Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's Signature Smoky Eyes: Soft and Smudged With a Bit of Sheen
When Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen walk a red carpet, there's something reassuring about the fact that you'll never be surprised: The duo often wear long, flowing dresses they complement with messy-chic hair and smoky eyes. The Olsens, who turn 30 today, have inadvertently, perhaps, created an enviable, consistent aesthetic that women have been inspired by for a decade now. "Their whole look is about being monochromatic," says Ana Marie Rizzieri, the Olsens' longtime makeup artist, but "they also like to keep it raw." And while we thought the whole trick was to sleep in some black liner (which is such a no-no), rub our eyes, and head out the door, it turns out there's a same-day approach to their beloved style that we can get on board with—and definitely feel hygienic about.
Pull together the proper tool kit. Rizzieri says to get the signature MK and Ashley smoky eye, you'll need a luminizing eye shadow, a black pencil liner, a brown pencil liner, and a blending brush. The makeup artist recommends Dior Diorshow Fusion Mono Shadow in Mirror. "Any kind of luminizing shadow will work—you just want to make sure it has a cream base," she says. "You also want it to have a sheer shimmer. No glitter; it's more of just a sheen." For liners, Rizzieri keeps her makeup kit stocked with Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in Perversion and Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Color in Chocolate Laura. She also says that she's "in love" (her words) with the small blending brush from the luxe Artis Brush Collection.
Smear cream shadow over your lid—and under your eye, too.
"I put it on my fingers and dab it all over," says Rizzieri. "The reason I prime their eyes with this is [to keep the] look smooth and blended." When smudged across lid first, "the shadow helps blend and melt the black and brown liners," she says.
Next up: Black liner. Take your ring finger and gently pull up your upper lid, penciling the liner directly into upper waterline before smudging it with the makeup brush. "I don't line all the way into into the inner corners of eyes, because it creates that raccoon look." Instead, stop midway, approximately above the pupil, and use your brush to smudge liner toward the inner corner. Continue to blend, softening the harsh line. When in doubt, blend more.
Then bust out the brown liner for the lower lash line. Rizzieri draws brown liner onto the lower waterline, then "diffuses the liner out with the brush," says Rizzieri. Work from the inner corner of the eye out, stopping at the outer corner. "That's when you know not to go any further. It's also kind of nice when it collects in that because it gives you that kind of 'leftover makeup look' that's cool and creasy."
Get extra credit by adding shimmer to the inner corner. "[The twins] always like a little bit of shimmer, but just in the inner corners of the eyes." Rizzieri's current favorite is Marc Jacobs Beauty Glow Stick Glistening Illuminator in Spotlight, which has a subtle sheen that's not at all glittery.
Bottom line: Mary-Kate and Ashley's signature smoky eye is pretty easy to pull off. And they make 30 look pretty damn good.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's Smoky, Bronze Eye: