The Best Eye Makeup Shades for Every Eye Color

Choosing makeup shades isn’t all about your complexion or whatever catches your eye—you’ll want to take your actual eye color into consideration, too. The trick to bringing out the full beauty of your eyes is to choose eye shadow hues that complement your eye color. The idea comes from the artist’s color wheel—a concept you likely remember from elementary school art class—and goes something like this: If your eyes are green, the opposite shade on the color wheel (aka purple) will make them really stand out. Anything from dusty lilacs to rich burgundies to neutrals with specific undertones will play up your iris’ natural beauty. You can use the same concept to find the best eye makeup shades for other eye colors as well. Here, discover the secrets to taking your makeup look from so-so to stunning with all the right eye shadow shades. All eyes will be on you—and your eyes—in no time.

The Best Eye Makeup Shades for Blue Eyes

Of course, you’ll want those baby blues to stand out. What a waste if you didn’t! Make blue eyes pop with brown and bronze shades, shimmery taupes, and blue accents. Earthy hues provide the perfect complement to the cool tones of blue eyes. Sweep the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Metallics Eye Shadow in Brass Knuckles across your lids to become an instant bronzed beauty, or pick up the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Pocket Palette Eye Shadow in Avant Garde Azure or Bleu Nuit and follow the directions on the packaging to create your very best blue eye shadow look.

Think your makeup look still needs something more? Add some blue winged eyeliner, using the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Paints Eyeliner in Electric Blue, to your lids!

The Best Eye Makeup Shades for Green or Hazel Eyes

Green and hazel eyes mesmerize when adorned with violet, rose, and plum hues. As we mentioned, purple tones naturally complement green eyes, so they appear more vibrant. Golden, warm brown, and green hues are also great options. A little shimmer and shine never hurts, so pick up a few metallic eye shadows, such as the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Paints Metallics Eye Shadow in Rose Chrome and Violet Luster. Blend the two together for a special pop of color.

Another option? The L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Pocket Palette Eye Shadow in Violet Amour. This eye shadow palette is perfect for a multi-toned violet look. To add even more flattering purple to your face, try a purple eyeliner, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof, Up to 24HR Pencil Eyeliner in Purple, or a lavender lipstick, like the L’Oréal Paris Rouge Signature, Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick in I Rebel. So pretty!

The Best Eye Makeup Shades for Brown Eyes

When it comes to your eyes, there’s nothing boring about being brown. Bring out the smoldering beauty of brown eyes with warm, earthy hues, shimmering neutrals, and deep, rich shades like berry, mocha, and charcoal. That’s right: Sometimes like attracts like (thanks, science!), and brown eyes are no exception. It doesn’t get much easier than smudging a brown eye shadow, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow in Bottomless Java, on and being good to go. For a night on the town, go a little smoky with a charcoal eye shadow, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow in Sultry Smoke.

The Best Eye Makeup Shades for Every Eye Color

Certain eye makeup shades are universal, which means no one has to feel left out of the fun. Every eye color is flattered by gorgeous neutrals, shimmering silver, golden bronze, and charcoal hues. So, no matter what eye color you have, you can keep things simple with a wash of silver eye shadow, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Metallics Eye Shadow in Aluminum Foil, or create a more elaborate style with an eye shadow quad, like the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Pocket Palette Eye Shadow in Silver Couture. Finish up by curling your lashes and coating them with a mascara, like the L’Oréal Paris Unlimited Lash Lifting and Lengthening Washable Mascara.

Now that you know all about matching your eye shadow to your eye color, how about learning your next makeup lesson? To improve your eye makeup skills even more, read our article, The Best Eye Makeup for Your Eye Shape.