# Smokey eyes **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 2, 2011, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokey-eyes/604773 "2011-12-02T01:20:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bhoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce73a5/32.png) [@Bhoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bhoe)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokey-eyes/604773/1 "2011-12-02T01:20:22Z")
Reading and replying to another thread made me think of a trend where I work. Women wear smokey eye make up. I don’t think it’s a look that suits most people. Do you think smokey eyes are pretty? It looks like this: [http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sPbBIGpVkQw/TkSvYr6HDiI/AAAAAAAABVw/Xj6o12fg2Fc/s1600/10-smokey-eye-tips.jpg](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sPbBIGpVkQw/TkSvYr6HDiI/AAAAAAAABVw/Xj6o12fg2Fc/s1600/10-smokey-eye-tips.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokey-eyes/604773/2 "2011-12-02T03:37:51Z")
I love the smokey eye look but it just doesn’t suit me for some reason… ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokey-eyes/604773/3 "2011-12-02T03:39:36Z")
At a nightclub, at a romantic dinner…hell, yes. In the workplace (unless said workplace is, say, a nightclub, a lingerie store, etc.)…somewhere between inappropriate and tacky. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokey-eyes/604773/4 "2011-12-02T03:41:58Z")
Maybe if a much lighter color was used, such as a taupe or light brown, it would be more suitable for work. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokey-eyes/604773/5 "2011-12-02T05:50:21Z")
That depends which street corner you’re working on. It’s also a good look for a raccoon. Perhaps you can tell I’m not a fan of face painting. But when it comes to clownish applications such as black lines drawn around they eyes, I assume the person is a stage performer, or has some other job where they want to have features that can be seen from a distance. The slightest touch of makeup is OK - like using spices in cooking. It should be a pinch of paprika in a put of chicken, not the other way around. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokey-eyes/604773/6 "2011-12-02T05:56:30Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > The slightest touch of makeup is OK - like using spices in cooking. It should be a pinch of paprika in a put of chicken, not the other way around. Hehe, well said! Although my opinion might be coloured by the fact that I’ve never really applied makeup ‘properly’ myself, and any time I _try_ to go all out with it I look dorky. Most of the women I work with go ‘all out’ every. single. day. But it usually looks good enough, probably more professional than I do on the 3 days out of the workweek that I don’t even bother with any myself. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokey-eyes/604773/7 "2011-12-02T06:03:01Z")
I think smokey eyes are great and are very effective on the other sex. Jean Harlow had them. I have a friend in her 80s who said that she and her sisters, during the Depression, would scrape the soot off the inside of the “door” of their Warm Morning heater to line their eyes. They’re dreamy. Suggestive. For night time, for sure. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokey-eyes/604773/8 "2011-12-03T01:01:39Z")
Based on my user name you’d think I would be attracted to long haired , granola munching, Earth-mother, hippie chicks but in reality I’m drawn to my polar opposite. Make-up wearing, big fancy hairdo wearing, big earring, high maintenance, glamour girls. So yeah, smokey eye make-up? Bring it on. ---
**Author:** ![Bhoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce73a5/32.png) [@Bhoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bhoe)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokey-eyes/604773/9 "2011-12-03T01:19:59Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Based on my user name you’d think I would be attracted to long haired , granola munching, Earth-mother, hippie chicks but in reality I’m drawn to my polar opposite. Make-up wearing, big fancy hairdo wearing, big earring, high maintenance, glamour girls. > > So yeah, smokey eye make-up? Bring it on. But can a rive hippie afford to date those type of girls?JK 😉 I don’t like smokey eyes. I thnk they’re too “basic”. To me, good make up has a sort of gradient effect. One color on the eyes reminds me of, as another poster said, raccoons. It always reminds me of Mimi from Drew Carrey. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokey-eyes/604773/10 "2011-12-03T01:50:59Z")
> [@Bhoe](#): > > But can a rive hippie afford to date those type of girls?JK 😉 In my fantasy world. In reality…not so much. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokey-eyes/604773/11 "2011-12-03T10:08:16Z")
It looks nice on some girls, if done correctly. I don’t like harsh lines - I think smokey eyes look better when the lines are a bit blended (so no liquid liner). I can’t pull off a full smokey eye. For everyday makeup I line the top line of my eye. If I’m going out at night I’ll extend to include the bottom line just at the outside corners. I use pencil liner and eyeshadow so the lines look softer. ---
**Author:** ![Cap\_n\_Obvious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e56c9b/32.png) [@Cap\_n\_Obvious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cap_n_Obvious)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokey-eyes/604773/12 "2011-12-03T10:51:31Z")
Don’t like the look at all. It reminds me of strung out meth heads I used to go to school with. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokey-eyes/604773/13 "2011-12-03T11:10:34Z")
I am irrationally attracted to that look. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokey-eyes/604773/14 "2011-12-03T14:35:35Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > That depends which street corner you’re working on. It’s also a good look for a raccoon. > > Perhaps you can tell I’m not a fan of face painting. But when it comes to clownish applications such as black lines drawn around they eyes, I assume the person is a stage performer, or has some other job where they want to have features that can be seen from a distance. > > The slightest touch of makeup is OK - like using spices in cooking. It should be a pinch of paprika in a put of chicken, not the other way around. Well, to be fair, that eye in the picture is really made up. I wear black eyeliner several times a week in the day time, but I’m not wearing the huge amounts of make up like in that pic. You can definitely do it tastefully. My skin is fairly dark so I think it works better than on someone paler. ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokey-eyes/604773/15 "2011-12-03T17:08:43Z")
I think it looks great, but not on me. I have prematurely silver hair, green eyes and untanned (not necessarily pale) skin and that look is really harsh on me. I wish I could pull it off. UT ---
**Author:** ![Acorns.but\_not\_Bacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@Acorns.but\_not\_Bacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acorns.but_not_Bacon)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokey-eyes/604773/16 "2011-12-03T17:30:37Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > That depends which street corner you’re working on. It’s also a good look for a raccoon. > > Perhaps you can tell I’m not a fan of face painting. But when it comes to clownish applications such as black lines drawn around they eyes, I assume the person is a stage performer, or has some other job where they want to have features that can be seen from a distance. > > The slightest touch of makeup is OK - like using spices in cooking. It should be a pinch of paprika in a put of chicken, not the other way around. Smokey eye is a really effective, great eye opener, your comments are actually a little offensive and a bit silly? Here’s a smokey eye video if one’s dipping their toe in the water [Beauty tips: The secret of smoky eyes - video | Beauty | The Guardian](http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/video/2011/feb/05/beauty-tips-smoky-eyes-video) ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokey-eyes/604773/17 "2011-12-03T18:32:22Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Well, to be fair, that eye in the picture is really made up. I wear black eyeliner several times a week in the day time, but I’m not wearing the huge amounts of make up like in that pic. You can definitely do it tastefully. My skin is fairly dark so I think it works better than on someone paler. My skin is dark too, that could be a reason why I can’t pull of the smokey eye look… ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokey-eyes/604773/18 "2011-12-03T20:04:33Z")
I wear the look nearly every day, except I use less severe shades like Urban Decay naked palette for work but something more dramatic like Tarte for True Blood for night, and blend more. And my false eyelashes don’t have that gee I can tell you are wearing false eyelashes from 20 paces look. I use the individual ones, not the strips. > **[Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palette - Macy's](https://www.macys.com/shop/product/urban-decay-naked-eyeshadow-palette?ID=556313)** > > Buy Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palette at Macy's today. FREE Shipping and Free Returns available, or buy online and pick-up in store! [http://tartecosmetics.com/tarte-item-tarte-for-True-Blood-limited-edition-palette](http://tartecosmetics.com/tarte-item-tarte-for-True-Blood-limited-edition-palette) ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokey-eyes/604773/19 "2011-12-04T17:39:47Z")
> [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > I wear the look nearly every day, except I use less severe shades like Urban Decay naked palette for work but something more dramatic like Tarte for True Blood for night, and blend more. And my false eyelashes don’t have that gee I can tell you are wearing false eyelashes from 20 paces look. I use the individual ones, not the strips. > > [http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/urban-decay-naked-palette?ID=556313](http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/urban-decay-naked-palette?ID=556313) > > [http://tartecosmetics.com/tarte-item-tarte-for-True-Blood-limited-edition-palette](http://tartecosmetics.com/tarte-item-tarte-for-True-Blood-limited-edition-palette) Are the individuals better than the strips? ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokey-eyes/604773/20 "2011-12-04T17:52:16Z")
> [@slm2955](#): > > Are the individuals better than the strips? Absolutely. It looks much more natural and lasts longer. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokey-eyes/604773.md?page=2)