When the sun sets, it’s time to embrace bolder, more dramatic makeup styles that enhance your features and add a touch of glamour. Whether you’re attending a formal event, a night out, or a romantic dinner, the latest evening makeup trends offer endless inspiration for creating show-stopping looks. From sultry smoky eyes to glowing, dewy skin, these trends will elevate your makeup game for any evening occasion.
This guide covers the top evening makeup trends, helping you find the perfect style to complement your nighttime ensemble.
1. Smoky Eyes with a Modern Twist
The smoky eye is a classic evening makeup look that never goes out of style, but in 2024, it’s all about adding a modern twist. Smoky eyes are being redefined with unexpected color combinations and unique finishes.
- Colorful smoky eyes: While black and gray are traditional smoky eye colors, this year’s trend incorporates jewel tones like emerald, sapphire, and amethyst. These bold hues add a pop of color while maintaining the sultry, smoldering effect of a smoky eye.
- Metallic finishes: Metallic eyeshadows in shades of gold, bronze, or silver are being used to create shimmering smoky eyes. The metallic finish adds dimension and catches the light, making your eyes stand out in the evening glow.
- Soft, blended edges: The modern smoky eye emphasizes soft, blended edges for a more seamless and polished look. Use a blending brush to diffuse the color at the outer corners for a smooth gradient effect.
Tip: Pair your smoky eyes with neutral lips to keep the focus on your dramatic eye makeup. Use a nude or soft pink lipstick to balance the look.
2. Glowing, Dewy Skin
Glowing, radiant skin is a major trend for evening makeup, replacing the traditional matte look with a luminous, lit-from-within glow. Achieving dewy skin is all about using hydrating products and highlighters strategically.
- Hydrating primer: Start with a hydrating or illuminating primer to create a smooth, glowing base. This helps your skin stay moisturized and gives it a natural radiance.
- Cream-based products: Use cream blushes, highlighters, and bronzers to enhance your skin’s natural glow. Cream formulas blend seamlessly into the skin, giving you a fresh, dewy finish.
- Highlighting the high points: Apply highlighter to the high points of your face—cheekbones, brow bones, and the bridge of your nose—to catch the light. For an extra glow, dab some highlighter on the inner corners of your eyes and above the Cupid’s bow.
Tip: Set your makeup with a dewy setting spray to lock in moisture and enhance the glow without making your skin look greasy.
3. Bold, Statement Lips
If you prefer to keep your eyes minimal, a bold lip is the perfect way to make a statement for your evening look. The latest evening makeup trends feature rich, vibrant lip colors that command attention.
- Classic red lips: Red lips are a timeless evening makeup staple, and this year they’re more versatile than ever. From matte ruby reds to glossy scarlets, a bold red lip adds instant glamour to any outfit.
- Berry and wine hues: Deep berry and wine-colored lips are perfect for fall and winter evenings. These rich tones add a sophisticated, vampy vibe to your look and pair beautifully with neutral or bronze eyeshadow.
- Glossy lips: While matte lips are still popular, glossy lips are making a strong comeback. High-shine gloss in bold colors like red, plum, or even fuchsia adds a modern, youthful twist to traditional evening makeup.
Tip: Keep your lip color in place all night by lining your lips with a matching lip liner before applying lipstick. This creates a base that prevents feathering and extends wear time.
4. Graphic Eyeliner
For those looking to experiment with their evening makeup, graphic eyeliner is a bold trend that’s all about creativity. From sharp wings to abstract designs, graphic eyeliner lets you add a modern edge to your look.
- Floating eyeliner: Floating eyeliner is one of the most popular graphic eyeliner trends, where the liner is drawn above the crease instead of along the lash line. This creates a futuristic, artistic effect that’s perfect for a night out.
- Bold cat eyes: The classic cat eye gets an update with thicker, bolder lines that extend dramatically past the outer corners of the eyes. Black is the go-to color, but you can also experiment with colored liners for a playful twist.
- Double-winged liner: For a more intricate look, try double-winged eyeliner. This trend involves drawing two parallel lines, one along the lash line and another just above, creating a layered wing effect that’s both dramatic and elegant.
Tip: Use a precision liquid liner for clean, sharp lines, and pair your bold eyeliner with a nude or minimal eyeshadow to keep the focus on your eyes.
5. Metallic and Glitter Accents
If you love a little sparkle, the metallic and glitter trend is perfect for adding a glamorous touch to your evening makeup. From subtle shimmer to all-out glitter, these accents can take your look from ordinary to extraordinary.
- Metallic eyeshadows: Metallic eyeshadows in shades like gold, rose gold, and silver are a great way to add a sophisticated shimmer to your look. Use them all over the lid for a bold statement or just in the inner corners for a subtle highlight.
- Glitter liners: Glitter eyeliner is another playful way to add sparkle to your evening makeup. Apply glitter liner along the upper lash line or on the lower lash line for a touch of glam.
- Shimmering highlighter: For a full-on glow, use a highlighter with micro-glitter particles. Apply it to your cheekbones, brow bones, and even your collarbone and shoulders for an all-over radiant finish.
Tip: When using glitter or metallic products, balance the rest of your makeup with matte textures to avoid an overly shiny look.
6. Monochromatic Makeup
Monochromatic makeup, where you use the same color palette across your eyes, cheeks, and lips, is a simple yet impactful evening makeup trend. It creates a cohesive, polished look with minimal effort.
- Warm neutrals: For an understated evening look, use warm neutrals like terracotta, peach, or rose. Apply the same shade to your eyes, cheeks, and lips for a soft, harmonious finish.
- Bold monochrome: For those who love a bolder look, opt for vibrant monochromatic shades like pink, coral, or plum. This trend works particularly well with cream products, which blend seamlessly for a unified look.
Tip: Monochromatic makeup is versatile and can be dressed up or down depending on your color choice. Opt for deeper, richer shades for a more dramatic evening look.
Conclusion: Elevate Your Look with These Evening Makeup Trends
The latest evening makeup trends offer endless ways to play with color, texture, and technique, allowing you to create a look that’s as bold or subtle as you desire. Whether you’re embracing a classic smoky eye, going for a glossy lip, or experimenting with graphic eyeliner, there’s a trend to suit every occasion and personality. As you explore these styles, don’t be afraid to mix and match trends to create a custom evening look that makes you feel confident and glamorous.