Eyeshadow is an extraordinary makeup product that instantly changes the vibe of your makeup! But, did you know there are certain shades that can make your eyes pop resulting in a stunning contrast? Determining your perfect shades takes some trial and error which include several factors. By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly what your perfect shades are!
First Up: Skin Tone
This is no secret but in the makeup world, your skin tone determines exactly what looks most flattering on you! Below, you’ll find each skin tone and what the most flattering shades are. Let’s go over it!
Fair Skin
Fair skin looks most flattering with light and pastel shades. It’s best to stick to shades like this to avoid looking washed out. (Which everyone knows is terrible!)
To add a flush of color use shades like champagnes, pinks, and light purples. On the other hand, a natural eye would look best with taupes, browns, and greys.
Let’s go over each shade in depth!
- Champagne: Want a subtle sparkle to your look? Champagne is the perfect choice of sparkle. Wear it alone during the day and dress it up with a grey or light brown for a nighttime look. Pinks: It’s no secret that pinks look stunning on pale skin! Whether it’s lipsticks or eyeshadow pink is a classic choice. To name a few shades try out baby pinks and dusty roses.
- Peaches: For some warmth and glow peach is the perfect shade to incorporate! Use soft peaches, coral peaches, rosy peaches, apricot peaches, and beiges.
- Lavender: This is a unique shade, but to add a subtle pop to your makeup incorporate lavender. It’s dreamy but at the same time just enough to compliment your skin without it being too much.
- Taupe: This is a neutral shade which means it’s versatile and can be used for a day in or night out! Taupe is perfect to use for a subtle and effortless smokey eye without having a crazy contrast.
Light/Medium Skin Tone
This is no surprise but earthy shades totally complement medium skin tones! For a bold pop use shades like gold, copper, and bronze. For a softer eye use beiges, light browns, and pinks.
Let’s go over each shade in depth!
- Bronze: Everyone knows that bronze is a classic shade to add glow and contrast to your skin! Pair with gold and copper to dress up your eye.
- Burgundy: A dramatic eye looks perfect with some burgundy! Wear alone or pair with bronze and gold for a shimmer.
- Olive Green: For days when you want a natural, earthy look try out olive green! This contrasts beautifully with medium skin tones. For an extra pop, pair with either matte or shimmery green shades. Gold also works.
- Plum: This is such an underrated shade, don’t be afraid to shy away from it! For a bit of drama, plum is a great shade to use. Pair with other purples or gold for a stunning contrast.
- Copper: Want a contrasting shimmer? Try out copper and use either gold or brown with it.
Olive Skin Tones
In a way, olive skin tones are similar to medium skin tones with how earthy shades look outstanding. Experiment with shades like gold, purple, brown, and taupe.
Let’s go over each shade in depth!
- Gold: You’re seeing a trend here, but gold really looks good on anyone! For a sun-kissed bronzy look pair with bronzer or copper.
- Purple: Going for a rich finish? Try out purple! Apply purple on top for a stunning contrast. Some shades that would complement you are lavender, plum, violet, and mauve.
- Taupe: Taupe is extremely functional and perfect for either a day in or a night out. Try out shades like cool and warm taupe. For a subtle hint of color try out mushroom, rose, and bronze taupe.
- Emerald: This is a unique shade, and don’t shy away from it! Emerald creates a rich and stunning contrast on olive skin tones. For a high contrast effect apply gold with it.
- Brown: Olive skin tones have the ability to play around with different shades of brown. Chocolate and caramel are the two shades that will complement you the most.
Deep Skin Tones
Deep skin tones have the ability to use stunning and vibrant shades! Fuschias, blues, and teals are just a few to name. For a more natural route use gold, bronze, and copper.
Let’s go over each shade in depth!
- Blue: Deep shades of blue complement you the most. Use either navy blue or cobalt for a contrast add gold. Royal blues, navy blue, baby blue, turquoise, and electric blue are a few other blues to play around with.
- Metallics: Metallics such as rose gold or copper will give a luminous effect to deep skin tones. Pair with browns or coppers for a night out! A few other metallic shades that will look stunning are silver, bronze, and gold.
- Purple: Purple is a stunning shade to use for deep skin tones. For a bold contrast use deep purples, plums, violet, lavender, and mauve! If you decide to use purple, pair it with gold for contrast.
- Burgundy: The deep nature of this shade is what gives it a stunning contrast. To tie it together use either golden or bronze shades.
- Earthy Tones: It’s no surprise that earthy tones look great as well. Shades such as browns, chocolates, espressos, etc. will create a warm and earthy look with deep skin tones. To add a bit of pop pair with metallic shades.
Lastly: Eye Color
Now that you know your perfect eyeshadow shade according to your skin tone, let’s briefly go over the best eyeshadow color for your eye color. With this, you can implement both and play around with them.
- Brown Eyes: When you’re going for a natural look, use shades like gold, bronze, and copper to complement your eyes. If you have an event to go to or a night out, use shades like cobalt blue, navy blue, charcoals, and deep purple for a pop.
- Blue Eyes: Both soft and warm shades complement blue eyes. Some examples of these shades are peaches, champagnes, and pinks. If you want to enhance the blue in your eyes use shades like taupe, light browns, and bronze. For a lighter appearance, use cooler shades such as silver, grey, and navy blue.
- Hazel Eyes: Hazel eyes are super unique because it’s a mix of brown, green, and sometimes golden. Because of this, you want to use warmer shades it compliments your beautiful eyes. Warmer browns, peach, and coral are a few examples. Because hazel eyes have a mixture of green, brown, and sometimes tinges of gold. To complement this use warmer shades such as warmer browns, peaches, and coral. On the other hand, if you want the green in your eyes to pop use shades like olive and forest greens.
- Green Eyes: To complement the green in your eyes use earthy shades! Rusty oranges, browns, and terracottas are what will work the best.
- Grey Eyes: You have quite a bit of range when it comes to what will work! Use shades like warm browns, deep greens, purples, blues, and earthy tones to enhance the color of your eyes.
There you have it, now you know exactly what your most flattering eyeshadow shades are! Whether you have fair, tan, or deep skin you’ll be sure to find complimentary shades for you. Check out our Eyeshadow Section for more content like this. Be sure to subscribe to the Beginners Guide To Makeup to keep up with our weekly makeup updates!
