The Easy Smoky Eye Everyone Should Know (Plus a Copper One for Party Season)

The short answer: a light smoky eye takes a few minutes and one matte neutral palette. Line close to the lashes, lay down a soft base, add a mid brown to the outer corner, deepen it with a dark brown near the lash line, then blend the edges with a clean brush. Swap in a copper shimmer on the centre of the lid and the same look goes from daytime to party season.

Everybody should know how to do a light smoky eye. It is the most useful look in any makeup bag: polished enough for a meeting, soft enough for a Saturday, and it makes your eyes look more awake without looking like you tried very hard. Below are the two looks we keep coming back to, one with each of our new palettes.

The easy everyday smoky eye (Everyday Nudes)

The Everyday Nudes Eyeshadow Palette is twelve all-matte neutrals, from soft cream through taupe and warm brown to a rich near-black. Mattes are the kindest choice for lids that have lived a little, because they don't catch on texture or highlight crepey skin the way some shimmers can.

1. Tightline first. Press a dark brown into the upper lash line and smudge it with your finger. The Shadow Stick in Expresso makes this quick.
2. Lay a cream base. Sweep the Taupe Shadow Stick across the lid. It grips the powders and means you do less work with a brush.
3. Go in soft. Take the light peachy brown all over the lid.
4. Add shape. Put a mid brown on the outer corner, up into the socket and under the lower lashes.
5. Deepen. Repeat with a dark brown, keeping it closer to the lash line.
6. Blend it out. A clean, fluffy brush over every edge makes the whole thing look seamless.
7. Brighten and finish. Pat a light shade on the centre of the lid, add a tiny wing with a dense flat brush, then mascara top and bottom.

That's it. You really can't get it wrong with this palette, because every shade is designed to sit next to every other shade.

The warm copper eye for party season (Copperhead)

Copper flatters every eye colour. It brings out the green in hazel, warms up blue and makes brown eyes look richer. The Copperhead Eyeshadow Palette pairs warm mattes with copper, bronze and gold shimmers and glitters, so it does both the daytime version and the after-dark one.

1. Warm the outer corner. A peachy caramel on the outer corner and along the lower lash line.
2. Deepen. Chocolate brown over the same areas, diffused with a fluffy brush so there are no harsh lines.
3. Light the centre. A butter tone in the middle of the lid, blended into everything else. Stop here for a warm daytime eye.
4. Add the copper. Stamp the deep copper shimmer onto the centre of the lid with your ring finger. Fingers press shimmer on more evenly than a brush, and it stays put.
5. Define. Tightline with a creamy dark brown and flick it out slightly to lengthen the eye. Set it with the dark brown shadow on a flat brush.
6. Make it pop. A touch of bright golden copper right in the centre, then curl the lashes and add two coats of mascara.

Warm tones are everywhere this summer, and one palette gives you a whole run of looks for the party season.

Shimmer on mature lids: does it work?

Yes, with two rules. Keep shimmer to the centre of the lid, where the skin is smoothest, and press it on with a fingertip rather than sweeping it. Use mattes everywhere else to do the shaping. That's exactly why the two palettes work so well together.

Which palette should I choose?

• Everyday Nudes if you want an eye you can wear to work every day, all matte and no fuss. $69.
• Copperhead if you want warmth, shimmer and something for evenings and events. $69.
• Both if you want the whole day covered. The Day to Night Duo is $125, which saves you $13 on buying them separately.

Want the brushes too? The Palette and Brush Set pairs either palette with our ten-piece vegan brush set and case.

Quick questions

What's the easiest eyeshadow look for beginners? A light smoky eye with matte neutrals. It only takes a few steps, and blending hides any mistakes.

Are Max and Louie eyeshadows vegan? Yes. Max and Louie is a New Zealand owned, female founded vegan makeup brand.

Do I need a primer or base? It helps. A cream shadow stick under powder gives the colour something to grip, so it lasts longer and looks more even.