Choosing Eyeshadow Colors

Eyeshadow for brown eyes, eyeshadow for blue eyes, eyeshadow for green eyes, eyeshadow for hazel eyes, eyeshadow for grey eyes.

Aug 27, 2006

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.

For more articles on eye makeup tips: Beauty Makeover, How To Apply Eye Makeup and Smokey Eye.

Jones, Robert (2004) Simple Beaute. Robert Jones

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.

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Comments

Nov 9, 2008 2:26 PM

Guest :

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 :

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.

Jul 14, 2009 10:19 AM

Guest :

Cool ! Brown eyes get to wear any color ! :]

Jul 15, 2009 1:29 PM

Guest :

What do you mean, brown eyes can wear whatever colour they like? I didn't know that! lol, I find very few colours can make brown eyes pop and stand out, and very few colours that compliment brown eyes. [Don't tell me that I haven't been looking hard enough - I own about 130 different eyeshadows because I buy different palettes rather than individual eyeshadows.]

My eyes are a deep brown, in some lights, they look black. I need colours that bring out the red tones in brown eyes, something other than purple, but not neutral colours like gold or brown.

Here's hoping you can help!
Zoe xox

Jul 15, 2009 9:53 PM

Chrissy Dolezal :

Brown can wear any color. If you think about it the color is darker than any other natural eye color, it naturally draws the attention to the eye.

If you want to bring out the red flecks more, try green. You would want a true green color to dark green. Nothing with a blue tint to it.

Hope it works!

Aug 19, 2009 9:33 PM

Guest :

*** For Them Lucky Ladys With Them Pretty BROWN Eyes!!!***

I Have Dark Brown Eyes...And My Skin Tone Is Medium Beige...
I Wear Liquid Liner On Top Very Thin... (Black) And Always Eyeliner On Bottom And Top...

Colors That I Use To Make My Eyes POP!!! GREEN, Beautiful (Always Get Compliments, PURPLE, WHITE*, Light Browns...OH And DEF BLUE!! So Pretty On Me...

I Can Get Away With Almost Anything.. = ) Lucky Me...

Oh And NAVY Eyeliner Makes A HUGE HUGE Difference..>Makes My Eyes Really Really Pretty.. LOVE IT>>>!!!!!

_Heather

Aug 31, 2009 11:48 AM

Guest :

I Have DARK brown eyes and I want some more neutral colors that still make my eyes stand out. I really like purple but i need some ideas on things that don't stand out so much.

Charley... yes I'm a girl!

Sep 2, 2009 3:55 PM

Guest :

i have grey or green eyes and they change through out the day so one moment theyll be grey and the next hour green! what eyeshadow should i use that suits both colors, and i like how it changes colors how do i make it stand out that it changes colors without screaming out hey my eye changes colors!

*liz*

Sep 21, 2009 2:27 PM

Guest :

My skin complection is caramel/light brown and my eyes are dark brown and black hair. Honestly from just trying different things I have come up with 3 colors that just worked for me. Deep/dark pink, gold, and green are perfect colors for me. I have recieved the most comments from those colors. When you think to match your eyeshadow with your eye color- You are so wrong!!! It is the total opposite. And, I always pop it off with mascara! Hope this tip helped someone.
Marquita

Oct 4, 2009 5:16 PM

Guest :

i have green eyes but they sometimes change to hazel and even blue and i love that dont get me wrong but im not sure what colors i can ware without going and buying alot of eyeshadow the one i have right now has light pink, purple, white, and a pinky tan color and im not sure i can ware this all the time evan when my eyes change and i dont want to go buy lots of different colors or packs of eyeshadow but i want a light airy look noting to dark so i dont really use the purple so can u please help me???
thanks, jamie

Oct 6, 2009 7:08 AM

Chrissy Dolezal :

Browns and golds are your best bet.

Oct 7, 2009 6:49 PM

Guest :

I have brown eyes but a lot of times they look hazel and i have no clue what eye shadow color to wear.....

~<3~LaRa

41 Comments