Black Eyeshadow Looks for Smokey, Dark Makeup

Want to make a dramatic beauty statement? This guide to black eyeshadow looks tells you how to create a smokey, dark makeup looks with sexy and sultry eyes.

Darlings, there’s nothing more SULTRY than smokey-eyed dark makeup looks! Sexy, timeless and high impact, black eye makeup instantly transforms your magic makeup look into an IRRESISTIBLE beauty statement!

How do you create a smokey gaze with black eyeshadow? What are the best black eyeshadow looks to create? Read on to discover my favourite smokey black eyeshadow looks and how best to create them for BOLD, BEAUTIFUL and HYPNOTIC eyes to mesmerise!

Diffused Black Matte Eyes to Mesmerise eye close up

3 Magic Tips for Smokey Black Eyeshadow

Darlings, first things first. For a smokey black eyeshadow look to truly work its MAGIC, your eyes must first be prepped, primed and ready to go! Here are my MAGIC tips for creating a beautiful base for your smokey eye makeup look:

MAGIC TIP 1: Prime your Eyelids

For a statement, smokey eye look that doesn’t fall out, always prep your eyelids with primer! Matte Eyes to Mesmerise eyeshadow is perfect for priming your eyes for eyeshadow. Simply swipe the cream-matte formula over your lids to give them a soft and smooth base before the rest of your eyeshadow application.

Alternatively, you can also prime your eyelids using one of my ICONIC concealers! Simply apply your shade onto your eyelids to create an even-looking canvas on your eyelids before applying your eyeshadow.


MAGIC TIP 2: Apply Eye Makeup Before Foundation

Darlings, I always recommend applying your makeup in the correct order so that all of your beauty products successfully complement each other. But when you’re creating a smokey eye look and playing with deeper eyeshadow shades, you might want to mix things up a little! Once your face is primed, try creating your black eyeshadow look before applying your foundation. This way, you won’t need to start your entire makeup application from scratch should you experience any eyeshadow fallout.


MAGIC STEP 3: Build up your look slowly

Never rush your black eyeshadow application! As you layer on your black eyeshadow look, apply your product sparingly and take your time. After each application, always make sure to blend, blend, blend! This will make the overall application process much more seamless and will also mean you’re less likely to experience common makeup mistakes like eyeshadow creasing and fallout! Thankfully, my MAGIC eyeshadow formulas are buildable and blendable, making it super easy to build up your look slowly and successfully!

Discover 4 Dark Makeup Looks using Black Eyeshadow

Ready to create your dramatic black eyeshadow look? Read on to discover some of my favourite black eyeshadow looks and how to create them for SPELLBINDINGLY SULTRY eyes.

  1. Luxury Palette in The Rock Chick is inspired by Charlotte's sultry, smokey The Rock Chick look

    The Rock Chick Smokey Eye

    MAGIC STEP 1: Prime and enhance!

    Take my Luxury Palette in The Rock Chick and apply the silver-grey Prime and Enhance shades onto your lids using the Eye Blender Brush for a smokey wash of colour. For best effects, apply the Prime shade all over your eyelid, popping a little in the inner corners to open up your eyes. This is key when creating black eyeshadow looks to ensure your eyes look bright and gorgeous! Then, blend in the Enhance shade, starting from the outer corners and carefully working across the creases of your eyelids.

    MAGIC STEP 2: SMOKE and POP!

    Create further definition by taking my Luxury Palette and applying the dark charcoal grey Smoke shade to your eyelids and lower lash line using the Eye Smudger Brush for a seriously intense gaze! Then, apply the silver Pop shade to the centre of your eyelids using just your ring finger for a shimmering wash of rock ’n’ roll sparkle.

    MAGIC STEP 3: Turn up the volume!

    For extra drama, line your upper lash line using The Feline Flick eyeliner in Panther, finishing off the look with lashings of Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! mascara in Super Black.

    Shop The Rock Chick

    Discover how to apply winged eyeliner

  2. An open, mirrored-lid, 6-pan eyeshadow palette in shimmery and matte nude shades.

    Black & Gold Halo Eyes

    Discovering this black and gold eye makeup with a halo effect will give your overall beauty look some serious star power! After priming your eyes, follow the steps below for a black and gold halo eye makeup look that WOWS!

    MAGIC STEP 1: Mattify your lids!

    Once your lids are primed and prepped, pick up my Super Nudes Easy Eye Palette and apply a neutral shade that’s close to your skin tone with the Eye Blender Brush to mattify your lids, sweeping the neutral hue into your crease and extending it up and out towards the corners of your eyes.

    MAGIC STEP 2: Paint them black!

    Next, it’s time to add drama to your lids using the same Super Nudes Easy Eye Palette. This time, use the Eye Smudger Brush to apply the matte black Smoke/Define shade, concentrating on the inner and outer thirds of your upper lids and keeping the middle bit clear ready for the next step!

    MAGIC STEP 3: Brighten things up!

    Then, add some serious metallic glam to your look by applying my Colour Chameleon eyeshadow pencil in Amber Haze or Champagne Diamonds to the centre of your lids. Once you’ve applied, blend in your eyeshadow where the darker and lighter colours meet using my Eye Blender Brush, and complete the look with my Rock ‘n’ Kohl eyeliner pencil in Bedroom Black and Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! mascara in Super Black for a BOLD and BEAUTIFUL gaze!

    Tilbury Tip: For extra impact, balance out your halo eye makeup look by applying the darker shade to the inner and outer corners of your lower lash line. Then, tap on the lighter shade to the centre of your lower lash line to bring the magic all around your eyes for a dreamy, smokey finish!

    Shop The Super Nudes Easy Eye Palette

    Shop Colour Chameleon

  3. Colour Chameleon cream eyeshadow pencil in Black Diamonds, a shimmering black eyeshadow

    Black & Pink Pop Eye Makeup

    If you’re craving a smokey-eyed gaze that’s both BOLD and ROMANTIC, then look no further than this pink and black eye makeup look! A contrasting pink and black smokey eye is perfect when you need to WOW! To create, follow the steps below…

    MAGIC STEP 1: Sweep in the pink!

    Pick up my Colour Chameleon eyeshadow pencil in Pillow Talk and apply this shimmering nude-pink shade to your inner lids, blending in the colour until everything looks even. Make sure the pencil is super-sharp before applying it for the best effects!

    MAGIC STEP 2: Add dimension with black eyeshadow!

    Next, apply my Colour Chameleon in Black Diamonds, sweeping this sparkling black eyeshadow pencil across the outer half of your eyelids and onto your creases to add sexy smoke to your look!

    MAGIC STEP 3: Create added drama!

    Finish this contrasting look with lashings and lashings of black mascara! My Full Fat Lashes is a glossy 5-in-1 mascara that will enhance, lengthen and add volume to the look of your lashes!

    Shop Colour Chameleon

    Discover how to apply cream eyeshadow

  4. Matte Eyes to Mesmerise cream eyeshadow pot in Diffused Black

    Quick & Easy Black Smokey Eye

    Darlings, if you’re short on time and need an EASY way to create your smokey black eyeshadow look, look no further than my Matte Eyes to Mesmerise in Diffused Black. This smokey black eyeshadow with a cream-matte formula sets in seconds and is EFFORTLESS to apply…

    MAGIC STEP 1: Swipe and smooth!

    Use your fingers to apply Matte Eyes to Mesmerise, swiping its long-lasting, smoothing formula across your eyelids for a quick and easy hit of smokey eye perfection! As this formula sets in seconds, apply the eyeshadow to one eye at a time, blending out the edges with a clean Eye Blender Brush.

    MAGIC STEP 3: Dial up the drama!

    Once you’ve applied your eyeshadow, add desirable drama with my Rock ‘n’ Kohl eyeliner in Bedroom Black, finishing off with lashings of Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! mascara in Super Black for a SEXY, HYPNOTIC eye look.

    Tilbury Tip: Before applying Matte Eyes to Mesmerise, warm up the formula with your fingertips to make it easier to apply and blend. Oh, and don’t forget to secure the lid after use, darling!

    Shop Matte Eyes to Mesmerise

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Author Details

Charlotte Tilbury

Founder, President, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Charlotte Tilbury Beauty

With over 30 years experience, Charlotte Tilbury MBE is the world's number 1 makeup artist and British beauty entrepreneur. Charlotte established Charlotte Tilbury Beauty in 2013, which is now a record-breaking beauty brand that has won over 400 awards.