2026’s hottest makeup trend? Euphoria-inspired blue eyeshadow – shop our favourite palettes

Blue eyeshadow may evoke a tableaux of Edie Sedgwick's doe-eyed lids streaked with colour or Anna Karina's strikingly smudgy look in Jean-Luc Godard’s first colour film, Une Femme est une Femme, yet this bold makeup trend has evolved far beyond its Swinging Sixties roots. According to TikTok Shop, searches for the term "blue eyeshadow" have risen by 19 percent since last winter.

The look was born on the silver screen, emerging alongside the rise of accessible drugstore makeup and cemented by Elizabeth Taylor's electric-blue lids, framed with dramatic black liner, in the 1962 Cleopatra. Blue eyeshadow soon became a defining cinematic beauty statement, enduring into the 80s when David Lynch's neo-noir Blue Velvet featured Isabella Rossellini commanding the stage with vivid blue eyelids and a bold red lip set against a curtain of crimson velvet. By the 90s, Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown saw Pam Grier effortlessly coordinate her flight attendant uniform with her matching beauty look.

© Getty Images

Beyond the movies, blue eyeshadow also peppered popular culture. In the late 90s and early 2000s, the trend took on a frosted Y2K edge – think Kate Moss' icy blue lids backstage during Tom Ford's tenure at Gucci in 1996. The 2000s then embraced a glossy, Bratz doll-inspired glamour, which has since evolved into the Euphoria-esque artistry seen today. Makeup artist Sophia Sinot created shimmering, frosted eyes for Zara Larsson's Midnight Sun tour.

© Getty

Its resurgence is largely courtesy of the runway. Designers including Schiaparelli, Marc Jacobs, and Anna Sui showcased icy washes of the tint across the lids during their spring/summer 2026 shows, while Eckhaus Latta and Masha Popova offered a moodier interpretation for autumn/winter 2026.

© Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

© Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Beauty brands have also tapped into the trend, with Chanel’s latest Denim Dream collection being a nostalgic nod to the playful look. Now, the TikTok girlies have taken it upon themselves to sport the sky-blue hue, recreating the bold eye trend in various ways with formulas from beauty giants such as Victoria Beckham Beauty's Satin Kajal Liner in the shade 'Shimmer' and Dior's Diorshow 5 Couleurs Couture Blue Eyeshadow Palette. 

How do I wear blue eyeshadow?

For many of us, sporting a bold-coloured tone can be a little daunting, especially when left to our own devices without the helpful hand of an acclaimed celeb makeup artist. Lucky for you, we chatted with expert makeup artist Yasmin Salmon to discuss the best tips and tricks when it comes to making blue eyeshadow pop.

© @sophiasinot

Yasmin says that the secret to any good coloured-eye look is to always use an eyeshadow primer beforehand. "P.Louise Base is one of my favourites as they come in loads of shades and it’s tinted which helps the shadow pop as it gives the eyelids a more even tone," she tells Hello! Fashion. 

"To stop it from looking like a bruised eye I like to line the eyes with a dark brown or black eyeliner. This will help define your eyes and complete the look."

Take this as your 2026 sign to spice up your makeup looks and add a pop of colour.

Shop our favourite blue eye products:

How we chose:

• Performance and personal testimony: The eyeshadows chosen are products that our writer personally rates.  
• High performance and consistent use: All the picks selected have been used consistently and selected carefully. The products vary, spanning from different luxury brands but are united in the fact that they are all high-performing products.

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