Eyeliner Trends Dominating 2025

Classic winged eyeliner in shades of liquid black may be a lot of things, but it usually isn’t understated. It turns out that this may be its downfall. As pointed out by Nadia Iopel, it seems like sharp, well-defined cat eyes are losing favor because they’re too intentional, putting them at odds with 2025’s breezy, au-naturel beauty standards. “The trend now is to emphasize natural appearances rather than working toward theatrical, graphic points,” Iopel exclusively tells Glam, explaining that this shift creates a “much more artisanal and adaptable approach.”

Clean-girl trendsetters are turning to softer colors and a lighter hand when applying their liner. Shades like brown, taupe, and gray offer less-stark color palettes that complement the features without overshadowing them. And rather than outlining the entire eye, trends suggest applying these desaturated tones strategically — smudging them into the lash line, adding a barely there flick at the outside corner, or even dabbing a tiny bit of color into the waterline at the inner corner. This creates a natural-looking emphasis around your eyes without the obviously artificial vibes of heavy black wings.

Like soft eyeliner styles but don’t want to surrender the moodiness of dark liner? Smoky, smudgy eyeliner in hues of black or charcoal conveys artsy imprecision without losing its edge. Speaking exclusively to Glam, Nadia Iopel points out that smudged eyes are a cyclically popular look that comes across as “sultry” and “effortless” — a style that plays well with the current makeup zeitgeist of low-maintenance techniques.

Smudged liner also dovetails with the ongoing popularity of ’90s trends, which are still booming in 2025. This includes the grunge-coded return of fully-ringed eyes, whether you opt to add smoky shadows directly to the waterline or blur them outward for a more declarative look. You can even use the fully lined approach to sneakily hold onto black wings by transforming your usual cat eye into TikTok’s seductive siren-eye makeup trend; after first making waves in 2022, it seems this double-edged style is set to have a resurgence this year.

Whichever way you choose to incorporate smudged liner, Iopel suggests updating this throwback style by keeping things on the delicate side. “Using some form of kohl or gel liner and blending it out with either a brush or the tip of the finger to create a diffused effect enters into the classic ’90s grunge vibe but with a bit more refinement,” Iopel explains. To complete the look, consider giving a nod to other trends from the decade, like creating a perfectly ’90s wine-red lip.

Subtle neutrals and smoky waterlines can cover a lot of eyeliner occasions, but when you want to make a more artsy statement, graphic eyeliner placements can make for elegant conversation starters. “Floating liner is another current trend that has gained popularity,” Nadia Iopel exclusively tells Glam. For the uninitiated, Iopel explains that this floating look means “positioning eyeliner above the crease or otherwise in unexpected dimensions of the eye for a bold effect.”

Happily, it’s not too difficult to master the graphic and playful floating crease eyeliner trend, but you can also experiment with other style-forward techniques — this year, statement liner is less about nailing a specific look and more about creating any graphic lines that will exaggerate your eye shape. Case in point, Ariana Grande wore an unusual take on floating liner to the 2025 Golden Globes in January, with soft streaks of brown liner punctuating her eye makeup like little apostrophes.

You, too, can buck expectations with your graphic eyeliner. When in doubt, follow the natural curves of your features and see what shakes out — you just might find your next signature style. And don’t be afraid to push the envelope further with surprising hues, as colorful eyeliner is yet another trend to watch this year.

With basic black liner taking a backseat this year, the field has opened up to different — and sometimes surprising — eyeliner shades. “New trends flaunt bold colors and experimental editorial looks instead of the classic retro wing,” makeup artist Nadia Iopel exclusively reveals to Glam. “Interestingly, these techniques are being painted in bold hues, including cobalt blue, neon green, and metallics, as seen on recent runways.” For instance, the Spring 2025 Ready-to-Wear collection from Dries Van Noten featured both eyeliner and mascara in vivid pink and yellow.

This trend goes hand in hand with the aura beauty trend. This trend is all about using striking makeup colors and incorporating them throughout the face; they don’t have to be limited to your eyes! If you’re feeling daring, you can buy into this idea and try your hand at bright eyeliner, but there’s also room for a happy medium between color-bombing and 2025’s soft glam. Consider opting for colors that are intriguing but not loud, like eggplant or navy. Berry hues are also popular, from your lips to your eye makeup, so burgundy eyeliner could become your new best friend.

Ready to refresh your style for the year? Remember that eyeliner isn’t the only makeup staple undergoing a shakeup right now. For instance, don’t get caught flaunting outdated eyebrow trends that it’s time to let go of.