8 Celebs Who Perfectly Nailed A Smoky Eye

Despite the fact that over the past few years, lighter makeup trends, such as the 'clean girl aesthetic' or trying the 'naked smoky eye' (which couldn't be easier), have become popular, the smoky eye has never really disappeared from the celebrity beauty world. Once synonymous with the ultra-glam makeup looks of the 2010s era of beauty gurus, with its dramatic line and deep coloured eyeshadow, smoky eyes have had a major resurgence in recent years, thanks to both celebrities and nostalgia. 

While some publications such as Teen Vogue have only now jumped on the trend that they described as the best makeup look to help to "channel your inner Wednesday Addams," many celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, who is notorious for wearing a smoky eye ,have kept the smoky eye makeup in the limelight for decades. 

We also have stars like Kim Kardashian and her 'halo eye' version of the look (as per Cosmopolitan), alongside fashion-forward risk takers such as Rihanna and Zendaya continuing to push the 'smoky eye agenda' by pairing and nailing the trend with their editorial-worthy red carpet looks. Whether paired with a nude lip, or avant-garde couture, the smoky eye remains one of Hollywood's favourite beauty looks. 

For one of her most talked about looks to date — wearing Marilyn Monroe's iconic crystal-covered gown, at the 2022 Met Gala — Kim Kardashian opted for a refined smoky eye. 

The star perfectly nailed the smoky eye trend by elevating it with a cool blended taupe shadow, rather than the typical black shadow and liner. Although, she later criticised the overall glam in a clip for her TikTok page, saying: "Everyone f—ked up here. Let's just say that," in regards to the glam for that night (as per Page Six). We'll have to respectfully agree to disagree with the mogul over her dislike of this iconic look. 

Zendaya is known for pulling out all the stops when it comes to delivering thematic looks for press tours, and this futuristic look she went for during the "Dune" London premiere back in 2021 is further proof of this.

Zendaya often nails trends while staying true to her edgy style, and by going with a smoked lower lash line here, she does that yet again. Back in 2016, she spoke about using beauty as a form of experimentation, telling Fashionista that makeup is "not about making yourself 'prettier' or making yourself look 'better.' Honestly, it's an art form; it's fun. I enjoy the process of putting on makeup — to me, it's like a hobby." This quote makes her ability to nail a modernized smoky eye make so much sense.

As a celebrity known for frequently nailing a smoky eye, it makes sense that Jennifer Lopez opted for the style for one of her most memorable beauty moments. While performing at the Super Bowl LIV in 2020, the musician wore her signature bronzed smoky eye, complete with an exaggerated winged lash.

Lopez has described makeup as a confidence booster, telling InStyle for their 2021 beauty issue, "Beauty is about owning who you are." So it makes sense that on this momentous night, she opted for a familiar makeup look. To achieve the look, Lopez's makeup artist Scott Barnes told ELLE back in 2020 that prep for the performance started at 10 a.m, which means that for Lopez, performance-day glam is an all day affair.

Rihanna flipped the script on smoky eyes at the 2017 Met Gala, wearing an avant-garde Comme des Garçons creation paired with a sculpted smoky eye. She nailed her far-from-traditional smoky eye by incorporating deep plum and soft burgundy tones to create an editorial-level intensity. 

The look also doubled as her beauty brand Fenty's first outing. According to a report from Allure, back in 2017, "Her iconic beauty look at the 2017 Met Gala was created with Fenty Beauty products that the brand didn't release until more than a year later." So it turns out that, aside from nailing a colorful smoky eye, Rihanna is willing to go full 007 for the sake of beauty. That somehow tracks.

It's hard to think about smoky eyes in pop culture without remembering the cultural juggernaut that was the "Black Swan" film. And at the Los Angeles premiere of the film in 2010, Mila Kunis leaned into the movie's most iconic makeup look by wearing a rich charcoal smoky eye. 

And it seems that tightlined eyes — which are a foundational step of smoky eye looks — are a favourite of Kunis, as in a 2025 video for Vogue's Beauty Secrets, the star showcased her makeup skills, while sporting deep kohl eyeliner thoughout. Although Kunis often opts for a more toned down makeup vibe on her skin, it's clear that, for her, turning down the volume on her smoky eye is never an option. 

Although for some, the main standout beauty moment from Selena Gomez's 2015 American Music Awards appearance was the star's debut of her ultra long black hair, it's actually her beautifully blended soft smoky eye that we can't stop thinking about.  

As of writing this, Gomez has begun opting for more of a 'clean girl' approach to makeup, but in a 2026 YouTube video of her and makeup guru Desi Perkins — in which Perkins did one half of Gomez's face in full 2016 glam and the other in a 2026 style — Gomez said, "Sorry, this has got to be my vibe," while pointing to the paired-back modern side, before adding, "But it's actually crazy that I don't mind both." Maybe this means we will soon see a return to her 2010 smoky eye heyday. Well, we can dream. 

Priyanka Chopra Jonas is also a celebrity who is not afraid to go all out on a smoky eye, and her OG days as an actor are proof. While attending the premiere of the Hindi film "Don 2" during the 62 Berlin Film Festival in 2012, the star showcased a classic Bollywood-inspired take on the trend. The star's kohl eyes were lined tightly, with a rich shadow blended into a dramatic winged smoky eye, complete with fluttery lashes to boot. 

It's a look representative, not just of the era, but also of the unique beauty standards in Bollywood. In an interview with Into The Gloss, Chopra Jonas noted, "When I was younger, people in America wore a lot more makeup than people in India. That's when I learned that it was important to have clear skin. Now, I feel like I have the best of the East and the West." 

If there's anyone that can pull off a colored smoky eye, it's Scarlett Johansson. Case and point, this red carpet moment at the world premiere of "Avengers: Infinity War" in 2018. The soft metallic shadow in the inner corner of her eyes created an otherworldly feel that was perfect for celebrating a film series that blends fantasy and reality. 

Playing it safe is not in the star's nature, however. In a 2014 interview for Elle (as per Huff Post), the star recalled pairing a deep smoky eye with a vibrant red lip, after which she admitted then asking herself, "Is this too much?"  Before realising "that a strong lip and a strong eye don't have to be mutually exclusive." We are, however, glad that she came to this realisation, as this colorful eye look is further proof of how versatile the smoky eye can be.