Where there's smoke

Smoky eyes never go out of style, and this season is no exception. Whether barely there at Valentino, raccoon-like at Prada or somewhere in between, the classic look is one of autumn's hottest accessories.

"People adore the glamorous look that a smoky eye can create," says make-up artist Fei Ho at The Strand. "It never goes out of fashion."

The key to this look often comes down to preparation. "Before creating an eye look, it is important to make sure your eyes are not dry or greasy," says Tom Pecheux, creative make-up director for Estée Lauder and mastermind behind Derek Lam's autumn-winter 2012 runway look. "Before I create a dark eye look, I prep the skin and only use a little bit of foundation and powder around the eyes."

For Lam's smoky eye look, Pecheux created a black-burgundy base by mixing shades from Estée Lauder's Pure Color Five Color EyeShadow Palette in Violet Underground. He added a touch of pale pink for impact and a matte white shadow to the inside corner of the eye and under the eyebrow.

Ho also cites the trend in blending different colours rather than going for the full-on dark eye. "Giorgio Armani has a range of eye shadows that mix two colours into one pot," she says. "They are perfect to create smoky eyes without being too bold. With the texture between powder and cream, it's easy to apply and lasts longer."

Pecheux recommends a natural matte finish for the rest of the face with a soft blush on the lower part of the cheeks for definition and a pinky beige lipstick with a bit of white eye-shadow on top. "This give lips more of a matte finish without being dry," he says.