12 Eye Glosses That Are Bound to Light Up Your Lids

The runway is where many of our favorite beauty trends are born. But sometimes they need a little extra star power, courtesy of the red carpet, for them to really catch on. One trend that totally fits the bill: eye gloss. Once an edgy editorial staple, celebrities and beauty brands have taken steps to bring the look to masses with a menagerie of options. Scroll on to see more!

(Photos via Steve Granitz/Getty, Pascal Le Segretain/Getty, Foc Kan/Getty, Craig Barritt/Getty)

Clear Glosses: A sheer wash of shine not only appeals to makeup minimalists but also offers an easy way for beauty beginners to dip their toe into the trend. Simply tap it over a clean lid like Rita Ora did for this year’s Grammys (left) or use it to smudge your eyeliner like the models at Altuzarra (right). Sure, you can use a clear lip gloss to get the look, but applying pout products near the eye can cause an infection. Luckily, there are new formulas that help eliminate the risk of cross-contamination.

(Photos via Kevin Mazur/Getty, Craig Barritt/Getty)

NYX Professional Makeup Lid Lacquer ($7): They always say you should try a new beauty trend with something budget friendly, and NYX is one of the best brands to start with. This tiny tube packs a lot of shine that you can sheer out to a light sheen or glob on for more impact.

Surratt Lid Lacquer ($36): Suratt boasts a bevy of Japanese-inspired beauty buys, including this rich eye topper that’s meant to recreate the megawatt luster of lacquerware on your lids. But if you want that filter effect, all you have to do is snap up the shade Kira Kira to score it.

Yves Saint Laurent Eye Gloss Smudger ($30): While most lip glosses are too sticky to avoid catching flyaways, this smudger doesn’t suffer the same consequences. Plus you can pat this on your cheeks and boost the sheen of your highlighter.

Tom Ford Eye Gloss ($36): Tom Ford didn’t hesitate to add this glimmering glaze to the models that walked his Fall 2018 show. Even after running around backstage and walking under hot lights, the gloss supplied an unmistakable shine that lasted.

Nude Gloss: A nude eye gloss can seem superfluous when there are clear ones available. But similar to their lip-focused counterparts, they add a bit of color to no-makeup makeup looks like we spotted on the Spring 2018 Colovos runway (left) or balance a bold lip look if you’re feeling extra. They can even help define and emphasize an eye look like we spotted on Zoe Kravitz (right) earlier this year.

(Photos via Victor Virgile/Getty, Foc Kan/Getty)

Butter London Glazen Eye Gloss ($24): As if this jelly-textured beauty buy wasn't enough to delight, these jiggling shadows deliver a gleam with some major sparkle. There is a rose gold shade that complements a slew of cool skin tones and a more gilded hue that fits well with warmer complexions.

Milk Makeup Eye Vinyl ($20): Just because you want that wet-shine look doesn’t mean you have to get your hands or brushes dirty in the process. This click pen dispenses the ideal amount of product to fit on your lids and works when you’re on the go.

Jillian Dempsey Lid Tint ($28): Metallics are summer beauty staples, but no shade is more flattering than bronze. Jillian Dempsey’s vegan version melts onto skin — thanks to a hydrating combination of shea butter and jojoba and marula oils — to blend beautifully with just your finger for a sheer wash of color.

Bobbi Brown Nude Eye Gloss ($28): We’ll admit that these babies are hard to find, but it’s well worth the effort! If you want your lids to be seen from space, you’re going to want the glass-like glimmer contained in this tube. It comes formulated with a number of waxes and resins to keep it in place for hours.

Bold Gloss: If your beauty philosophy is has a flair for the dramatic, giving a rich shadow a glossy shine will take your eye look to the next level. In fact, it ensured that all eyes were on Priyanka Chopra’s peepers at last year’s Emmys (left). And at Valentino’s Spring 2018 runway (right), models were seen sporting their glossy shadow looks not only on their lips but also their cheeks, à la Rihanna at the 2017 Met Gala. While pairing powder and gloss can sometimes turn into a gloppy mess, there are plenty of pigmented eye glosses that achieve the look minus the extra step.

(Photos via Steve Granitz/Getty, Pascal Le Segretain/Getty)

3ina Berry Eye Gloss ($16): This buildable eye gloss allows you to control the color payoff with a gentle gleam to catch the light and everyone else’s attention.

Paul & Joe Beaute Eye Gloss ($17): If you’re looking to brighten things up, Paul & Joe has got you covered with an array of pretty pastels inspired by the French Menagerie. And while it does contain some shimmer from the pearlescent pigments, it still delivers that liquidy shine.

Flesh Fleshpot Eye & Cheek Gloss ($20): Flesh might be one of the newest beauty brands on the block, but it’s already making waves with its many makeup musts, including this eye and cheek gloss. Flushed with gold, peach, and pink pigments, it’s sheer enough to let your skin show through but could also tint any shadow you pat on prior to it.

MAC Médoc Studio Eye Gloss ($22): MAC is a backstage staple, so it’s no surprise the company has equipped itself with its own eye topper that delivers a bit of glitz. While there are loads to lust after when it comes to the rich gold and starry black shades, we’re particularly partial to the deep burgundy that matches Chopra’s red carpet look.