CoverGirl Teams with YouTube Star Hanh Bui on Smoky ShadowBlast Tutorial (Win a Full Set!)

by Grace Gold (Subscribe to Grace Gold's posts)
Posted Apr 27th 2010 at 10:00AM

CoverGirl's new Smoky ShadowBlast sticks make attaining the perfect smokey eye a cinch. Courtesy Photo

Smoky eyes are to red carpets like peanut butter is to jelly.

You can hardly imagine one without the other.

Yet most women feel intimidated by the perfectly blended orbs of colors celebs hire the best makeup artists to create; we would look amazing too if we had pros picking out, painting on and fussing for hours over our makeup, wouldn't we?

So it was with great interest that we checked out CoverGirl's new Smoky ShadowBlast sticks, which partner two professionally-picked out shades together for the perfect smoky eye. They've even made blending easier by taking a cue from lipstick -- making the lid shade rounded so as to glide over your eyes, and the crease shade angled so that you can get into those corners and shadows.They come in six different shade combinations, ranging from summer-must-have turquoise to shimmer violet to the traditional Twiggy-esque black and white eye.

It's almost like playing color-by-number.

YouTube star Hanh Bui -- who is best known by her handle, ahanhbarbie34 -- recently put together a tutorial using the shadow sticks so her nearly 80,000 subscribers could see how to paint, blend and go glam firsthand.

WATCH HANH BUI'S SMOKY SHADOWBLAST VIDEO TUTORIAL

Good news for the beauty junkies out there: StyleList is giving away seven of the Smoky ShadowBlast kits used in the video, which contain one of every shade in the entire collection! The kit also comes with a coupon for savings on more CoverGirl buys, as well as tips on how to create a sexy smoky eye.

CoverGirl's new Smoky ShadowBlast collection pairs the perfect colors together so all you have to do is blend. Courtesy photo.

To enter the giveaway:

-Leave a confirmed comment below telling us your favorite shade of eyeshadow to wear.

-The comment must be left by 5pm on May 4, 2010

-You may enter only once.

-Seven winners will be selected in a random drawing.

-Seven winners will receive a CoverGirl Smoky ShadowBlast kit, which contains all of the color shades found in the line.

-Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.

Click here for complete Official Rules.

A perfect smoky eye is like the Holy Grail of beauty. "It's the most asked question that I get," says makeup artist Carmindy from TLC's "What Not to Wear." Luckily, a smokey eye looks much harder than it really is. Follow Carmindy's 6 easy smoky eye makeup steps, and you'll have a smoldering gaze in minutes.

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Beauty Basics: Smoky Eyes Step-by-Step

Follow the simple steps in this gallery to get a sexy smoky eye.

Mat Swajkos for AOL

Phil Walter, Getty Images

Beauty Basics: Smoky Eyes Step-by-Step

A perfect smoky eye is like the Holy Grail of beauty. "It's the most asked question that I get," says makeup artist Carmindy.

Luckily, it looks much harder than it really is. Follow Carmindy's 6 easy steps, and you'll have a smoldering gaze in minutes.

Beauty Basics: Smoky Eyes Step-by-Step

STEP 1: Eyeliner on Upper Lashes

The first step is always black eye liner. Carmindy recommends a gel liner because it has great slip. Just smudge it along the entire upper lash line, creating a dark line all the way from the inner corner to the outer corner.

Carmindy's Tip: Gel liner can be a challenge to sharpen. Many women just shove it in their sharpener and go really hard. Instead, take it slow and easy - do one turn and then pull it out. To perfect the point, take a paper towel, stick the tip of the liner in it, lightly grasp it with your finger and twist. Or, If you have time, stick your liner in the fridge to make it colder before sharpening to harden it up a little but.

Beauty Basics: Smoky Eyes Step-by-Step

STEP 2: Dark Eye Shadow

Carmindy uses 3 different eye shadows - a dark shade, a medium shade and a pale, iridescent highlighter. First, apply a dark shade across the lid from the lash line to the crease.

Beauty Basics: Smoky Eyes Step-by-Step

STEP 3: Shade Lower Lashes

Apply that same dark shadow underneath the bottom lash line, using an angle brush. The angle brush will blend the shadow, so you won't have the harsh look of a heavy eyeliner.

Beauty Basics: Smoky Eyes Step-by-Step

STEP 4: Crease Color

Next, apply the crease color. Choose a color that's lighter than the base shadow, but still in a smoldering tone - a lighter gray or a taupe works well. Use a shadow brush to apply the color in the crease and just above it, from the inner to the outer corner.

Beauty Basics: Smoky Eyes Step-by-Step

STEP 5: Highlight

The last eye shadow step is the highlighter. This step is key because it ties everything in. Apply it right underneath the eyebrows, and at the inner corners of the eyes.

Beauty Basics: Smoky Eyes Step-by-Step

STEP 6: Mascara

Polish it all off with black mascara. To get a perfect, clump-free application, Carmindy recommends holding the wand vertically, brushing it back and forth across the lashes.

Beauty Basics: Smoky Eyes Step-by-Step

FINISHED LOOK

And there you have it: Sexy, smoldering, smoky eyes, in six easy steps. Since the eyes are strong, pair the look with light blush and natural lips.

Beauty Basics: Smoky Eyes Step-by-Step

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