by Ewa Linsey

Black smokey eyes should be intense and make a statement. But too strong and too black can sometimes be just... too much. The question I often get asked is: how to get the drama, the sultry look but without it looking too harsh? Here is how you can apply black smokey eyes without looking over-made up.

Yes there is! Or, to be precise, there are six ways to tone down your black smokey eyes. Here they come.

For starters, you might consider skipping a black eye pencil. I know. It is a smokey eye makeup classic. But a very dark eyepencil in brown might be as effective. It would still define and accentuate your eye while creating less contrast with your skin tone.

Another way? Skip black eye shadow! Yes, it is possible to achieve "black-looking" smokey eyes without any black at all! Celebrity makeup artist Molly R. Stern recommends very dark (but not black) eye shadows for your smokey eyes: "These shades give you sexy shadow without being too overbearing or dark." (source: Emily Hebert, "Makeup Tip: Black Eye Shadow", elle.com). Such colors might be more flattering. And they will definitely be lower-maintenance to apply and wear. Ashley Olsen wore this sort of look with an eggplant eyeshadow combined with a black eyepencil. It really brought the eyes out without the harshness.

A widely used technique is to apply a lighter eyeshadow as well as your main dark color. An ideal shade for that purpose is something that matches your skin tone. Beige-pink would be perfect if you are fair, peachy-beige if your skin tone is warm.

A less publicized but very effective way of taking the edge off your black smokey eyes is to mix some bronze or brown eye shadow in. These warmer hues will help the eye design blend in better with your skin tone resulting in a more natural look. I see it quite often on celebrities. I especially liked a black and bronze smokey eye that Kate Moss wore last year in New York. It had attitude but was pretty and flattering too.

Tip 5. Always and ever: please blend. And even more so when you want those black smokey eyes classy and on the understated side. If you blend well you won't go wrong. Become a blending specialist and read the chapter about this specific topic in my complete smoky eyes ebook.

If, after having applied and blended your eye makeup, you decide that it's still too strong, try powdering it. Use something soft like a cotton ball. Or, as Bobbi Brown recommends, a powder puff. Just make sure to use it sparingly, and avoid the powder getting in the under-eye area: it might accentuate fine lines.

So if the fear of harsh-looking black smokey eyes was keeping you from trying that look, you have no more excuses. Put the six tips above in to action, give your eyes the smokey definition they deserve and look fabulous!