The sunset eye is a high drama look. Whether you’re an aspiring makeup artist or an at-home pro, this step-by-step tutorial will help you create the colorful #sunseteyes makeup trend that’s been all over Instagram.
Find out how to take your eyeshadow from bright orange to a deep purple for the ultimate sunset eye.
Step 1: Prime Your Lids
Add an eyeshadow primer on the entire eyelid up to the brow line, and blend thoroughly. Here, we used the Pro Filt’r Amplifying Eye Primer by Rihanna’s line, Fenty Beauty. Not only does the primer create a smooth base that’ll help you build up your color, but it also helps your makeup last longer.
Step 2: Define the Eye
With a fluffy blending brush, define your eye shape using a nude eyeshadow. We used the color called Narrative in the Poison Garden palette by NABLA. Add the shadow to the entire lid, and create a strong diagonal winged shape.
Step 3: Building Depth
Using a deep purple eyeshadow, define the outer corner of the eye, elongating into a cat-eye shape and blending into the crease of your eyelid. We used the same Poison Garden palette by NABLA in a shade called Opera.
Step 4: Mid-tone of Eyelids
Now, with a densely bristled brush, start creating your multi-tonal eyelid. Mentally divide your eyelid into thirds, and leave the outer third with the deep purple. To the center third, add a hot fuchsia color such as the Berry Bite color from the same NABLA palette. Carefully blend the fuchsia into the purple, but don’t over blend and muddy the colors.
Step 5: Light-tone of Eyelids
Use a light rose color for the inner third of the eyelid. This shade called Rosita is from the same palette. Again, lightly blend this shade into the fuchsia.
Step 6: Orange Splash
Dab a matte orange eyeshadow to the inside corner of the eye. We changed color palettes for this and used Party Animal Pressed Pigment in the color called Dranks.
Step 7: Shade Lower Lash Line
Returning to the deep purple you used in step three, lightly add a sweep of color onto your lower lash line, blending to create a colored smoke effect.
Step 8: Line Eyes
With matte black eyeliner, such as ZOEVA’s Soft Kohl eyeliner in the Noir shade, line the upper eyelid, creating a slight wing at the outer edge. For the lower lash, define the outer two thirds with eyeliner, and use a small angled brush to blend.
Step 9: Add Highlights
Using a white pencil eyeliner, define the inner third of the lower eye. We used the Faux White Eye Brightener from NYX that’s a pink-tinted white.
Step 8: Boost Lashes
With volumizing mascara, add a coat of rich, black color to your eyelashes to complete this look of an unforgettable sunset eye.
If you try this sunset eye makeup, we’d love to see a photo!
Learn how aspiring makeup artists can train in the creative and scientific principles of beauty at Ogle School’s esthetics program.