If there's one beauty signature that's withstood the test of time, it's the smoky eye . The sexy, sooty, layered look has been the go-to for a night out since Cleopatra reigned — and it's as popular as ever today. (Only now, we have the means to take it on with color .) Sure, the smoky eye is basic — but in the way that white tees and Levi's jeans are. Meaning, it's a classic.There's an art to mastering the look. Half of that is technique ; the other half is tools . And when it comes to the latter, you don't need to plunk down a ton of cash. Ahead, we've rounded up a few of our favorite blendable, creamy, pigmented smoky-eye superstars — all of which are under $15.