The Marvelous Mardi Gras Makeup Look
Mayra NungarayA Mardi Gras makeup look goes all in on the holiday's colors — purple, green, and gold — with bold eyeshadow, glitter, and dramatic liner. The pro trick for crisp, fallout-free glitter liner is to draw your wing, trace it with lash glue, then press glitter on top so it stays exactly where you want it.
Mardi Gras makeup is your excuse to go bold with the holiday’s signature colors — purple, green, and gold. Think bright eyeshadow, plenty of glitter, and dramatic liner. The standout trick from this look’s creator is a genius way to get perfectly placed glitter liner with zero fallout.
Here is the full step-by-step plus her original tips, straight from the Albolene Makeup Challenge. For more festive, colorful looks, browse all of our makeup artist tips & tricks.
What you’ll need
- Eyeshadow primer
- Bright eyeshadows in purple, green, and gold
- Black liquid or gel liner
- Lash glue and loose or pressed glitter
- A flat detail brush
- Mascara or false lashes, plus a bold or neutral lip
Glitter and bold color are notoriously hard to remove. Albolene Moisturizing Cleanser melts away glitter, liner, and lash glue gently in one step, so taking off a festive look is as easy as creating it.
For this look in particular I wasn't afraid of color! For perfectly put glitter liner, my secret is lash glue! I create a wing with basic black liner then trace it with a brush tipped in lash glue then add the glitter over top very carefully!
How to Get the Look
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Prime and block color
Prime the lids so color stays vivid, then don't be afraid of color — wash bright purple, green, and gold across the eyes, blending where they meet for a true Mardi Gras palette.
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Define a bold wing
Using basic black liner, draw a clean, dramatic wing along the upper lash line. This is the base for the glitter trick, so make it as sharp as you like.
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Use the lash-glue glitter trick
Here's the creator's secret to crisp glitter liner: trace over your black wing with a flat brush tipped in lash glue, then carefully press glitter on top. The glue grabs the glitter exactly where you want it, with no messy fallout.
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Add glitter accents
Pat a little extra glitter onto the centre of the lids or inner corners for more sparkle, using the same glue technique to keep it in place.
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Finish the lashes and brows
Finish the eyes with volumizing mascara or a pair of dramatic false lashes, and tidy the brows so they frame all that color.
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Balance with the lip
Keep the lip neutral to let the eyes shine, or go bold to match the festive energy. Set everything so your look lasts through the parade.
Prep & Remove Any Look with Albolene
Start with a soft, moisturized base so makeup goes on smoothly — and when the look has done its job, Albolene Moisturizing Cleanser melts away glitter, face paint, and even waterproof makeup in one gentle step. No harsh scrubbing, no stripped skin.
Shop Moisturizing CleanserFrequently Asked Questions
Lean into the holiday's colors — purple, green, and gold. Prime your lids, blend bright eyeshadow across the eyes, add a bold black wing, and finish with glitter and dramatic lashes. Keep the lip neutral or bold to balance all that color.
Use the lash-glue trick from our challenge winner: draw your wing with black liner, trace over it with a brush dipped in lash glue, then press the glitter on top. The glue holds the glitter exactly in place, giving you crisp glitter liner with no fallout.
The traditional Mardi Gras colors are purple (justice), green (faith), and gold (power). Combining bright versions of those three shades on the eyes — with plenty of glitter and gold accents — instantly reads as a Mardi Gras look.
Glitter clings, so reach for an oil-based cleanser. Massage Albolene Moisturizing Cleanser over the eyes and face to melt the glitter, liner, and lash glue, then wipe gently with a soft pad — far easier and kinder to skin than scrubbing.
