Makeup can be powerful. It helps us feel put-together and can give us a boost of confidence while going throughout our day. Even though experimenting with makeup can be fun, you probably don’t want to experiment with new looks every day, because, well, who has time for that? We want you to feel put together even when you may not have the energy to pile on makeup, so we’ve compiled four easy and gorgeous eye makeup looks that you can use to start off your day.
1. Keep it low-key
One of the best ways to differentiate your looks is to have a clear division between your daytime and nighttime looks.
“For daytime eye makeup, I like to have fun, but keep my look calm and professional,” says Sarah Shevenock, a senior at the College of William and Mary. “I will usually curl my eyelashes, and use some mascara. I really like Rimmel London’s 24 Hour Super Curler Mascara. I will usually line my waterline with some black eyeliner, and finish off my look with some shimmery eyeshadow in a neutral color.”
Though Sarah likes to keep her overall look simple, what makes her routine stand out is the focus she puts into making her makeup livable. Collegiettes are busy, so we don’t have time to constantly touch up our makeup. Sarah’s solution? Primer.
“The one key I focus on is using primer before I apply my eyeshadow. I try not to touch up my makeup throughout the day, so I need my look to last from when I put it on at 6 a.m. to when I take it off before bed,” she says.
The last thing we want to do is have to touch up our eyeshadow—or have it crease. By keeping it low-key, you boast less of a risk for either of those things.
2. Focus on foundation
Even though we often associate eye makeup with eyeshadow, that doesn’t always have to be the case. A simple brush of foundation or concealer can be the defining point of your look. We’ve all stayed up late studying or catching up with friends, but that doesn’t mean we need to look like we have.
“If I’m really in a rush, I swipe a little foundation above and below my eyes, just to appear more awake,” says Courtney Martere, a Marist College class of 2017 graduate. “I’ll set that with a little foundation, usually one that’s lighter than my natural skin tone (anything to give the impression that I’m well-rested). I’ll normally skip the eyeshadow and just put on a little mascara during the day.”
If you’re pressed for time, all you really need to do for your look is make sure everything’s even. Use foundation or concealer to cover up any light imperfections around your eyes, completing a natural look that will last all day.
Related: Here’s the Best Makeup for Your Eye Shape & Color
3. Make it shine
Whether it be using highlighter or eyeshadow, adding sparkle to any makeup look instantly steps up your makeup game.
“My new trick is that I’ve got this really lovely Super Shock shadow from ColourPop that I build up on my eyelid for a monochrome look,” says Catherine Abes, a sophomore from Ryerson University. “Since it’s a really sparkly shade that’s more noticeable when you catch it in the light, it adds a subtle hint of color and sparkle in no time.”
One of the best ways to really make the eyeshadow stand out is to build up the color. While some methods of applying shadow do this better than others, the real trick lies in how much you pack it on and blend it out. “I pretty much just sweep it over my eye with my finger and as I add more layers I concentrate it more on my eyelid than the crease so it looks like it blends out,” says Catherine. “Then I add a bit of mascara and maybe a bit of eyeliner if I can spare five minutes and that’s it.”
4. Go monochrome
One of the easiest and most striking makeup looks involves going almost entirely monochrome with your eyeshadow. We’ve seen this look gain traction recently, particularly when using peach tones.
“For daytime eye makeup, I love to just buff out a rich coral, orange or pink color on my eyelid. Because I have blue eyes, corals and oranges really accentuate my eye color. I’ll also add some mascara and black winged liner,” says Chelsea Jackson, a junior at Iowa State University.
One of the best things about working a primarily monochrome look is that you don’t need to amass a huge number of palettes to make your look work. Some palettes that will help you complete your look are the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette and the Meet Matt(e) Trimony palette from The Balm.
Whether you’re looking to get out the door faster, or just looking for a more low-key makeup look, these tips are sure to help.