I have blue eyes, so I am supremely qualified to write about what makeup colors look best with them.
Blue Eyeshadow + Blue Eyes =?
Blue eyeshadow looks best with brown eyes; however, I find that if I wear a blue shirt or scarf, my blue eyes pop, and at least one person that day will tell me, “That’s your color.” Oh yes, I know. So I’ve always wondered if blue eyeshadow would work with my blue eyes. It turns out that’s up for debate. Some beauty experts say no way; your blue eyes will get lost in the sea of blue shadows, while others say yes, you can wear blue eyeshadow, but make sure it’s a dark blue.
I find blues don’t look so great on me. My blue eyes need some distance (a scarf or shirt, for example) to shine.
My friend Jenny has piercing blue eyes and loves to wear blue shadows. They look great on her. I think you should go to Sephora or a department store and try out different eye shadows on your own.
Read Also: How to Find the Most Flattering Colors for Your Skin Tone
Gold, Coppery Shades are Gorgeous on Blue Eyes
I’ve tried all sorts of eyeshadow shades, and by far, the most flattering colors for my blue eyes fall in the coppery brown family. It turns out that copper, which is orange, falls on the exact opposite side of the color wheel from blue, which is why the shade will make your blue eyes pop.
Rich browns, coppers, golds, and pinks all work well with blue eyes. Pinks don’t really work on me because I have a pink complexion, not a peachy one. But if you have a peachy complexion, pink may stand out on your lids and look great with your blue eyes.
Blend, Blend, Blend
Throw out the cheapie eyeshadow applicator and invest in good shadow brushes for your eyeshadows. You’ll want a few of varying sizes so you can apply them to your lid, your crease, and your browbone effectively.
Then remember to blend, blend, and blend the colors in.
The Makeup Artist’s Secrets
To make your eyes really pop, try the makeup artist’s secret: press your finger into the lightest shade in your shadow palette and then press your finger gently into the inside corner of your eye where your tear ducts are. The light color will brighten your whites and bring out your blues.
You can also line the inside rims of the eyes (called the water line) with a beige pencil. Don’t use white; it’s simply too harsh.
See The Trick to Making Eyes Look Bigger
Be Careful of the Shimmer
I love a good shimmer, especially a gold shimmer on my lids. However, be careful not to put a shimmery color above the lid up to the browbone—it’s simply too much.
Set Your Shadow
You can set your shadow with an eyeshadow primer, but MAC Paint Pots work best with my blue eyes. The paints are highly pigmented, go on creamy but dry beautifully, and they’ll stay on until you apply makeup remover to your lids. I like MAC’s Rubanesque.
Brown Mascara, Please
If you have super dark hair, you can get away with black mascara, but typically blondes with blue eyes look best with brown mascara. You can wear black mascara when you want more drama to your eye, but it can be a bit harsh for the daytime.