Best Lipsticks To Wear With A Smokey Eye + Brown Smokey Eye Tutorial With Red Apple Lipstick

Smokey eyes are one of the most popular eye makeup trends. They are a go to look for evening and formal makeup, but can also be softened for daytime. Smokey eyes flatter every age, eye shape, and skin tone, which is why they never go out of style.

So what is a smokey eye exactly, and can it work as an everyday look? A smokey eye is created by applying a darker eyeshadow shade on the lids and blending it out with a lighter shade so color softly fades rather than stops. The same idea is often applied to the lower lash line for a complete look.

Fun fact: Smokey eye makeup is believed to have roots in ancient Egyptian culture, where people wore dark, smudged eye makeup made from kohl and crushed mineral stones. Kohl is still used today, and so is mineral makeup inspired by those early looks.

Originally, smokey eyes were mostly black and grey, but today you can create a smokey effect with browns, mauves, taupes, plums, and more. Darker and richer tones are perfect for evening, while softer browns, mauves, and taupes work beautifully for daytime.

In this article, you will learn how to pair lipstick with a smokey eye plus follow an easy step by step brown smokey eye tutorial using Red Apple Lipstick products.

What Is A Smokey Eye Look?

A smokey eye is all about blended depth and soft edges. Instead of a harsh line between colors, the shades melt into each other so the darkest color is near the lash line and gradually softens as it moves upward and outward.

You can create a smokey eye with almost any color, but classic versions use black, charcoal, or deep brown. Modern takes often use plum, mauve, navy, green, or taupe as well, so you can make the look as bold or as soft as you prefer.

For daytime, stick with softer browns, taupes, and mid tone neutrals. For evening, amp it up with deeper browns, blacks, and richer tones.

How To Pair A Lipstick With A Smokey Eye

When choosing a lipstick to wear with a smokey eye, the goal is to complement the look without taking attention away from the eyes. Since the eyes are the star, your lips should finish the look rather than compete with it.

The most flattering choices are usually lighter, softer lip colors such as pinks, light pinks, peachy shades, and nude lipsticks. Pinky nudes and peachy nudes are especially beautiful with smokey eyes and work for almost every occasion.

Play around with these shade families to see what feels most like you. Start with a softer lip for daytime, then deepen or brighten your lipstick for a more glamorous evening version of the same eye look.

Pink Lipsticks To Wear With Smokey Eyes

Pink lipsticks look beautiful with black, grey, navy, and plummy or mauvy smokey eyes, especially on lighter to medium skin tones. They keep the look soft and flattering without overwhelming your eye makeup.

Audrey is a soft, neutral pink lipstick that works on nearly every skin tone and is especially lovely on lighter complexions. It is a timeless, elegant pink that looks like a polished, slightly enhanced version of your natural lips.

Maven Mauve is a blend of dusty rose and mauve that is perfect for cool and neutral undertones. It adds just enough depth to balance a smokey eye without feeling too bold.

Secrets is a cool toned pink with deep golden shimmer. It is a flattering choice when you want a little extra glow and dimension on the lips and can help lips appear fuller.

Nude Lipsticks To Wear With Smokey Eyes

Nude lipsticks are the classic pairing for smokey eyes. They work with nearly every smokey color story and are especially helpful when your eye look is deep or dramatic. Pinky nudes tend to flatter cool undertones, while peachy and beige nudes flatter warmer undertones.

Naughty is the perfect tan nude. It has no shimmer but gives the lips a healthy shine. This shade is a great match for neutral and warm skin tones and looks especially polished with brown smokey eyes.

New York is a pink based nude with warmer undertones and is a lovely choice for warm and neutral undertones. It gives lips a naturally enhanced look that pairs perfectly with both soft and dramatic smokey eyes.

Oh My Guava is a nude pink shade with less brown and more pink undertones. It works with any undertone but is especially flattering for those with cool undertones and is an easy, everyday choice with softer smokey eye looks.

Red Lipsticks For Smokey Eyes

In general, softer lip colors are the easiest match for smokey eyes, but red lipstick can look stunning when done thoughtfully. The key is to choose the right red and keep your eye look well blended so the full face feels intentional.

Classic black and grey smokey eyes pair beautifully with blue based reds, while brown smokey eyes tend to flatter warmer, brick, or neutral reds. If your eyes are very intense and dark, you might choose a slightly softer red or blot your lipstick for a diffused stain.

Red Lipstick Picks

Appley Ever After is the perfect mid tone blue red that is not too bright and not too deep. It is a rich, sophisticated red that is ideal if you want a deeper red that still feels wearable for many occasions.

Rebel is a deep, sultry blue red with a classic retro vibe. It has a satin finish that gives lips a healthy shine. If you prefer a more matte look, simply blot after applying to remove excess shine.

Risqué! is a warm toned red with orange undertones. It is especially flattering on warm and neutral undertones, and looks amazing with brown smokey eyes.

Strawberry Lips is a gorgeous light red that can be worn sheer for a berry stained look or layered for more depth. It is a great “soft red” choice when you want something brighter than a nude but gentler than a full power red.

Plum & Berry Lipsticks For Smokey Eyes

If you are not a red lipstick person but still want something bolder than a light pink or nude, try a plum or berry lipstick. Choose a shade that is not too dark so your lips enhance the look rather than steal focus from your eyes.

Plum Sexy Crazy is a deep, multidimensional red plum shade with golden shimmer. One coat gives a sheer berry tone, while multiple layers create a rich, warm golden plum color.

Mayberry is a dusty rose mauve with medium depth and a cool toned berry undertone. On deeper skin tones, it makes a beautiful nude shade and looks very chic with neutral smokey eyes.

Vogue is a classic berry toned shade with a hint of sparkle. It starts off sheer with one coat, but you can build up the intensity with additional layers.

Ooh La La is a dusty rose shade that is slightly pink and slightly brown. It works well on most medium skin tones and flatters cool undertones in particular.

Brown Smokey Eye Tutorial

What Eye Products Will You Need?

Prime Time Eye Shadow Primer helps color correct and prime the eyelids, eliminating eyeshadow creasing and tired looking eyes.

Porcelain Eyeshadow is a light, matte, off white creamy nude with a subtle pinkish, peachy yellow tint. It works beautifully as a base shade and helps neutralize any discoloration on the lids.

Brownie Points Eyeshadow is a matte, medium brown with a warm undertone. Apply it all over the lid, in the crease, or outer corner. It can also be used as a brow powder for light to medium brown hair.

Blondeshell Eyeshadow is a matte honey blonde brown that is blendable, buildable, and very smooth.

Heirloom Eyeshadow is a light yellow shade that makes a great soft blending and base color.

Buttercream Eyeshadow is a light, shimmering off white with a slight yellow tint, perfect for highlighting.

The Lash Project Mascara is a hypoallergenic mascara and lash conditioner in satin black that gives a soft, feathery, defined look while strengthening lashes.

Step 1: Prime The Lids

Apply a tiny amount of Prime Time Eye Shadow Primer all over the lids up to the brow bone. Let it dry for a couple of minutes. While it dries, you can fill in your brows if your foundation is already on. Once the primer is dry, you can optionally set it with a bit of setting powder to make blending even smoother.

Step 2: Apply The Base Shadow

Using the Wet/Dry Eye Brush, or a similar flat brush, apply Porcelain eyeshadow all over the lid up to the brow bone as your base color. If Porcelain is too light for your skin tone, choose another talc free eyeshadow shade that is closer to your natural skin color.

Step 3: Apply The Lid Color

Pack Brownie Points eyeshadow onto the lids and blend it slightly into the crease, which is the folded area above your eyelid. Use the Vegan Wet/Dry Eye Brush to build color until you reach the depth you want. Go darker for an evening look and softer for daytime.

Step 4: Apply And Blend The Crease/Transition Color

Using the Vegan Crease and Blend Brush, sweep Blondeshell eyeshadow through the crease to blend out the edges of Brownie Points. Use gentle windshield wiper and small circular motions, taking the color slightly above the crease into the transition area for a smooth fade.

Step 5: Soften The Edges

To soften any remaining harsh edges, use Heirloom eyeshadow on the edges of Blondeshell. With the Vegan Crease and Blend Brush, lightly buff Heirloom where the color meets your bare skin so everything looks diffused. If needed, add a bit more Brownie Points to deepen the lids again.

Step 6: Define The Bottom Lash Line

With the Vegan Crease and Blend Brush, sweep Blondeshell eyeshadow along the bottom lash line. Then add Brownie Points closer to the lashes to deepen the look. Use a touch more Blondeshell to softly blend and create a smokey effect on the lower lash line.

Step 7: Highlight

Apply Buttercream eyeshadow to the brow bone and the inner corners of the eyes to highlight. This brightens the eyes and adds a soft glow that keeps the smokey eye from looking heavy.

Step 8: Apply Mascara

Finish the eyes with The Lash Project Mascara. Apply three to four coats for a dramatic lash look that still feels soft and comfortable. Focus extra coats on the outer lashes to complement the smokey shape.

Face Makeup For This Look

On the face, Sundrop Bronzer was used to add warmth and subtle definition. With the Vegan Blush Brush, apply bronzer to the forehead near the hairline, on the temples, and in the hollows of the cheeks.

For blush, Coy blush was used. It is a matte apricot pink that brings out the rosiness in your cheeks and enriches any natural golden undertones. Buttercream eyeshadow was also used as a face highlight on the tops of the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, and the cupid’s bow.

To finish the full look, you can wear Strawberry Lips, Naughty, Oh My Guava, Maven Mauve, or Risqué! lipstick. Strawberry Lips was used in the example look, but any of these shades will pair beautifully with this brown smokey eye.

What lipstick colors do you like to pair with smokey eye looks? Do you have a favorite Red Apple Lipstick shade for your smokey eyes? Share in the comments and let us know your go to combinations.

Quick recap:

• Soft pinks and nudes are the easiest match with smokey eyes for everyday wear
• Red, plum, and berry lipsticks look amazing when you keep one feature in focus
• A well primed lid and careful blending are the secrets to a polished smokey eye

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you need for a basic smokey eye?

For a simple smokey eye, you usually need at least three eyeshadow shades. Use a light shade as your base, a dark shade as your main lid color, and a medium shade to blend between the two. Primer and mascara complete the look.

How many types of smokey eyes are there?

There are many versions of smokey eyes. Classic options include black, grey, brown, and smudged liner smokey eyes, but you can also create navy, plum, mauve, green, taupe, or shimmery smokey looks. The technique stays similar while the colors change.

Do smokey eyes look good on everyone?

Yes. Black and brown smokey eyes are flattering on everyone. If your eyes are smaller, avoid going too dark all the way in and use a lighter or highlighting shade in the inner corner to open the eyes and keep them from looking smaller.

Does red lipstick go with smokey eyes?

Red lipstick can look incredible with smokey eyes. The key is balance. Choose a red shade that complements your undertone and eye colors and keep the eyes well blended. Classic black or brown smokey eyes pair especially well with blue based, brick, or soft red lipsticks.