menu
Close icon
Search iconsearch jane iredale products.
Close icon

Makeup Blog

How to Choose the Best Eyeshadow for Every Eye Color

  • 3 min read

BY CHELSEA SIMMONS

color wheel for makeup mineral eye shadow shades

This is the ultimate guide to choosing an eyeshadow by eye color, so gone are the days where your only choices for natural eye makeup are brown or black. We have over 30 mineral eye shadow shades, giving you the luxury of playing with a multitude of colors and textures to create the effortless and chic look you want. However, with all of these options, it may be difficult to choose the most complementary eye shadow color. Today, we are taking the guesswork out of how to create a beautiful makeup look that enhances your eye color, so follow along for some simple guidelines. Looking at a color wheel will help you pick the best eye makeup shade to make your eyes stand out. You want to choose a shade that is on the opposite side of the color wheel because contracting hues will draw attention to your eyes. Additionally, using eye shadow with texture (i.e. a metallic or shimmery finish) will help mimic flecks of color in your eye. Now that you know the basics, keep reading to find out what makeup shades will look best with your eye color

Makeup & Eyeshadow for Brown Eyes

makeup for brown eyes

Ladies with brown eyes, you have the most versatile eye color! Therefore, you can wear almost any color on your eyes. What's the best best eye shadow color for brown eyes? If you want to bring out the clarity in your eyes, try deep purple or bronzy golds. To make your brown eyes look lighter, try a mossy green eye shadow. For eyes that dazzle, choose eye makeup in cool hues like charcoal or silver. Lastly, add a touch of intensity to any look with black. You can either blend a little black eye shadow into your crease or if you have dark brown eyes, use black eyeliner on your waterline to add extra definition

MAKEUP FOR BROWN EYES: SHOP THE LOOK

Brown Sugar PurePressed Eye Shadow Triple $30.00

Onyx Mystikol Powdered Eyeliner $24.00

Merlot PurePressed Eye Shadow Single$22.00

Makeup & Eyeshadow for Blue Eyes

eye shadow for blue eyes

Orange is the opposite of blue on the color wheel; therefore, if you have blue eyes, try eye shadows with orange undertones such as rich browns and terracottas. Additionally, gold, bronze or shimmery champagne eye shadows will bring out the gold highlights in your eyes. One thing you to remember is black eyeliner may look too harsh on blue-eyed lovelies because you tend to have lighter skin tones. To get the same sultry look with a while complimenting your skin tone, try brown or bronze eyeliner instead

MAKEUP FOR BLUE EYES: SHOP THE LOOK

Canvas Smooth Affair for Eyes $32.00

24-Karat Gold Dust $14.00

Dark Suede PurePressed Eye Shadow Single$22.00

Makeup & Eyeshadow for Green & Hazel Eyes

makeup for green eyes

 

What color eyeshadow is best for green eyes? What about makeup looks for hazel eyes? If you have green or hazel eyes, red is the opposite shade on the color wheel. Since red isn't the best color for a natural look, we recommend using eye shadows in the pink family or even darker hues with reddish undertones like bronze, rust and mahogany. You can also opt for eggplant-color eye shadow to help the green or gold highlights in your eyes really pop. Similar to your blue-eyed sisters, trade your favorite black eyeliner for a less harsh shade like charcoal, silver or even purple


MAKEUP FOR GREEN & HAZEL EYES: SHOP THE LOOK

Steamy PurePressed Eye Shadow Single $22.00

Double Dazzle Highlighter Pencil $16.50

Petal Smooth Affair for Eyes$32.00

Makeup & Eyeshadow for Gray Eyes

Eye Makeup for Gray Eyes

Gray-eyed ladies, you have one of the most unique eye colors. Your stormy eyes look best paired with eye makeup that enhances their misty shade. Choose eye shadows and liners with steely hues, such as silver, mink gray, or icy blue

MAKEUP FOR GRAY EYES: SHOP THE LOOK

Black/Grey Eye Pencil $15.00

Smoky Quartz Mystikol Powdered Eyeliner $24.00

Smoky Grey PurePressed Eye Shadow Single$22.00

Choosing the Best Makeup for Your Eye Color: Practice Makes Perfect

Need help deciding which of our eye shadow shades will look best on you? You can virtually test all of our products on yourself with our Makeup Roomtool. Also check out our post about how to keep your eyeshadow from creasing. Once you've picked the perfect color to make your eyes pop, share pictures of your dazzling eye makeup look with us on Instagram. Make sure to tag @janeiredale and #BeautyWithBrilliance.
Chelsea Simmons

Chelsea Simmons

Chelsea began her beauty journey in 2010 as a fashion and beauty freelancer at Ladies’ Home Journal magazine. There she had the chance to test and review hundreds of products while quickly falling for the benefits the clean makeup she tried. After leaving the magazine industry, she worked as a publicist for international fragrance and beauty brands until 2016 when she landed at jane iredale. Here, she has discovered liquid eyeliner doesn’t have to burn her eyes, foundation doesn’t have to feel heavy, and that the jane iredale Global Educators truly have the best beauty hacks. Since then, she’s shared her 10+ years of experience with you on The Good Glow Blog.