Lipstick, step aside. This is a job for eyeliner. And shadow. And mascara. Masks might cover up half of our face, but that hasn’t stopped us from getting experimental. We asked a few of our favorites—makeup artists, influencers, and stylists—to show us their best take. By incorporating masks into their look and playing up the features that are visible, they prove this new, necessary accessory can actually be an excuse to push boundaries. Nothing can stop self-expression. Here, find seven colorful, bold, and unexpected ways to pair eye looks with your mask. 

Brow Play

Makeup artist William Scott’s brows are already dreamy. So when they took things to the next level with a teal stripe through each arch, and paired it with a hot pink bandana mask, they created some serious mask makeup magic. “I decided to bleach a streak in each brow and add color with mascara, ‘cause, why not?,” Scott explains. “I like makeup that is bright, minimal, and that I can forget about while I wear it, and this hit all of those marks.” Scott used MAC's Pigment and Lash Mixing Medium to blend a custom mascara hue, but you can recreate this look with a richly tinted mascara like ColourPop BFF Mascara in Kiss N’ Teal. 

Sunset Shadow

Want to jazz up a simple mask? Add color! Makeup artist and writer Khera Alexander’s rainbow lids and dramatic lashes perfectly balance out the simplicity of a solid black mask. To get the look, she started with bright teal on her lids, then swept on orange and purple shades to create a tropical-sky-at-dusk vibe. “I like to have fun and play around with my eye makeup,” she says. All of the shadows she used are from Juvia’s Place. Also worth noting: Alexander’s meticulous, brushed-up brows. To keep yours in place, try a quick coat of Milk Makeup's Kush Clear Brow Gel.

Mix & Match 

Designer and vintage curator Sarah Durini, likes to think outside the box. For example, three masks are better than one, and eye makeup doesn’t need to be symmetrical. “These masks were given to me by Masha Maria and I was very inspired by them,” she explains of her unique, layered look. To recreate her gingham masterpiece, use cream-based shadows (like this rainbow palette from Revolution Beauty) and paint on the pattern freehand with a flat eyeliner or concealer brush. Don’t worry if it’s not a literal recreation of the fabric. Durini joked that her gingham eyes look like a little kid drew them. “I like imperfections,” she says. 

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