Smoldering, smoky eyes always bring the nighttime drama. For fall, the on-trend effect maintains its high-voltage impact, but with a slightly softer turn in shades of brown (rather than black or charcoal). If you want to work the look for all your swanky holiday cocktail parties, I’ve got you covered.

Color by numbers with gloMinerals’ Smoky Eye Kit (pictured, above), which includes directions on how to achieve the sultry style perfectly.

Get it: $37, gloprofessional.com

In a rush? Get CoverGirl‘s Smoky ShadowBlast Eye Color (pictured, right) and have showstopping eyes in just two easy steps: Sweep the color over your lid, then define your lash line and crease.

Get it: $7.49, covergirl.com

Perfect your eyelining skills while lengthening your lashes with Secret Agent Beauty‘s Double Agent Eyes, a multifunctioning liquid eyeliner and mascara duo packaged as a two-in-one (pictured, left).

Get it: $26, ronrobinson.com

For no-budge eyeliner that’s waterproof and can range from subtle to bold (read: work to happy hour), try Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner (pictured, below). And use Bobbi’s Smokey Eye Liner Brush for the perfect, sexy smudge.

Get it: $22 and $28 (respectively), area Nordstrom stores and bobbibrown.com

Complete the look by taming unruly brows with Anastasia’s Clear Brow Gel. Or, if you’re finding some stray grays, try the Tinted version, available in five shades.

Get it: $21 each, sephora.com or anastasia.net

Follow fashion editor Georgia Benjou on Twitter at @gabenjou & Pinterest at /gabenjou.