How to Get the Top 5 Sexiest Eye Makeup Looks

Tired of your same old mascara and liner combo? Find out how to create the latest eye makeup looks, including a simple smoky effect and dramatic cat eye, with tips from celebrity makeup artist Vincent Longo.

Change Your Look

When it comes to mixing up your makeup look, there are basically two ways to do it: change your lipstick or vary your eye shadow. Swapping your lipstick is a cinch — there's really only one way to apply it, regardless of the formula or color. Playing around with your eye shadow takes a bit more work, however, it's well worth the effort. (See how Beyoncé masters an impressive range of eye makeup effects, like this classic cat eye.) Resident Daily Glow expert, celebrity makeup artist Vincent Longo spills his secrets for creating the top five eye makeup looks

The Cat Eye

A retro-inspired cat eye has landed on the lids of ladies from Marilyn Monroe to Lady Gaga. "It's sexy and playful all year round," explains Longo. Start by using a stiff, flat-headed eye shadow brush to sweep an iridescent neutral shadow over your lid (Mary Kay sells a fabulous brush set for $55). "This will give dimension to the eye and help the liquid liner stay in place," he explains. Next, place the tip of a liquid liner's brush on the outer corner of the upper lashline and draw a line towards the inner corner of your eye along the lashline. (Try Mary Kay Black Liquid Eyeliner for $11) Make the liner thinner as you work your way in, otherwise the whole look will be too heavy and your eyes make look smaller, advises Longo. Once you've lined the rim, go back to the outer corner and brush out and up using a soft hand to achieve the cat eye.

The Smoky Eye

"The smoky eye can be sultry, romantic, mysterious, feminine, and sexy — which is why it fascinates us," says Longo. For a fresh look, forget the old conventions that you must use only black or gray shadow: Longo loves earth and jewel tones for the smoky eye, but his favorites? A deep, black-plum or green smoky eye.  Here are the Mary Kay colors I like to use to create these smokey eye looks ($6.50 per color):

For a traditional smokey eye - black pearl & silver sation

For an earth tone smokey eye - silky caramel & espresso

For a jewel-tone smokey eye - lemongrass & emerald; or blue metal & peacock blue

For a black-plum smokey eye - sweet plum & black pearl

The Party Eye

When attending a cocktail or holiday party, there's a good chance you're coming from (and changing at) the office. So you need to "think day to evening," explains Longo. "Freshen up your makeup, and add a layer of festive to your look."  Try crystalline, spun silk, silky caramel & cinnabar.

The Nude Eye

While the nude look is in, it doesn't equate to no makeup, unfortunately. "Although we define the nude look as naked, it truly isn't," Longo says. Most important to this look, make sure you use a great foundation and concealer to even out your overall skin tone first. (I like the mineral powder foundation $18).  Then apply a light layer of that concealer ($10) to your eyelids and set with a dusting of powder. "This will help the shadow stay put and look fresher longer," he says.  For the nude look, I love the colors spun silk & silky caramel.

The Bold Eye

Using bright color "is always heaps of fun," says Longo. "One bold shade is often enough." An easy option is to apply it as a liner and contrast the bright hue with black mascara. Try a wet-to-dry shadow or a liquid liner for this look as they have the most pigment and thus, the most depth. Mary Kay's mineral eye color can be used as a wet or dry shadow.  For this look, I love to use our NEW spring line cream eye colors in coastal blue, meadow grass, or violet storm $14.

For more information, please contact me at 508-840-8957 or check out my website at www.marykay.com/akester