Steal My Eyes
Thirty people with exceptional taste on their favorite eye makeup.
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There’s a shift in eye makeup right now. On the heels ofghost lashesand barely-thereeyeshadow, the scales are tipping toward bushybrows, shimmery lids, featherylashes, and cutting cat eyes. To fully showcase the interesting things happening in the space right now, I sought out makeup artists, models, writers, DJs, and more with exacting, exceptional taste to tell me about their favorite eye makeup. Below are 29 responses, ranging from pops of color and eye gems to subtle contouring and douyin makeup.
These conversations have been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
Soukeyna Diouf
Model andcontent creator
“I prefer my eyes bedazzled or colorful, since I do not wear a lot of jewelry. My favorite way to add color is a colorful water line and some gemstones. Most of this look was done with Dolce & Gabbana makeup. The What a Gem! Multiwear Precious Jewel Stickers is one of my best secrets. And my brows were done with the Refy Brow gel and NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer. This combo has withstood 100 degrees in Bodrum and a 24-hour day at Paris Fashion Week.”
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Layla Halabian
Writer andLanguage Artsco-founder
“I kick things off by heating up my eyelash curler with a lighter and holding it at the root for ten to 15 seconds. I have very thick, straight lashes, and this step makes the stakes randomly feel high, so it has a physical and emotional payoff. Then I pile on my favorite, industrial-strength Japanese mascara,KissMe Heroine Make Volume Up, fan the majority of my lashes toward the outer corner, and lightly coat my bottom lashes. I’ve showered, swam, cried, been umbrella-less in downpours, and hung out in muggy warehouses in thismascara— those chemists redefined the meaning of waterproof. After this, I tight line with thePat McGrath PermaGel Ultra Glide Eye Pencil in Xtreme Blackand very softly hit my inner corner if it’s daytime. (At night, I’m getting sultry with it!) I like to use my fingernail to flick the liner out for a kiss of a wing. Finally, I apply a baby amount of eyebrow gel to keep the hairs in place without fluffing them out or laminating them down. I don’t like when things look too polished. I never want a bright undereye because I find dark circles to be mysterious and sexy. It’s like ‘Why is she so tired? What could she possibly be up to?’”
Taylore Scarabelli
“I’ve always loved eye makeup, but I recently went through a long phase of not wearing any. I was convinced it was making me look older, but the truth is you can do anything as long as your brows are right. I feel best when mine are lightened a shade or two. I useWella COLORCHARM Permanent Liquid Hair Color in Honey Blondewith 20 volume developer once every week or so. After that, it’s all about contour — adding light and then taking it away. In the summer months I use a spot ofCiele concealeron my undereyes and brow bone, and blend it with theHaus Labs concealer brush. I’ve learned to embrace my eye circles (they run in the family), but a little brightener doesn’t hurt. After that, I applyMerit’s Solo Shadow in Midcenturyinto my crease and under my bottom lashes and blend it with theHermes L’Ombreur Shader Brush. If I’m going to a party, I follow up withRevlon’s Micro easy precision liquid liner(very easy indeed!) in shade L’Amour du Chocolate. Lastly, I curl my lashes with abasic Revlon toolI found at Lot Less and swipe some brownMerit Clean Volume Mascaraon top.”
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Starr Blackshere
Makeup artist andbrow and lash expert
“Lately, I have been into a soft, sultry daytime eye built on a brown base with grey depth wrapping the outer corners. I sweep the grey up to elongate my eye, adding drama to an otherwise tonal shape. I press a soft silver just past the inner corner for a touch of glam. I finish the look with Kiss natural lash wefts in shorter 8- to 12-mm. lengths, creating a pumped-up mascara effect rather than an obvious false lash. The Haozhuang pencil is added to frame the brow, then I use concealer to cut the brow weight, lift, and elongate it.”
Sari Botton
“In the ’90s,Good Housekeepingsent me on a ‘hard-hitting investigative assignment’ to try free makeovers. Despite all those how-to sessions, I wound up being a one-trick pony who only knows how to create a smoky eye, even for daytime. It’s become my signature look. I achieve it with brands with little or minimal fragrance, since I’m pretty allergic. Here I’m wearingClinique’s Quickliner for Eyes in Intense Chocolate Lustre, topped with theirHigh Impact Shadow Play in Double Latte, using only the lighter, creamy
’definer’ end. I haveDr. Hauschka’s concealer in Macadamiaminimizing the bags under my eyes, and theirDefining Mascara in blackon my top lashes only. (Some makeup artist years ago recommended skipping the bottom lashes because it tends to melt off onto your lower lids, and I’ve stuck with that for decades.)”
Ana B
Cili Nochidesigner
“I use Kraum’s Micro Brushes with a gel liner for my eyeliner. They are so precise, they make it so easy to get right into the lashes and get the clean shape I want. I love using gel pots — my favorite is Chanel’s Ombre Essentielle.”
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Darcei Giles
“This is basically my signature pink-princess look. I’m obsessed with pink, and I love how this eyeshadow combo looks really romantic without being too much. I used a mix of pink and mauve tones to create a soft, diffused eye, then finished it with black liner and fluttery lashes for that feminine, doll-like effect.”
Dr. Shereene Idriss
Dermatologist and founder ofDr. Idriss Skincare
“Eye makeup is my absolute jam. (If you’re Lebanese, you know what I’m talking about.) Almost every patient asks me about my mascara. My favorite trick is actually combining black and a blue mascara for the subtle yet dramatic pop of color.”
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Sable Yong
Podcaster andwriter
“My wings have gotten teenier over the years as my brow pads have drooped ever so gradually, and I like to do a cobalt blue (or otherwise colorful gel liner) wing on the outer corners, while blending it into my lash line with a tiny eyeliner brush on the way in. (I use pointed cotton buds to carve and clean up my wing shape.) I’ve always thought bright blue looks so good on brown eyes, and the Marc Jacobs ones are supersaturated and very long-wear. I keep everything else on my face pretty minimal: groomed brows, even dewy skin (I don’t use concealer, but I do use a skin tint all over), curled lashes with a slick of mascara for definition.”
Abi Balingit
“I love to go for a low-effort, high-impact eye-makeup look during the summer. I useAbout-Face’s Matte Fluid Eye Paint in Blue Mondayfor a bright pop of color over my lids that I’ve primed withUrban Decay’s Mini Original Eyeshadow Primer Potion. I also brush onColourPop’s Super Shock Shadow in Dream Muchfor a little added shimmer.”
Tynan Sinks
“Lately I’ve been on a neutral eye. I prime my lid withSaie Slip Tint All Over Radiant Concealerand set withCharlotte Tilbury Flawless Finish Setting Powderin Shade 2 Medium, both of which I’d die for by the way. I have hooded, downturned eyes (just like Britney Spears), which means I don’t have a ton of room for eyeshadow, so I’m basically creating a new eye shape for the illusion of more space. I’ve been reaching for theKJH.brand Precision Sculpture Styloin shade Etchto create a bigger eye. (If I want more dimension, I’ll use the darker shades.) I find that the Stylos blend best with my fingers, which diffuse the color without erasing it.
I prefer a scatter of glitter across the lid over a shimmer. I apply theHalf Magic SparkleStik Eye Crayon in shade in Champagne Snowflakeon the back of my hand and use my index finger to tap it on the center of the lid. Then, I use aSigma E21packer brush to apply theDior Glassy Glow Stick in Pinkon my inner corner and drag it up against my nose toward my brow then curving out toward my ear in a half circle shape, which really ‘opens the eyes.’
I finish it off with theHalf Magic Eyelectric Extreme Lengthening Mascara. It gives me long, wispy Bambi lashes. The brush is thin with short bristles, so you can really get in and coat and shape every lash. Finally, I’ll do my brows with theKosas Brow Pop Defining Pencil. It’s just enough color without being too dense or opaque, and diffuses nicely with the spoolie on the other end. It came out in 2021 and it’s the only thing I’ve used since then. I’ll never be a clean girl but this is my favorite way to get a little beige with it.”
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Sophie Haig
“I’m 50 shades of brown when it comes to my eye makeup. Nothing makes blue eyes pop quite like a warm brick red-brown shadow. My current obsession is Saie’s new SuperSuede Baked Eyeshadow in Amaretto washed all over the lids. I pair it with Soshe’s LoveSick Precision Eyeliner in my waterline and top it off with Merit’s Clean Volume Tubing Mascara for flake-free, all-day volume.”
Kailey Bradt
SonsieCEO
“I’ve not gone a day without usingSonsie Adapt Creamas a CC cream slash eye cream since the first lab sample. I’m a cool-toned, low-contrast blonde and so I’ve recently switched to brown around my eyes and I love how natural it looks. Since I was a judge for the 2025 Cosmopolitan Clean Beauty Awards and tried theSoshe Waterproof Precision EyelinerI’ve been hooked. It’s 1.5-mm. and the smallest swipe makes all the difference on my narrow eyes. I can’t believe how small it is and I’ve never had one break. I use the shade Lovesick, a ‘burgundy brown.’ Then I’ve been reaching for theRefy Lash Sculptin brown. My first purchase from the brand was its Brow Sculpt, which I must have repurchased 11 times already.”
Mira Nadon
Principal dancerwith New York City Ballet
“As a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, my stage makeup has to project to the very back of our theater. The eyes are my favorite part of my stage-makeup routine. I start with RMCA Color Process Foundation and Mehron Star Blend to create a blank canvas. Next, I fill in my eyebrows with the Maybelline Express Brow Ultra Slim Pencil to give a little more shape and definition. I’ve been using the Pixi Eye Effect Rosette Ray palette recently. The purple-and-pink-toned shades work for my pale skin and dark eyes. (Darker colors like browns can make my eyes look too dark from the audience.) I keep it simple with a purple and pink in my crease, and the lightest color on my lids and under my brow bone. I also go in with Coloupop’s Super Shock Shadow in the shade Frog on my eyelid and inner corner to brighten up the eye and add a little sparkle. For eyeliner, I use Maybelline Tattoo Studio Gel Pot Liner with an angled brush to create a wing and draw an under-eye line a little below my lash line to further define my eyes. Then, I use a white NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil on the outer corner of my eye between my wing and the bottom eyeliner to open up the eye. I tend to stay away from waterproof mascaras because they’re hard to remove. I use L’Oréal Voluminous Original in black, and it’s never smudged or transferred. The last step that ties the whole look together is lashes. I use La Charme #747 L and always cut off one cluster on the outer edge so that they fit my eye better. Doing my stage makeup is such an important part of feeling confident and ready to perform, and it is something that I really enjoy.”
Jordan Feise
Founder ofTwo of a Kind
“A well-shaped brow does a lot of heavy lifting, so I like to keep the rest of my eye makeup pretty simple. A few of my favorites includeRye Beauty’s Tinted Brow Milk in Soft Brown. I love that the peptide-packed formula helps support growth while making my brows look their best. If I’ve waited a little too long between brow tints, I reach forRelume’s Brow Pencil in Warm Brownto fill in any sparse areas. And I recently switched toTower 28’s mascara in Rich Espresso Brown, which has been a total game changer for my light eyes.”
Kitty Lever
Model and artist
“First, I use the About-Face matte fluid eye paint all over my eyelids and let it dry. It won’t budge even after you take off your makeup. It’s fantastic and pigmented. Next, shout-out to the Dolce & Gabbana Eye Dare You palette. The colors and pigment last all day. I recommend the palette for people wanting to experiment with color without feeling too adventurous. I layered it up. I just love to stack and mix and create an eye look that feels like me!”
Sophie Blowfield
Founder ofSophie Blowfield Consultancy
“My eye look really centers on the brows. If they’re groomed and looking full, I keep everything else clean and simple. I love theRefy Brow Tint Eyebrow Gel, a water-based tinted gel that adds a soft wash of color and sets every hair in place in about 30 seconds. The round applicator coats each hair without dragging any product onto the skin. When I want a bit more shape, I go in withMERIT Brow 1990, a microfine gel pencil with a tip fine enough to draw hairlike strokes rather than blocks of color. I use it just at the front and through any sparse spots. And for lashes, I’ve been reaching forMerit Clean Volume Mascara; it’s a tubing formula, so it wraps each lash for real lift and separation with no clumping or midday smudging, the slim brush gets right into the inner corners and lower lashes, and it slides off with just warm water at night.”
Katie Rex
“I love playing with fun eye looks, but this is my go-to. Oftentimes, I’m on a marathon from openings or events, to dinner, into late night, so this makeup is fade friendly by design as the lighting in the rooms I’m in gets darker. I’m a recovering graphic black liquid liner millennial, largely because they stopped selling Givenchy’s Phenomen Eyes Vinyl Black in the States. (Also, as my eyes have gotten heavier with age, black liner and mascara added extra visual weight.) I’ve transitioned to brown shades for depth and drama, the Stila liner sits light and immovable on the skin. No one feels great seeing their post-club under-eye runoff, and browns melt into my skin with more ease. I love my natural brows and the Anastasia Brow Gel stays in place indefinitely until it’s washed off. I used to overspend on every facet of my routine, but found true value in each product’s staying power.”
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Carly Ferrarese
CEO and founder ofUnder Luna
“My makeup philosophy is basically the less, the better. If my brows look full and groomed and I have a little mascara on, I’m good to go.Kosas Air browmakes my brows look fuller and groomed without looking overly done for a full, natural look. I use Brow Pop when I want a little more definition. It helps fill in and shape my brows while still keeping them looking natural.
I’ve been wearing Saie’s mascara for years. I love that it goes on smoothly without getting chunky or clumpy, and I really appreciate the ingredients and Saie’s approach to clean beauty.”
Amanda Robinson
Founder ofIris + West
“I apply a little Noto highlighter right at my inner corners and right where my natural under-eye bags cast a shadow. The highlighter does the job of brightening things up without pretending they’re not there. For my lashes, I always try to keep up with a lash lift and tint, which I get at Iris and West Lash Co. Right now I’m doing black, but sometimes I’ll switch to dark brown depending on my mood. I have a swift 1999 beauty’s lash tint mascara on the bottom. This is one of my go-to everyday mascaras. It’s super lightweight, doesn’t flake or smudge, and it’s easy to get off at the end of the day. I don’t have great brows naturally, so this is where the magic happens. Everyday I lightly sketch Kosas Brow Pop pencil in Taupe to help define the shape. I love a thicker brow, so I use it more to build shadow behind my natural hairs than to draw in an opaque, filled-in brow. After that, I use a lime crime brow pen that’s sadly been discontinued (I bought a few off eBay, don’t judge me, but I’ll need to find a replacement soon) to draw in a few hairs at the front of my brow and underneath the arch and tail. Then a swipe of KJH Brow Gel to hold everything in place.”
Dr. Julie Chung
Eye surgeon at UCLA and co-founder ofT3
“As an eye surgeon, I spend my days looking closely at eyes, so I’ve developed a clear sense of what actually works for eye makeup — and what doesn’t. My approach is simple but intentional: full, natural brows with Rare Beauty gel and an Anastasia pencil, prepped skin with Dr. Diamond Contour Eye Lift Serum, and a soft-brown shadow from an Hourglass palette along the lash line for subtle depth. I tightline with a Makeup by Mario pencil and reach for Wet n Wild’s liquid eyeliner when I want more definition. For lashes, a Flying Tiger Copenhagen curler has replaced my Shu Uemura — the curvature simply suits my eye shape better — finished with Dior Show Iconic Overcurl mascara. For special occasions, I’ll add eyelid tape from Koreatown or a few individual lashes at the outer corner for extra drama.”
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Goddess Boys
“I start with the highlight points of my eye: the brow bone, the inner corner of my eye, and the center of my eyelid, right above my lashes. I apply Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder in the shade-two medium so that I’m glowing. I create depth with Lancômes Hypnose palette 19. The light tan brown dresses a majority of the eye. I use Charlotte Tilbury bronzing powder in the shade four to create rich, light collapsing, depth in three concentrated places around my eye to make my white lashes and eyebrow stand out, right underneath my lower lashes, and at the outer corner of my eye. I also connect my nose contour to right underneath my brow bone, shaping my face more. I like to take it one step further into something more ethereal with glitter and gems. I start with a sprinkling of Fenty Diamond Bomb in the shade How Many Carats over the entire eyelid. Then, I dust Huda’s shimmer blush in the shade Berry Fizz in a concentrated line directly from my eyelid to my brow. I add Anastasia’s sugar white shimmer from the sugar mini-eyeshadow palette down the center for more radiance. I complete the look in two final steps: gems and white mascara. I like to add gems where I know the light hits to make my eyes twinkle. The white mascara helps to pull together this ethereal yet delicate White Swan makeup look.”
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Amy Liu
Founder and CEO ofTower 28
“For my eyes, I want something soft and shimmery but still really defined. I used Tower 28’s GoGo Cooling Shimmer Eyeshadow in Chateau, which gives the prettiest wash of shimmer, and layered in a little shadow from my Makeup By Mario palette. For liner, I used Soshe’s Waterproof Precision Eyeliner in Checkmate. Then I finish my look by applying KS&CO Sheer Tinted Brow Gel.”
Simone Henault
“This was my eye look for DJ-ing a wedding all day over the weekend. I wanted to look polished but still like myself and, most importantly, have everything actually stay put for eight-plus hours. I swear by Kosas concealer and Huda Beauty baking powder under my eyes to get a fresh under-eye; Benefit Tame and Refy clear gel for fluffy brows that don’t move and keep shape; and Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara to accentuate my long, natural lashes. My little finishing trick is Anastasia’s Tempera shadow in the inner corners, which instantly makes me look more awake, even after hours behind the decks.”
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Deepica Mutyala
Founder ofLive Tinted
“For a shimmery nighttime eye, I used theDanessa Myricks Beauty Everyday Magic Mini Freedom Paletteto create soft dimension, with Toasted as the transition shade and Sand along the brow bone to brighten. Rooted was swept along the lower lash line and into the tear duct, while Grounded was blended withLive Tinted Legacy Liner Liquid Kajalfor added depth and definition. A light dusting of Guiding Light from the Freedom Palette illuminated the inner corner.”
Tara Gonzalez,
Fashion editor and writer ofCult Classicnewsletter
“I’ve always loved eye contact and maybe that’s because I have big eyes. Accentuating them is my favorite part of my makeup routine and I rarely ever leave the house without at least one eye product on. After years of using jet black eyeliners and mascaras, I realized a deep purple favors my darker features much better. It adds a sultry smokiness I really like and feels a bit more unexpected; I think it really complements brown eyes the best. I start by drawing a wing that starts midway on my eyelid with theSephora pro eyeliner brush No. 22and the purple eyeshadow in theCharlotte Tilbury The Vintage Vamp luxury palette. The brush’s edge helps create a very sharp line that doesn’t look too perfect, which I really appreciate. I also usually add a little to the inner corner of my eye for an elongated shape. I line my waterlines withthe Hourglass voyeur eyeliner in Chestnut, it’s a striking reddish brown I find so sexy and I always get asked about it. For my brows, I keep it fairly simple with a couple of strokes of my tried-and-trueGlossier Boy Brow. Under my eyes, I dab on a little bit of theMerit concealer stick. And for my lashes I’ve actually been getting Korean lash lifts and tints atLome Beauty Studioin Williamsburg (it lasts for ten weeks!!), but if I do want to wear mascara, I’ve been obsessed withVictoria Beckham’s in Cocoa.”
Yebecca
Model
“Ever since I buzzed and bleached my hair, the statement piece is already my crown. So I’ve been keeping my eye look pretty simple and natural. Just enough makeup to accentuate the features my mama gave me. The Etude House concealer is to die for. It’s full coverage and long lasting. I stock up every time I go back to Korea. For eyeshadow, I use the nude-and-dark-brown shade combination in Clinique’s palette. And my favorite mascara so far is YSL’s Lash Latex. It somehow supports my Asian lashes (which stick straight down) without transferring to my under-eye.”
Lumia
DJ
“One of my signature looks is to create a C-shape by the inner corner with concealer, inspire day douyin makeup. I love showing that neutrals can be dramatic and working with your eye shape rather than against it for eyeliner.”
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Jeauni Cassanova
Arist
“I’ve been lovingly called a ‘Bird Girl,’ so naturally this look is a love letter to the rock dove — our dear city pigeon — and the beauty we grow so used to living by that we sometimes forget to be moved by it. I used the Blend Bunny Ellis palette as an ode to its gray feathers and violet iridescence echo the cool shimmers and the extended lash remind me of their darling beaks.”
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