By Kristen Seymour of BlogHer’s Beauty Hacks

I’m a big, BIG fan of the smoky eye. More often than not, my eye makeup is done in shades of brown with a smoky finish – darker for nighttime, more subtle during the day. While tones like browns and greys are most popular, don’t think for a second I’m shy about bringing in a pop of color when the occasion calls for it. And I’d have to say that a holiday party definitely calls for it!

Fortunately, you don’t have to break the bank or learn a whole new skill set in order to try out a fun new look.

First, you need to choose your color. You can do a smoky eye in shades of almost anything, but on of my favorites is green. However, you can take these tips and use them with any color palette (purple, blue, etc.). Just make sure you play around with the new colors sometime before those frantic five minutes preceding a party!

I always start with eyeliner. My personal favorite is Stila Smudge Pots; most days, I use the bronze, but for a more dramatic look, I go for black.

Then, I bring out the eye shadow. I find it easiest to buy an eye shadow quad that’s designed to work together, and Maybelline Expertwear Quad Eye Shadow is a great option. They have all kinds of colors, including some new ones designed specifically for creating a smoky eye. I chose Emerald Smokes, but at just about $5 a pop, I almost brought a few home.

There are four steps once you start applying. First, use the lightest color on your browbone and fill it in down to the crease. Use the lid color, which is normally the second lightest shade, to fill in your entire lid up to the crease. Tip: if your eyes are close-set, use the highlighter on the innermost corner of your eye. This brightens your look and makes your eyes appear wider.

Then, take the darkest color. In this quad, it’s a dark brown, but you could use a deep hunter green, too. Apply a sideways V on the outer corner of your eye (point facing away from the eye), and don’t worry if it’s not terribly perfect – you’ll have a chance to smudge it a bit.

Then, use your crease color – in this case, that’s where I applied the green tone, and this is often a great place to use a really shimmery, festive shade. Apply it lighter toward the inner part of your eye, and make it darker and wider as you reach the outer portion of your eyelid.

Use a fluffy brush (or your finger) to blend the outer corner and crease color as necessary, and don’t be afraid to apply a bit more if you see fit. You can also smudge the darkest color along your eyeliner to create a more dramatic, less “perfect” look.

Finally, apply as much mascara as you’re comfortable wearing. To be honest, I don’t leave the house with less than two coats on my top lashes, and if I’m going for a nighttime look, I’ll probably add at least a third coat for good measure. Now all that’s left to do is bat those sexy eyes and wait beneath the mistletoe!

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