How to Get The Perfect Smokey Eye

To celebrate the launch of Julie Hewett's Perfect Smokey Eye Palette, we asked the make up maestr-ess for her tips and tricks to achieving the ultimate smoulder... Having worked on countless Hollywood blockbusters (and exceptional canvases - Berenice Bejo, Jennifer Lawrence, Scarlett Johansson and Freida Pinto are among Julie's AAA-List subjects), Julie is one of the film industry's most celebrated make up artists, and has been nominated for numerous BAFTA Awards for her work on films such as The Artist and Hitchcock.

{1} It's a good idea to prime your eyelids - this helps to neutralise redness and disguise thread veins to create an even canvas (and 'sticky' base) for pigment. It also helps prevent creasing, so your look stays flawless. Stila Cosmetics Liquid Eye Shadow Primer applied to 'naked' lids is the ideal way to prolong the wear of your smokey-eyed smoulder.

{2} Dust a pale neutral shadow - like the shade 'Muse' in Julie's Smokey Eye Palette - all over the lid, from lash line to crease using a soft shadow brush (the flattened end of Studio 10's dual ended Eye Shadow Brush is perfect).

{3} Next, apply 'Black Chandelier' (the dark shimmering charcoal) across the lower half of the upper eyelid - fanning outwards towards the crease, and angling up slightly towards the corner of your brow bone to create an exaggerated, smudged out feline shape. Use the tapered end of Studio 10's Eye Shadow Brush to achieve a hazy, soft focus effect - there shouldn't be any hard lines.

{4} Using the fine, angled end of the Eye Define Brush (again, by Studio 10), apply 'Noir' (matte, jet black) along both upper and lower lash lines, thickening the line towards the out corners of the eyes, and blurring slightly with a soft brush, or cotton tip.

{5} Line the top and bottom inner lash lines with a soft black pencil - this creates an impression of brighter eyes and thicker lashes (we recommend Anastasia Beverly Hills' Covet Waterproof Eye Liner in 'Noir').

{6}  Use Julie Hewett's Glamour Cat Eye Gel Liner to further define the upper lash line, and finish by curling your lashes (Kevyn Aucoin's Eye Lash Curler is award-winning) and applying two coats of The Volume Mascara.

TIP - if your eyes are a little on the small side, or relatively close together - you can create the illusion of wider eyes by dusting a pale, pink shimmer (Julie Hewett's 'Dolce' works beautifully) to the inner corner of each eye, and just underneath the eyebrows for an instant 'lift'.

Et voila! Now go and practise the perfect 'come hither'...