love jet-black smokey eyes, this one’s for you. An easy-to-use cream, it has a liquid texture, so a little goes a very long way when it comes to sweeping some colour across your lids. A hint of silver catches the light beautifully, so your eye never feels or looks to flat. We recommend starting off with just a thin, sheer layer, then building it up gradually to increase the depth and definition around the socket. You’ll find it pairs well with other products – even oil-based ones – so you can create a multitude of different looks. There are eight colours to choose from, so if you want something a bit lighter, choose Nebula, a warm gold with beautiful warmth and glow.
Available at CultBeauty.com
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara, £7.95
Best For: Long, Voluminous Lashes
Why We Love It: You’d be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t heard of Maybelline’s Sky High Mascara after it went viral on TikTok earlier this year. Luckily, it does live up to the hype – we were seriously impressed when we tried it. Working to thicken and lengthen lashes with just one coat, the clever wand picks up even the tiniest of eyelashes at the corner of the eyes, resulting in an extra full and fluttery look. It also contains bamboo extract, so it won’t dry out – plus, it comes off easily with a decent make-up remover. Apply two to three coats for a standout effect.
Available at LookFantastic.com
By Terry Ombre Blackstar Crayons, £29
Best For: Crease-Free Definition
Why We Love It: An icon in the beauty world, and for good reason, few eye crayons are more popular than this one. Not only does it come with a long-wear formula, it’sso easy to use – simply scribble it on and blend with your fingers for an effortless smokey eye. With a satin-smooth consistency, it glides over lids seamlessly, so you never have to tug or pull as you go. Extra points go to the ‘radiance-boosting prisms,’ which provide a soft, sheeny layer.
Available at FeelUnique.com
Nudestix Rock N Roller Easy Eyeliner Ink, £20
Best For: Flawless Feline Flicks
Why We Love It: If you want to pair your smokey eye with a feline flick, use this liner from Nudestix. With a pizza-cutter edge, it allows you to draw a precise, flawless line every single time – even if you’re a total novice. The jet-black formula looks sophisticated, while the budge-proof dry down means you don’t need to worry about it creasing or wrinkling as the night wears on – once this sets, it’s not going anywhere. Look out for the luminous rose gold shade for something a bit different.
Available at CultBeauty.com
Charlotte Tilbury The Rock Chick Luxury Palette, £40
Best For: An Easy-To-Follow Smokey
Why We Love It: Charlotte Tilbury sells some of the most iconic smokey eye products on the market, but this is one of the easiest to use. With each shade categorised – it starts with ‘prime’, then ‘enhance’, ‘smoke’ and finally ‘pop’ – everything is laid out simply for best results. Better still, the colours are more of an off-grey, so nothing looks too heavy or overdone. From soft dove tones to charcoal and pearlescent pewter, choose between each one, or layer them together to create a polished eye look that’s ideal for evening. Increase the intensity with the shimmery tone by dabbing a little right onto the centre of your lids – that way, the reflective particles will catch the light for an eye-widening effect.
Available at CharlotteTilbury.com
Bodyography Glitter Pigments, $23
Best For: A Glossy, Wet-Look Finish
Why We Love It: Make-up master Katie Jane-Hughes swears by these pigments and it’s easy to see why. Rich in both colour and glitter, they have a satin dry down that’s incredibly luminous, for that wet-look glow. You only need a small amount to enhance the eye, but we recommend layering on several coats for maximum impact. There are plenty of shades available for all skin tones but Later Skater is our go-to – an off-black, it’s dramatic without being overbearing. Use a full wash over the lids, or take a thin brush and line a little across your eye for a shimmery cat-eye flick.
Available at Bodyography.com
Victoria Beckham Lid Lustre
Best For: A Sheen-y, Metallic Glow
Why We Love It: A great all-rounder, this little pot allows you to pick up enough pigment in one quick dab. Simply swipe it on with no need to touch things up – the formula is a soft, pressed powder that looks cooler when left untouched. As you work it into your lids, you’ll notice the pearlescent pigments catch the light beautifully, while added squalane (a key hydrator) locks in moisture so you don’t get any dryness or flaking throughout the night. The shade Onyx is brilliant for a smokey eye, but we also love the indigo tones of Midnight for something unique.
Available at CultBeauty.com
DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at info@sheerluxe.com.