When I was in elementary school, a classmate asked me what my favorite color was, and my response was gold. My answer received an immediate disapproving rebuttal: “That doesn’t count. It’s not in the crayon box.” While my fellow grade-schooler was correct (well, until Crayola released the 64 count box), I didn’t care about that fact. I loved all things glittery and gold even though I wasn’t allowed to wear makeup (only clear MAC Lipglass) except for special occasions until I was 18. But I wore gold nail polish as a teen exclusively.
Now that I’m an adult, I get to wear my love of gold on my literal sleeve and my eyelids. My beauty roadmap for a signature gold eye shadow look is Beyoncé. She always serves us gorgeous gold looks (her OTR II Tour and Formation eye looks are iconic) no matter the occasion. Working with gold shadows can take a little trial and error, but once you find a single shade or palette that compliments your skin tone and eye color, you can rock gold from day into night. Keep scrolling to see my 21 favorite gold makeup looks that go from subtle to full glam.
Going for the gold when creating an eye look doesn’t always mean leaning into the bling (which we love too). Opting for a lighthanded application can create a subtle yet glowy look perfect for day or night.
While we see gold covering the entire lid (Pale Gold 002 from the Pat McGrath Mothership Subliminal Eye Palette), the key to this look is depth. Lining the lid and adding a darker shadow color to the crease creates a multidimensional look.
Queen B is all about gold lids to complement her beautiful almond eyes. There are so many looks to choose from that she’s worn over the years, but this subtle, shimmery gold look is definitely in my saved Instagram file.
When using metallic colors on the eyes, don’t be afraid to apply the same color under the bottom lash line to make the look (and your eyes) pop.
Take a note out of Mariah Carey’s beauty book and apply liner and a strip of lashes to bring on the glam.
For a lighter gold eye look, try using a mix of gold shadow and a product that adds a bit of sheen, like Aquaphor.
This luxe gold look can be recreated for any special occasion. Just be sure to prime the eyelids properly before applying loose glitter.
Using a deep shadow color (or even a bronzer) as the base of a gold eye look creates a bold, blingy smoky eye. Here, Sarah Novio takes the look up a notch adding a graphic shape with chocolate liner.
Hung Vanngo is a craftsman and this multidimensional gold look makes Alecia Morais’s beautiful eyes the star of the show. You can see how he crafted this look here.
Full brows coupled with a gold shadow is our idea of a dynamic duo.
A full-bodied smokey eye with gold shadow at the center is a beauty do. If you aren’t sure what individual shadow colors you need to create your ideal look, try a palette or shadow brick with deep neutrals and, of course, gold hues.
A bold liner with a gold accent isn’t all this look is packing. If you look closely at the corners of Gigi Hadid’s eyes, you’ll see there is a touch of deep shadow there to create dimension.
A rockstar smoky eye can still use a hint of gold, and this winged look created by Vincent Oquendo proves just that.
This gold pearl-adorned eye look is serving. Using a liquid gold shadow with an applicator, flat-backed pearls, and lash glue will likely be the best tools for crafting this look in the comfort of your own bathroom.
Don’t want a full gold lid but want to make your eyes appear bigger? Apply gold shadow or highlighter to the inner corners of your eyes. We promise you’ll see a difference.
Complement your eye color by selecting a gold hue that makes them and your skin tone pop.
We love this defining gold look on Shay Mitchell. All you need are two shadows: a deep option to add definition and a gold hue to add a touch of wow.
It’s the precision for us. Crafting this look at home will likely take a little practice (and lots of reusable Q-Tips), but as they say, practice makes perfect.
Liner and bright lids were made for each other. Don’t be afraid to use a bright shadow under a gold one for a burst of color.
We love this eye look because there is a hint of gold applied from the inner corner to the middle of the eyelid giving us just enough gold.
Here we see just a hint of gold and sparkle with this colorful look that puts the spotlight on Hailey Bieber’s hazel eyes.
Next, These Colorful Eye Shadow Looks Are Destined for TikTok Fame
