Choosing Makeup for Your Eye Color

Every woman knows how important it is to choose the right makeup colors. They have to suit your skin tone, your fashion style, your personality and your lifestyle. But often, even when you’ve followed all the rules, your look still seems to fall flat. How can you vamp up your style without changing your makeup routine altogether? Experts recommend matching your makeup to your eye color. It’s one of the most subtle yet most effective make-up secrets in the industry—and the best part is that pretty much anyone can do it.

Think about it: the eyes are often a person’s most prominent feature, and making them your style’s focal point is just really natural. Matching your eye color isn’t just about choosing eye shadow the same color as your eyes, or sticking to a single color family. These days, stylists are all about experimentation. The best way to find your personal style is to mix and match until you find something you personally like, not necessarily one that fits with the rules. If you’re not sure how to do it, here’s a quick color matching guide to help you get started.

For blue eyes

Blue eyes are fairly common in the West, but they never fail to catch attention. They often make the most striking glances and instantly become a person’s main feature. That’s why they don’t need a lot of work to accent—they can stand out well enough on their own. The best style for blue eyes is usually something like prom makeup: youthful with a touch of fanciness, but not overdone or too colorful.

Colors like rose and brown can help draw more attention to blue eyes, especially if they’re a bright shade like sea blue or jewel blue. Choose warm shades to counter the cool feel of blue eyes. Use a pale or muted eye shadow, or line them with brown or black eyeliner to define their shape. Mascara can be kept to a minimum—just enough to frame the eyes but not become another feature on its own.

For green eyes

Green eyes are among the rarest in the U.S., so if you have them, don’t be afraid to show them off. Like blue eyes, they don’t really need a lot of color to make them stand out. Instead of going for contrast, it’s usually best to choose makeup colors that complement them. Brown, mocha, yellow and peach go quite well with green while still looking simple and understated. For a more dramatic look, try a shade of purple: it gives you that “smoky eye” look that really brings out the green.

Besides simple colors, you should also go for light, low-contrast highlights. Green eyes are striking enough as they are, so adding black mascara or eyeliner can make them look too strong. If your eyes are a bright green shade, stick to light mascara and eyeliner such as brown, almond or chestnut. Gray and blue also work well, especially if you’re going for a youthful or slightly formal look.

For brown eyes

Brown eyes may be quite common, but that doesn’t make them any less attractive. In fact, their main advantage is that they go with everything: you can use pretty much any color in the spectrum and there’s a makeup look that can work with it. Makeup for brown eyes requires a combination of eye shadow for the colors and makeup pencils for highlighting, depending on the shade and the shape of your eyes.

Most brown eyes have specks of some other color such as green, copper or gold. The best makeup will be something within these color families. For a subtle yet attractive look, use earthy colors like copper, bronze or green. Not only do they blend well with your eyes, they also look very casual while being fancy enough for office or corporate parties. For day events, pastels like pink, peach, or apricot work well. Make sure to blend well to give it that natural, seamless look.

For hazel eyes

Hazel eyes are somewhere between brown and green, so any color within these families can be used. You can either choose contrasting colors and create a striking, youthful look, or match the shade of your eyes for a more casual effect. Many experts recommend lining your eyes in a pale brown or something that closely matches your eye color. You can then choose eye shadow in a complementary shade to finish the look.

You can also take your cue from winter makeup: warm colors that contrast nicely against the cold, harsh feel of the winter season. Yellow, amber, green and apricot are usually the best choices—don’t be afraid to use two or three colors at a time, as long as they’re not too bright. Modern stylists also recommend lime green and gold, which look a lot bolder and work well for evening and afternoon events.

When asked what defines one’s personal style, stylists often say the same things: skin tone, character, lifestyle and personal tastes. But few of them recognize the role of eye color. Your color and shape may be more noticeable from a distance, but as you interact with other people, it’s your eyes that really define your personality. By dressing to match your eye color, you can bring out your natural beauty and make a better visual impact.

First, find a color palette that works well with both your eyes and skin. Do you have fair skin and blue eyes? Then go for brightly colored shades that complement your natural coloring. Are you more on the dark or ethnic side with rich brown eyes? Try a warmer color palette with yellow, amber, peach and orange. Don’t be afraid to experiment—there are some online color mixers you can use to determine which colors work best for you.

Next, choose a few key pieces that go with everything else you have and will suit any situation. Most women need a few “smart” business clothes, some nice-fitting jeans, and dresses that work with evening and casual events. Again, look for those that match your eye color and skin tone—choose pieces within your color palette, and make sure try them on before buying. Neutrals like black, white and brown usually look good on everyone.

Your makeup style should also be defined by your eye color. One of the biggest makeup blunders is to use the same color of eye shadow as your irises. Sure, it keeps things consistent, but it looks boring, and too much of one color in a single spot can drown it out. You can either go for neutral or nude-colored eye shadow, or go for a contrasting shade. Use pink for blue eyes, gold for brown eyes, or peach and green for hazel eyes.

When you want your eyes to stand out, you’ll need to tone down the rest of your style. Choose a single piece of clothing that highlights your eye color, and keep the rest simple. For makeup, emphasize your eyes with some eyeliner and mascara, but keep lip makeup and blush to a minimum.