Take a break from the bare canvas of ‘clean girl’ eye makeup and enter your ‘mob wife’ era with these smokey, sultry eyeshadow looks.

The mob wife aesthetic emerged around the beginning of the new year and took over social media. This genre of beauty is a culmination of old Hollywood glamour, which is essentially sophistication with a dash of sensual intimidation. In trend talk, the mob wife can be described as espresso makeup-meets-siren-eye. Sure, the aesthetic was originally defined by lavish fur coats, puffy hairstyles and bold yet elegant gold jewellery; but today, we’re fawning over the killer eye makeup looks we’ve seen on iconic mob wife characters like Elvira Hancock Scarface (1983), Ginger Mckenna Casino (1995), and Driana La Cerva The Sopranos (1999). From knife-sharp eyeliners to smoked-out browns and greys, here are all the eye makeup essentials you’ll need to channel your inner mob wife.

1. Eye Skin Prep - Eye Cream

Psst…even the quintessential mob divas don’t wake up like this! Embroiled in mafia drama, attending galas and whatnots, it’s understandable to give tired eyes a much-needed boost of hydration and nourishment. After all, a great eye makeup look needs the perfect canvas which is why under-eye skin prep is imperative. Choose an under-eye cream or serum based on your skin type and give your under-eyes and lids a gentle massage until the product is absorbed.

Pro Tip: Give a few minutes of gap between the under-eye skin prep and eye makeup so that the product absorbs properly to form a nourishing base to allow the rest of the eye makeup to stay on longer.

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2. Eye Base Prep - Eye Primer

To not prime is a crime! If you want your eye makeup to stay put, trust a tube of long-lasting eye primer to keep the eyeshadow intact. For best results, also apply some primer to the under-eyes to prevent the makeup from smudging or creasing.

Pro Tip: Follow the build-up method. Start with a little amount of eye primer and start working it from the outer corner of the lid towards the inner corner. Applying a lot at once will make the product go on patchy, creasing the eyeshadow.

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3. Colour Correction - Concealer

It’s common to have hyperpigmentation or dark circles. While using an eye cream is a prolonged skincare step, calling in extra reinforcements in the form of a concealer is a great idea to even out the skin tone around the eyes. This will also make the colours of the eyeshadow pop and create the definition you’re looking for.

Pro Tip: If the dark circles have a dark purple/brown appearance, try using a dab of orange colour corrector as it will cancel out the brown and purple pigmentation. If the discolouration around your eyes is subtle, stick to a concealer that matches your natural skin tone.

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4. Add Colour - Eyeshadow

This is where the fun begins. Browns, greys and blacks are your primary colours to ace the mob wife trend. It’s all about creating definition and a seamless smokey allure. This is where you can stroke the brush as per your will. If you want to tread lightly, create either a taupe brown or black smokey liner and call it. However, if you want to take the glamorous route, try your hand at cut-crease or two-toned smokey eyes with chocolate browns, slate greys and black eyeshadow.

Pro Tip: Always tap off the excess eyeshadow from the brush to prevent splotchy, muddy spots on the eyes. Work with a little product and build the look as you go. This will also prevent any pesky mistakes.

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5. Wings Of Perfection - Liquid Liner

Because Old Hollywood is a major source of inspiration, liquid eyeliner is kind of the star of the mob wife eye makeup. Make sure to keep the wing sharp. If you want, you can take it up a notch and even try the foxy eyeliner trend where you drag the thinnest band of liner all the way to the inner corner of the eye.

Pro Tip: Try to keep your eyelids as relaxed as possible. You don’t want to pull the skin too taut or you may end up applying too much product. For better results, keep the mirror facing below your face as you can get a better view of the upper lash line.

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6. Sultry Smolder - Kohl Kajal

How can we resist complementing the smokey eyeshadow work with kohl-rimmed eyes? Running a kajal across the water line enhances the bold nature of the eye makeup look to further emphasise the mob wife aesthetic. Moreover, this will also make your lash line look fuller, complementing the mascara and lashes.

Pro Tip: Warm up the kohl liner on the back of your hand so it glides across the waterline without tugging or pulling.

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7. For Serious Length- Fake Lashes

Make your eye makeup stand out even more by adding a pair of fake lashes. This will give the natural lashes extra length against the dark, smokey backdrop of the lids. You can approach this in two ways. Either you can wear an entire strip of lash or cut it to make individual pieces to give the outer corner of the eye a lifted almond-eye effect.

Pro Tip: Instead of lining the strip, add separate small dots of lash glue across the strip and allow it to dry down for a couple of seconds before you stick it to the lash line. This will allow the fake lashes to stick properly without any mess.

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8. For Extra Flutter - Lash Curler

Give those curtain-like lashes extra oomph with a lash curler. This will further enhance the shape of the lashes to give the overall eye makeup a little extra drama. Using a lash curler will also blend the fake lashes into the natural lash for a fuller look.

Pro Tip: If you want your lashes to stay curled for longer, heat the curler with a blow dryer for a couple of seconds before curling the lashes.

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9. Bold Volume - Mascara

And for the finishing touch, add generous coats of mascara. This is the perfect seal to make your lashes voluminous, fluffy and extra wispy. For best results, apply a couple of coats of mascara, let it dry and go over with a lash curler to make the lashes extra long and thick.

Pro Tip: Make sure to dab off the excess product against the rim of the tube or with a tissue before coating your lashes. This will prevent messy, smudgy clumps. If you want your eye makeup to last longer, go for a waterproof mascara.

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10. Eye Makeup Remover

Whether you’re a beginner or a self-acclaimed pro, it’s okay to have a few hiccups along the way. So, make sure to keep an eye makeup makeup remover handy to fix small smudges or squiggly lines.

Pro Tip: Want a sharp, defined wing? Dab an earbud with some makeup remover and stroke the in the direction of the liner for a cleaner look.

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So go on, embrace your own rendition of the mob wife aesthetic with envious eye makeup unlike any other!