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For fans of creative eye shadow styles, there’s nothing better than a cut crease. Following the natural seam between the eyelid and the under-brow area, cut creases have been popular since the outrageous eye makeup of the 80s. However, in more recent years, the bright colors haven’t so much given way as made room for glamorous and natural styles, making this look more accessible to all.
Cut crease eye makeup has the advantage of making your eyes look bigger or wider while also playing on the curves of the eye itself. You can also pair these styles with other trendy looks like a fierce winged eyeliner, a disco-tastic glitter, or maxed out eyebrows. Only you know how far to take your cut crease! Keep it understated or make a statement, it’s completely up to you.
Following the number one beauty rule, these designs take what you already have, accent it, and make it spectacular!
Best Cut Crease Eye Shadow Ideas
Glowing Ember
A misconception about cut crease looks is that they have to be sharply contrasted. Not so! You can use the cut crease method to make a beautiful halo eye effect, as seen here. The deep red hues remind us of those last coals in a bonfire, an image strengthened by the glitter on the eyelid.
All Red
Another incorrect assumption about the cut crease style is that you have to have eyeshadow both on the eyelid and above the eye. As you can see, the bright red in this look stands perfectly on its own. The tiny beads bring a cute and whimsical element that really makes the style.
Deep Blue Sea
Layering is the key to making this cut crease style work. Start with a base of the lighter blue, taking it all the way under the eye and up to the brow line. From there, continue to layer the colors, working toward the darker shades in the corner and along the crease. Going from light to dark allows the bright blue to stand out while making the darker elements clear.
Coral Sunrise
This look works best using a layering technique as well, but in the reverse. Start with the outer corner with the darker colors, and work your way toward the yellow in the inner corner. In this instance, putting the lighter colors on top makes it easier to blend, achieving the desired effect. To get the crease, draw a start line with the purple shadow and smudge upwards.
Mirrors and Smoke
Cut creases are a beautiful way to make a smoky eye effect, providing a clean line to define the edges of the style. The delicate silver shimmer is perfect with the purple-gray of the main color. Using this darker color as the line ties the look together as well as bringing the element of definition characteristic of a cut crease.
Glorious Pink
An example of a common cut crease look, this fun pink style uses the stark lines between the eyelid and under brow area to define the sections of the design. The sharp angle along with wing line also fits with a cut crease, providing a distinct edge. Again, using layering techniques, you can get just the right blend of colors and textures.
Everyday Style
Cut creases don’t have to be over the top or outrageous. You can see here that the matte nude shadow on the lid works perfectly with the neutral brown tone under the brow, yet still forming a cut crease style. This is a great way to do a cut crease for an everyday look, while still fitting with the trend.
Rainbow Wings
There are so many design possibilities with cut creases! For instance, these adorable wings work perfectly with the style. Following the natural curve of the eye, the bright blue of the wing looks amazing against the pink and orange of the outside colors. Using shimmer shadows for all the colors helps to make the design cohesive in spite of the color contrast.
Purple Magic
Often, cut crease styles will use an ombré effect across the lid in addition to the blended color under the brow. Here, the purple color moves from a bright lavender to an intense indigo shade, lovely against the model’s skin tone. Adding a winged eyeliner also brings a clear line to the style, a common element among this look.
Bronze Beauty
Another neutral cut crease design, this look would be amazing for homecoming or a wedding. The shimmer of the lighter tone catches the light and gives a pleasant contrast to the matte of the deep brown shade. Keeping with a neutral color palette fits with the rest of the style as well, complementing this bronze shades in the blush and the blonde of the model.
Modern Art
Bright and bold, this cut crease style brings in elements of abstract art to fit with the modern trend. Playing off the primary colors (replacing red with pink), the bright, opaque shades provide the perfect contrasting elements to make the cut crease work. Blending at the places where the colors meet makes the look cohesive, and shows the natural color overlaps of these hues.
Abstract Line
Speaking of abstract art, sometimes you might like to take your cut crease look in a different direction. While you would usually follow the natural line of the eye, you can use an eyeliner pencil or crayon, or even a liquid liner, to form a new line. Blend and create your cut crease style from there, using your new line as your guide. The rose gold tones of this style work nicely within the overall look, while creating a unique style.
Ride the Waves
Blue and gold are a perfect match, particularly this brilliant Caribbean blue. This cut crease style does an excellent job of dividing the look into its respective sections while sticking with a simple color palette. Keeping with neutral tones aside from the blue makes the accent color pop, and prevents the style from being too busy.
Burnished Gold
Gold and copper are the name of the game in this look. Start with the under brow color using a powder shadow, then use a more opaque or cream-based eyeshadow to create the next layer. Blend the corner with the darker copper tone and add the gold glitter to finish off the style. This is a great look to go with any outfit, or complement a gold bridesmaid or prom dress.
Poppin’ Pink
Shimmer eyeshadow can be your best friend when creating a cut crease look. Not only does the shimmer just look amazing, but also when it catches the light, shimmer eyeshadows bring that extra contrast that makes a cut crease work. A splash of glitter and a thick winged eyeliner work nicely with the colors, and helps to establish the overall shape.
Joke’s on You
Another fun halo effect, the cut crease style creates complexity and a cool look. Combining shimmer shadow with a matte also adds a sense of depth, both with color contrast and as the shimmer catches the light. Using the neon green eyeliner provides a pop of color that breaks up the style.
Peacocking
A wide spectrum of blues come together to make a dazzling cut crease style. Start with the lightest blue as a bottom layer, and then use your other colors to create the striped effect. This is actually the perfect style to use a sponge eyeshadow applicator, as it will help you to make the clean lines within the look. Pull the colors out to the corner of the eye to form the wing, extending the design.
Out on the Town
Cut creases are great if you’re planning a night out, particularly if you are a fan of glitter! This style uses a bright, golden glitter as the focal point, achieving the cut crease with a more natural tone. The touch of pink in the corner of the eye is a fun flash of color, one that you can switch out to make your outfit.
Copper Sunset
Gold, copper, and red come together to form a stunningly gorgeous cut crease look. Gradating the hues above the eyelid really makes the look, gently fading into the under brow area. The sweeping shape of the design fits with the sunset theme, working with the colors nicely.
Tropical Fish
Lover of all things tropical? This cut crease style will have you dreaming of white sands and blue oceans of paradise in no time! With such gorgeous and sunny colors, we promise you will love this style. The cut crease is particularly important in making this design work, as it helps to provide a distinct shape and complete the allusion to a fish.
Rose Tones
While this cut crease style still uses a neutral palette, it definitely packs more of a punch than a more subdued look. The emphasis is on the color under the brow, rather than on the eyelid itself. Going for this shift in focal point makes for a unique shape and visual contrast. You can also see that this design draws more attention to the eye as well as the overall shape of the eyebrow.
Just a Little Bit of Pixie Dust
A simple style, a nude palette gets a whimsical touch with some silver glitter. Glitter cut creases are incredibly popular, and it’s easy to see why! This is a great way to lift your cut crease style for a formal occasion, like prom or a wedding.
Arabian Nights
With such beautiful jewel tones, this style makes us think of ancient tales of sorcerers, spells, and genies. Start with the pink and orange on the bottom, and then add the gold and purple one on top of the other. Expert blending gives this design an airbrushed look, almost more like a work of art than a makeup style.
Vive Carnival!
Cut creases are perfect for a festival look, especially if you’re planning to go all out! These classic Carnival colors of green and yellow look amazing together in this style, complemented by the bright pops of aqua and mint. Using a cut crease helps the eye to remain the focal point and not get lost among the eye makeup.
Moonrise
A cool take on the cut crease, this shape goes just a bit above the natural crease of the eye to create a unique half-moon shape. Using both the white and black eyeliners creates a cool baseline for the shape while also making the sharp wings. The darker color in the background makes the glitter stand out even more, making this style a statement piece all its own.
Luscious Lashes
Pretty blush shades work nicely against these gorgeous lashes. The shimmer eyeshadow offsets the eyelashes, while the deeper rosy color provides the cut crease. Just a hint of the deeper shade is needed to make the style effective; you don’t always have to pull the accent color all the way up under the brow in a cut crease look.
Rusty Wings
Cut creases and winged looks go hand in hand, as you can clearly see here. A deep rust color establishes the shape of the design, following the shape of the eye while setting up the wing. It is the sparkling eyeshadow on the lid that creates the cut crease, distinguishing between the eyelid and the rest of the look.
Twin Suns
Switching up the techniques from previous looks, this cut crease design starts with the creamy peach tone of the lid, the round shape making the design. Using a cream-based eyeshadow will help to get the clean lines of the shape while not blending with the orange accents. Going for a bright color like orange makes a statement, while also working nicely with the peachy tone of the base.
Goddess of Earth
Another multi-shade style, the green here speaks of life and the lusciousness of spring. A fun twist comes from the flow of the wing, essentially forming half a wing. The negative space between the tip of the wing and the green undershadow makes for an interesting visual effect.
Cresting Ocean
Combining blues together in this way always makes us think of the sea and the beauty within its depths. The bright blue is like the shallows, clear, wonderful, and refreshing. Blending in a darker blue fits with the deeper waters, a gorgeous gradation much like the natural sloping of the sands below the waves. A final touch, the silver glitter, is reminiscent of the light reflecting off the crest of the wave right before it crashes on the shore.
Fuchsia Magic
Cut creases will often bring a bit of blending to the outside corner of the eye, making the line of the crease a bit gentler. Using this method creates a pseudo-ombré effect, combining the two looks into one. Gorgeous shades of magenta, fuchsia, and lilac all work together nicely and look great against the neutral tones of the rest of the makeup.
Double Wings
The bright blue of the winged eyeliner alone would make this look spectacular, but adding the cut crease effect takes it to a new level. Again, all that is needed for a cut crease is the clear distinction between the under brow and eyelid areas. The dark blue line, easily put in place by a blue eyeshadow pencil or crayon, does the trick. Blending the blue shadow of the lid with a neutral tone allows the wing to stand out, creating the double effect.
Follow the Rainbow
A major advantage to cut crease designs is that you can make them as simple or creative as you would like. Here, the blend of deep colors contrast beautifully against the white of the large wings. Adding a baby blue line to accent the crease line and the wing provides just the right touch to clearly distinguish the parts of the look. Using cream-based eyeshadow and sealing with a setting powder also helps keep the colors and lines clear.
12th Man
Fans of the Seattle Seahawks will love this look, as the pop of neon green matches the accent color of the Washington team. This cut crease follows a different line than others, starting at the inner corner and finishing in a straighter line. The smoky colors make for a mysterious and sexy design, one you could do with any accent color or no color at all.
Smoke on the Water
With such a bright shadow on the eyelid, a darker color is almost necessary to balance this smoky style. Using the cut crease method, the deep gray tones complement the silver nicely and offset the long lashes. You can also see that even though the shadow extends up to the eyebrow, it isn’t necessarily still dark. It is a more neutral tone, perfect for blending the style and provide a finishing touch.
Snowy Sunset
Another glitter cut crease style, the white glitter of this look is amazing against the deep purple and other sunset tones. This would be a fun take on a winter style, the chunky white glitter emulating a fresh snowfall on a cold winter’s night. Going for the sunset color palette rather than a typical frosty blue makes this look unique.
Gold and Incense
While it isn’t your typical smoky eye color, gold works amazingly well in this cut crease look. Gold is a great choice if your skin tone and coloring works better with warmer colors rather than a cooler silver tone. The gold warms up the smoky eye, and the cut crease allows the gold to shine.
Make it Pink, Make it Blue
Layer upon layer, a steady hand, and a ton of patience make this style. Start with the pink as a basecoat, and then put the remaining shades of blue and pink on top. The final touch comes from a fine, shimmering glitter. This type of glitter catches the light, changing the tone of the different shades.
I’ll Have a Merlot
A cream rose gold shadow is the perfect complement to the deep burgundy color of the accenting shadow. For this style, it would be best to put the burgundy down first as a base layer and then add the shimmer shadow on top. That will help to make the shimmer stand out, while maintaining the base color’s shape.
All that Glitters
Sometimes, all you need is a touch of glitter. Beautiful neutral tones look amazing in this simple cut crease style, while the glitter both sets off and accents the design. Gold is the perfect color choice, as it not only complements the other tones, but it works nicely against the color of the braids of the model.
Silver Arches
Not only can cut creases follow your natural eye shape, but they also can be used to establish a shape of your choosing. Here, the silver of the main tone forms an arched shape rather than the conventional wave or wing of most cut creases. Outlining the silver in the darker gray helps the arches to stand out clearly, creating a defined style that you’ll love!
Magenta Gold
Rose gold is hot trend, and it is easy to see why! Working in ways that gold and silver just can’t, the pretty blush tones of rose gold have a glow that works with both warm and cool tones. As you can see here, the magenta looks amazing against this shade, particularly as with the opaque nature of the cream shadow.
Looking for a way to change up your eye makeup? Then the cut crease is your answer! With so many options in shape, color, texture, and effect, you’ll never get bored with a cut crease.
Build your own cut crease style based on your personal style and preference, or break it out for a special occasion. No matter how you decide to wear a cut crease design, you’ll be glad you did.