After spending nearly a year indoors, you could assume we’re collectively uninspired in regards to our makeup — but that’s far from the truth. While, yes, minimal base makeup is the most popular option these days (who wants to apply a full face of foundation if you’re going, well, nowhere?), the possibilities for exciting and bold eye makeup seem endless, especially when it looks just as good with a mask as it does without. This is exactly why we’ve been tracking down the coolest eye makeup trends to try in 2021.
Life has felt chaotic, to say the least. With that in mind, we wanted to make sure these trends only involve two — yes, two — products, so no matter how crazy life seems, nothing will stand in your way of setting aside 10 minutes to play with makeup (because self-care). All you’ll need is your favorite eyeshadow or eyeliner and mascara, because no look is complete without a coat (or three) of your favorite no-fail formula. Our suggestion: Lancôme’s newest mascara, Lash Idôle. This clump-free mascara lifts and lengthens every single lash so your eyes are the main focus of any look. Ready to play? Your new favorite trends await, ahead.
negative-space wing
The cat eye has been temporarily forced into retirement and in its place is this negative-space wing. Not only is this trend much easier to replicate with amateur-level skills, but it’s flattering for all eye shapes. Using a classic black liquid eyeliner, start drawing a line from the outer corner of your eye toward the tip of your brow; stop once you’ve aligned with the end point of your crease.
Next, trace the outline of your crease until the liner looks like a kitten ear. Depending on how dramatic you prefer your eyeliner, you can stop there or continue on tracing the whole edge of the crease — this is totally up to you! Before you finish, top off your look with Lancôme Lash Idôle mascara. While the liner helps to elongate the outer corner of the eye, the mascara ensures a fanned-out and feathery look that will turn heads.
diffused crease
Trends, save for gaucho pants, always come back around, and this diffused floating crease is no exception. Even though this look could be plucked right out of the summer of 1969, this diffused floating crease is one of those trends that appears complicated but really takes nothing but an eyeshadow stick. Starting at about half an inch above the inner corner of your eye, begin drawing a line that floats right along the crease of your lid; stop when you reach the end of your eyebrow.
Go over this spot as many times as you’d like, depending on how intense you prefer the color. Using either your finger or a fluffy eyeshadow brush, start buffing out the line until some of the color is diffused to create a shadow for dimension. Finish the look by paying homage to this iconic era with lifted and volumized lashes. Although the Lancôme Lash Idôle formula targets even the tiniest lashes, you’ll still want to focus the wand on the inner and outer corners for that doe-eyed effect women from the ’60s made famous.
split graphic liner
Old Hollywood ingénues invented some of the handiest beauty tricks, so it’s no surprise that one of their best is making the rounds in 2021: split liner. This twist on the retro callback doesn’t require a white pencil like it once did (a flattering hack for black and white photography), but it still offers up the same sultry effect. Using a precise liquid eyeliner, draw a tiny cat-eye wing on the outer corner of your top lash line.
Then, starting about halfway into your lower lash line, draw another line toward the outer corner with space left between the edges of both eyeliner marks, creating the illusion of bedroom eyes. The cherry on top: your mascara. Add three or so layers of Lancôme Lash Idôle to your top and bottom lashes (don’t worry, it’s buildable and won’t clump) and you’re that much closer to scoring a studio contract.
Source: Pop Sugar