Tate McRae Makeup Look: 12 Eyeshadow and Lip Ideas

These looks run from a clean winged liner or glowy skin with glossy lips at the easy end to a dramatic dark smoky eye or bold pink and purple shadow at the other, and the effort climbs with the amount of color on the eyes.

Oily skin should go lighter on highlighter, and acne-prone skin should treat the skincare underneath as the first step of the look.

1. Winged Eyeliner

Winged eyeliner pairs with almost any other choice, whether the lip is nude or bold, the shadow soft or saturated. Pair it with bare lips or a glossy pink one, and the face still reads as finished.

A wing is easiest to control when you draw it first, starting at the far edge of the eye, then connect it to the lash line.

Keep the line thin near the inner eye and let it thicken as it moves out.

I prefer a liquid or gel liner for a crisp edge, though a pencil is more forgiving if your hand shakes. Each option trades precision for ease.

2. Glowy Skin with Glossy Lips

Radiant cheekbones, pink blush and high-shine gloss make a face that looks lit from within, and the lashes keep it from reading as too soft.

Skin is the star here, so I would spend the effort on prep rather than on more product.

Place highlighter on the high points of the cheekbones only, then blend pink blush over the apple of the cheek. Finish with a gloss and a coat of mascara.

Gloss wears off quickly, so a small tube in your bag is worth having. If you have oily skin, go lighter on highlighter and keep it off the center of the face.

3. Polished Neutral Makeup

Neat brows, fluttery mascara and a matte neutral lip add up to a look that takes few products and still looks put together. For a busy morning routine, this is the one I would reach for first.

Brush the brows into shape and fill only the sparse spots. Curl the lashes before mascara, then wiggle the wand at the roots for that fluttery effect.

A matte neutral lipstick in a shade close to your natural lip color keeps the face balanced. Blot it once with a tissue so it sits softly rather than looking heavy.

4. Bold Pink and Purple Eyeshadow

Pink and purple eyeshadow only looks bold, not messy, when the 2 colors are blended where they meet. Soft edges matter more than the shades themselves.

Lay the lighter pink over the whole lid first, then sweep purple into the outer edge and the crease. Blend with a clean fluffy brush until no hard line remains.

Because the eyes carry so much color, I like pairing them with shimmering highlighter and glossy lips, which keep the face bright without adding more shadow. Skip heavy blush so nothing competes with the lids.

5. Winged Purple Eyeshadow

A purple shadow pulled out into a wing turns a simple color into a graphic shape, and it is a smart way to wear purple if liner feels too severe.

Nude lips and glowing skin let the eyes do the talking.

Start by drawing the wing with a small angled brush, aiming it toward the tail of the brow. Fill in the lid, then blend the inner edge so the color fades softly.

Tape can help you get a sharp edge, but it is optional. Keep the lip a soft nude so the look stays balanced.

6. Shimmering Silver Eyeshadow

Silver shimmer pairs well with a matte mauve lip because the shine stays on the eyes while the mouth stays quiet. That contrast is what makes this look feel modern.

Press the silver onto the lid with a finger or flat brush; patting keeps the glitter in place better than sweeping does. Add defined lashes with a couple of coats of mascara.

Shimmer can settle into creases on mature lids, so a thin layer of primer helps. If that is a concern, use a cream formula rather than loose powder.

7. Natural Red Carpet Glam

Defined brows and a neutral lip do the work in this red carpet look, and a sleek ponytail keeps the attention on the face. It suits anyone who wants to look polished without wearing obvious color.

Brush the brows up, fill gaps with light strokes, and set them with clear gel so they hold under flash. Choose a lip close to your natural shade.

Pull the hair back tight and smooth. With so little color on the face, a messy ponytail will read as unfinished.

8. Dramatic Dark Smoky Eye

Heavy dark shadow only looks sculpted when the brows and lips stay quiet, and that is why a matte nude lipstick is the right partner here. Pick one pulled toward your natural lip color, so the eyes stay the focus.

Layer the shadow slowly, with a light touch at first, starting at the far edge of the eye and moving toward the nose. Blend the edges with a clean brush so the darkness fades softly.

Dark shadow tends to fall onto the cheeks, so I would do the eyes before foundation. Sweep away the fallout with tape or a fluffy brush.

9. Smoky Eye with Mauve Lip

A glossy mauve lip softens a smoky eye, so the whole face feels dramatic without turning harsh. I like it best when the cheekbones carry a little highlighter, which keeps dark shadow from flattening the face.

Smudge the shadow along the upper lash line and out to the tip of the eye, then blend upward toward the brow. Apply mauve lipstick, and press gloss onto the center of the lips only.

Gloss and dark shadow both smear, so check under the eyes before you leave. Highlighter belongs on the tops of the cheekbones, not near the shadow.

10. Bright Pink and Yellow Eyeshadow

Yellow fading into pink makes this the loudest look on the list, and sharp black winged liner stops it from looking messy. It suits festivals and photos, and it is less practical for a quiet office day.

Apply the yellow first, close to the lash line, then bring pink over the outer lid and blend where the two meet. A thin layer of white or cream base underneath helps the colors read brighter.

Draw the wing last, after the shadow is set, so you can fix any smudges. Pink lips match the shadow without adding more drama.

11. Gold and Brown Shimmer Eyeshadow

Gold and brown shimmer give the eye depth, and nude lips keep the warmth from getting heavy. This is a flattering look for evenings, since the shimmer catches light well.

Lay brown through the crease and outer corner, then press gold onto the center of the lid with a finger.

Press the shimmer on with a fingertip or a flat brush instead of sweeping it; pressing packs more sparkle onto the lid and leaves less of it on your cheeks.

Leave the lashes defined but not dramatic. Creased lids do better with a cream gold, since loose powder tends to settle into the folds.

12. Warm Reddish-Brown Eye Makeup

Reddish-brown shadow warms the eye in a way plain brown cannot, and glossy pink lips keep it fresh rather than moody. Skin should look light and even, so go easy on foundation.

Use a fluffy brush to sweep the shade over the lid and up into the crease, then blend the edges until no line is left. A sheer wash works better than a dense layer.

Warm tones suit most eye colors, but check the shade in daylight before you commit.

Makeup Application Tips

A damp Beautyblender is the tool I would pick for base products. Pressing and bouncing the sponge into skin, instead of dragging it, melts the product in and keeps coverage from looking thick.

For a lighter finish, mix 2 products in your palm before applying, such as foundation with a bit of moisturizer. You control the coverage that way, and you can build it only where you need it.

Keep the goal in view: skin that still looks like skin. If you can see texture and a little natural variation through the base, you have probably gone far enough.

Sponges soak up product and hold bacteria, which is the price of that smooth, skin-like finish. Wash yours often with gentle soap, and let it dry fully between uses.

Skincare Importance

Makeup sits on top of whatever your skin is doing, so for acne-prone skin the routine underneath shapes how the base looks. Rough, inflamed or flaky patches show through even a sheer layer, and more product rarely hides them well.

Treat skincare as the first step of your makeup, not a separate chore. A gentle cleanser, a moisturizer and sunscreen in the morning give foundation a smoother surface to sit on.

I would check labels on anything you layer over breakouts. Look for products marked non-comedogenic, and wash everything off at night, since sleeping in makeup is one of the easiest ways to make breakouts worse.

If acne is persistent or painful, a dermatologist can tailor a plan that no product swap will match.

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