When you’re in high school, the arrival of spring means two things. Firstly, spring break (finally). And secondly, prom. For beauty lovers, prom isn’t just an opportunity to show off your best dance moves—it’s also the perfect time to experiment with makeup that you may not wear on a daily basis. And in our opinion, one of the most impactful ways to upgrade your makeup for a special night out is with a bold eye makeup look. If you need some inspiration on that front, you’re in luck. Here, we’ve rounded up eight eye makeup ideas sure to catch everyone’s attention on your big night. From simple prom eyeshadow looks that pack a punch to graphic eyeliner and more, you’ll find all the inspo you need to take your prom eye makeup to the next level, ahead.
Bold Yellow Cat Eye
The cat eye needs no introduction: The flattering eyeliner style is a classic eye makeup look (and has been for literal decades). Our prom-worthy twist on the iconic look uses bright yellow eyeliner in place of the standard black for an unexpected and playful pop of color. If you’ve done a cat eye before, this eyeliner look should come together pretty quickly.
For those who need a bit of guidance, here’s how to achieve this fun makeup look. First, prep your lids with an eye primer to help prolong wear. Then, use Vivid Brights Colored Liquid Liner in the shade Had Me At Yellow to carefully draw a thin line along your upper lash line. When you get to the outer corner of your eye, flick the liner upward and outward, angling it toward the tail of your brow. Once you’re satisfied with the shape, you can go back in and thicken the line, if desired. Repeat the same process on your other eye, and finish with a coat (or two) of black mascara. For more application tips, read our article Eyeliner 101: How To Apply Eyeliner Like a Real Pro.
Old Hollywood Glam
If you prefer classic eye makeup looks, take your inspiration from vintage film stars and go for a makeup look that evokes old Hollywood glamor. For this soft glam look, you’ll need a neutral multi-pan eyeshadow palette, like our Ultimate Color Palette in Ultimate Queen. It comes equipped with 16 rich, warm-toned shadows in matte, satin, and shimmer finishes—so pretty.
To create your old Hollywood look, apply one of the palette’s lighter matte brown shades to your entire lid. Then, take a slightly darker shade and buff it into your crease to add depth and definition (make sure to blend well so there aren’t any harsh lines). Finish the look by using Vivid Matte Black Liquid Liner to trace your upper lash line. Finally, flick the liner out at the outer corners for a glam, ‘50s inspired cat eye (matte red lipstick optional, but definitely encouraged).
Soft Brown Smokey Eye
As far as prom eyeshadow looks go, a smokey eye is a classic. It’s flattering, it’s customizable, and it’s something that screams high effort (even if it doesn’t actually take that long to do). Our take on the classic smokey eye involves using soft brown and champagne eyeshadows for a softer, sultrier look. Pick three shades from our Ultimate Color Palette in Warm Neutrals—one medium-toned matte, one darker matte, and one that’s light and shimmery. Apply the medium shade to your lid, then pack the darker shade into your crease and smoke it out with our Micro Blending Brush. Then, apply the lightest shimmer shade to your inner corners for a bit of subtle highlight.
For added smokiness, you can also use the darker shade to line your lower lash line (we recommend using a small brush, like our Micro Smudging Brush, for a precise but still smokey-looking finish).
Step 1: Gather Your Essentials
This ethereal eye makeup look only requires two products: Ultimate Glow Shots in Come Thru Coconut and On The Rise Volume Liftscara. First, swipe the flake- and fallout-free liquid eyeshadow onto your lids, extending the color past your crease. Use your fingers to tap the shimmery silver shadow up toward your brow to create a soft gradient of glowy shimmer. Once the shadow sets, brush through your lashes with our volumizing, lash-lengthening mascara to add definition. The end look should be soft and subtly glowy.
Pro Tip: For a cohesive look, you can use your liquid eyeshadow to highlight your cheekbones, cupid’s bow, and the bridge of your nose.
Major Lashes
Long, fluttery eyelashes are the perfect complement to a glammed-out prom ‘fit. Take your lashes to new heights with our Jumbo Lash! Vegan False Eyelashes. Available in four styles, these flexible lash strips apply easily and provide up to 12 hours of comfortable wear. Plus, they’re reusable up to 15 times and require no glue or magnets. To apply them, all you need is the coordinating Jumbo Lash! 2-in-1 Liner and Lash Adhesive. Trace the waterproof liner along your upper lash line, let it dry for 2-3 seconds, then carefully secure your lash strip on top. You can use one lash strip for a classic look or stack different styles for extra jumbo lash energy.
Doe Eyes
Doe eyes, doll eyes—whatever you call them, big, round eyes are undeniably alluring. If you weren’t born with huge peepers, you can achieve this sweet and feminine look with just a few products that you probably already have on hand. First, use our Epic Wear Eyeliner Stick in the shade Pure White to line your bottom waterline from the outer corner to your tear duct (the white makes your eyes appear larger and more open). Then, apply a neutral eyeshadow to your upper eyelid. To make your eyes appear rounder, draw attention to the center of your lids with a light-colored, shimmery eyeshadow. Long, wispy lashes are the final step. Use your favorite mascara to lengthen your natural lashes or pop on our Jumbo Lash! Vegan False Eyelashes in Wispy Flutter for an innocent, doe-eyed look.
Grungy Eyeliner and ‘90s Brows
Consider this look the polar opposite of the previous look. Whereas the purpose of doe-eyed makeup is to look wide-eyed and innocent, this easy eye makeup look is all about attitude. It involves two components: dark, smoked-out eyeliner and pencil-thin ‘90s brows. For the former, use Epic Smoke Liner in the shade Black Smoke to tightline your upper and lower waterlines and lash lines. Don’t worry about being too perfect or precise with your application—once you’ve finished applying your liner, you’ll smudge it out with the liner’s mini paddle brush.
After nailing your rock-and-roll eyeliner, use our Fill & Fluff Eyebrow Pomade Pencil and The Brow Glue Instant Brow Styler to tame your brows into a thin, arched shape. Our article, How To Get Thin Eyebrows Without Touching Your Tweezers, has all the tips and tricks you need for getting a ‘90s-inspired thin brow look—we recommend checking it out for guidance.
Negative Space Eyeliner
We like to think of negative space eyeliner as a modern take on the cut-crease eyeshadow trend that had everyone in a chokehold in the late-2010s. It’s graphic, it’s unexpected, and, for as high-impact a look as it is, it’s surprisingly easy to execute. You’ll need eyeliner, of course—we recommend one of our Epic Wear Eyeliner Sticks, which come in 27 waterproof shades that deliver up to 36 hours of wear.
Once you’ve picked your perfect shade, trace your upper lash line from the tear duct to the outer corner. Then, extend the line to create an exaggerated wing. Next, use the same eyeliner to draw a line just above your crease that follows the natural curve of your eye, and connect it to the wing. If it helps, imagine you’re creating the outline of a smokey eye look—that’s what the shape should look like. Then, add shimmer to your brow bone, inner corners, and along the innermost edges of your eyeliner with our Wonder Stick Pencil. Leave the rest of the “negative space” bare for a simple eye makeup look that delivers on the wow factor.
Next: For more easy, party-ready eyeshadow ideas, check out our article Embrace Color With These Striking Blue Eyeshadow Looks..
PRODUCTS USED
Jumbo Lash! Vegan False Eyelashes
Naturally Voluminous Re-Usable Vegan False Lashes
Wonder™ Pencil Micro Highlighter Pencil
Dual-Ended Highlighter and Concealer Stick
