Easy eye make-up inspiration - cool eyeshadow looks

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

The make-up artist Robin Black and the Beauty Is Boring studio team provide an endless source of eye make-up ideas on Instagram. This cranberry liner look is one of our favourites.

Get the look

Now 25% Off

If you have an unsteady hand, it can be helpful to start from the end of your flick and work inwards, before filling in your liner. Urban Decay's Pencil in Alkaline offers all the glide you need.

The make-up artist Violette might be better known for her signature red lipstick, but she experiments with eye make-up, too. These dainty stars are as fun as they are creative, but they're also really wearable, so you don't feel like you're playing dress-up.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Get the look

Sites such as Amazon and Etsy are filled with different size and styles of stars that you can use (our advice: the smaller the better). Don't forget to add a warm pink shadow underneath and a little eye liner to bring the look together. Try Trinny London's Eye2Eye in Queen. 

Yellow is the such a pretty, summery shade but it can be difficult to wear: choose the wrong one and it's likely to be either too sheer or too bright. Keep this look from the make-up artist Katie Jane Hughes as your inspiration.

Get the look

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Embracing colour blocking can feel daunting, but as Pauline Briscoe demonstrates you don't actually need to fear it. Apply your favourite bright colour across your lids and then simply add a touch of contrasting colour at your tear ducts.

Get the look

Laura Mercier's Caviar Stick Eye Colours come in such a wealth of shades, so it becomes easy to play around with different colours in just a few swipes.

Nikki Woolf is known as the 'queen of glow' and this look ensures she lives up to her nickname. Her trick of using golden eyeshadow just in the centre of the eye is a simple way to lift and brighten your eyes.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

dior Get the look

Patrick Ta created this hypnotic make-up look on Sara Sampaio, which makes the model's eyes look even bigger. He achieved it by applying eyeliner right at the lash line and then not using any at all at the centre of her lower lashes.

Armani Get the look

Try Armani's Eyes To Kill Designer Liner in Onyx a for a high-shine finish to your liner. Then, use a eyeshadow one shade lighter than your skin tone (you could even use your concealer) to brighten your lids.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Nam Vo's Instagram is worth following for her radiant, 'dewy' complexion alone, but we love the subtlety of her eye make-up looks, too. Here, she's lined her eyes with a creamy pink tone and made use of a brilliant lengthening mascara.

Get the look

Now 10% Off

The secret to avoiding clumps when lengthening your lashes is to wipe excess product off the wand before you apply. Try Hourglass's Caution Extreme Lash Mascara, combing through any areas of build-up with a clean spoolie. 

Swapping a traditional kohl liner for an inky blue version makes creating a two-toned eye make-up look less daunting. Then, simply add your favourite lilac shade across your lids, as demonstrated here by make-up artist Joy Adenuga.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Get the look

For soft smoky eye make-up, why not use a brown eyeshadow to define your eyes instead of black kohl, teamed with lots of mascara, as demonstrated by the make-up artist Hannah Martin.

Get the look

The secret behind this look is that Martin actually used the same Benefit Brow Zings palette for her brows and as eyeliner; a trick that provides the perfect soft, smoky shadow when pushed into the root of the upper lashes using Spectrum's Fluffy Brush.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

We love this sophisticated look from Sam Chapman, who always serves up inventive yet ultimately wearable looks on Instagram. The deep pink shadow applied tight to her lash line adds a pop of colour that is softened across her eye lids.

Get the look

Chapman revealed that she was testing out Charlotte Tilbury's Luxury Palette in Walk Of No Shame, using all the shades but especially the deepest one along her upper lash line.

Watch Next

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qa3RqZyrq5KWx6Kt0WeaqKVfqrhwrsSarK2xX6KurLGMrqdmppGeubR7xmtwcGlhboB0e8SynGalkaCytryMoqWsqJmnrrW1zqdm