Carrie Underwood's Smoky Golden Eye

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Get Carrie Underwood's Smoky Eyes

Lancôme beauty expert Sandy Linter shows us how to recreate Carrie Underwood's smoky eyes.

There's no denying the appeal of all-things smoky — smoky chipotle peppers, smoky grilled meats, "Smokey and the Bandit," etc. But perhaps the smokiest and most alluring of all is Carrie Underwood's smoky, almost golden eye makeup.

We long ago gave up on trying to recreate Carrie's enticing eyes, but that all changed when we met up with Lancôme beauty expert Sandy Linter. Once we had Linter (and her extensive knowledge of makeup trends) to ourself in New York City's Rita Hazan Salon, we asked her to demonstrate the techniques that go into giving the country star her perfect peepers.

Watch the video above for Linter's secrets, then keep reading for the step-by-step breakdown.

Carrie Underwood's Smoky Golden Eyes

• Beginning with the darkest color in your palette, use a small brush to apply eyeshadow to the outer corners of the eyelid. Sweep inward along the "hollow" over each eye, stopping about midway between the inner and outer corner of the lid.

• Using a larger (clean) eyeshadow brush, blend the color inward into the hollows of the eyes and all along the lid.

• Pick a lighter shade — something in the gold or metallic family — and use the same brush to apply this hue to the section directly under the smokier eyeshadow. Blend the lighter hue into the darker one, being careful not to completely mix the two shades. "Always remember that your eyes will look bigger if the lid is slightly lighter than the outer corner of the eye," says Linter.

• Finish by applying a bit of highlighter directly under the brow of each eye to contrast the smoky lid.