Bobbi Brown's Top Tips for the Perfect Smoky Eye

Turns out the key is right at your fingertips.

ByABC News
May 26, 2015, 8:36 AM
A before and after look at Bobbi Brown's smoky eye.
A before and after look at Bobbi Brown's smoky eye.
ABC News

— -- Emma Stone, Rooney Mara, Zoe Saldana and more celebs have been rocking the smoky eye look on the red carpet. It seems easy enough to replicate, but anyone who has tried knows it can go from smoky eye to black eye in a flash.

Bobbi Brown, editor in chief of Yahoo Beauty, shared her top tips for a true smoky stare on “Good Morning America” -- and turns out, the key is right at your fingertips.

Use Your Best Tool: Your Fingertips
“Women love the smoky eye. But I think a lot of them are intimidated by it,” she revealed on “GMA.” “But this is really easy. And if you make a mistake, you just use your finger and a Q-Tip and smear it all in. And then it’s a real smoky eye.”

Don’t Use Black Eye Shadow
“Women use black eye shadow and try to blend it down. I like to build up a smoky eye. I like to start with lighter tones and layer other colors on top of it,” she said.

For a Daytime Look, Start Light and Bright
“Instead of your traditional gray or brown, I'm gonna do a little bit of a violet. A smoky eye just means it's really well-blended. It creates depth and a little bit of drama,” she said. “So this is a cream shadow; you apply it on the whole eye. It’s got a little bit of sparkle in it, little bit of shimmer. I’m gonna layer them. I'm gonna do a little bit underneath. So I’m using one a little bit of a deeper shade. And this starts at the lower lashes. This look is great for work.”

Amp It Up with False Lashes and Liner
“You could certainly add more for the evening. You could pair it with some false eyelashes even ... and add a little bit of a dark black pencil. This just gets a little bit more drama,” she advised. “You could just do the top if you want. And really how dark and how much you make the smokiness is up to you. Depending on your style, depending where you’re going, what you’re wearing. It could be as dramatic or as natural as you would like.”