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Last New Year’s Eve I looked great at 9pm. By 12:05 I had glitter on my nose, my chin, and somehow my best friend’s coat. The lid itself was almost bare.
So this year I worked out a better order. This nye eye makeup tutorial is seven steps: prime the lid, blend a soft base, add a clear glitter glue, press the glitter on with your finger, line, lash, and set. The trick is the glue and the pressing. Everything else is shade choice.
I tested this look three times in a hot kitchen before I trusted it. It held through dinner, a crowded bar, and one very emotional countdown hug. Below are the steps, the 7 products I use, and the mistakes that cost me a lid of glitter.
If you want the full face version, my nye makeup 2027 looks post covers base and lips. This one is all eyes.
What is the easiest nye eye makeup tutorial for beginners?
The easiest nye eye makeup tutorial is a primed lid, one warm transition shade, clear glitter glue, and cosmetic glitter pressed on with your ring finger. Finish with waterproof liner and mascara. It takes about 15 minutes and lasts six hours or more.
That is the whole idea. You do not need a 30 pan palette or a steady hand. You need something sticky under the glitter.
Why glitter falls off your eyelids
Your eyelid skin is some of the thinnest skin on your body, and it makes oil all night. Oil breaks down powder shadow, so it slides into the crease. Glitter sitting on that oily powder has nothing to hold onto.
Brushes make it worse. A fluffy brush flicks glitter into the air, and most of it lands on your cheeks. Your finger presses the pieces flat so they lie down and grip.
Heat is the last problem. A packed room on NYE is warm, and warm skin sweats. That is why I use waterproof formulas for the liner and mascara, even though I skip them the rest of the year.
Is it safe to put glitter near your eyes?
Yes, if it is cosmetic glitter. The FDA only allows certain color additives in products made for the eye area, and craft glitter from the hobby store is not one of them. Craft glitter can also have sharp metal edges.
Keep glitter on the lid, not on the lash line or the water line. If a piece falls in your eye, do not rub. Rinse with saline or clean water, and take your time getting it out.
My NYE eye makeup tutorial, step by step
Do your eyes first, before foundation. Glitter fallout is easy to wipe off bare skin. It is a mess to lift out of concealer.
Step 1: Prime the whole lid
Tap a thin layer of eyelid primer from lash line to brow bone. Let it sit for one minute. This step is the reason the rest of the look does not crease by 10pm.
Step 2: Blend a warm transition shade
Use a soft matte brown in the crease with a fluffy brush. Small circles, light hand. This gives the glitter a frame so it looks done on purpose and not dropped on.
Step 3: Add a deeper shade to the outer corner
Press a darker brown into the outer third of the lid. Blend the edge up toward the crease. Stop here if you want a soft look, because the next steps add a lot of shine.
Step 4: Paint on clear glitter glue
Pat a thin layer of glitter primer over the center of the lid only. Wait about 30 seconds until it feels tacky, not wet. Wet glue makes glitter clump.
Step 5: Press the glitter on with your finger
Dip your ring finger in loose cosmetic glitter, tap off the extra, and press it onto the tacky spot. Press, lift, press again. Build it up in two thin layers instead of one thick one.
Step 6: Line with a waterproof liquid liner
Draw a thin wing from the outer corner, then connect it to the lash line. Keep it slim so the glitter stays the star. A brush tip liner is easier to control than a felt tip if your hands shake a little.
Step 7: Lash, then set
Curl your lashes, add one coat of waterproof mascara, and put on a light strip lash if you want more. Wait until the lash glue is tacky before you place it. Finish your face, then mist setting spray over everything.
Fallout clean up is easy if you plan for it. Before step 5, press a strip of tape or a cotton pad under each eye. Peel it off when you are done and the stray glitter goes with it.
Which glitter color should you pick?
Gold and champagne are the safest picks for almost every eye color. Silver looks icy and very New Year, especially on blue or gray eyes. Rose gold is softer and reads pretty in daylight too, which helps if your party starts at 6pm.
On deep skin tones, a bold gold or a holographic glitter stands out the most. On very fair skin, a fine champagne glitter looks bright without washing you out. If you want something louder, my cool blue makeup tutorial pairs well with silver.
The 7 products I use for this NYE eye look
evrygal recommends starting with the primer and the glitter glue if you only buy two things. Those two do most of the work. Here is every product in the order you use it.
Step 1: The Primer
Urban Decay
Eyeshadow Primer Potion
This is the step I used to skip, and it is the reason my old NYE looks creased. A tiny tap covers the whole lid and dries down to a light grip. Shadow goes on brighter and stays sharp through a long night. One small tube lasts me most of a year.
Step 4: The Glitter Glue
NYX Professional Makeup
Glitter Primer
This clear gel is the whole secret to glitter that stays. Pat it on, wait until it feels tacky, then press your glitter in. It dries clear, so you can use it over any shade. I also dab a little on my inner corners for a tiny pop of sparkle.
Steps 2 and 3: The Palette
Anastasia Beverly Hills
Soft Glam Essential Eyeshadow Palette
You need a soft brown for the crease and a deeper one for the outer corner. This palette gives you both, plus a few shimmers if you skip the loose glitter. The mattes blend out easily, even with a cheap brush. I use it all winter, not just for one night.
READ: nye makeup 2027 looks
Step 5: The Glitter
NYX Professional Makeup
Face & Body Glitter in Ice
This is cosmetic glitter made for face and body, so it is safe near the eye. Ice is an icy iridescent that flashes pink and silver in photos. Press it on with your ring finger over the glitter glue. A little jar goes a very long way.
Step 6: The Liner
KVD Beauty
Tattoo Liner in Trooper Black
The brush tip is thin and firm, so the wing comes out clean even when I am rushing. It is waterproof, and it did not budge after a full night in a hot bar. Take it off with an oil cleanser or a balm. Micellar water alone will leave a gray smudge.
Step 7: The Lashes
Ardell
Demi Wispies False Lashes
These are my pick if you have never worn strip lashes. They are short and light, so they look like your lashes on a very good day. Trim the outer end to fit your eye before you add glue. With care you can wear one pair three or four times.
READ: cool blue makeup tutorial
Step 7: The Mascara
Maybelline
Lash Sensational Sky High Waterproof Mascara
Sky High makes my short lashes look long and lifted with one coat. The waterproof version holds a curl much better than the regular one. It also blends my real lashes into the strip lash so you cannot see the line. Use an oil cleanser to take it off at 2am.
| Product | Step | Finish | Why it matters on NYE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Decay Primer Potion | 1. Prime | Sheer, grippy | Stops creasing on oily lids |
| ABH Soft Glam Essential | 2 and 3. Blend | Matte and shimmer | Frames the glitter |
| NYX Glitter Primer | 4. Glue | Clear, tacky | Holds glitter in place |
| NYX Face & Body Glitter | 5. Sparkle | Iridescent glitter | Cosmetic grade, eye safe |
| KVD Tattoo Liner | 6. Line | Satin black | Waterproof in warm rooms |
| Ardell Demi Wispies | 7. Lash | Soft, wispy | Looks natural in photos |
| Maybelline Sky High Waterproof | 7. Mascara | Long, lifted | Holds curl all night |
If you liked this, start with my holiday party makeup guide for the full face, then grab a lip from christmas red lipstick or go icy with frosted lipstick.
Want a softer shimmer for New Year’s Day brunch? Try moon dust eyeshadow. And if black mascara feels too expected, my best blue mascara picks look great with silver glitter. Most of these products also make good stocking stuffer ideas for the friend you get ready with.
evrygal recommends: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion for nye eye makeup tutorial, based on our hands-on testing.
NYE glitter only fails when it has nothing to hold onto. Prime the lid, use the glue, and press instead of sweep.
If you only buy one thing for this look, make it the NYX Glitter Primer. It turns any loose glitter into something that stays until next year.
Key Takeaways
- A good nye eye makeup tutorial starts with an eyelid primer, because oily lids are the main reason shadow creases by 10pm
- Glitter stays put when you press it onto a clear glitter glue with your finger instead of sweeping it on with a brush
- Do the eyes before your foundation so glitter fallout can be wiped off without ruining your base
- Only use cosmetic glitter near your eyes, never craft glitter, because craft glitter is not made for skin
- Waterproof liner and waterproof mascara are worth it on NYE, since warm rooms and happy tears break down regular formulas
Last updated: October 19, 2026
FAQ
How do I keep glitter from falling under my eyes?
Press the glitter on with your finger over a tacky glitter glue instead of sweeping it with a brush. Put tape or a cotton pad under your eyes before you start. Do your eyes before foundation so any fallout wipes right off.
Can I use glitter if I have hooded eyes?
Yes. Put the glitter on the center of the lid where it shows when your eyes are open, not just in the fold. Keep the wing thin and angled up. A light strip lash helps lift the whole eye.
What is the best way to remove glitter eye makeup?
Use tape first to lift loose glitter before you touch your eyes. Then press an oil cleanser or balm on the lid, hold it for a few seconds, and wipe gently. Rinse and repeat once. Rubbing hard pushes glitter into your lashes.
How long does this NYE eye look last?
With primer, glitter glue, and waterproof liner and mascara, mine lasts six to eight hours. That covers dinner, a party, and the countdown. Carry a cotton swab in case the wing needs a quick fix.
Can I do this look without false lashes?
Yes. Curl your lashes well and add two coats of waterproof mascara instead. The look will be softer, but the glitter still does most of the work. Many people prefer it for a dinner party.
