We're in peak holiday season, and IDK about you, but my social calendar is jam-packed...which also means my makeup repertoire is officially being pushed to its limits. While I’ve already worn my fair share of red lips and winged eyeliner, for me, nothing says party season quite like a well-executed smokey eye.
It’s the ultimate day-to-night divider. A red lip can easily work around the clock, but a smoky eye belongs firmly in the dim-lights category. Knowing which eyeshadow colors best complement your eye color is the key to making the biggest impact when it comes to a smokey eye. Don’t get us wrong—there’s no such thing as a “bad” shade combination if you feel happy and confident. But when you pair the right shadows using a little color theory, your eyes can look even more sultry, defined, and sparkly.
One person who truly knows how to choose the best smoky eyeshadow palette for every eye color is makeup artist extraordinaire and Vieve founder, Jamie Genevieve. “A smokey eye doesn’t have to be black or heavy,” she says. “It’s really about blending and tone. Choosing shades that complement your eye color and building depth gradually always creates a more modern, wearable finish.”
Here, she shares the color combinations that will make your eyes shine their brightest this holiday season:
The best smokey eye palettes for blue eyes
Jamie says, "Blue eyes really come alive when you lean into warmth. Think bronze, copper, soft golds, and warm browns—they create the most beautiful contrast and make blue eyes look brighter instantly."
Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Eyeshadow Palette - Pillow Talk Collection
Dior Backstage Eyeshadow Palette in 001 Nude Essentials
Hourglass Curator Eyeshadow Palette in Futurist
The best smokey eye palettes for brown eyes
According to Jamie, "Brown eyes are incredibly versatile, and honestly, they suit almost everything. For a smokey eye, I love rich chocolate browns, deep plums, bronzes, and even touches of gold or khaki. You can go much deeper and smokier without it feeling overpowering, which makes brown eyes the perfect canvas for more dramatic looks."
Vieve The Ninetease Eyeshadow Palette
Kylie Cosmetics Pressed Powder Eyeshadow Palette in Smokey
MAC Cosmetics Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette: Unfiltered Nudes
The best smokey eye palettes for hazel eyes
Jamie says, "Hazel eyes are all about bringing out the different tones within them. Greens, bronzes, and warm coppers really enhance the green flecks, while plums and soft purples pull through the warmth. A smokey eye with depth and warmth tends to make hazel eyes look more multi-dimensional."
YSL Beauty Couture Mini Clutch Eyeshadow Palette 710 Over Brun
Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Embers Eyeshadow Palette
MAKEUP BY MARIO Ethereal Eyes Eyeshadow Palette: Nature
The best smokey eye palettes for green eyes
For green eyes, anything with a red or purple undertone is magic. Think plums, berries, and warm browns—they intensify the green beautifully. Even a softly smoked bronze with a hint of warmth can make green eyes look incredibly vibrant.
Hung Vanngo Beauty Color Story Eyeshadow Palette in Rebellious Red & Pink
Natasha Denona Retro Eyeshadow Palette
Morphe ChromaPlus 6-Pan Eyeshadow Palette in Outer Spice
Keeks Reid is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. While she loves all things beauty, Keeks is a hair fanatic through and through. She started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as editorial assistant at Blackhair and Hair magazines working her way to Acting Editor of Blackhair magazine at 23 years old. She spent much of her career working in trade hairdressing media at Hairdressers Journal, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards. Which is why she is a regular contributor to Cosmo's Curl Up franchise. Now, alongside her Cosmo work, she presents, creates content on social media and works with a range of beauty companies; from magazines and websites to beauty brands and salons.
Lauren Balsamo is the beauty director at Cosmopolitan where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for more than a decade at Cosmopolitan. Follow her on Instagram.
