The smoky eye may be the ultimate going-out makeup look for many of us, but cut crease eyeshadow is giving it some major competition. The perfect smoky eye is about a blended look that makes it hard to tell where one shadow begins and another ends. Cut crease makeup is basically the opposite. The ideal cut crease eyeshadow look has a razor-sharp line where the shape on your lid ends and the one on your crease begins. A quick Instagram scroll is all the proof you need that cut crease makeup is aptly named and worthy of all the knife emojis that often accompany the images. They’re that precise.
While cut crease eye makeup may have a distinct finish, it’s still versatile. You can create your own version using different contrasting shadows, or try similar tones for a subtle effect. And don’t forget what a difference glitter and a flick of eyeliner can make. Once you’ve experimented with a few looks, you can even try a double cut crease.
Another bonus about cut crease eye makeup is that the look works for all eye shapes. Whether you have monolid eyes, hooded eyes or deep-set eyes, you can tweak the look to enhance your peepers. Pick up your makeup brushes and get inspired by these gorgeous cut crease eye makeup looks.
29 Cut Crease Eye Makeup Looks to Swap Your Smoky Eye For
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New Neutral
Are you starting to feel like you're in a makeup rut with your brown and neutral eyeshadows? Switch up your usual blended smoky eye with a cut crease design. It will make your old shadows feel like new.
Image: @j_morganmakeup
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Sharp Corners
This cut crease is as sharp as the cat eye. To achieve a similar effect, use a fine-tipped shadow brush along your crease to create a crisp line.
Image: @swetlanapetuhova
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Baby Blue
There isn't anything wishy-washy about this blue makeup. If you have brown eyes, bring attention to your chocolate-colored peepers with a bold shadow like this. For extra flair, add a slash of glitter along your crease.
Image: @denise__chavez
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Made the Cut
You only really need two shadows to create a cut crease makeup look, but there's no need to stop there. The white highlights and black shadows give this cut crease even more dimension.
Image: @_kas_kas__
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Sunset
Take inspiration from an Instagram-worthy sunset for your next beauty look. A metallic gold shadow and a deep red one will give you the rich finish you want. If you want to add some orange to the look, go for it.
Image: @makeuplex_
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Coordinated Cut
It's easy to focus on getting a flawless cut crease look and forget about the rest of your makeup. The key is to remember that your eyes are only part of the look, so create a cohesive finish by matching your lipstick to one of your eyeshadows.
Image: @tessgouldsmith
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Cut It Out
Do you normally put your darker shadows on your lid and reserve the lighter shades for under your brow bone? Switch things up by applying the lightest color on your brow bone and the darker one in the crease.
Image: @suyenfrazer
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Ditch the Shadow
If you're struggling to get a precise cut crease with eyeshadow, try using your trusty liquid eyeliner for all or part of the look. Just pretend that you're doing a very thick cat eye.
Image: @beautyb_4
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Double It
Brown and gray work together in your wardrobe and your makeup. Try an exaggerated double cut crease to create a colorblock effect.
Image: @claudiabortiz
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Golden Gaze
Pair your fullest set of lashes with dramatic winged eyeliner and a gold cut crease and you have an evening-ready look that will turn heads.
Image: @patriciazanattamakeup
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Bejeweled
Glitter is great, but it cannot compete with an embellished eye like this. Create a neutral cut crease look, then decorate it with different colored gemstones for a megawatt finish.
Image: @vanyxvanja
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Up and Out
Cannot get enough of a cut crease? Exaggerate it. Then double it. An extra long crease is especially good for hooded eyes and monolids.
Image: @mhayesglam
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Walk the Line
If your cut crease is looking more like a smoky eye, draw a line of liquid eyeliner between your two eyeshadows. If you're feeling fancy, use a glitter liner.
Image: @sofijagrijak
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Lighten Up
Makeup rules were made to be broken and that includes the one about always choosing contrasting eyeshadows for your cut crease look. These soft ivory and peach tones are similar, but there is still enough of a difference to get a distinct line between the two shades.
Image: @michellelobrace
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Cutting Edge
Forget all of your preconceived ideas about blue eyeshadow. This bright blue cut crease with shimmering gold streaks is makeup goals.
Image: @luiza_mua
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Green Eyed
This is a double cut crease that looks like it has been sliced with a knife because it's so crisp. Ensure that you use a brush with a fine tip, so you can recreate the look. And remember not to rush.
Image: @shivangi.11
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Cut, Cut, Cut
This is one part cat eye, two parts cut crease with a dash of glitter thrown in for good measure. All of the elements come together to create a stunning effect.
Image: @modestlyque
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Orangey
Bored with brown? Try orange. It's just as wearable, but it gives you an entirely new look. For more drama, add a black feline flick cut crease look. Tie everything together with a bit of black shadow in your crease.
Image: @jlhidalgo.0
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Twice as Nice
Whether you call this a double cut crease, a sandwich cut crease or something else, the thing that everybody can probably agree on is that this bronzed eye makeup slays.
Image: @taliquindio
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Halfway Point
Got a shaky hand? Instead of stressing about getting a full cut crease look, try this version that ends halfway across the lid. Once you perfect it, you can try the full look. That is if you still want to.
Image: @molliexjayne
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Go Glittery
The rosy shadows would have been stunning on their own, but it's the glitter that makes this look. Instead of automatically putting it in your crease, try dabbing it in a more unexpected spot.
Image: @thecutestberry
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Soften Up
A cut crease with razor-sharp precision is normally the desired look, but you can soften the line by adding a dark smoky shadow. To ensure your cut crease is still obvious, choose eyeshadows on opposite ends of the spectrum, like ivory and black.
Image: @hel.makeup
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Bit of Blue
Pale pink and blue aren't the edgiest colors in your palette, but this makeup shows they can be as cool as your vampy shades. Choose a ballet pink shade and coordinating sparkly liner on your lid. Then surprise everyone with an injection of blue in the crease.
Image: @cinda.beauty
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Modern Mod
This is how you take a retro beauty look and make it modern. Graphic 60s eyeshadow gets reinvented by leaving the crease bare and having the black eyeshadow around it. Stick with the throwback vibe by applying a matte neutral lip color.
Image: @chrisssbeauty
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The Eyes Have It
You worked hard to get that cut crease flawless, so don't distract from it with glitter lips and major strobing. Stick with understated tones on the rest of your face.
Image: @chiccstacy
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Mixed Metals
Take a neutral cut crease from day to night with some metallic shadow. If you're having trouble deciding between gold and silver, try this mixed look.
Image: @leosmakeupstudio
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Bright Delight
If you're going to go bright, really go for it. When you mix red shadow with electric green, it creates an evening look that is guaranteed to turn heads. To up the ante more, finish with a foiled lip color.
Image: @markiemeghan
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Purple Reign
This is a lesson on how you mix colors and finishes. It may look complicated, but it's actually a great starting point for cut crease newbies. Because there is such a difference between the two shadows, you don't have to try as hard to create separate shapes.
Image: @_makeupbygiselle
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Solid Gold
When in doubt, go for a gold eyelid with a neutral crease. It's a fierce evening look that's different than your usual cat eye.
Image: @nadia.luxe
