What Exactly Is Halo Eye Makeup?
Halo eye makeup is a shimmery eyeshadow technique that makes your eyes look rounder, brighter, and almost spotlighted. The look is defined by darker shades at the inner and outer corners of the eyelid, with a lighter, reflective color concentrated right in the center. When you blend it well, you get a soft “ring of light” effect, like a halo wrapped around the eye. In the early-to-mid 2010s, this style was a staple of 2010s makeup trends: think sculpted, matte skin, bold lips, and intricately blended, colorful eyes inspired by high-glam looks from the late ’70s and early ’80s. On YouTube, beauty creators turned halo eyes into a go-to tutorial format, experimenting with metallic jewel tones, pastel shimmers, and cut-crease variations that cemented the look as a defining eye style of the decade.
Zendaya’s Vogue Cover and the Celebrity Halo Eye Revival
The halo eye’s comeback hit a new peak when Zendaya appeared on a Vogue Brasil cover wearing a shimmering blue-green halo eye. Makeup artist Ernesto Casillas placed deep, saturated color at the inner and outer corners of her lids, then added a luminous pop through the center for a mermaid-like glow that would have thrilled any original beauty vlogger. Styled by Law Roach in fringed and feathered looks, Zendaya channeled a glamorous showgirl energy while still nodding to 2010s makeup trends. Her overall beauty direction echoed multiple nostalgic eras at once: draped blush, vivid lips, and long red nails reminiscent of joyful late ’70s and early ’80s glam, plus a bob coiffed with Jazz Age–inspired wave clamps and pin curls by hairstylist Coree Moreno. The effect proves halo eye makeup can feel modern, editorial, and endlessly adaptable to today’s celebrity makeup looks.
Why 2010s Makeup Trends Are Back in Fashion
The return of halo eye makeup fits into a broader wave of beauty nostalgia. Online, people are revisiting “Me in 2016” photos and realizing how playful that era’s style really was: Alexander McQueen skull motifs, heavy Valencia filters, towering platforms, and high-impact glam. Makeup from that period leaned into precision and drama—matte complexions, sharply sculpted cheeks, and eyes that demanded attention through cut creases, graphic liner, and, of course, halo eye looks framed with fluttery lashes. Today’s revival softens those references rather than copying them outright. Artists are blending 2010s techniques with influences from disco-era glamour and 1920s styling, like the draped blush and finger-wave-inspired hair seen on Zendaya. The result is a more fluid, experimental approach that celebrates maximalism without feeling overly heavy, making halo eyes an accessible way to tap into the fun of past decades.
How to Create a Classic Halo Eye at Home
To try a halo eye yourself, start with an eyeshadow primer to prevent creasing and intensify color. Choose three coordinating shades: a mid-tone transition shade, a deeper shade for the corners, and a shimmery eyeshadow for the center. First, sweep the transition color through your crease to create soft definition. Next, pack the deeper shade onto the inner and outer corners of your lid, leaving the center bare. Blend the edges carefully so there are no harsh lines, but keep the center free of dark pigment. Then, press your shimmery eyeshadow onto the middle of the lid using your finger or a flat brush, slightly overlapping the darker sides for a diffused spotlight effect. Finish by mirroring the same pattern along the lower lash line, and add mascara or lashes as desired to enhance the round, glowing shape.
Modern Ways to Wear the Halo Eye Trend
To keep halo eye makeup feeling current, play with color, texture, and placement. Jewel-toned shimmers like blue-green, emerald, or amethyst instantly reference editorial celebrity makeup looks while still feeling wearable for night events. For daytime, try soft taupes and champagne shimmers with a subtle halo in the center of the lid only. If you love the 2010s makeup trends but prefer a lighter touch, skip heavy falsies and opt for lengthening mascara to maintain the look’s luminous openness. You can also extend the halo slightly higher into the crease for a more graphic, Euphoria-adjacent effect, or use cream and liquid formulas for a dewy, almost wet finish. Paired with draped blush or a bold lip, the halo technique becomes a versatile way to nod to multiple nostalgic eras without looking like a throwback costume.