7 Simple Eye Makeup Looks That Require Minimal Effort 

Doing full-glam makeup isn't easy or suited for all of us—especially those of us who don’t have the time or access to a professional makeup artist. So when you’re in the mood to try something new and spruce up your makeup, there are some simple eye makeup ideas that are not only impressive-looking but also easy to execute. 

Celebrity makeup artist Ash K. Holm, who has worked with stars like Ariana Grande, Megan Fox, and Khloe Kardashian, says that her mind automatically goes to the “model off duty eye makeup,” when thinking of the perfect simple eye makeup look. “Makeup that looks and feels effortless,” she says. 

Sometimes, to create an eye look, all you need is one shade of eyeshadow and your favorite eyeliner. It doesn't have to be as complicated as it seems. Holm believes you can achieve a simple eye look with products you most likely already have in your makeup bag. “Grab your concealer, bronzer, eyeliner, and mascara to create a soft eye makeup look,” she says. 

To help, we’ve rounded up 7 simple eye makeup looks you can pull off right at home. Keep scrolling and get ready to screenshot. 

Model Off Duty 

Models like Kaia Gerber, Bella Hadid, and Winnie Harlow always look fresh-faced off duty. The goal for this eye look is to keep things light and natural. “To achieve this look, take your concealer and apply a small drop to the inner corner of your eyes and then set the outer corner of the lid and crease with a bronzer,” says Holm. To get that sun-kissed look, chose a buildable bronzer like Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk'r or Makeup By Mario SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Perfector. Then, you’ll want to top it off with smudgy eyeliner in the outer corner or sharp kitten eyeliner and a lengthening and volumizing mascara. 

Contoured Lid

Enhancing your natural eye shape is a great way to draw attention to your eyes. “The contoured lid is one of the easiest ways to create a natural everyday eye look,” says bridal makeup artist, Mansi Somani. To create this look, all you need is a touch of concealer like R.E.M. Beauty Sweetener Concealer or Rose Inc Softlight Clean Dewy Hydrating Concealer to start with a clean base on the lid. Using brown eyeshadow, accentuate the crease and build to your desired shading. Grab a brown pencil eyeliner to define the top and bottom lash line and apply a coat of mascara. 

Subtle Smokey Eye

A smokey eye look doesn't always have to mean drama. “Using a soft brown eyeshadow all over the lid will give you just a bit of color to make your eyes pop,” Somani shares. Unlike black and navy shades, brown is much softer for your features. Finish it off with brown eyeshadow on your bottom lash line and a few coats of mascara. Palettes like MAC Eyeshadow X 9 in Amber Times Nine and NYX Ultimate Color Palette Warm Neutral will give you room to play around with different shades. 

Smoked Out Wings

Holm thinks that outer corner smokey eyes are a favorite trend of hers, especially during the Fall and Winter seasons, because it keeps the eyes sultry and sexy without being overbearing. “You can create this look with any monochromatic color scheme,” she explains. Smokey blacks and browns are always her go-to when creating this look. To get perfectly diffused edges, invest in a good eye brush set. 

Soft Cut Crease

“A soft cut crease created with eyeshadow is a great way to make your eyes look bigger and more elongated,” Holm explains. It’s a 90’s eye trend that never gets old, in her opinion, and will always make you look your best. Opt for shadows in shades of pink and peach for a fresh-faced look. Feeling extra ambitious? Pop some false eyelashes on the outer corners of your lash line to enhance the doe-eyed effect. 

Smudged Liner 

The smudged eyeliner look is a great option for anyone that doesn't have the patience to create a clean eyeliner look. “Create a clean base with concealer and use your foundation powder to set it for a matte finish,” says Somani. Lightly line your eyes with a brown or black pencil (it doesn't have to be perfect) and smudge it with a small smudge brush to create a softer eyeliner look. For convenience, choose a liner with a built-in smudge brush like Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner or Diorshow 24H Stylo Waterproof Eyeliner.

Winged Eyeliner

“A wing liner will always have my heart,” Holm says. “It’s always a good idea to give the eyes a little outer corner flick.” This adds instant definition to the eyes and can snatch the eyes to completely change your eye shape. If you're a winged liner newbie, a liquid pen like Half Magic Magic Flik or Pat McGrath Perma Precision Liner will give you ample control when creating your lines and shapes.