8 ways to make your eyes look amazing while wearing a face mask

Let’s face it (pun intended): face masks are taking over. These cloth coverings are essential for reducing the spread of coronavirus, a.k.a., COVID-19, but they don’t need to be the focal point of your face (cute design options aside).

If you’re a makeup enthusiast, or if you just have some extra time on your hands and want to play with cosmetics, you can glam up your eyes and put the focus back on you. We’ve rounded up top-rated and hot-right-now eye makeup that’ll give you some extra oomph and let you play with this season’s trends. Don’t skip the face mask: Just consider it your newest accessory, in addition to these eight great beauty products.

1. An eyeshadow palette that combines the latest colors

The easiest way to bring attention to your eyes is through eyeshadow, whether you go for a modest look with a darker-than-your-skin tone shade in the crease and a shimmery color swiped across the lid, or if you go all-out with neons from lash to brow.

To give you the best of both worlds, we recommend the 18-shade E.L.F. Cosmetics Retro Paradise Eyeshadow Palette, which includes brights in blue, green, and purple tones offset by earth-toned creams and browns. The palette also has a balance of matte and metallic shades, so you can switch up your style daily—and it’s a great value.

Get the E.L.F. Cosmetics Retro Paradise Eyeshadow Palette on Target for $14

2. An eye primer to keep your shadow on all day

To lock your eyeshadow into place and help your pigments pop, you’ll want an eyeshadow primer, like this mega-popular one from Urban Decay. This creamy “potion” claims to keep your eyeshadow crease-free for 24 hours, though you’ll probably remove your makeup well before then.

More than 7,000 reviewers swear that swiping and patting in a touch of this formula onto your lid before shadow is a must-have step for an untouchable eye look.

Get the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion on Sephora for $24

3. Some glitter to add sparkle to your eyes

Eye glitters are a foolproof way to spice up your look for two reasons: They vamp up any eyeshadow when layered onto the center of the lid and blended out, and they can stand alone for a more subtle shimmer if you apply to bare lids.

With these liquid glitters from Stila, you don’t have to worry about fussing with potentially messy loose glitter. The fuss-free, doe-foot wand is similar to what you’d see on a concealer, so you can swipe it on and blend out with your finger. The glitters come in an array of colors, from a pearly white with multi-colored flecks to inky black with flecks of silver and gold.

Get the Stila Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow on Sephora for $24

4. An eyeliner to emphasize your eye shape

Eyeliner is just the ticket when you want to dramatize an eye look. If you’re wearing eyeshadow and want to leave the focus mostly on that, we suggest tracing our favorite liquid eyeliner from Stila across your lash line and creating a subtle wing at your outer corner.

But if you want your eyeliner to stand in place of shadow, opt for a more vibrant color, like “Electric” blue or “Screamin” yellow from L.A. Girl. Trace it along your eyelid creases for a dramatic pop, or draw it right up against your lash line to have it peek out from behind your mascara.

• Get the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner on Sephora for $22
  
• Get the L.A. Girl Shockwave Neon Liner on Ulta for $36

5. An eyebrow pencil to sculpt your brows

Hey, if you haven’t plucked your eyebrows in months, maybe you can skip this fill-in step. But for anyone who wants some added definition, read on.

The Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz is a cult favorite at Sephora because it has an ultra-fine tip that allows you to create hair-like strokes for a fluffy, natural eyebrow. You can also trace around your brow after filling in sparse areas to create a fuller, bolder look. The retractable pencil comes in 10 shades ranging from blond to black, and more than 15,000 reviewers have found their perfect match with this product.

Get the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz on Sephora for $23

6. An eyebrow gel to hold your brows in place

After you’ve filled in your brows with a pencil, or in place of that step if you want a low-maintenance routine or a very natural look, turn to Glossier’s beloved Boy Brow.

The grooming pomade uses a creamy wax formula to hold hairs in place without feeling stiff, and it's available in clear, blond, brown, and black. If your brows are light and sparse, the colors add pigment and depth, while the clear simply locks the hair into place.

Get the Glossier Boy Brow on Glossier for $16

7. A mascara to add flare to your lashes

Every eye look, no matter how much time you spent on it, looks more polished with a coat or two of mascara. And as we found out when we tested drugstore mascaras, not all wands and formulas are equal.

For a product that’ll add volume and length in just one coat, we recommend the Covergirl LashBlast Volume Mascara, which applies smoothly and wears well all day without clumps or flakes. If your daily activities might require a waterproof formula, opt for the Tetyana waterproof mascara, which gives you long, voluminous lashes.

• Get the Covergirl LashBlast Volume Mascara on Target for $6.19
• Get the Tetyana Naturals 4D Silk Fiber Lash Mascara on Amazon for $15.29

8. A set of false lashes for extra oomph

To step up your look on a quarantine date night or business Zoom call, try your hand at applying false eyelashes. This popular pair from Ardell fans out at the outer corner for a more natural appearance and the fringe isn’t too full or heavy, so they’re ideal for a beginner. The kit includes one pair of lashes, so all you need is lash glue.

Get the Ardell Eyelash Demi Wispies Studio Effects on Target for $5.49