This Easy, New Makeup Trick Helps You Look More Awake

Glowy skin has crossed over into eye makeup territory - here’s how to achieve the trendy, new eyelighter look.

From the highly contoured and highlighted faces from a few years back to today’s radiant skin obsession, it’s fair to say that skincare and makeup have been all about glow for the last little while. Of course, caring for your skin—i.e. cleansing it every evening, giving it loads of hydration, and wearing sunscreen—will help keep it healthy and luminous. But adding highlighter to your makeup arsenal is an easy, quick way to amp up your glow even more and light up your features. There are so many different types of highlighter (with or without glitter, in champagne, gold, rose gold, silver, or bronze hues, cream, liquid, powder—you name it), that I would argue there is one suited to every occasion. 

The latest ultra-glowy beauty trend? The eyelighter makeup look. Not only does it look stunning on virtually everyone, it’s also easy to achieve—no wonder it’s so popular! It also brings light to the eye area, brightening your gaze and helping you look more awake (yes, please!). “This trend provides an ethereal look which allows people to play up a statement lip, fluffy brows, and show off their glowy skin at the same time,” says Brittany Lo, a professional makeup artist and the founder of Beia. She attributes its quick rise in popularity to going viral on social media: “When both creators and professional makeup artists get on board with a trend is when it really gains traction!” adds Lo. 

Here’s how to try the look for yourself..

What You’ll Need

This look is all about iridescent finishes that reflect the light. Lo is partial to pastel shades: “I am seeing a lot of icy cool tones as well as a mix of colors applied together; lean into the fairy vibes this trend creates.” She notes that cream shadows with a subtle shimmer are a solid choice, as are loose and liquid shadows.

When it comes to choosing which shades to use, understanding your skin tone is key. “If you have a cool undertone, keep the colors in the silver and cool tone family; if your skin veers warmer, incorporate more gold and warm tones,” says Lo. She notes that the darker your complexion is, the more vibrant you can go with your color choices while maintaining that coveted ethereal vibe.

Some products to try:

Stila Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow

Stila Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow. If you’re more into shimmer than glitter, this beloved, easy-to-apply long-wear liquid eyeshadow is the way to go. 

Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Eyeshadow

Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Eyeshadow. Lo likes this cream shadow with a subtle shimmer. Perfect if you want to draw some light in without and avoid looking like a disco ball.

Shiseido Aura Dew

Shiseido Aura Dew. This is one of my personal favorite products for getting my glow on. It goes on as light as a feather and contains actual Japanese pearls. Plus, it can be used on your face, eyes, or lips!

Smith & Cult Glitterbaby Metallic-Shift Eyeshadow

Smith & Cult Glitterbaby Metallic-Shift Eyeshadow. Lo also suggests this liquid shadow with tons of shimmer, which comes in 12 colors.

Beia Daily Hydrating & Setting Mist

Beia Daily Hydrating & Setting Mist. A makeup setting mist is an easy way to help any look last all day (or evening). Bonus points if it hydrates your skin with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and squalane!

The Ideal Eyeshadow Placement

Lo recommends focusing on the inner corners of your eyes, as well as on your upper and lower lash lines. “Additionally, you can apply eyeshadow in the crease or center of your upper eyelid.” Want to start slow? Try a subtler version of the look by concentrating on the inner corners of your eyes and your brow bones, and “do the rest with a lighter touch.” If your lids crease easily, Lo recommends using pressed and loose shadows rather than cream formulas, which tend to go on thicker.

Her number one tip: “Focus on your eyeshadow placement, as it can make the difference between creating a beautiful eyelighter look and getting shimmer all over your face.” Less is more, according to Lo: it’s important to focus on highlighting specific areas.

Should You Skip the Highlighter on Other Parts of Your Face?

As a diehard fan of highlighter, I needed to know: when adopting the eyelighter trend, should you skip using highlighter on the rest of your face? “You can still incorporate highlighter on the areas of the face where you’d normally apply it, like on your cheekbones, but I suggest keeping it subtle so that the focus remains on the eyes,” says Lo. 

Got it. I’ll do my best!

What do you think of the eyelighter trend? Are you a fan? Share your go-to eye makeup look in the comments!