One of the most sought after looks is the smoky eye. In certain circles, mastering the smoky eye is an urban myth! But if you’re looking to become a certified makeup artist, you’re going to need to meet the demand. With professional training and lots of practice, you’ll be able to create smoky eyes and even reverse smoky eyes with ease.
Going online for your makeup training allows you to see techniques up-close while benefiting from the same support and guidance as brick-and-mortar institutions.
Here’s how you can take your smoky eye to the next level with online makeup training!
What’s the smoky eye?
First thing’s first: what is the smoky eye exactly? As celebrity makeup artist Nathan Johnsons says in QC Makeup Academy’s instructional videos, the smoky eye is an ombre of color from light to dark. The smoked-out look comes from the layers of shadows that work together to create a gradient of color.
Smoky eyes have light shadows on the lids before transitioning slowly to a dark color. The traditional smoky eye uses black as the final step in the shadow application process to add depth. A reverse smoky eye actually places the darkest colors in the center of the lid. The creases are normally a contrasting color that blends into the brow bone. While these are the basic definitions of a smoky eye, the reality is, a smoky eye can be achieved with any family of color!
Why is it so popular?
The sultry, sexy look will never go out of style. Not only do smoky eyes add smolder, but they also deepen the crease and create a dramatic deep-set eye look. The strategic shadow placement adds mystery to familiar features. Especially since A-list celebrities routinely walk the red carpet in this look, you’ll never not see it during awards season.
So, when ordinary people attend special events and hire a makeup artist, they oftentimes want a change from the ordinary. They want to look like a glamorous celebrity! That tinted moisturizer and basic, bright-eyed look works for the day, but to really add some glam, a smoky eye is in their cards.
Techniques you’ll learn
Undergoing formal training is one of the best things you can do for your career. You’ll learn how to do each technique perfectly. Then, you’ll learn how to incorporate your own creativity. You are an artist, after all!
Here’s what you can expect to learn in your makeup classes:
- How to amp it up with eyeliner techniques
- Transition daytime makeup to an evening smoky eye
- Work with black—an unforgiving color if you get it wrong!
- How to use different colors to get creative
- Extended smoky eye variation
- Glitter smoky eye variation
Which courses will provide this technique?
Because the smoky eye is so much fun to play around with, you’re going to need to know exactly how to change up aspects of the look without changing its fundamental flair.
Both the Makeup Artistry Course and Master Makeup Artistry Course, teach the same basic smoky eye. In fact, the first three units of these two courses are identical! In Unit B, you’ll learn about the 4-step eye and how to effortlessly transition it into a smoky eye. You’ll then have the opportunity to practice and apply the skill in your Unit C Smoky Eye Application assignment!
Get a sneak peek of the Unit C: The Smoky Eye assignment in our Makeup Artistry course preview!
The basic smoky eye is really all you need to know before you start taking on paying clients. But, a real professional takes lifelong education seriously. If you’re really looking to refine your skills, taking an advanced techniques workshop is your best bet.
The Pro Makeup Workshop goes beyond the fundamentals. In fact, it already assumes that you’ve graduated from the (Master) Makeup Artistry course. The workshop format allows Nathan Johnson, your instructor and tutor, to jump right into the techniques. The learning style is different from other courses as you don’t need to read about basic makeup theory—you should already know that!
The texts are much more visual with step-by-step photos of the techniques. And the videos show off all the different variations of technique. Plus, learn how to combine different techniques to refine your looks and use your creativity. Adding two-toned, double winged liner to a smoky glitter eye seems too much, but you never know the kinds of looks you’ll be hired to create!
Get a sneak peek of the Unit A: Eyeliner for the Runway assignment in our Pro Makeup Workshop preview!
Smokey eyes exude a sense of power.And I absolutely love to acquire that. When it comes to a signature makeup look, smokey eyes is my go to. Of course, the right occasion and technique are quite important for the smokey eye. You can’t just wear a heavy black smokey eye to a wedding (unless it’s a goth-themed wedding like the one from 27 Dresses). There’s a time and place for everything. I remember back in high school I got my hands on a black eyeshadow. Not only did I wear it heavily during the day, but I didn’t even blend it! Needless to say, I looked like a homeless person with a black eye. Smokey eyes are very tricky initially. Not knowing the right techniques while applying it can end in a disaster. Thank you so much for your guidance.
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