Smokey eyes have been a big style for quite awhile and there’s no sign this particular trend is dying. Here we show you step-by-step instructions on how to get the perfect smokey eye.The key to the perfect smokey eye is proper blending. You want to make sure colors are blended together flawlessly. Also, it’s important to pair light base colors with rich dark colors. Nice mixes include: Soft gold base with deep purple on top, champagne base with bright blue and peach base with green hue.

Difficulty: Easy

1. Apply eyeliner. If you’re going for a typical black, brown or gray smoky eye, apply liner in one of those colors above the upper lash line, drawing line thicker in the middle of eye. If your opting for a jewel-toned eye (violet makes a gorgeous smokey eye), line eyes with a purple, blue or deep green liner.
2. Blend in color on bottom lashes For color on the bottom (a key smokey eye look) you’ll want a lighter eyeliner. The key is to “smudge it.” You can also apply a bit of shadow to get full smudge effect.
3. Apply light base color Again, the key to a smokey eye is pairing a lighter base with the darker hue. I prefer a nice cream shade for my base. Sweep a light, shimmery shadow over the lids to your browbone. I love Stila’s whipped eye shadows $20. The moist “mousse” consistency seems to stay on forever. My favorite colors are taupe and pearl.
4. Blend in darker color, but keep dark color below the crease. Now that you have the base and eyeliner on, it’s time to get the smoky effect. You need a darker eyeshadow shade. Using an eyeshadow brush blend in color starting at your lash line, blending up. Make sure to blend color into the lash line so the eye liner disappears. Stop deep color at crease.
5. Doublecheck your work Make sure eyes match and blend color with a Q-tip if need be.
6. Finish with several coats of volumizing mascara. Tried and true mascaras  include DiorShow Mascara & L’Oreal Paris Volume Shocking Mascara. Elle’s writer says they are the best volumizers she’s tried.

Tips:

1. Remember to keep lips nude. When applying strong makeup (like smokey eyes or red lips) put the focus on either eyes or lips, never both.
2. For a bit of fun, try a blue or purple mascara. It will make blue eyes “pop.”
3. Liner doesn’t have to come in pencil form. Makeup experts know eyeshadows make some of the best eyeliners. To do this take an eyeliner brush, wet it, then dab wet brush into the dark shadow. This allows for a deep, precise line. You can also use the dark shadows without wetting brush first. Either way, eyeliner is necessary for smoky eye.
4. This season go jewel-toned (blue is great for you blue-eyed girls) and keep your eyes smoky but stay away from dark browns and black. Instead, go for a deep purple, a gold-brown or any of the many vibrant colors in this year.

What You Need:

• Eye primer (you don’t need it, but it’s great for keeping shadow in place)
• 2 Shadows: One light, one darker
• Eyeliner
• Makeup brushes
• Mascara

If you suffer from scaly lips, a simple do-it-yourself trick to exfoliate them takes only a finger scoop of Vaseline and a toothbrush.

Step 1: Slather lips with petroleum jelly
Step 2: Use a toothbrush to massage in the jelly in a circular motion.
Step 3: Wipe off the excess petroleum jelly.

The toothbrush exfoliates lips while the petroleum jelly leaves lips extra soft. Repeat a couple times a day until your lips are no longer scaly.

Want a more professional exofoliator that’s perfect for the purse? Try The Lip Scrub by Sara Happ, a sugar scrub created just for the lips. The results are similar to my Vaseline and toothbrush trick, but it frankly tastes so great (I love the peppermint flavor) and leaves lips so soft and supple I think Sara should add a “Warning: May be Addictive” message on her label. Makes a great gift for any discerning friend.