Lips and cheeks have been hogging all the attention recently, while lids and lashes have been going nearly naked. Not for much longer: The suede eyeshadow makeup trend has been quietly building momentum and is about to change all that.
Heading into fall, we can already feel a mood shift towards introducing a little extra definition and glamour back into our beauty looks. Statement eyes are back on the agenda, only this time they’re slightly softer, sheer, and smoked-out with soft-matte suede shadows that are sultry but also, so wearable.
What is suede eyeshadow?
Essentially, suede eyeshadow refers to a soft-matte finish (we’re skipping shimmer on this one). Also, it includes the typical shades we associate with suede—browns like tan, buff, or chocolate as well as navy, mole, and greige.
Unlike the heavy smoky eyes and cut-creases of the 2010s, this trend is throwing it back to the ‘90s when smoky eyes were more minimalist. It’s a more sheer version of a smoky eye that shows a bit of skin. You can get the effect by diffusing to a really gentle finish at the edges, or by being worn semi-sheer all over. However you do it, the overall finish feels softer—just like suede.
Why choose suede eyeshadow?
This is 2026’s answer to a minimalist smoky eye. It’s perfect if you want to make your eyes the feature without doing too much. We love it worn as a wash all-over the lid in a single color, like chocolate or buff. The simplicity helps it feel cooler and less complicated. That said, a couple of shades worn softly work well, too.
How to get suede eyeshadow?
There are lots of brands that have worked to give us beautiful soft mattes that glide onto lids and don’t feel patchy or heavy like their previous counterparts. Makeup by Mario is a great example, MAC is forever reliable, and NARS have some great quads, too.
One of our favorite newcomers is Saie, who have just launched an edit of SuperSuede eyeshadows in 11 delicious individual autumnal shades. There are a few low-lit shimmers in the mix, but we’re gravitating toward the buttery demi-mattes in beautiful chocolate shades like Cannoli, Biscotti, and Dolce. And to reinforce that ‘90s feel, the brand called upon O.G. supermodel Helena Christensen as their muse. They’re great whether you’re a beginner or advanced and diffuse across lids quickly and effortlessly for one of the easiest ways to tap into the trend.
