5 Easy Festive Eye Looks You Can Do in 10 Minutes

Festive season means getting ready in a hurry. The puja is at seven, the saree pleats are still not right, someone needs the mirror, and you have maybe ten minutes for your eyes. That’s fine. You don’t need a twelve-step cut crease to look festive.

These five looks are built for real life. Each one uses one to three shades, mostly applied with your fingers, plus kajal and mascara. I’ve written them with mousse or cream shadow in mind because it’s quickest, but powder works too.

Before you start: a two-minute prep

Do this for every look below. It’s what makes the shadow last through dinner, dancing and a crowded pandal.

1. Clean, dry lids. No eye cream on the lid.
2. Primer if you’re oily. A thin layer of lid primer, tapped on with a finger.
3. Blot. Press a tissue over the closed eye to take off any extra.

If you’re new to mousse shadow, read my step-by-step guide to applying mousse eyeshadow first. The basic tap-and-spread method is the same for all the looks here.

Indian festive makeup has always leaned on kohl. Vogue India quotes a celebrity makeup artist suggesting that if intense kohl or heavy glitter isn’t your thing, you start small with “a slightly more kohl-defined eye with a touch of shimmer and glitter.” That’s exactly the spirit of these looks.

Look 1: The one-shade gold lid

Best for: pujas, family lunches, office celebrations.

1. Pick up a small amount of gold or rose gold shimmer on your ring finger.
2. Tap it onto the centre of your lid, just above the lashes.
3. Spread it outwards to the outer corner, then inwards. Stop at the crease.
4. Tap the top edge with a clean finger so there’s no hard line.
5. Line the waterline with black kajal and add two coats of mascara.

That’s it. Gold works on almost every Indian skin tone and goes with every saree colour. Fair skin can lean towards champagne gold, dusky skin towards a richer yellow gold. My shade guide for Indian skin tones goes deeper on this.

Look 2: The bronze halo eye

Best for: evening functions, Diwali parties.

A halo eye is darker on the inner and outer edges with a bright spot in the centre. It makes eyes look rounder and more open. The Vogue India look uses a similar idea, placing a deep brown in the outer crease and a gold in the centre of the lid.

1. Apply a warm brown shimmer all over the lid with your finger.
2. Let it set for a moment.
3. Tap a gold or pearl shade only on the centre of the lid, right above the pupil.
4. Gently tap the edges of the gold so it melts into the brown.
5. Smudge a little brown along the outer third of the lower lash line.
6. Kajal on the waterline, mascara, done.

Tip: keep the gold in the middle small. If you spread it too wide, you lose the halo effect.

Look 3: The glitter topper

Best for: late-night parties, weddings, sangeet.

1. Start with a neutral base: soft brown, mauve or rose shimmer across the lid.
2. Let it set fully.
3. Take a glitter shade on your fingertip and press it only on the centre of the lid. Press, don’t rub, so the glitter stays where you put it.
4. Add a thin line of kajal close to the upper lashes and smudge it slightly.
5. Mascara on top and bottom lashes.

A multi-toned glitter like Makné’s Stardust, which the brand describes as shifting between silver, lavender and champagne, is the kind of shade that works well as a topper. A little goes a long way. Clean up any stray glitter under the eye with a piece of tape before you do your base touch-ups.

Look 4: The pop of colour on the lower lash line

Best for: day festivities, mehendi, haldi, Holi parties.

If you like colour but don’t want a bright lid, put it under the eye instead. It’s more wearable and looks fresh in photos.

1. Apply a soft neutral on the lid: peach, champagne or a light rose.
2. Take a small flat synthetic brush and pick up a tiny bit of a bright shade, such as coral, plum, teal or emerald.
3. Press it along the outer half of your lower lash line, staying close to the lashes.
4. Line the upper waterline with kajal, but leave the lower waterline bare or use a nude liner so the colour stands out.
5. Mascara.

Coral is gorgeous on wheatish and dusky skin. A shade like Shine Coral gives a warm, bright pop for daytime functions. Plum is a good alternative if you’re fair with cool undertones.

Look 5: The soft smoky eye with kajal

Best for: dinners, dandiya nights, when you want a bit of drama.

Let me be honest here. Mousse eyeshadow alone won’t give you a deep, intense smoky eye. It’s a sheer-to-medium format by nature. So this look uses mousse for a soft smoky base and kajal for the depth.

1. Apply a brown or deep rose shimmer across the lid and let it set.
2. Draw a slightly thick line of black or brown kajal along the upper lash line.
3. Within a few seconds, before it sets, smudge the kajal upwards and outwards with a small brush or cotton bud.
4. Run the same smudged kajal along the lower lash line, joining it at the outer corner.
5. Tap a little of the lid shade over the smudged kajal to soften it.
6. Kajal on the waterline, two coats of mascara.

Want it darker? Press a dark matte powder shadow over the outer corner at the end. That’s where powder still wins.

Making festive eye makeup last

Festive nights are long, rooms are packed and it’s usually warm. A few things that help:

• Prime oily lids. Mousse and cream can crease on very oily lids without primer.
• Stay thin. Two thin layers last better than one thick one.
• Set if needed. A light press of a matching powder shadow on top locks mousse in place.
• Use waterproof kajal. It smudges less when it’s hot.
• Pack blotting paper. Dab the crease if it gets shiny. Don’t rub.
• Keep a cotton bud in your clutch. For any smudges under the eye.

Matching the look to your outfit

• Red or maroon: gold or bronze eyes. Classic.
• Pink or peach: rose gold or soft pink shimmer.
• Green or blue: gold eyes, or match with an emerald or teal lower lash line.
• Black or navy: the glitter topper or soft smoky look.
• Pastels: champagne or pearl with very soft kajal.

Choosing between formats for festive season? Here’s my comparison of mousse vs cream vs powder eyeshadow.

FAQ

What is the easiest eye makeup for Diwali?

A single gold or rose gold shimmer on the lid, kajal on the waterline and mascara. It takes a few minutes and suits almost every skin tone and outfit.

How do I stop glitter from falling under my eyes?

Press glitter on with your fingertip instead of brushing it, and apply it over a slightly tacky base. Do your eyes before your foundation, or use tape to lift stray glitter.

Can I do a smoky eye with mousse eyeshadow?

A soft smoky eye, yes. For a deep, intense smoky eye, you’ll need kajal or a dark powder on top, because mousse alone is harder to build to that intensity.

How do I keep eye makeup from melting in the heat?

Prime oily lids, keep layers thin, use waterproof kajal and set mousse or cream with a little powder. Blot instead of rubbing during the evening.

Which eyeshadow colour goes with a red saree?

Gold, bronze and copper are the safest picks with red. For something softer, rose gold also works well.

Note: GlamAndPosh works with Makné, and this article mentions their products. Our opinions are our own. Read our disclosure.