Smoke gets in your Eyes

I LOVE a smoky eye! One of my FAVE models, the sultry Isabeli Fontana rocks the smoky eye well, above & below.
LOVE this Amy Winehouse inspired editorial by the brilliant Peter Lindbergh.
My friend, uber makeup artist Owen Allison recommends that "This Spring, team dramatic liquid liner with a bright raspberry red mouth and nothing else". Fabulous!

I think my earliest inspiration with with black eyes came from my Mum's old modeling pics from the 60's (Mary Quant style), Lulu, Judy Geeson & the 60's rocker & mod chicks in To Sir With Love (a fave movie - cried my eyes out at the end & the song still brings a tear to my eye!) and Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra. Alexander McQueen's fantastic Mac line was inspired by this spectacular look - and Liz continued with the Egyptian kohl eyes look ever after the film.
As this is a look I've rarely strayed from for the last 20 years, here are my LATEST fave smoky eye tools...

Mac Liquid Last Liner in Point Black. This is truly one of the only liners I've found that stays on like a Vivid (or as you say in Oz, a Texta!). It has a little brush that works well when laid flat against the eye-line to form a guide. I actually just go from the outer corner of my eye for one flick - and only carry on across the lid if I have time/for nights out. Only a good eye makeup remover will get rid of this baby - the same is also required for fixing up mistakes, dabbed on a cotton-bud.
Mac Fluidline in Blacktrack is great to get an all-over thicker line when doing the whole lid, a-la Amy Winehouse.
When I have no time I'll opt for my soft Mac Eye Kohl in Smolder with a smooth pearly finish & just draw across the lash and in the inner lower lid, smudge the lid with my fingers, and go! (My makeup artist friends may balk at using fingers - but it's easy!) Some eye-liners are so hard, you may as well take an HB pencil to your lid - ouchie! Soft smooshy liners enable you to do this and with a thick lashing of mascara, this is an easy quick-fix!

CoverGirl Smoky Shadowblast is a fab product for beginners - just slick it on for a nice easy smoky look that has a bit of sheen, perfect for nights out - easy breezy!
CoverGirl Lashblast Volume is one of my latest faves for a great, long, thick Bambi-like lash!

Here's a good little smoky-eye guide from Covergirl. Try not to go too overboard under the eye or you'll end up looking like Taylor Momsen! The panda look is not good.

And for a raspberry mouth - love Stainiac by The Balm and Benetint by Benefit!