What Eyeshadow is Best for Your Eye Color and Shape?

First of all, I think you can wear just about ANY color you choose if you blend it well and OWN it! Choosing the right tones to go with your skin can help a lot if you’re going for a more natural look.

First things first: there is not one easy approach to choosing an eyeshadow color. Take an assessment of not only your eye color, hair color and skin color, but also eye shape, whether eyes are deep-set, whether they’re close together or far apart.

Far-set eyes need darker colors on the inner portion of the eyes to give the illusion that they’re closer. While it’s not as important which color so much as where to place it, it does necessitate that darker colors, such as gray, brown, blue, green and the like, are chosen, instead of lighter colors. Close-set eyes (like mine) look best with darker colors on the outer portion of the eyes. Deep-set eyes (also like mine!) should avoid dark colors around the eyes, unless used to extend the eyes on the outer portions or higher up in a blended fashion on the lower portion of the brow bone (think of the ’60s cat eye look).

Another consideration is skin tone, and not just skin color. This is important because two people that have “tanned” skin could have different skin tones and this changes the tone of colors to choose from. Warm-toned skin fairs well with gold, red or other colors with yellow tones. For instance, a green can become a warm color with yellow mixed in, but can become a cool color with blue mixed in. Cool-toned skin does well with blues.

Everyone wants to know what will make their eyes “pop” with color. This can be accomplished by simply choosing a color that is opposite of the eye color. To determine this, look at a color wheel. Color wheels are commonly used by artists to mix basic colors to achieve something unique.

Green eyes come most alive with purples. For warm-toned skin, choose a purple with a redder tone. Cool-toned skin should choose a purple with a bluer tone. I have yellow undertones and olive eyes. Here’s an example:

Top pic – no makeup. Bottom left – Antonym bronze color. Bottom right – The Body Shop purple color.

In this pic, I blended the bronze and purple shades together (although there’s more purple on the right eye). Indoor lighting makes my eyes look super green!

In the pic above, I used the pink from this pink/bronze palette by cruelty free brand, Antonym, as a base, and then added the bronze on the left eye and  “Grape Expectations” by The Body Shop on the right eye.

Brown eyes pop with blue eyeshadow colors. Here’s a pic of Marilyn of WeHeartThis wearing Milani Powder Eyeshadows. Click for the full review and pics.

Brown eyes with Milani blue eyeshadow – Photo Credit – WeHeartThis.com

Milani Powder Eyeshadows – Photo Credit: WeHeartThis.com

Blue eyes, conversely, glow with brown shades. Stef and Tyna from We Heart This both have amazing blue eyes. Here’s a pic of Stef with brown eyeliner. Makes those baby blues pop!

Blue eyes pop with brown makeup shades! Photo Credit: WeHeartThis.com

Here’s where it’s okay to break the rules: it’s okay to wear a color that does not “look good” if paired with one that does. For instance, blue eyeshadow may not be the best for green eyes; however, using a yellow shimmer in the center of the eye, above the iris, creates a green color and blends well with the blue. This effect opens up several colors to explore.

The important thing to remember for eyeshadow, and any makeup, is to explore. Play around to decide what method, technique, style or color is right for you. The only rule is that there are no rules!