Author: Admin01

Smokey eye is hard, or is it? How can you create this on-trend look without your brain exploding or looking like a lunatic? That, my wonderful and beautiful friends, is the goal today. In this video with my neighbor and friend Tracy Jo, I am showing how to do a 5-minute (on each eye) smokey look using two cream eyeshadows and a well-blended eyeliner. It’s possible, you can do it.

That being said, I’m using some new matte cream eyeshadows from PrimePrometics for this particular video. They offer a smooth, even application that enhances the eyelid’s natural beauty without highlighting imperfections. This brand in particular includes a primer with the formulation so that they stay on, don’t crease up, and I find them very easy to use.

Here’s Why Cream Shadows Work So Well for Mature Skin

Hydrating and Comfortable

Cream formulas tend to be more moisturizing than powders, making them perfect for delicate eyelid skin.

Buildable and Blendable

Whether you want a subtle wash of color or a bold smoky look, cream shadows allow for easy blending and layering.

Long-Lasting

Modern matte cream eyeshadows are designed to stay put, avoiding smudging or creasing – especially important in cooler months when skin can get drier.

Flattering for Mature Eyes

The matte finish avoids the shiny, aging effect that sometimes comes with shimmer or glitter shadows.

Fall/Winter 2025 Makeup Trends: The Modern Smokey Eye

The smokey eye has been a glam staple forever, but this season, it’s all about soft, diffused edges and rich, matte finishes. Think cozy, sophisticated, and a little bit sultry – perfect for holiday parties, date nights, or just making us feel fabulous on a regular Tuesday.

This season’s smokey eye isn’t about harsh lines; it’s about blending shades seamlessly for a natural yet impactful look. Matte cream eyeshadows are ideal because they meld effortlessly into the skin, creating that perfect smokey effect without the heaviness or shimmery fallout.

With that in mind, here is a step-by-step guide to achieve Tracy Jo’s smokey eye look!

#1 Base, Baby

For any strong eye makeup look, it’s important to use foundation and maybe concealer to remove any discolorations. Tracy Jo has some redness around her eyes that, once covered, open up her eye space for some beautiful warm tones to bring out her blue eyes. If you have very oily eyelids, sometimes an extra eye base is needed, or maybe a little powder. In Tracy Jo’s case, the primer in the eye shadow worked wonderfully well and nothing else was needed.

Pro Tip: If you have brown discoloration around your eye area, be sure to use a peach or orange toned concealer, depending on your skin color, to cover it. A rosy toned concealer will make your skin turn ashy and grey. Not a good look.

#2 Layer Colors and Blend

I started with Toffee that, used alone, could easily be an everyday shade for Tracy Jo. Warm tones are great for nearly everyone, and in the video you can see how much this enhanced her eyes. After that, I used Espresso in her crease and around her eye. I kept it away from her eyelid, because sometimes that can make deep-set eyes look even deeper.

In order to blend like a beast, use a circling method with the brush like in the video. If your eyes can handle it, use the product under your eyes like I did, otherwise keep it only on the top lashline. If you want, you can toss on a lighter shade in the middle of the lid, or, if you’re feeling festive, a little glimmer works well.

Pro Tip: You can do the opposite and start with the darkest shade, Espresso, and then soften the edges with Toffee. Do what works best for you! Also, if you notice your foundation softens the shadow colors too much, then apply the product straight to the skin.

#3 Water Repellant Eyeliner

On mature skin, I prefer to use gel eyeliners that are water repellant. They tend to go on easily, not bleed, and are simple to remove at the end of the day. For Tracy Jo’s smokey eye look, I grabbed Mocha eye pencil for the top eye line, and Mulberry for her waterline and under her eye. If you want to keep things simple, then just pick one shade for everything.

Keeping the liner close to her lashes, I applied it and then blended toward her ear with a soft brush. The trick is to use the right amount so that it’s not garish or heavy. I recommend applying liner to your waterline – this really strengthens the smokey look or any look for that matter.

Pro Tip: Getting the eyeliner as tight to your lashes as possible takes practice, but it’s worth it. A simple trick is to balance the heel of your hand on your jaw to better control the pencil. Then pull your eye a little for a smooth surface to run the pencil along. This works best with a very soft gel pencil or kohl liner. If you’re having problems, the issue is usually a hard or difficult to blend eyeliner.

#4 Mascara + Mascara

I love lots of mascara on the top lashes for this look. On Tracy Jo, I’m using a Navy Blue mascara which, in conjunction with all the warm tones, really helps to pop her eyes. If you are brave, try using false lashes in either a strip or individual form. It’s extra work, but it can be very impressive and fancy! Personally, false lashes make me crazy so I stick with a lengthening mascara like the one on Tracy Jo. With two layers applied, her lashes are gorgeous!

Pro Tip: To apply mascara like a gangster, coat them first with the tip of the wand, then get as close to the base of the lashes as possible and go upward. This adds density and length.

Final Tips for Smokey Eyes

To prevent any brain explosions, go at this a few times before wearing it out of the house. You will get better with practice and soon you’ll be tossing on a smokey look to walk the dog, go to the store, or check the mail. With only two eye shadows and one gel pencil, you will be a pro in no time. Remember to blend like a beast and apply mascara like a gangster. Who says aging can’t be fun?

If you want to check out any of the products mentioned in the article, use the code THEBEAUTYSHAMAN for 10% off PrimePrometics.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What is your favorite makeup look? Do you create the smoky eye often? How many products do you usually use?

Style Stealers

!function(d,s,id){
var e, p = /^http:/.test(d.location) ? ‘http’ : ‘https’;
if(!d.getElementById(id)) {
e = d.createElement(s);
e.id = id;
e.src = p + ‘://widgets.rewardstyle.com/js/shopthepost.js’;
d.body.appendChild(e);
}
if(typeof window.__stp === ‘object’) if(d.readyState === ‘complete’) {
window.__stp.init();
}
}(document, ‘script’, ‘shopthepost-script’);

Turn on your JavaScript to view content

Originally posted at: Lisa Hochstein’s Black Cropped Short Sleeve Cardigan and White Jeans

If you’ve ever stood in your kitchen, staring into the fridge like there was an answer in there (maybe hidden behind the milk?) that could solve everything, and thought, “I just want to eat like a normal person,” you’re not alone.

When “No Rules” Feels Too Scary

You’ve spent decades either white-knuckling your way through the latest diet or swan-diving into a Costco-sized bag of kettle corn with a glass of red wine and a side of guilt.

Welcome to the chaos that is midlife eating.

We were raised on diet culture, baptized in fat-free dressing and Snackwells, and told that hunger was the enemy. Then suddenly, one day, someone says, “Just listen to your body.” And you think: “Ma’am… I haven’t heard from her in years. She doesn’t even know how to text.”

Intuitive eating sounds amazing in theory. No rules? Eat what you want? Yes, please. But in practice, it’s like walking into a grocery store in a foreign country with no list, no plan, and zero sense of what you’re even hungry for, then leaving with a package of gummy worms, sardines, a pineapple, bottle of wine, no plan, and a backpack of confusion.

That’s why this post matters.

Because for women like us, women who’ve spent decades measuring, tracking, cutting, and shaming, it’s not about eating “intuitively.” It’s about learning to trust yourself again, without swinging back into chaos.

And I’m here to show you how.

What Diets Don’t Want You to Know

Here’s the dirty little secret no one tells you: Diets were never designed to free you. They were designed to keep you coming back.

Each one promises control, confidence, and a smaller waistline in six weeks or less. And sure, maybe it sort of worked for a while, until it didn’t. And then it was your fault. You must’ve “cheated,” lost focus, lacked discipline.

Not once did it occur to you that maybe the plan was broken. Because diet culture doesn’t just mess with your plate. It rewires your brain.

It teaches you to ignore the “silly” signals from your body, like hunger, fatigue, or the desire for pleasure, and instead obey an external set of rules made by someone who’s never met you – who knows nothing about you.

And so, for years, I followed them all: 1200-calorie days. No carbs after 4 p.m. Weigh-ins that determined my mood. I once threw away half a banana because “fruit has too much sugar.” I was constantly hungry, constantly “failing,” and constantly blaming myself.

Perfection. Guilt. Rebellion. Repeat.

So, if intuitive eating feels like a foreign language, it’s because you were trained not to listen.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t learn how.

A Better Way: The Middle Road Between Chaos and Control

Let’s be honest: “Eat whatever you want, whenever you want” sounds like a Pinterest quote from someone who’s never accidentally eaten an entire row of Oreos at 9 p.m. in a dark kitchen only to realize it when there were no more to eat.

That’s why intuitive eating without any structure can feel like tossing out your GPS and hoping muscle memory gets you to the dentist.

What I teach instead is a more realistic path: structured intuitive eating. It’s kind of like a capsule wardrobe, but for food.

You remember capsule wardrobes, right? A few versatile pieces you love that mix and match with ease, so you always have something that fits, flatters, and feels like you. No more standing in the closet overwhelmed by too many options that don’t work.

Now apply that to eating: A collection of meals and snacks that you love, that you know your body likes, that keep your energy steady, and don’t leave you bloated or guilty, and yes, that leave space for the occasional brownie, treat of cheese, or glass of wine.

No spreadsheets. No off-limits food lists. Just meals that make you feel good without overthinking every bite.

It’s Not About Willpower, It’s About Self-Trust

One of my old coaches once said, “When I go out, I take three fries from my partner’s plate. Not because I need them. Just to remind myself I can.”

And, I remember thinking, That’s cute. I’d eat the whole damn basket.

But when I tried it, it felt like magic. Not because three fries cured me. But because I didn’t spiral. I didn’t feel deprived or out of control. I felt… normal.

I suddenly had evidence in my life that I could eat three fries (or one cookie) and not eat it all.

That’s the real goal here.

Freedom from food guilt isn’t about never eating fries again, or eating all of them to prove you’re free. It’s about choosing what you want with calm, not chaos.

That’s not willpower. That’s trust.

Your Body Has Been Communicating with You All Along

You already know how to listen to your body.

You know when you need to pee. You know when you’re freezing and need a sweater. You know when your eyes are burning because it’s midnight and Netflix just asked, “Are you still watching?” (Yes. Obviously.)

So why do we act like hunger and fullness are harder to understand than quantum physics?

My client, Linda, came to me convinced that midlife is the beginning of the end because she constantly felt bloated and exhausted all the time. She chalked it up to aging. But once we started paying gentle attention, not obsessing, just noticing, she realized something wild: Every time she ate her beloved “healthy” whole grain toast, her gut blew up like a balloon. Turned out it was gluten.

No elimination diet. No food tracking. Just awareness.

And that’s what real intuitive eating is. Not eating whatever you want, and it’s not a free-for-all. It’s just a quiet return to your own signals.

The truth is, your body has always been speaking. You’ve just been taught to ignore her in favor of someone else’s rules (apps, trackers, diets, and programs).

But through it all that she’s still telling you what’s working and what isn’t for her. And it’s stronger than you think.

Real Change Isn’t Perfect; It’s Practice

Let’s get a few things straight:

1. It’s not genetic, and it’s not determined at birth. It’s a skill that you can learn.
2. Learning to eat without rules isn’t some magical “aha!” moment where angels sing and you suddenly crave carrots.

It’s a messier, wobblier kind of learning, like riding a bike in flip-flops.

You’ll have days where you eat past fullness. Nights when the peanut butter spoon feels weirdly emotional. And moments where you wonder if you’re doing it all wrong.

You’re not.

That’s just your brain doing what it was trained to do, scan for failure. It’s called the Reticular Activating System (RAS), and right now it’s wired to notice all the ways you think you’re doing it wrong.

But here’s the good news: With practice, that filter shifts.

You start to catch the wins. The skipped snack because you were truly satisfied. The choice to pause before eating. The late-night craving that you rode out instead of numbing.

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to keep noticing.

Start Noticing What’s Underneath Your Eating

If everything you’ve read here has you thinking, “Okay, but now what?”

I’ve got you.

You don’t need another set of rules. You need a way to start paying attention without judgment. That’s where my free guide, “82 Reasons You Overeat That Have Nothing to Do with Food”, comes in.

It’s not a diet. It’s a flashlight.

This guide will help you spot what’s really going on – whether it’s stress, fatigue, people-pleasing, or that subtle anxiety that kicks in when the house finally gets quiet at night.

Want a sneak peek into what it looks like to start trusting your body again? I break it all down in this podcast episode about how to lean into intuitive eating (without going off the rails).

There’s nothing wrong with you. You’ve just been taught to disconnect from your body and obey someone else’s food rules.

It’s time to rewrite that story on your own terms.

Get the free guide here.

Listen to the episode here.

Or bookmark both and come back when you’re ready to take the first, gentle step.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you ever listened to or trusted your own body signals when it comes to food? What have you noticed that you didn’t know about your body and food?

What now?

The emotional episode comes less than a year after her co-host Hoda Kotb’s exit from the series.