Best Eye Makeup and Eye Shadow Trends for 2020

The start of a new year is always a great excuse to take your look to the next level. After all, there’s a reason the popular mantra, new year, new me, exists. The perfect place to start making a change? Your eye makeup. Whether you’re a stickler for soft, neutral eyes or like to jazz things up with a sizzling smoky eye or bursts of color, there are tons of ways to step outside of the box. So, make it one of your resolutions to branch out and try something trendy. Our round-up of the best eyeliner and eyeshadow looks for 2020 is a great place to start. Read on, find your favorite trend(s), and start emphasizing your eyes.

1. MIDNIGHT EYES

For those who want to take a walk on the dark side, midnight eyes will become your go-to beauty look. This eye shadow trend offers a level of mystique and glam that will pair well with any nighttime looks. Give it a try with the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Quads in Blue Haute Couture, applying the deepest blue shade all over your eyelid and lower lash line. Follow up with the shimmery medium blue shade, blending it into your crease to add depth. Finish up with a few coats of the L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Original Waterproof Lengthening Mascara to make your eyes really pop. 

2. SMOKY EYES

You can never go wrong with a classic smoky eye. Offering a beautiful blend of matte and shimmery shades, it’s no surprise that this classic look has stood the test of time and continues to be one of the hottest eye shadow looks. It even looks amazing on every eye shape, serving as the ultimate universal trend. Head on over to our article, The Perfect Smoky Eye for Every Eye Shape, to learn how you can bring this look to life. 

3. SUNSET EYES

It’s hard to top the beauty of nature, and sunsets are a prime example. So, why not channel one of nature’s most impressive sights with shadow? Sunset eyes, featuring a gorgeous blend of coral, gold, purple, and red eyeshadows, will instantly add warmth to your eyes and make for an all-around stunning look. Ready to turn your lids into a “natural” work of art? Follow our tutorial on How to Create a Sunset Eye. 

4. HIGHLIGHTER EYES

Ready to take your love for color to new heights? Highlighter eyes are a real crowd-pleaser! Offering an edgy, runway vibe, this look features richly pigmented shadows in highlighter hues. Think neon yellow, bright pink, and lime green. Pick the color you love best and swipe it onto your lids, being sure to use an eyeshadow primer for max intensity. 

5. VOLUMINOUS LASHES

It’s time to pump up the volume. Full lashes never go out of style, and we’re confident that statement will be as true as ever come 2020. Instead of using your everyday mascara, reach for a fiber mascara like the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous X Fiber Waterproof Mascara. Featuring a black primer and fiber mascara, the double-ended wonder works to create instant volume and length. Simply apply the primer then add a few coats of the fiber-infused formula for a volumized finish.

6. FEATHERY BROWS

The past few years have been all about the brows, and that isn’t primed to change. The feathery brow look easily lands at the top of the list of beauty trends to try in 2020. This style gives your brows a natural look that’s universally flattering and complements any eye makeup look beautifully.

To get the look, all you need is a brow gel like the L’Oréal Paris Unbelievabrow Longwear Waterproof Brow Gel to whip your eyebrows into shape. Start with clean brows and use the brow gel to fill in sparse areas. Then, outline your eyebrows with an angled brush and comb through them with a spoolie, pulling the spoolie upward for beautiful, feathered brows. 

7. WHITE EYELINER

Who says you can’t wear white after Labor Day? White eyeliner is one of the easiest ways to achieve a brighter, wide-eyed look, and to be honest, it’s a nice change of pace from traditional black eyeliner. It’s fun, fresh, and the one product you need to make a chic statement. Learn various ways to add white eyeliner to your look with our article, 9 Ways to Use White Eyeliner. 

8. ALL-OVER METALLIC EYESHADOW

Whether you’ve tried it thus far or not, metallic eyeshadow has become an eye makeup staple. Shimmery metallic shades make for effortlessly sultry eye looks, whether you apply a single shadow or use multiple for a smoky effect. While the look can be bold and daring, it can really flatter your eyes for an ultra-feminine look. Take on the trend by applying one of the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Paints Metallic Eye Shadows all over your lid.

9. PUMPKIN ORANGE EYESHADOW

Can you think of anything more trendy than pumpkin orange eyeshadow? We didn’t think so. While it already feels as if the beauty world can’t get enough of this vibrant color, the shade will only become more popular in 2020. Best of all, you don’t have to wait for Halloween to give this trend a try—it works year-round. Use the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Sunset Seine, applying the pumpkin-esque shadow on your eyelid and lower lash line.

10. THE LASH LIFT EFFECT

Up your eyelash game by faking the effect of a lash lift. The perfect way to add length and height to your lashes without the help of an eyelash tech, this trend will easily take your makeup game up a few notches. Reach for the L’Oréal Paris Unlimited Lash Lifting and Lengthening Washable Mascara, which has a bendable wand that allows you to reach the inner and outer-most corners of your lashes for extra length. A few swipes and your lashes will have a whole new lifted look.

11. FELINE EYES

While a classic cat eye is always appealing, we also can’t help but swoon over feline eyes. This dramatic eye makeup look uses a rich blue shadow to color your lids for an intense finish. With this trend taking over runways, you can bet that the look will pick up even more steam as the new year carries on. Get the look with the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Eyeshadow in Grand Bleu, applying it to your lids and lash line. Be sure to extend the color outward, creating a cat eye shape that’s almost geometric.

12. SMUDGED EYELINER

Channel your inner rock star with the help of this eye makeup look. Done with a black pencil eyeliner, this smudged eye makeup look provides the ultimate lived-in effect that’s equally perfect for a girl’s night and a hot date. Try it with the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof, Up to 24HR Pencil Eyeliner in Black for a long-lasting look.

Need a little guidance? Get step-by-step instructions on creating a smudged eyeliner look from our article, How to Wear Smudged Black Eyeliner.

13. OMBRÉ EYESHADOW 

Think ombré is only reserved for your hair? Think again! This multicolored eye makeup trend allows you to play with color and show off your blending skills for a playful look. Get the look with the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Pocket Palette Eye Shadow in Violet Amour. Simply prep your lids with an eyeshadow primer, apply the lightest shade on the inner corner of your lid, one of the medium hues on the center, and the darkest shadow on the outer corner.

14. COLOR BLOCKED EYELINER

What’s better than one shade of eyeliner? How about two shades of eyeliner? A chic way to upgrade your standard winged eyeliner, you can apply two wings on top of each other for a balance of color. Flicks are best when done with liquid eyeliner, so pick up the L’Oréal Paris Matte Signature Liquid Dip Eyeliner, Waterproof and paint on double wing tips. We’re partial to pairing blue and black shades—so chic.

15. FLUORESCENT CREASE

If you’re ready to go bold with your eye makeup, the fluorescent crease is well worth adding to your list of must-try eyeshadow looks. Really, there are a lot of directions you can take this look, but at its most simple, you’ll want to pick a fluorescent eyeshadow and apply it in your crease. Pair the vivid hue with a mostly neutral look and you’ll have yourself a stunning statement eye.

16. COLORED MASCARA

Another great way to add a touch of color to your makeup look is with colored mascara. Give your traditional black mascara a break and reach for a vibrant color. A few of our favorite options? Green, blue, and burgundy! Try out a coat or two of the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Washable Bold Eye Mascara in Deep Green, Cobalt Blue, or Deep Burgundy.

17. COOL BLUE EYES

Another gorgeous shade that you can count on seeing in 2020? Pastel blue! While deep blue tones have cornered the market on eye makeup looks through 2019, this soft hue will highlight your features for a head-turning look. Brush the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow in Timeless Blue Spark onto your lids and keep the rest of your look simple, it’s that easy.

Ready to learn about more trendy eye makeup ideas? (Trust us, there’s plenty more where this came from!) Next, check out our article, 6 Colorful Eye Makeup Looks.