Cut creasing: Your go-to guide to mastering the technique

The genius eyeshadow technique that will make your eyes look bigger and brighter

You've no doubt already seen cut creasing all over Instagram and Facebook.

After all, when a make-up technique promises you bigger and brighter eyes, it goes viral – and, like most flourishing make-up trends (contouring, oil pulling, etc), this one went viral because the Kardashians.

But what exactly is cut creasing? And how is it done?

First things first: cut creasing is an eyeshadow technique that's actually been around since the days of silent films. Employed as a way of drawing attention to actresses eyes in black and white films, the style was softer than the modern version but had the same premise.

These days, it's all about the dramatic effect of defining your eye socket.

Simply put, you apply a lighter shade of shadow all over your lid and then add a darker shade on top of your lid crease (hence the name cut creasing). For a variety of shades that make, check out our guide to the best eyeshadow palettes on the beauty market.

How to cut crease

There are many different ways to cut crease – but for a simpler method, US beauty blogger, Brittney Foley or @Beautifoles uses a spoon to create hers.

But not all eye shapes will work with this hack, so if you want to learn how to do cut creasing, follow these steps.

1. Apply primer to your entire lid. Cut creasing doesn't work if your eyeshadow blends into each other.

2. Next, apply a light shade of eyeshadow over your whole lid. This will highlight the whole area, all the way up to your brow.

3. Use a dark eyeliner to sketch a V-shape. Start from the crease in the middle of your eye and connect to the outer corner of your eye. Use less pressure in the middle of your lid and make the line thicker toward the outer corner.

4. Next, use an eyeshadow brush to blend the line you've just drawn outwards to the outer corner of your eye.

5. Using the top line of your eyeliner as a guide, apply your eyeshadow over the line and slightly blend above.

6. Add definition to your lash line with eyeliner. It's up to you whether you use a kohl pencil or liquid, but your best liquid eyeliner will work better.

7. Starting from the inner corner of your eyes, draw a line that wings outwards.

8. Brush the same eyeshadow you used above your cut crease, along your bottom lash line.

9. Finally, for added drama, add false lashes. This is optional, but looks amazing.