There are two things to consider when you are choosing eyeshadow colors: your eye color and your skin tone. With the right eyeshadow color your eye color will stand out.
For whatever reason people believe you should match the eye shadow to your eye color. That is wrong! What will happen is it will compete with your eye color and the eyeshadow will usually be more dominant. You don't want people to notice your eyeshadow; you want them to notice you!
According to Makeup Artist Robert Jones, the following chart will help you select colors that are the best for your eye color (Jones, 62).
Blue: Rich warm browns, warm taupes and soft peaches
Green and Hazel: Golden browns, warm taupes, deep purples, soft peaches and soft violets.
Grey: Charcoal, cool brown and purple.
Brown: Knock yourself out...you lucky women get to wear any color you want!
When you are picking colors for your skin tone, stick with natural, subtle colors. If you have a fair complexion, it is best to stay away from dark colors. For dark skinned women, you should stay away from white or light colors; look for eyeshadows that are deep with color.
Choosing the best eyeshadow for your skin tone and eye color will help your eyes to stand out. It makes the whites of the eyes appear "whiter," causing the iris color to "pop." I'm not saying you have to stick with these colors for the rest of your life, I know we all need a little variety. But these are the best colors for you on the days you really want to look your best.
The copyright of the article Choosing Eyeshadow Colors in Beauty Products is owned by Chrissy Dolezal. Permission to republish Choosing Eyeshadow Colors in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
I have dark blue eyes, but when there is a lot of light, like bright light
or in the sun, my eyes go baby blue and I usually wear blue eyeshadow and
it turns out really good and it brings out my eyes color, but I wear it
with brown eyeliner, because the black tends to hide my eye color. But I
always wanted to try something different, purple doesn't look good, I don't
like pink, {to girly for me} and green, doesn't look good on me. So what
can I do? Maybe just a little pink will be okay, I really don't like the
color purple either, but I don't know. So please help me. If so, email me
at LittleButler2008@hotmail.com ~*Thanks*~
~*Courtney*~
Dec 9, 2008 8:47 PM
Guest
:
To Courtney; Hey girl, im not really a make up artist expert, but i
do know alot of stuff about colors. & i do my friends' make up alot.
& the best colors for light eyes like yours are dark colors like,
brown, dark green, black, or grey. just make sure you dont put too much. if
your not sure, try it first. if you like it, then your good, if not, stick
to bluee and just mix and match colors you think looks good in blue. like i
put gold as myy base eye shadow & i put the blue on the corner of my
eye. or try something light as a base color and put the dark color on the
corner eye.
Dec 13, 2008 10:50 PM
Guest
:
I have dark brown eyes with gold in them, and everyone always says that I
can wear any colour, but most colours end up looking bad on me. Any tips?!
Dec 19, 2008 10:11 PM
Chrissy Dolezal :
Technically you should be able to wear any color but if you feel like that
is not working...try a deep brown/purple color. It should enhance the gold
specks and I think it will look very pretty.
Dec 24, 2008 3:19 PM
Guest
:
I have brown eyes with hints of green and hazel in them (kind of weird hah,
but still pretty) and I need a colour that would really make them stand
out. I find that brown colours look good- but I want a change! Help?
Dec 30, 2008 11:46 PM
Chrissy Dolezal :
Browns will work but do get boring. Try gold or bronze eye colors.
Purples will also help bring the colors out more too.
Dec 31, 2008 6:51 PM
Guest
:
I have green eyes and PURPLE is SOOOO good to use!!! It makes your eyes
POP!!! ...and I'm only 12 so its good that I know it now haha
Jan 1, 2009 6:04 AM
Guest
:
I don't like how there is like "what's in" I think you should
just find the colors that look best on your eyes....ya
Jan 25, 2009 12:24 PM
Guest
:
I have a friend who is albino so her eyes are red. I do her make-up
sometimes so I was wondering if I would than do the Table in reverse so If
a certain eye colour could wear red than I would put that eye colour on
her...would that work?
Jan 26, 2009 11:28 AM
Chrissy Dolezal :
Yes that is correct. If you trying to get the red to standout then stay
away from colors with red undertones (like purples, some browns, etc). If
you want to downplay the red then use colors with red undertones.
Jan 30, 2009 6:07 PM
Guest
:
I have dark brown eyes and tanned skin, yesterday I bought some green
eyeshadow but when applied it didn't look that well. Any suggestions on
what color should I wear??
Jan 30, 2009 6:26 PM
Chrissy Dolezal :
For dark brown eyes you should be able to wear any color. I dont know why
the green didn't work. Maybe you should try a different shade of green?
Jan 31, 2009 11:42 PM
Guest
:
i have dark brown eyes 2 and my face is tanned(the rest of my body is fair
skinned cuz i always wear a sweater haha)i wear black eyeshaodw and since i
wear black eyeshadow my eyes look bigger(which i like) and the color of my
eyes pops and it makes it look lighter which is a good thing
Feb 14, 2009 1:27 AM
Guest
:
i Have Bubble eyes but There Dark brown, and im kind of new at this whole
eyes shadow thing, i have a light purple eyes shadow in i tried it, it
wasnt pretty it my made my eyes look bigger than what they are. in my skin
complextion is carmel im between light and Dark skin.
Feb 28, 2009 10:54 AM
Guest
:
yeah i have brown eyes and brown hair with a tent of red in it ive been
using brown eye shadow and my boyfriend loves it on me lol. but im gettin
a little tried of all the brown.. help me?!?
Mar 6, 2009 2:25 AM
Guest
:
I have blue eyes with naturally red hair. My problem is is that there is
also green present and I hate it when my friends always agree that they are
green! What color of eyeshadow should I use that would bring out just the
blue? Plus, I have blond eyebrows and eyelashes, what color for the
eyeliner should I use? I hate wearing black...
Mar 10, 2009 12:19 AM
Guest
:
I hate to leave a comment if i never get a responce, but i've always wanted
to know what would look good on me... I have a very light brown almost gold
eye with a dark almost green rim. I'm like the worlds worst girl (my
friends words, not mine) and am finaly getting into makeup (hints why I
found this site, lol, i googled eyeshadow 101). I would love to hear some
advice, also with how to wear it, knowing colors doesn't help much if i'm
not sure how to aply it. ^.6
Thnx!
~Brittany
Mar 10, 2009 12:14 PM
Chrissy Dolezal :
Brittany...With brown eyes you can wear any eye color. If you want to
bring out the green, stick with purple.
Also for application
tips, read my article, How to Apply Eye Makeup. The link is in the article
above.
Thanks and have fun!
Mar 13, 2009 5:31 PM
Guest
:
I have blue eyes that also look green in certain light. Plus, i have blond
eyelashes and black doesn't look good on them. What color of eyeliner
should I use? And how should I highlight the blue?
Mar 13, 2009 9:49 PM
Guest
:
I have blue eyes that also look green in certain light. Plus, i have blond
eyelashes and black doesn't look good on them. What color of eyeliner
should I use? And how should I highlight the blue?
Mar 14, 2009 9:03 PM
Chrissy Dolezal :
Brown eyeliner or Bronze eyeliner would be better. Same with the eye
shadows stick with browns, golds, and bronze. That will help highlight the
blue.
Mar 25, 2009 1:07 PM
Guest
:
hey, i have dark blue eyes, i wan wondering what colours would go good
with my prom dress. its a tangerine dress strapless- corsetlike at the top-
poofy and floor length- at the top it has some silver flowers on the top of
the corset. what colours should i use on my eyes. if anyone knows what
would be a good colour for my shoes and clutch. thanks- sue
Mar 25, 2009 2:22 PM
Chrissy Dolezal :
blue eyes should stick with browns, taupes, and peaches. It actually
doesn't matter what color your clothes are, what matters is your eye color
and skin tone.
Apr 24, 2009 5:36 AM
Guest
:
I have blue eyes with dirty blonde hair, i have worn brown eyeshadow as
long as i could remember and i like it. A girl at work suggest i wear blue
and i didn't like it at all. I wear a black-brown eyeliner with my brown
eyeshadow but i'm looking to change it up a little bit. Could you suggest
some good eyeshadow/eyeliner color combinations that would look good with
blue eyes and dirty blonde hair? Michelle
Apr 29, 2009 10:11 AM
Guest
:
The main color of my eyes is blue and a small amount of green or a goldish
color around my pupils...I am light skin toned and dark brown hair. What
color eye shadows and liners will compliment my eyes.
Thank
you.
Jun 19, 2009 8:51 PM
Guest
:
Okay, so I have bright breen eyes that change to dark green at times. I
like to use browns and pale purples. But is there anything else I could
use? Oh, and I use black eyeliner, which is better for green eyes black or
brown eyeliner? -Kayla J
Jun 22, 2009 1:14 PM
Guest
:
Deep Brown eyes, brown/black... and I have fair skin with golden
undertones. Shimmery colors such as champagne, ivory, dusty roses make me
look washed out. Brown, bieges and black shadows make my eyes pop during
the A.M. but come P.M. make-up runs and makes my dark circles more vivid.
However, I always wear black/brown eyeliner, it defines my eye really well.
Also, I'm trying to stay away from the dramatic or smokey eye look for the
day. What colors should I look for?
Jun 22, 2009 4:58 PM
Guest
:
I have dark brown eyes, olive toned skin (italian) dark brown hair with
lots of blonde/honey highlites. Ive always worn taupes, browns, golds and
smokey colours and Im bored, I want colour for the summer time, any
suggestions on a few I should definitly try out? thanks Amanda
Jun 22, 2009 5:11 PM
Guest
:
I have dark brown eyes, olive toned skin (italian) dark brown hair with
lots of blonde/honey highlites. Ive always worn taupes, browns, golds and
smokey colours and Im bored, I want colour for the summer time, any
suggestions on a few I should definitly try out? thanks Amanda
Jun 24, 2009 3:46 AM
Guest
:
Eyeshadow application works well if you follow the ColourWheel principle
(think back to high school art!) Just use the colours opposite the colour
of your eyes. Good luck!
Jun 25, 2009 9:41 AM
Guest
:
i have blue green eyes that have a dark blue rim around them. they turn
very light in the sun. i have pale, pale skin, and the only eye shadow ive
ever worn is a light pink. is there any other color that i could try? i
really want to bring the brightness out of my eyes indoor and out.
Aug 27, 2006
