How to Do the Reverse Smoky Eye Look You’ve Seen All Over TikTok

Growing up, I vividly remember spending my free time copying viral eye makeup tutorials only to be left with results that looked nothing like the original. After lots of trial and error, I realized it wasn’t my technique or my makeup — it was my hooded eyes. Hooded eyelids lack visible lid space — so while you can still wear classic makeup looks, like a smoky eye or winged eyeliner, a few technique adjustments may be necessary to achieve the end result you want.  

TikTok is a great place for all sorts of makeup hacks and tips for hooded eyes. I’ve learned how to perfect winged eyeliner for my hooded lids with bat-wing liner, and most recently, I’ve learned about a new take on a classic eye makeup look called the reverse smoky eye. As demonstrated by TikTok creator, @therealaubriedurham, the reverse smoky eye focuses on the smoking out the lower lash line rather than your eyelids. In another video, TikTok creator @zoekimkenealy highlights that the look’s focus on the lower lash line actually makes it a great technique for creating a smoky, sultry vibe for those with hooded eyes. . 

Because of my hooded eyes, I don’t wear a smoky eye look very often. While it’s gorgeous and sultry on others, I find the dark eyeshadow makes my hooded lids appear heavy and tired-looking. That said, the reverse smoky eye seems like the perfect workaround, so I had to give it a try.  

How to Try the Reverse Smoky Eye 

To smoke out my lower lash line, I reached for the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Gel Mechanical Liner in Brown Denim, a buttery gel eyeliner with a built-in smudger for the exact intention of creating smoky eye looks. I like to use brown eyeliner because it emphasizes my eyes without looking stark like black eyeliner sometimes can.

I applied a heavy layer of liner to my lower lashes and immediately smudged it out with the built-in smudger, taking the outer corner slightly upwards to create a subtle flick. Having a built-in smudger included with the eyeliner made the process really easy, but an eyeshadow blending brush could also do the job. While the reverse smoky eye focuses on the lower lash line, I made the decision to also lightly line my upper lash line and smudge it out because I felt like my eye makeup looked unfinished without it. 

Next, I used a dark brown shade of eyeshadow to lightly go over the lines I drew with eyeliner. While the reverse smoky eye can be achieved with eyeliner alone, blending a dark eyeshadow over the eyeliner really helps to enhance the smoky effect. If you’re looking for a good eyeshadow palette, try the Urban Decay Naked Foxy Mini Eyeshadow Palette. Its mix of neutral matte and shimmer shades are perfect for achieving the look.  

Since I applied a majority of the eyeliner and eyeshadow to my lower lash line, my lids didn’t look heavy, and I absolutely loved the way my makeup turned out. While I don’t think I’ll ever be a daily smoky eye-wearer, I will definitely recreate this take on the look for my next date night. 

Photo: Reece Andavolgyi; Design: Juliana Campisi