How to Use a Smoky Eye Palette to Get the Makeup Look You Want

A smoky eye makeup look is as classic as a red lip and just as effective at taking a makeup look from day to night. Nailing this look takes some practice and finesse — and often comes down to blending and choosing the right colors for your desired result. We’ve rounded up the best palettes for achieving the perfect smoky eye ahead — with a tutorial to go along with each one.

NYX Professional Makeup Smokey & Highlight Ultimate Palette

Practically made for achieving the perfect smoky eye, the NYX Smokey & Highlight palette features 16 coordinated shades that can help you achieve a bold or neutral smoky eye with ease. At $18 a pop, it’s an affordable palette that gives you lots of options for getting your ideal look. For an inspirational eye look, try this sultry black eye by Jayde Mouton — we promise it’s easier than it looks.

Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Palette

This palette really is the ultimate basic and is an essential addition to any makeup stash. This all-matte palette has enough neutral shades for any eye look you desire, including a smoky eye. To get the most out of this option, try this tutorial by Teni Panosian who takes the Ultimate Basics palette to a whole new level.

Jouer Essential Matte & Shimmer Eyeshadow Palette

With seven rich mattes and five glowy shimmers, these wearable shades are ideal for your everyday smoky eye. This palette makes it easy to keep all your eye looks in one palette making it totally worth the $40 price tag. Need some inspo for this palette? Watch beauty guru NikkieTutorials slay a soft smoky eye ahead.

Urban Decay Naked Heat Eyeshadow Palette

Not all smoky eyes need to be gray and black, so we recommend heating it up with red and orange shades like the ones found in the Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette. We love this take on the smoky eye by YouTuber Leyla Rose who creates a gradient smoky eye we can’t get enough of.

Maybelline x Shayla City Mini Eyeshadow Palette

When the Maybelline x MakeupShayla collab dropped, we immediately started dreaming up all the looks we could create — including a colorful smoky eye perfect for rocking on our next night out. Queen Shayla herself created a fun smoky eye look with her palette in the tutorial below, and we’re definitely taking notes.

Photo: Courtesy Maybelline for Tommy Hilfiger