There are some people who swear by sleeping in their eyeliner to achieve the perfect insouciant smoky eye. But not only is sleeping in makeup no good for skin or pillowcases, it's also not necessary. In the morning, mix black eye pencil with a coordinating cream eyeshadow. After applying the product, blink a few times to smudge it slightly. Then add an eye gloss for a shiny finish. As the day goes on, the color will blur and become even more rocking.
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Glossy Gaze
Got a serious case of oily lids? Sometimes, longwearing matte eyeshadows and a super strength primer can't prevent smudging. Go in a different direction with a glossy finish. Dab on a colorful eye gloss, like M.A.C. Studio Eye Gloss, $22, and it will work with shiny eyelids. Alternatively, apply a clear eye gloss on top of a powder or cream eyeshadow for the same effect.
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Lived-in Liner
A smudged cat eye is tricky to pull off, but smudged eyeliner? The latter is like a fine wine because it gets better with age. Freshly applied eye pencil can be a bit harsh because of the crisp lines. Throughout the day, the edges will diffuse for a smudged finish. If the product drops down slightly, don't worry about it. The result is a sultry smoky effect without the hassle of actually creating a smoky eye.
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Flushed Blush
Let's not forget about blush. A rich cheek color gets better as time marches on because it blends into skin creating a more realistic blush. Powder blushes can sometimes look unnatural for the way they appear to sit on top of the skin. So, try a cream blush, like Make Up For Ever HD Blush, $26, to create a statement cheek color. Just take care to blend the lines thoroughly for a seamless finish.
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Softly Smoky
Smoky eyes don't have any harsh lines — at least they're not supposed to — which means they work well with a lived-in makeup look. For daytime, dial back sooty black eyeshadow. Try a wash of brown shadow with a bit of gray eyeliner blended around the lash line and outer corners. The smudged look could easily go into evening as is.
