Floating Eyeliner Is *The* Holiday Look Of 2020: Here's A Step-By-Step Tutorial

In seasons past, many have leaned on bold beauty looks to make a statement at holiday events, like a sharp cat-eye, glitzy shadow, or a crimson red lip. The classics, if you will. But 2020 is unlike any year, which makes the holiday-inspired makeup a bit, well, offbeat. Maybe you're gathering over Zoom to toast to the New Year, or you're safely seeing loved ones while masked-up and socially distant. So why not ditch the classics altogether and don a makeup look that speaks to the unique circumstances of this year? The aforementioned red lip is pretty pointless, anyway (no one will see it under a mask!), not to mention messy and bothersome. 

Floating eyeliner, on the other hand, is a fresh, modern way to make a statement nose-up. It's exactly how it sounds: You're floating the liner above the lash line, creating negative space around the lid for a beat that's graphic and surprisingly minimal. 

This look is fun, playful, and bold—it practically emulates holiday cheer. Plus, it enhances the shape of your eye and defines your crease. If you have hooded eyes (which can make it difficult to find your natural crease), just keep your eyes open and look straight at the mirror when drawing your lines—that way, you can "create" your own crease without worrying about the skin folds smudging up your progress. "This look was made for hooded eyes!" says Compton. 

We should also note that it may take some practice to get the graphic liner just right, but remember that concealer is your friend, here. "Your concealer and foundation act as an eraser, so don't be shy when you experiment because mistakes are easy to correct," says Compton. "And, at the end of the day, it's just makeup and can easily be removed."