Increase the Intensity of Dark Eyeshadow and Prevent Creasing

I was always a big fan of the dark, smoky eye but used to have huge problems with darkening the colour on my lid to its full capacity. Often you can pile on the shadow but it either wears off during the night or (in the case of black) it can look more grey than the blackest black you were aiming for.

The key here is to use a good primer (Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion) followed by a dark base cream shadow. I am a massive fan of Maybelline Colour Tattoo cream eyeshadow in Tough as Taupe/ Permanent Taupe as a base for any shade of smoky eye.

Here is a smoky eye look I created with a dark green shimmer as the main colour for the look. You can use either dark brown, black, deep purple etc. in the place of this shadow.

Step 1: Apply foundation as normal, concealer, highlighter, bronzer, blush and Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion on your eyelids. Line eyes using either liquid liner or pencil liner. Personally I favour the intensity of liquid liner for this look.

Step 2: Apply a dark cream based eyeshadow with long lasting properties like Maybelline Colour Tattoo cream eyeshadow in Tough as Taupe/ Permanent Taupe. I like this shade as it warms up the eye and mixes well with the crease colours I have chosen. 

Step 3: Using a fairly stiff eyeshadow brush, collect a good amount of the dark colour of your choice on the brush (I'm using Bourjois' Little Round Pot Eyeshadow in no. 7), tap it off the back of your hand to reduce fallout and press the colour onto your lid, as far as the crease. Don't worry about being too neat!

Step 4: Using a fluffy crease brush, I swirl it in my pink blush of choice Bourjois' Little Round Pot Blush in Rose D'Or (No. 34) and then brush it through the shade 'Toasted' in the Naked Palette by Urban Decay to create a pinky/brown shade I love as a crease colour. Feel free to use your crease colour of choice!

Step 5: Blend out the crease colour with a neutral creamy shade like the Latte shade in Natural Collection's Mocha/Latte Duo Eyeshadow, all the way up to the brow. Lightly apply the Mocha shade (or any brown shadow) in the outer corner of the eye with the same brush you applied the green shade with at the start. (Optional, but gives the eye more dimension!)

Step 6: Apply pencil liner to bottom lashes, softening the line by smudging it using the same brown shadow on an eyeshadow applicator. Apply liner to waterline. Apply a shimmery shade like 'Sin' from the Naked Palette by Urban Decay on the inner corner of the eye and apply your mascara of choice. 

Let me know if you find this useful!