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How to choose the best eye shadow for your eye colour

How to choose the best eye shadow for your eye colour
How to choose the best eye shadow for your eye colour

Kate Beckinsale rocking warm tones to compliment her stunning brown eyes.

When searching out the right shade of shadow, it’s important to get back to basics, says marie claire beauty editor, Lucy Adams. “Try it on! What looks great on your sister, best friend or colleague may look completely different on you.”

Here’s how to find the best tones that work for your eye colour. And take Adams’ advice: “Have fun with it! It's not permanent and it's such an easy way to create a new look”.

Brown eyes
Oh, brown-eyed girl, how lucky you are. See, while you might not be so unique (it is the most common eye colour in the world), you have options galore when it comes to eye shadow. Yep, pretty much any colour will work for you, so it’s down to preference and skin tone as deciding factors.

Try: warm, earthy tones or try teals, greens, purples and lilacs. marie claire beauty editor Lucy Adams recommends trying metallic hues too. “They look great on brown and hazel also, as they offset the gold flecks in the eye.”

Blue eyes
Blue eyes tend to compete with colour, so while there aren’t any strict rules, earthy brown tones and shimmery coppers are your best friend, especially if you have light blue eyes, like Reese Witherspoon.

Try: “To accentuate blue eyes makeup artists opt for peach, apricot or terracotta shades. But you don't need to limit yourself just to eye shadows – try experimenting with coloured eyeliners in a subtle teal or turquoise too,” recommends Adams.

Green eyes
Anyone lucky enough to have green eyes probably knows the drill by now: it’s all about purple power to make those eyes pop. We’re talking lavender, lilac, deep plums and violet; the combination is the makeup equivalent of jeans and a white tee shirt: it just works.

Try: Care to step away from the standard colour palette? Adams suggests taking inspiration from the eyes: green. “I love soft washes of khaki, lime or olive tones to balance their natural eye colour.”

Hazel eyes
Hazel eyes, like their brown counterparts, offer some creative options when it comes to eye shadow, so it’s really down to your mood on the day. If you have hazel eyes with darker brown flecks, go for a golden-brown sweep of shadow and if you’re on the green end of hazel, try a violet shade to emphasis the greeny tone of your eye.

Try: A subtle tweak of your colour choice or texture (like using a metallic over a pastel) can transform the look of your eyes entirely.