The easiest way to totally transform your look isn’t a dramatic haircut or dye job—it’s a bold eye makeup look. Whether you’re an eyeshadow fan, love a sharp wing, or adore all things eyebrows, your choice of eye makeup can allow you to easily experiment with different styles, aesthetics, and trends. If you need proof of the transformative power of eye makeup—or are looking for some eye makeup ideas to inspire your next look—you’ve come to the right place. Here, we’re sharing three eye makeup looks we love for any occasion, as well as 12 eye makeup trends we’re looking forward to sporting in 2024.
Eye Makeup Look #1: Classic Winged Eyeliner
While we’d be hard-pressed to name all of our favorite eye makeup styles, it’s safe to say that winged eyeliner would make the list. This timeless look hits all the marks: It’s flattering, versatile, and (despite what you may think) very beginner-friendly. Plus, all you need to achieve the classic look is eyeliner. Use our Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner if you want a sharper, more defined wing, or reach for a pencil liner like our Epic Wear Waterproof Eyeliner Stick for a softer finish. Then, follow these steps (or check out our in-depth winged liner tutorial here):
- Use your chosen eyeliner to trace along your upper lash line from the inner corner of your eye outward.
- Draw a thin line from the outer corner of your eye toward the tail of your brow to create a wing. The longer the line, the more dramatic your wing will be.
- To thicken the wing, draw a line from the tip of the wing to the center of your upper lash line, creating an elongated triangle shape. Fill in any bare spots with eyeliner.
- Fill in your upper waterline, if desired.
Eye Makeup Look #2: Soft Smokey Eye
Whether your vibe leans more glam or grungy, a smudgy, smokey eye should definitely be in your eye makeup repertoire. To create this look, we recommend snagging an eyeshadow palette with coordinating shades, such as our Ultimate Shadow Palette in Warm Neutrals (you’ll be using three: a medium shade, a darker shade, and a light, shimmery shade). You’ll also need an eyeshadow brush for blending the shadows together, as well as an eyeliner to complete your look. Here’s the step-by-step on how to create a soft smokey eye:
- Apply a matte, medium-toned eyeshadow all over your lid, blending it from your lash line to just below the crease.
- Draw a thin line from the outer corner of your eye toward the tail of your brow to create a wing. The longer the line, the more dramatic your wing will be.
- Next, sweep the darker shadow onto your crease, blending well so there’s a soft gradient of color from light to dark.
- Add a bit more dark shadow to the outer corners of your eye, extending the shadow toward the tail of your brow for a soft, smoked-out effect.
- Lightly tap the light shimmery shade into the inner corner of your eye.
- Line your upper and lower waterline to complete the look.
Eye Makeup Look #3: Full Brows
If you ask us, eyebrows can make (or break) your look. Full, feathery brows, however, are always in style. For this low-key look, you’ll need a brow pencil, like our Micro Brow Pencil, as well as a clear or tinted brow gel. Once you’ve got your products lined up, here’s how to achieve your best brows:
- Start by using a clean, dry spoolie to brush your brow hairs upward.
- Fill in any sparse areas with your brow pencil, drawing thin, short strokes to mimic the appearance of your natural brow hairs.
- Once your brows are filled in, use your brow gel to brush your brows into place. Brush in an upward motion to create a super-full brow look, or angle your spoolie toward your temples for a softer (but still full) finish.
2024 Eye Makeup Trends to Try
The three looks above are what we think of as timeless makeup trends. If you’re looking for a more of-the-moment, trending eyeshadow look, we’re outlining 12 of our favorite 2024 eye makeup trends below.
2024 Winter eye makeup looks
Blue smokey eyeshadow
Put a playful twist on your classic smokey eye by swapping out the neutral tones for shades of blue. Or, if you’re not ready to fully commit to a blue eye look, create a classic gray smokey eye and line your upper and lower waterlines with a deep teal eyeliner, like our Vivid Rich Mechanical Pencil in the shade Aquamarine Dream.
Champagne makeup
If you want to sparkle like freshly fallen snow, try this soft look. Sweep a shimmery champagne-toned shadow onto your lids, blending the color toward your brow bone. Let your eyes be the star of the show, or pair your shimmery eye look with highlighter and glossy lips for all-over glow.
Coquette eyes
If our TikTok For You pages are any indication, the coquette aesthetic is big for winter 2024. You can embrace this girly trend by pairing soft brown winged liner with ultra-long, doll-like lashes—consider this the perfect opportunity to experiment with falsies.
2024 Spring eye makeup looks
Pastel eyeliner
When spring arrives, welcome the warmer weather by swapping out your go-to black (or brown) liner for a softer hue, like lilac, mint, or even pale pink. It’s playful and unexpected—and the perfect way to introduce brighter hues into your eye makeup routine.
‘60s wings
Graphic mod makeup is set to be one of this year’s biggest trends. Lean into the look by using bold, opaque eyeshadow to create oversized, ‘60s-inspired wings. Amplify the retro effect by pairing your graphic wing with heaps of black mascara on both your upper and lower lashes.
Glossy lids
Gloss isn’t just for your lips—this eye makeup trend involves coating your lids in clear eye gloss for a reflective, luminous eye look. Apply your gloss to bare lids for a more subtle effect or layer it over glimmery eye shadow to emphasize the shadow’s shimmery pigments.
2024 Summer eye makeup looks
Fluffy brows
The best summer makeup looks are easy, breezy, and accentuate your natural beauty. Fluffy brows—which are a bit softer and airier than the full brows we mentioned above—fit the bill. Achieve this look by using our Brow Powder Pencil to lightly fill in your arches, then brush them up with your favorite long-lasting brow gel. For tips on how to ensure your brows hold up against sun, sea, and sweat, check out our article How to Sweat and Waterproof Your Eyebrows.
Peachy shadow
Peach is the color of 2024, and in our eyes, the best way to embrace that is with a warm, peachy eyeshadow look. Sweep a bright coral shade all over your lid, then layer a shimmery peach shadow on top for a glowy, luminous finish. Finish the look by swapping out your go-to black or brown liner for a more unconventional shade—gold, burgundy, and bronze all play beautifully with peach.
Bronzed eyeshadow
If you need an eye makeup look that can take you from day to night this summer, try a bronzy eyeshadow look. The neutral brown tones are soft enough for daytime wear, but sultry enough to stun on a night out. You really can’t go wrong with how you choose to wear this trend, but we love a bit of bronze shadow smudged along the top and bottom lash lines.
2024 Fall eye makeup looks
Monochrome metallics
In 2024, makeup is all about making a statement. And in our opinion, there’s no better way to do that than with a metallic eye look. Start by applying a matte silver (if you have cool-toned skin) or taupe (if you have warmer skin) shadow all over your lid. Then, use your finger to tap a coordinating metallic shade, such as gunmetal, gold, or bronze, onto your lid, extending it up to your brow bone. Use an eyeliner brush to add the metallic shade to your lower lash line, and complete the look with mascara.
Lived-in liner
Grunge was born in the ‘90s, but it’s experiencing a major resurgence in 2024. Embrace that rock-and-roll energy by swapping your neat, precise wing for a soft, smudgy, lived-in liner—the messy effect screams grunge. Pair it with skinny brows for the ultimate ‘90s it-girl vibe.
Jewel tones
Cooler weather calls for warmer, sultrier colors, and fall is the perfect time of year to experiment with jewel-toned eye makeup. Put a seasonal twist on your classic cat eye by swapping your go-to liner for an amber, emerald, or sapphire shade—you’ll find all these sumptuous hues (and more!) in our Vivid Rich Mechanical Pencil collection.
Tried one of these trends and loved the outcome? Snap a pic and share it with us on social by tagging @nyxcosmetics.
PRODUCTS USED
Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
Waterproof felt-tip liquid eyeliner pen
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VIVID RICH MECHANICAL PENCIL
Gem-toned pigmented mechanical eye pencil in 12 vivid matte, shimmer, and metallic shades
Epic Wear Waterproof Eyeliner Stick
High-impact, waterproof eyeliner pencil
