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A subtle smoky eye is a no-fail choice for your wedding-night makeup look, but it's not the only choice. Instead of going over to the dark side, try these fresh (and simple!) alternatives from New York City makeup artist Quinn Murphy.
Classic Lines: Clean, glamorous, and always-flattering, a cat eye is the easiest way to get black-tie ready without piling on tons of shadow. To get your best swoop, Quinn suggests using two black eyeliners: First, draw the shape with a pencil (removing mistakes with a Q-tip as you go), then going over the line with a liquid eyeliner to minimize smudging. To accentuate your cat eye, apply volumizing mascara, swept up and out, or add false lashes just at the outer corners.
Try: Benefit They're Real! Push Up Liner, $24, available at Sephora
Lots of Lashes: Start by brushing a pale shade of gold, champagne, or shell pink eyeshadow across your lids. Next, dot black eyeliner in between each lash to make your lashes look extra-lush, then layer on individual false lashes, placing the longer ones in the middle and the smaller ones at the inner and outer corners. Finish with plenty of waterproof mascara on both your top and bottom lashes and a swipe of soft pink on your lips. The result? Bambi eyes that stun the moment you lift your veil.
Try: L'OReal HiP Studio Secrets Eye Shadow Duo in Precious, $7, available at Amazon; Ardel Duralash Naturals Individual Lashes, $11, available at Amazon
See More: How to Get Brighter Eyes For Your Wedding
Sparkle and Shine: A twinkling metallic shadow will catch the light beautifully in photos — but be sure to choose a shade that complements your skin tone. For fair-skinned brides, that means champagne or rose-gold, olive-skinned brides should look for gold or bronze, and dark-skinned brides will look amazing in shimmery chocolate or onyx. Sweep it across your lids for a simple wash of sparkle, or combine it with a lighter shade on the inner corners of your lid, then finish with brown or black liner.
Try: Bobbi Brown Sand Eye Palette, $65, available at Sephora
Strip Down: A barely-there eye doesn't have to look minimal. The trick to making nude shadows look glam enough for your wedding day is choosing a satin-finish or cream eyeshadow with flecks of gold. This will flatter all eye colors and makes them look bright in photos, Quinn says. If you have fair skin, go for taupe or beige shadows, if you have a medium to dark complexion, look for browns. Finish with brown eyeliner traced as close to your lash line as possible.
Try: RMS Cream Eye Polish in Seduce, $28, RMSBeauty.com