Doniella Davy wields colorful eye makeup in a way few artists can. The primary makeup artist for two A24-produced works (Moonlight and Euphoria), Davy inspired a beauty movement—the boom of glitter tears and sequin-lined brows credited to her creations on Euphoria. When Moonlight director Barry Jenkins told her he wanted characters’ skin to glisten in Miami rain and sun and moonlight, Davy did just that, complementing the film’s powerful cinematography.
Most of us haven’t honed our makeup skills to the level of Davy, but that doesn’t mean we don’t hold the same need for creativity. Here are some colorful eye makeup products to try out the next time you feel inspired.
Every creation needs a foundation. Before dipping your eye shadow brushes into pigments, apply a primer to ensure your makeup lasts the night. Our suggestion is the NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, a product you can purchase for $26 USD.
With 4.6 stars and over 2,500 reviews on the Sephora website, the primer uses a polymer and mineral powder blend to lock your eyeshadow in place for hours. Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow base is also fragrance-free, making it an ideal purchase for sensitive skin. In fact, InStyle even ranked the product as the best primer for sensitive skin in an April 2022 article.
Now, we typically use celebrity makeup brands with caution, as it seems a new star boasts a beauty brand every week. However, Halsey approaches her company About-Face with a passion and care that contrasts with the majority of celebrities. Perhaps this dedication stems from the “So Good” singer’s involvement in the beauty community; Halsey has been known to do their own makeup looks for performances and red carpets.
One standout from About-Face is the Matte Fluid Eye Paint, a liquid eye color that comes in 26 shades—from lavender to wine to bold orange. After applying primer, gently streak the paint across your lid and set it in place with a brush. Pair the bold hues with matching garments; the Dionysus shade (a soft orchid color) could complement a purple slip dress.
For those who cling to the makeup minimals (think foundation and lipgloss), but want to explore more colorful looks, try switching up your mascara routine. Colored mascara offers the opportunity for makeup novices to become more imaginative. Without hunching in front of a mirror all morning, you can add a fun twist to those everyday staples. Plus, blue or purple shades can make your eyes pop.
For an affordable and pigmented mascara, try the L’oréal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara in the shade violet. While the warm purple hue could create a monochromatic look with matching eyeshadow, you could also wear the violet mascara with a gold smoky eye. Or, on nights when you’d like to keep your makeup more natural, apply L’oréal’s mascara without any additional eye makeup.
A list of colorful eye makeup products couldn’t include just one colored mascara recommendation. Blue mascara, probably the most popular variety of colored mascara, makes the whites of your eyes appear brighter, thereby helping you seem less tired. Additionally, while blue mascara complements brown eyes in particular, every eye color shines when wearing blue mascara.
Though Dior’s Diorshow Pump ‘n’ Volume Mascara costs more than the average mascara bottle (it retails for $29.50), you pay for a higher-quality product than most drugstore mascaras. The formula is composed of 90% natural-origin ingredients and lasts up to 24 hours.
Instead of sticking to the typical shimmery eyeshadow for a night out, try pairing graphic liner (perhaps a white or blue curve) with blue mascara.
LA-based makeup brand ColourPop prides itself on being “wallet friendly and bunny approved.” Often collaborating with our favorite cartoon characters (the brand has 12 lipstick shades named after Disney princesses and a Powerpuff Girls collection), ColourPop has one of the most well-regraded eyeshadow palettes.
The Fade Into Hue Shadow Palette won Allure‘s award for best eyeshadow palette in 2021 and has 4.9 stars and over 65o reviews on the Colourpop website. With 30 pigmented shades, in matte and shimmery varieties, the Fade Into Hue Shadow Palette offers the opportunity for exploration. Opt for a rosy glow with the shades “Lovecraft” and “Treasure,” a light pink and tangerine, respectively. Create a striking look by pairing the complementary colors “Iconic” and “Abstract,” the bright blue and yellow orange shades.
You can find the Fade Into Hue Shadow Palette here for $34 USD.
Graphic liner has overwhelmed every other colorful eye makeup trend, and choosing a pigmented, durable eyeliner is the first step in creating a geometric design. With 4.4 stars and over 16,400 reviews on the Sephora website, the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil is one of the most trusted beauty products.
For $22 USD, you can purchase one of Urban Decay’s 29 eyeliner colors (or one of the four colors with a glitter finish). Pair a bold blue wing with pink lips or try using the gray matte shade to give dimension to a smokey eye.
One of the central features of the Euphoria makeup trend is the normalization of face glitter in unconventional settings. While glitter highlights used to be reserved for festivals, running a trail of sparkles down your cheeks is not an uncommon look for a night out now.
Unlike other face and body glitters, the NYX Professional Makeup product comes in more than just silver varieties—try the rose or teal variety to pair with matching eyeshadow. The NYX Professional Makeup Face & Body Glitter retails for $6.50 USD and uses vegan ingredients. You can find the product here on the NYX Professional Makeup website.
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