The Smoky Eye Viral Comeback Is the Overdue “Clean Girl” Anti-Trend
Time to dig up your favorite eyeliner pencils and eyeshadow palettes, because the smoky eye is officially back—at least according to TikTok, anyway!
Smoky, smudgy, messily glamorous eye makeup has always been a go-to, but the “clean girl” era and the ghost lashes movement pushed it to the wayside for awhile. However, it's been making a comeback on the red carpet via stars like Jenna Ortega and Jennie and on everyone's favorite trend platform, where TikTokers proclaim that the smoky eye is here to stay, or an important part of their 2026 aesthetic. This is worth noting, because it's signaling a pretty major shift from the softer eye looks that have been so prevalent throughout the 2020s thus far.
“We've seen this look definitely come back in full force post-Brat Summer and that undone, grungy supermodel eye look is really trending,” says New York-based makeup artist Kasey Spickard. “It's a super flattering look; it gives definition to the eyes and some super-easy drama!”
You don't need to be a celebrity makeup artist to recreate the look, though it does seem intimidating at first. All you need is confidence and a few easy, versatile makeup products to enhance your eyes and give them an edgy, smoldering finish.
And remember—smoky eyes aren't about perfection; they're about attitude. (There's a reason smoky eyes were the go-to makeup look for everyone during the indie sleaze era of the late 2000s to early 2010s; they fit perfectly with the messy, undone, imperfect aesthetic of that era.) It emulates the feeling of being out dancing carefre all night, even if you're just heading to Tuesday morning biology class.
Ready to shake up your eye makeup routine for 2026? Ahead, we've rounded up a few simple smoky eye essentials to help you channel your inner Wednesday Addams.
Eyeshadow
Eyeshadow is key in crafting a smoky eye, so find a palette with neutral shades like brown and gray for a simple classic look. We love Makeup by Mario's buttery, blendable matte formulas, but any palette or single shadow you like would work. To avoid overdoing it, start with a lighter wash of color and build it up to your desired smokiness.
Kohl Eyeliner
When it comes to smoky eyes, you don't want a stay-all-day, ultra-precise liquid formula. Instead, look a more malleable formula that glides on easily and can be smudged or softened for that undone finish. “Get a good black eyeliner that has a good ‘slip’ or creaminess to it that will let you blend but doesn't budge once it dries down," advises Spickard.
Charlotte Tilbury's aptly named Rock ‘n Kohl liner gives you that edgy gaze, and Spickard also likes Maybelline's Tattoo Studio Gel Eyeliner. Don’t worry about drawing or painting the perfect, precise line; instead, draw it on your upper lids and lower waterlines, then brush and blend it gently with your fingers or a liner brush.
Lip Color
This formula looks black in the tube, but it's actually a really gorgeous, subtle purple-y berry shade that works perfectly with a smoky eye: not too strong, but not too soft. Wear it solo over bare lips or mix it with your favorite lip colors to give them a gothy twist.
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