When it comes to eye makeup, I know no boundaries.

Neutral eyeshadow colors and understated mascara have no place in my makeup bag. Bring on the black liner, charcoal shadow, and three different types of mascara—there’s nothing I love more than a smoky eye.

The smoky eye look also happens to be one of the most daunting to pull off. One wrong flick of the wrist and you can look like you gave yourself a black eye.

So, before you wield your mascara brush, read my guide for your sultriest eye makeup look yet.

1. Start by making sure your skin is clean and oil-free. Sop of any extra shine and oil, especially around the eyes, with Sephora’s Matte Blotting Film.

2. Swipe some concealer on your eyelids to start with a smooth base. I’m already obsessed with anti-aging products at the ripe old age of 21, so I’m partial to Revlon’s Age-Defying Concealer with Botafirm.

3. Dot a black or charcoal eye pencil along the lash line of your top eyelid and make a smooth line along just half of your lower eye lid, starting from the middle, dragging it to the outer corner of your eye. Stay away from liquid liner or retractable eye pencil for this; it makes the line too harsh and severe. I’ve been a eyeliner junkie for years and I’ve still yet to find anything that works as well as the ultra-cheap Wet n Wild pencil in charcoal.

4. Time to smudge! Lightly dip an eyeshadow brush or Q-tip in brown, gray or black eyeshadow and smudge along your upper and lower lashlines, blending to create a soft-focus line. Don’t wet the brush or Q-tip or you’ll end up with morning-after makeup streaks that look street-corner, not sexy.

5. Next, dust the same eyeshadow you smudged along your lash lines on your eyelids. Easy does it—it’s a lot easier to add more shadow than it is to wash it all off and start over! Top it off with a neutral, light shadow along your browbone.

6. Finally grab your favorite mascara, and don’t hold back. Hold the mascara brush at the very base of your upper lashes and wiggle it for a few seconds before sweeping up. Just one or two coats will do for your bottom lashes but go ahead and go crazy with your top lashes. I usually mix and match two different mascaras, like Lancome High Definition in black and Blinc’s Kiss Me in dark blue.

You’re all set. With a bold look like this, don’t be shy—bat your eyes at that hottie you keep seeing on the subway.