I’ve been wearing eye-makeup since before I can remember. While pledging my sorority in college, I was incredibly depressed when my fellow “sisters” and I weren’t allowed to wear makeup for SIX weeks! It’s not that I don’t feel confident without makeup. I happen to love the art of its’ application and all the different looks I can create.

So when I found Sephora’s I.T. Smudge Shadow Brush, I questioned how I functioned all these years without it. It features a flat head with short, soft bristles making it extremely easy to shade with precision right along the lash line for a smooth daytime look or a smoky evening eye.

I am not alone in my newfound adoration. Co-created by the French architect (yes, an architect!) Philippe Di Méo and the Sephora Pro Beauty Team, this little miracle wand has been getting a lot of press, including a feature on the NY Times blog. Praised for its’ design and affordability, the entire I.T. brush collection is worth the small investment.

The smoky eye, as seen on all the celebrities these days, is one of my favorite makeup applications and so I am delighted to be able to share my strategy for creating this alluring look as well as some of my favorite products:

Step 1: I start with a primer (Ubran Decay’s Eye Shadow Primer Potion is great) to make the shadow last longer and prevent it from melting into the upper creases.

Step 2: Once the primer is dry, I coat my lids with a neutral beige color just slightly darker than my skin. Fresh’s eye shadow trio in Chamomile is a great all-in-one product that you can use to create this entire look. The Nutmeg color is my base and the Ivory color is the perfect highlighter and should be applied right below the arch of your eyebrows.

Step 3: Next, I use a narrow eyeliner brush to draw a thin line along my top lash-line.  I’ve always liked Sephora’s Professional Platinum Angled Eyeliner Brush #23 and Mac’s Fluidline in Blacktrack or Dipdown. The angle of the brush combined with the smooth gel formula make it easy to glide on for a flawless look that adds definition and really make your eyes pop.

Step 4:  Once the eyeliner dries, I use my new I.T. brush to shade just above and directly on my eyeliner with a dark brown shadow (I use the Deep Brown Shimmer color in the Fresh Trio mentioned above), drawing the line a tad thicker and fanning it out as I come to the outer corner of my eye. For a more dramatic look, I apply a second coat of the darker shadow, or even a black one (I love Chanel’s Quadra Shadow), to the upper and lower lash line.  I’m always careful not to apply too much dark shadow under my eye – I don’t want to look like Gossip Girl’s Jenny Humphrey!

Step 5: Finally, I sweep on several strokes of Mascara (I like Tarte’s Lights, Camera, Lashes), gently gliding the brush from eyelash roots to tips, and my sultry look is complete.

I pair this eye with a neutral beige or pink gloss and some sun-kissed bronzer for a fun summer day or salacious summer night. Add this look to your beauty regime and your life will definitely imitate art!