In the beauty world, very little is perceived to be sexier or more smoldering than dark eye makeup. Dark makeup says hypnotic, sex kitten, mysterious, bombshell, and so much more. It can also make the whites of your eyes look whiter, and your eye color appear more intense, and -- because there's so much room for variation, anyone can wear it.
Dark Doesn't Mean Black

The first thing that comes to mind for many people at the mention of dark eye makeup is the deep black smoky eye, either done for a dramatic night out or as a form of goth makeup. However, dark doesn't always have to mean black.

You can do dark makeup on the eyes in almost any color-brown, blue, purple, green, or maroon-and do an even better job of bringing out the eyes than an overpowering black ever could. Just a hint of black or a very deep shade of the color you've chosen at the lash line or the outer corners can deepen any color palette into a seductively smoky look.

Very fair skin has an especially easy time of pulling off dark makeup in various colors because the slightest hint of a color could look smoky when applied to the lid, crease, and under the eye. While black may not look the best on the palest of skin, a medium-dark purple starting point might. In any case, no matter the skin color, whether medium or deeply toned, can also wear this look.

Using Dark Eye Makeup

Anyone can use dark eye makeup for a special event or fun photo shoot. Choose a color that complements your skin, hair, and eye color and graduate shades of the color from darkest against the lash line to lightest at the brow bone.

Another option is to run the darkest color across the lash line, increasing the thickness of the line at the outer corner, and then using that same dark color in the outer V, blending about two-thirds of the way into the inner corner.

Blending a lighter shade across the inner third of the lid and on the brow bone, then using a soft brown to blend any dark color up from the crease will result in a smoky cat eye effect that may not make you look as tired as the traditional smoky eye method. Finish either method by lining the bottom lashes with the darkest color and then use a light-medium color to blend those edges downward.

When you're using dark makeup, keep balance in mind. Fill in the brows to frame the darkness of the makeup so that the contrast between the lids and brows isn't too strong. Use a barely-there shade on the cheeks and stick with a nude or color that slightly intensifies the color of your own lips for gloss or lipstick.

Tips for Dark Looks

Rimming the bottom water line with black is a great way to add intensity and make the whites of your eyes look whiter. It plays off of the shadowy shades of the eye makeup for an overall intoxicating look. Navy and plum also do a fantastic job of adding that contrast between the dark makeup and whites of the eyes.

When applying the shadow, angle the outer corner upward to avoid a fatigued appearance. Dark colors can make you look tired, so the extra precaution helps. To get a sharp line and avoid accidental smudging, apply a piece of tape at the desired angle from the corner of the eye upward. You'll be able to keep it from looking much too harsh after the removal of the tape by lightly blending a shadow in a color close to your skin tone around the edges.

Your natural lashes can get lost in a very dark makeup look, so consider false half-lashes. Apply them to the outer corners to give the eyes even more of a lift. Blend them in with your own lashes by using an eyelash curler and a mascara that usually gives you a natural effect (there's no need for adding volume or length with mascara when wearing false lashes, and doing so could result in clumps).

If you usually put your foundation on first, consider saving the face makeup for last when you're using dark eye shadow. It will be easier to brush away fallout from the dark shades, and your foundation will cover up any residual dark powder.

Add Light Back to Your Look

If you're afraid that wearing dark makeup on your eyes can make you look tired or worse, don't worry. By adding a pearlescent white or shell shade to the inner V of the eye, blending over so that it barely crosses into the dark eye shadow, you'll bring light back to the eyes. If you're not going for the full-on smoky, completely dark eye, you can even choose a white or light peach liner to apply to the lower water line to give the illusion of opening the eyes back up (dark colors tend to make eyes look smaller).