Scared you might end up looking Gothic if you try the smoky-eyed look? Don't be. If you get it right, sultry accents can yield virtual eye candy. You can look flawlessly fantastic in minutes by bringing in deeper hues into your choice of eyeshadows.

Rule of thumb is to prep perfectly. First finish your eye make-up and then take the artistry to your entire face. This takes care of streaking mascara that goops at the inside corners of your eyes as well as the problem of applying under-eye concealer again to zap out the smattering of dark eyeshadow flecks.

Working in a spot of foundation on the lids makes for a perfect combination: longer staying power, sharper, smoother application of your make-up and a clean canvas to work on. Follow up with a light dust of translucent powder to ensure an enviable polished and sleek finish. Remember, the creation of smoky eyes demands dexterous use of a colour-coordinated duo or trio in eyeshadow. Since you need to skillfully blend in variations of your chosen colour, select powder options steering clear of creamy gels. These tend to annoyingly settle into the creases of your eyelids and also run more easily in the heat.

Choose your palette in keeping with your skin tone, hair highlights and eye colour. If you are fair-skinned, you can flaunt a duo of slate grey and jet black with elan. If your skin tone is slightly darker, you could opt for coffee brown with copper or pebble grey. The trick lies in combining a light supporting shade with a richer, darker hue. Smoky eyes can make use of varying shades: from intense blue and brooding browns to raven black and even deep purple. It is important to bring in an eyeliner pencil in the same colour as your eyeshadow.