I usually like to keep my makeup routine skin-forward and minimal. A tinted moisturizer, dewy blush, and brown mascara have been my everyday formula. But when I’m in the mood to amp things up without layering on a dozen products, I always turn to one trick: making my eyes stand out with eyeshadow.
As someone with green eyes, I love enhancing my eye color by reaching for shades that complement green on the color wheel (more on that below). And to get more of the best tips for every eye color, I spoke with makeup artists Dani Parkes and Neil Scibelli for their expert advice.
I also brought in a few Cosmo editors with different eye colors to test out the best eyeshadow colors. Keep scrolling for the most flattering eyeshadow shades for brown, blue, green, and hazel eyes, plus the best palettes to shop.
Green Eyes
First, let’s talk color theory. Red is the opposite of green on the color wheel (like the technique you learned back in elementary school art class), so red-adjacent shades are gonna do the most for green eyes. “Eyeshadows like rose gold, deep reds, and maroons really make green eyes pop,” says Scibelli.
Parkes also recommends purples and warm browns. "Both of these colors will make green stand out, and using a plum liner in the waterline make your eyes pop even more," she suggests.
What testers have to say: "I know red is opposite of green on the color wheel, but that just feels a bit too harsh for my eyes. I love that plums and maroons can have that same eye-popping effect while still being wearable. Smudging some under my eye without using liner adds an even bolder effect to my green eyes. When I wanna amp up any makeup look, a purple metallic shadow is my best bet. And I can even use just one single shadow to do so."—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR
The best eyeshadow for green eyes
Ilia The Necessary Eyeshadow Palette
Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette in The Vintage Vamp
MAC Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette
Hazel Eyes
Hazel eyes can skew green, gold, or brown depending on the light, so try playing into your unique spectrum of colors. "Any shadows with a warm undertone will bring out those hazel tones," says Scibelli. "For instance, golds, coppers, and even peachy shadows will bring out hazel eyes."
"I recommend a chocolate brown liner or a plum liner for a bolder look," adds Parkes. "This will make the undertone colors pop with whatever makeup look you have on."
What testers have to say:"I'm almost always doing eye looks to bring out either the green or the brown in my eyes, but I've never necessarily tried to play it all up at once. I really love how a shimmery gold shadow all over brings attention to the entire iris. The best part about having hazel is that they're a mix of different colors, right? With reflective gold and peachy tones, you don't pick up on just one shade, but rather the combination of green and brown together."—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
The best eyeshadow for hazel eyes
NARS Quad Eyeshadow
Armani Beauty Liquid Eyeshadow
Patrick Ta Major Dimension Eyeshadow Duos
Brown Eyes
Brown eyes can pull off pretty much anything, but a few tones really make them pop. "Plums, grays, and deep olive eyeshadow tones are also my go-tos for brown eyes because they make brown eyes look richer and bolder," says Scibelli. "I find that bronzey, warm copper tones (especially if they're a bit metallic) really bring out brown eyes as well," says Scibelli. "I tend to lean toward gray, black, or dark brown eyeliners when it comes to brown eyes," he adds.
What testers have to say: "I've been an avid eyeshadow girlie for over a decade now—especially when it comes to browns. I have small, narrow eyes, and I’ve found that mixing neutral and warm-brown shades really helps brighten them up without looking too harsh or heavy. I also prefer using a brown liquid eyeliner instead of black—it gives my eyes a nice lift while keeping the overall look softer and more natural."—MEG UY, ASSOCIATE SHOPPING EDITOR
The best eyeshadow for brown eyes
Dior Backstage Eyeshadow Palette
Makeup By Mario Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette
Kulfi Zari Eyes Cream Eyeshadow
Blue Eyes
Orange sits opposite blue on the color wheel, which is why warm tones like peach, copper, and bronze make blue eyes look brighter and more defined.
"Some of my go-to eyeshadow colors for blue eyes are golds, champagnes, coppers, browns, and even warm peach tones," says Scibelli. "If you're looking for a bit more of a dramatic contrast or an evening look, you can go for dark eyeliners and smoky shadows in shades like gray and deep charcoal."
What testers have to say: "The rumors are true: my eyes are blue, and they are definitely popping! Orangey hues complement blue (thanks, color theory), but I often find that bright, warm shadows are a little intense for daily wear and can be harsh against my pale complexion. I absolutely love that peachy hues are subtle enough for an everyday look but still bring out the blue in a huge way." —KAYLA KIBBE, ASSOCIATE SEX AND RELATIONSHIPS EDITOR
The best eyeshadow for blue eyes
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Cream Eyeshadow
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Palette
How to make your eye color pop:
Look at the color wheel.
The first step is understanding the color wheel. Colors that are the opposite of your eye color create the strongest contrast, which naturally makes your eyes stand out. For example, orange tones work beautifully on blue eyes, while maroons complement green eyes. Brown eyes, however, are a bit more versatile. Since they’re not on the color wheel like other shades, they can pair well with a wide range of hues, like warm coppers, olives, and browns.
Use eyeliner and mascara.
"I love using a smudged eyeliner to bring out any eye color—whether its a brown liner for lighter to medium eye colors, or a black liner for deeper eye colors," says Scibelli.
But a simple eyeliner and mascara look can help bring attention to any color. "Another key tip would be curling the lashes and then tightlining the top lid with eyeliner," Parkes explains. "Adding a tight line to the lid is a key step to any makeup routine and something I do on all of my clients." Or try white or cream in the waterline, she suggests. It can help make your eyes look brighter and more awake.
Use a shimmery eyeshadow.
"Metallic shadows will reflect light, so those always help to make eye colors pop," explains Scibelli. Shadows with shimmer also create dimension on your eyelid, drawing attention to your eyes and enhancing their natural color. Think champagne, rose gold, copper, or bronze—depending on your eye color, these tones can either complement or contrast in a way that makes your iris stand out.
And for some extra impact, try tapping a bit of shimmer on the center of the lid or the inner corners of the eyes to instantly brighten and open them up.
Meet the Experts
- Neil Scibelli is a New York City-based makeup artist and on-air beauty contributor.
- Dani Parkes, aka @facesbydanii, is a New York City-based makeup artist whose clients include Gabby Windey, Hannah Berner, and more.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo where she writes about all the best makeup products and trends. For this story, she spoke with expert MUAs Neil Scibelli and Dani Parkes for their insight and tips. She, along with team Cosmo, tested the best makeup for each eye color.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
