A vehicle instrument cluster lens assembly for achieving a desired smoked lens effect in a vehicle instrument panel includes a first layer having an associated polarizing orientation for transforming incident light into polarized light having a first orientation that corresponds to the polarizing orientation. A second layer receives the polarized light and shifts the first orientation of the polarized light to a second orientation that is different than the first orientation. A surface receives the polarized light from the second layer and at least partially reflects the polarized light in a direction toward the second layer. The second layer shifts the second orientation of the polarized light to a third orientation that is different from the polarizing orientation of the first layer to prevent the polarized light from being transmitted to a vehicle occupant.