One of my favorite eye designs for a dramatic look is a smokey eye or just using dark colors. Smokey eyes can be made with any number of colors but I tend to lean towards the blacks and greys. Here are a few dark eye designs that have inspired me by other makeup artists:

The top photo is a modern sexy smokey eye. I love the outside blending, it really changes the shape of the eye. Also the high contrast with the model's blond eyebrows really makes the eyes pop!

Here we have a '60s mod spin on a smokey eye. What really draws me to this design is light lid that blends into that sharp angled tail.

Now this is very avant guarde. Not something you would wear out on a normal night. But it's very dramatic and artistic. I really love how the eyes are shiney and the black is so pigmented.

If some of these looks are too over the top for you I'll show you how I do my dark smokey eye. I learned this technique in beauty school by an amazing makeup artist.

- Start by putting a generous amount of translucent power under your eye and onto the cheekbones. This will allow you to brush off any fallen dark shadow.

- Use a nice pigmented black shadow all over the lid and trace a bit under the eye as well.

- On top of that blend a dark navy blue from the outer corners in.

- Next add a good charcoal gray and apply it the same way as the navy blue.

- Then use a nice champagne shimmery color, if you do not have one a basic brown color will work as well. Concentrate on the middle of the lid.

- If you want a more defined crease you can use a dark brown in the crease.

- Finally I like to put a bit of shimmery white around the inner eye corners to make them pop.

- You can also add a subtle highlight to the frontal bone.

This is a great look for a Saturday night out. Don't forget the secret to a fabulous smokey eye is Blend Blend Blend!

-Vincent