How to Create A Smudged Eyeliner Look for a Softer Effect

Discover how to get a smudged eyeliner look with Charlotte's smudged eyeliner tutorial for an effortlessly chic, cool girl eye look with iconic Rock 'N' Kohl.

With Charlotte’s tips and tricks, discover how to create the dreamiest soft and smudged eyeliner look with her ICONIC Rock 'N' Kohl and The Classic eyeliners, paired with the lashes of your dreams and a radiant-looking, glowing complexion!

How to Create a Smudged Eyeliner Look

Create a fresh, cool girl smudged eyeliner look with this easy step-by-step tutorial!

Prep Your Base

Unlock the secrets to a flawless looking base with Charlotte’s supercharged skincare saviors and complexion icons for radiant, glowing skin!

  1. An open luminous, ivory-coloured serum in an opened glass bottle with its dropper beside it.

    STEP 1: START WITH A SUPERCHARGED SERUM

    Charlotte’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir is enriched with a magic matrix of ingredients, expertly blended and clinically proven to give your skin hydration effects and a youthful look. To apply, massage 6-8 drops onto clean skin to reveal a hydrated, brighter, youthful looking complexion.

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  2. An open, light champagne-coloured eye cream in a glass pot with its rose-gold-coloured lid next to it.

    STEP 2: PRIME YOUR EYES

    Next, smooth and plump the look of your under-eyes with the revitalizing and reinvigorating Magic Eye Rescue. Working to lock in moisture, reduce the appearance of dark circles and fine lines, this dreamy eye cream reveals a hydrated, brighter, and youthful looking eye area that is the perfect canvas for applying your smudged eye makeup! Use your ring finger to tap it under your eye area before gently tapping across your brow bone until the magical formula sinks into the skin!

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  3. A face cream in a white-coloured bottle with a gold-coloured pump dispenser with the lid removed.

    STEP 3: HYDRATE & MOISTURIZE

    Apply a light veil of hydration for brighter, younger-looking skin with Charlotte’s Magic Cream Light! With triple protection against visible and invisible pollution and blue light, this supercharged formula gives you plumped-up, luminous-looking skin with pollution protection! If you’re looking for even more hydration and glow, layer your Magic Cream Light on top of your original Magic Cream moisturizer!

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  4. An open glow-boosting primer in a glass bottle with a rose gold-coloured lid with a doe-foot applicator.

    STEP 4: SMOOTH ON A GLOWING BASE

    Charlotte’s award-winning illuminator makeup, Hollywood Flawless Filter, is the ultimate multi-tasking makeup must-have! You can create a classic, lit-from-within glow by applying Hollywood Flawless Filter under your foundation, or mix it with your foundation for an effortlessly radiant finish. If you’re looking for a relaxed, dewy look, you can apply Wonderglow primer on its own! This will give you a beautiful, natural-looking complexion.

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  5. A concealer in a dark brown shade in golden-coloured packaging with its lid next to it.

    STEP 5: FINISHING TOUCHES

    Complete your flawless-looking base with Charlotte’s complexion icons! Apply Magic Away concealer to brighten the appearance of under eyes, set and mattify the look of your under-eyes and t-zone with the award-winning Airbrush Flawless Finish powder, before adding warmth and definition to your complexion with Airbrush Bronzer!

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Apply Eyeliner

From sultry and smokey to soft and subtle definition, discover Charlotte’s tips and tricks for creating the perfect smudged eyeliner look for everyday wear!

Rock ‘n’ Kohl in Bedroom Black is an intense black kohl eyeliner that melts onto your skin for an easy, 1-slick line that blends effortlessly! You can instantly apply a smudged and smokey rock chick eye and a fabulous feline flick.

The Classic eyeliner in Black is a chic powder pencil eyeliner that glides on like silk for a smooth, blendable line that stays on all day. This eyeliner is perfect for an everyday look with timeless and sophisticated definition for bigger, brighter eyes!

Or, use these two iconic eyeliners together for a smoked-out gaze with divine definition! Create your shape with The Classic eyeliner and layer Rock ‘n’ Kohl on top to smoke out for a smudged, soft effect eyeliner look.

  1. An open kohl liner in a black shade with dark crimson-coloured packaging and its cap next to it.

    STEP 1: START ON YOUR LASHLINE

    Start by lining along your upper lash line. Be sure to draw as close to the lashes so no skin is showing through. This doesn’t have to be precise, just scribble along your lash line for captivating color impact.

  2. Single-eye close-up of a medium-tone model with brown eyes wearing black eyeliner in a soft wing style.

    STEP 2: WING IT OUT FOR A FELINE FLICK

    Elongate the look of your eye for a gorgeous gaze by flicking your pencil up and out to perfect Charlotte’s iconic feline flick!

  3. An eyeshadow smudging brush with soft bristles and a rose-gold and dark crimson handle.

    STEP 3: SMUDGE EYELINER

    With the Eye Smudger Brush, gently blend the liner to diffuse and smudge the edge, creating a soft, smokey effect. Be sure to work quickly after you’ve applied the liner, once these formulas have set in place, they stay all day!

Complete The Look

  1. An open, mirrored-lid, quad eyeshadow palette with matte and shimmery eyeshadows in nude-pink, brown, and beige shades.

    STEP 1: DIAL IT UP!

    Dial up your effortless eyeliner look with enchanting eyeshadows! Blend and smudge your favorite Luxury Palette along your lash line and smoke out the shadow for dreamy drama that takes your look from desk to disco!

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  2. Mascara in a pink-coloured tube with its gold-coloured lid with a black applicator next to it.

    STEP 2: APPLY LASHINGS OF MASCARA

    Finish your smudged eyeliner look with lashings and lashings of mascara! Charlotte’s Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes! Mascara creates instant volume, length, stretch, and a 24-hour vertical lift effect for the lashes of your dreams!

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  3. An open, setting spray in a clear bottle with a gold-coloured lid placed next to it.

    STEP 3: SET & PERFECT WITH SETTING SPRAY

    Instantly lock in your look with Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray. The magic matrix of complexion-enhancing ingredients mists your skin in a weightless veil of hydration for a flawless-looking finish, all day.

    Shop Setting Spray Discover Charlotte’s setting spray hacks

Learn Charlotte’s eyeliner tips and tricks and get a cool girl smudged eyeliner look!

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Author Details

Charlotte Tilbury

Founder, President, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Charlotte Tilbury Beauty

With over 30 years experience, Charlotte Tilbury MBE is the world's number 1 makeup artist and British beauty entrepreneur. Charlotte established Charlotte Tilbury Beauty in 2013, which is now a record-breaking beauty brand that has won over 400 awards.