that je ne sais quoi is my way of sharing anything and everything that makes me feel beautiful. When I started this blog, I intended to write about both beauty and lingerie but the former took a back seat. Beauty is a big part of my life and I’ve decided that now is the time to include it! I am excited to share how-tos, product reviews, beauty-related event coverage, tips and inspiration with you. I’ve been wearing makeup since I was five, stealing my mom’s eyeshadow and playing dress up with my own child-makeup kits (peel off nail polish, anyone?) and made my poor younger brother the prettiest boy in all of the Northeast many times over (sorry, Er). Now, I am constantly doing my friends’ makeup and hair and want to bring that passion to my blog (shameless plug: I do inexpensive haircuts/color and makeup for those of you in the NYC area… my clients range from interns to attorneys to editors of fashion magazines!).

For my first beauty post, I wanted to share a tried and true favorite: the daytime smoky eye. I wear this look all the time and it’s perfect for showing a sophisticated edge at the office without looking vampy. The softness of the look makes it quite versatile: it’s perfect for day to night not only because it lasts, but it’s appropriate for work and a dinner out.

Here is the result! Below, you’ll find a step by step how-to, including a few photographs of all the supplies you’ll need.

How to: The Daytime Smoky Eye

1. Prime eyes with eyeshadow primer.

2. Dust a combination of gold-toned shimmery light shadows (I used the first three listed on photo below) across the lid with a fluffly brush, leaving the inner corners untouched.

3. Use the same fluffy brush to dust the inner corners of the eyes with lightest shimmery shadow (I used Bootycall).

4. Dust dark brown eyeshadow on outer corners of the eye and the outer crease. Stop when you get to the middle of your eye – you want the inner corners of your eyes to be bright. That’s the key to this daytime look.

5. Pull your eyelid taut and draw a thin line right on top of your lashes with black eyeliner that’s easy to smudge (my favorite is MAC Eye Kohl in Smolder). It will look messy – this is okay.

6. Layer purple eyeshadow on top of your black line, but only from the middle of your lash line and outward. If your eyes look like a hot mess at this point, you’re on the right track.

7. Use your stiff wet/dry eyeshadow brush to smudge this line outward and upward. This will create the subtle smoky effect and will smooth everything out. No more mess!

8. Take the same brush (now full of eyeliner and eyeshadow) and smudge it on your lower lash line, only from the middle of your eye to the outer corner. This will create a soft definition on your lower lash line.

9. Curl your lashes and add two coats of your favorite black mascara. Voila!