I love a smoky eye. It looks good on just about anyone. It’s easy to transition from day to night. And it adds drama and flair no matter what your age. Having said that, the inevitable effects of father time have forced me to make a few concessions. At 50, I can no longer pull off the blacks and purples of my youth. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t have fun. Here are 3 of my favorite products for creating a super easy smoky eye:
The Telluride Eye Palate by Bobbi Brown
Since I never wind up using an entire eye shadow before it goes bad (they need to be replaced every 2 years), I am a huge fan of palates. They give you a lot of options at a nice price point and they’re great if you travel. This one from Bobbi Brown offers a lovely range of warm and cool browns in matte, shimmer and metallic. For daytime, I cover my whole lid with the Cream to even out my skin tone, use the Antique Rose on my lower lid and then line my upper lash line with the Smoky Brown. Done. For night, I simply pile on some of the darker shimmers to add depth in the outer corners and crease.
Stila Eyeshadow Brush #15
This eyeshadow brush from Stila makes a smoky eye basically foolproof. The fat side gives you coverage and blending while the pointy end is great for applying your darker color on the outside corner of the eye, in the crease and underneath the lash line. 
By Terry Ombre Blackstar Cream Eyeshadow
This creamy eyeshadow stick (I use #13 Brown Perfection, a yummy blackish brown) is the ideal product when you’re running late and would really love to skip the makeup routine altogether. But, let’s be honest, after 40, most of us look better with a little help. So, on those days when I only have 2 minutes, I sweep a Cream/Ivory shadow over my entire lid, apply a smudge of Blackstar on the outside corner and then, using my finger, blend the shadow across my lid. If I apply too much, I just remove some with a Q-tip. Then, I swipe the stick along the inner rim of my eye. It migrates into the lower lashes, creating a great lower lash line. Since my eyes are small, I stop at the half way point, but that’s really going to depend on your eye shape. When I want to pump it up for evening, I simply apply more color. Really, it couldn’t be easier. 
If you need a tutorial on how to apply a smoky eye, this one from Lisa Eldridge is fantastic:
This is so great Katherine! I never knew how to officially do smoky eyes and consequently they have never looked right! Thank you! xoxoxo
See, we are never too old to learn something a new trick….