The Best of Black

Recent shoot with Photographer Craig Fordham and Stylist Tamsin Vaughan

For this shoot I created a classic winged smokey eye. It's a versatile look and there are many ways to create it, but essentially you need the darkest of kohl liners and the blackest of black shadows or creams. Getting the right products is important, strong pigments are essential to avoid patchy blending and long lasting products that don't smudge are another must.   

Once you have the essentials you can always play around with adding different colours. A great tip is to smudge some Vaseline in with your kohl liner or even some clear lip gloss.

Mac - Fluidline - Blacktrack - http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/spp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CAT21847&PRODUCT_ID=PROD66211&77tadunit=fcb8c5d7&77tadvert=4635619599&77tkeyword=mac%20blacktrack&77tentrytype=s&cm_guid=1-_-100000000000000038274-_-4635619599&cm_mmc=Google-_-Mac+Best+Sellers-_-Fluidline-_-mac+blacktrack

This is a gel eyeliner that is ebony black and great to line around the lashes. For a really dark smokey eye take it up to the socket line, smudge it in with a brush and blend with a bit of shadow. As it's a gel you don't have residue falling below creating panda eyes.

The Bobbi Brown gel eyeliners are also great and have a good array of colours.

Estee Lauder double wear stay in place eyeliner in onyx

http://www.esteelauder.co.uk/templates/product/mpp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CAT20971

This is perfect for the inside of the lash line as it's waterproof so is longer lasting. I also love the midnight blue.

Estee Lauder Zero smudge Liquid Eyeliner

http://www.esteelauder.co.uk/templates/product/spp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CAT20971&PRODUCT_ID=PROD74803

A great liquid liner for the classic 50's flick, it's a glossy dark black and has a good pointed applicator. For extra precision apply liquid liner with a small liner brush.

Laura Mercier Noir eye Matt colour http://www.spacenk.co.uk/product/shop+by+brand/laura+mercier/makeup/eye/200003436+eye+colour+-+matte+eye+colour.do

A matt eyeshadow with a deep black pigment. To avoid lots of residue below your eyes make sure you tap your brush to get rid of any excess.

Shu Uemura cream shadow  http://www.shuuemura.co.uk/makeup/eyes/eye-shadows/cream-eye-shadow.aspx 

For a more lived in smokey eye use a cream shadow and blend it in with the kohl eyeliners below.

Lancome black kohl http://www.boots.com/en/Lancome-Crayon-Khol-Eye-Pencil-Liner_5675/ This is a soft pencil but great to line around the eye and smudge in with a brush. Also good for inside the eye.

Topshop Black coal http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=1628035&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208566&parent_categoryId=208495&sort_field=Relevance&pageSize=20

Again this is a soft pencil so needs to be blended in with a brush or some creamy shadows.

Elizabeth Arden Black Kohl pencil http://www.johnlewis.com/127230/Beauty.aspx
Mac Technakohl eyeliner in Graphic black http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/spp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CAT21847&PRODUCT_ID=PROD71032