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This Is Not Your Grandma's Smoky Eye

The classic night-out eye gets a serious makeover
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Makeup artists have been flogging the smoky eye since the beginning of time (or at least since the invention of eyeliner). And for many of us (myself included), the smoky eye has been our default going-out look for more than a decade. This all adds up to one thing: the smoky eye is getting borrr-ing.

This fall, the classic smoky eye is getting an overdue update. Instead of basic black and gray smudginess, the new smoky eye trends include a slew of bold colors and modern shapes -- plus, there are loads of amazing new eye shadows, mascaras and liners to help you DIY.

Here are our five favorite new smoky eyes and the products you need to make 'em happen. Just remember, the age-old rule still holds true: you can't wear a smoky eye with a bold lip. Downplay the rest of your makeup, and leave your lips bare. Your new smoky eye should be the center of attention.

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Powerful Purple
"This is a strong eye -- you want to blend the edges to make it soft and feminine," says makeup artist Diane Kendal. To get the look, start by drawing a cat eye shape with a pencil. (We like Maybelline Eye Studio Master Smoky in Smoldering Violet, $7.99, because it's soft and easy to smudge.) Then, using a small eye shadow brush, fill in the shape with purple shadow and drag the color along you bottom lash line. The shade shown here is from the Jason Wu for Lancôme Eyeshadow Palette in Violet Streak. , $51. Finally, add a few coats of mascara to your top and bottom lashes. Rimmel ScandalEyes Steal the Show Mascara, $7.29, will give you both length and volume.

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Cool Copper
While copper eye makeup sounds scary, Revlon Global Artistic Director Gucci Westman says it's surprisingly wearable. To get this look, layer Revlon ColorStay Shadow Stick in Atomic, $9, over Revlon ColorStay Shadow Stick in Torch, $9. Concentrate the color on your lids, and let it diffuse upward toward your brow bone. Then, use a waterproof gel or liquid liner like Elf Waterproof Eyeliner Pen, $1.49, to line the top and bottom lash lines. Finally, apply mascara -- you can pile it on your top lashes, but use a light hand for the bottom lashes. (Because this look doesn't have shadow under the eye, too much mascara on the bottom lashes will look heavy.) Try Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, $23 -- it's (almost) as good as the name implies.

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Glam Glitter
Makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury calls this glittery makeup "the classic smoky eye with a modern twist." To get the look, she suggests mixing MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Blackground, $20, with MAC Pro Glitter, $21 -- you'll combine the two products to create a blackish, sparkly cream. "Then, blend it up from the lash line through the crease and towards the brow bone," says Tilbury. "The shape should resemble a batwing." After you have the color where you want it, use a clean makeup brush to diffuse the top of the shape and get rid of any excess. Smudge the shadow along the lower lashes, as well, before adding mascara. We suggest Hard Candy Lash Tinsel Mascara in Black Glitter, $6, to keep the sparkle theme going. Finally, use a glitter liquid liner like Urban Decay Heavy Metal in Glamrock, $19, to add more sparkle wherever you need it, like the inner corners of the eyes.

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Bold Burgundy
This strong, graphic look has a cool, futuristic feel. While the color is the most important part, the shape is also key -- it's an exaggerated, upward-angled almond. Makeup artist Pat McGrath suggests using an eyeliner pencil all over the lid to draw the shape -- it's easier to control than shadow. Try Yves Saint Laurent Waterproof Eye Pencil in Simmering Burgundy, $30. Then, top it with a shimmery burgundy shadow like Kevyn Aucoin Loose Shimmer Eyeshadow in Amethyst, $29, and dust the shadow along your bottom lashes, as well. Finally, finish off the look with a quick coat of mascara on the top and bottom lashes. We like L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Butterfly Mascara, $8.99 (available October), because it's inky without being clumpy.

BY DAWN DAVIS | SEP 20, 2013 | SHARES
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