I always like the way that smoky eyes work, but in practice, there seems to be a (not so) thin line between smoky and Tammy Faye Baker. And then I was at the beach last month and admired my friend's eye makeup (she's a M.A.C.-trained make-up artist) and she told me that people always think in order to do the smoky eye they have to go with charcoal, gray and black. But some people just don't have the coloring for that, so it makes sense to bring a softer palette but use some of the same methods you may have tried in the past with more...dramatic...results. Enter the gold palette.

Gold is really hot this fall, and combining gold accents in your eyeshadow with sand, copper and brown can give a great look that can be used for work or play. It looks polished instead of over the top.

So how do you get this look? Start with a sand or beige color (matte or slightly pearly, not too much sparkle) as the base for the eyelid. This should be slightly brighter than your own skin tone, but not overly noticeable alone. Some good products to try: Laura Mercier Cream Eyeshadow in Platinum or Powder Eyeshadow in Star Fruit.

Next, you'll be adding a little bit of color to the eyelid and to the undereye. Choose a copper or light brown for this step. If you're using this look for daytime, choose a less sparkly shade, but for nighttime this is an excellent place to introduce an iridescent shadow. Apply this darker shade along the crease of the eye, outward at the corner of the eye, and all the way down to the lash line. I used: Prestige Cosmetics Gold Dust Eyeshadow

Then, using a smudger brush or an eyeliner brush, apply a slightly darker shade as an eyeliner by wetting the brush slightly. Apply a thicker line than you normally would for eyeshadow, or just apply plenty of shadow and smudge it. Be sure to do the same under the eye as well. I used: L'Oreal HIP Shocking Pigments Shadow in Tenacious.

Next, you'll use a liquid eyeliner to give the eye definition. If you're skin tone is darker, you may be able to get away with a black here, but those with fair to medium skin tones should stick with a brown. Apply the eyeliner along the entire lash line of the top lashes. You probably don't need to extend beyond the outer corners of the eye since there's so much going on already. On the bottom lashes, line the eye with the liquid liner only on the inside of the lash line. Some product suggestions: L'Oreal Lineur Intense in Mineral or Kiss Me Eyeliner in Brown.

Finish it off with a nice mascara that matches the eyeliner and you're all done! To finish off the look, use a coral blush (the cream ones give a nice, natural look) and a nude or slightly pink lipstick that will give your eyes the center stage.

-- Jen