Soulful, sultry, and sincere — those are just a few words you’ll often hear people use when they describe brown eyes. So what if they’re the most common eye color of all — that doesn’t make brown eyes any less gorgeous. If you’re looking for ways to play up your dark eyes and have always wondered which makeup colors and tips can do the most to help make your eye color stand out, you’ve come to the right place. These makeup experts share their best tips on making brown eyes pop. Here’s what you need to know about the colors and techniques that can work magic on your beautiful eyes.
What are the best eye makeup colors for brown eyes?
It’s time to step outside the brown eyeshadow box for a minute (no matter how simple those neutral shares are to apply on busy mornings) and consider color, glorious color to make your brown eyes stand out in a crowd. When Makeup Artist and Beauty Blogger Kerrin Jackson thinks about the best makeup colors for brown eyes, one shade comes to her mind first: “Blue blue blue! I immediately think of vibrant, bright blues on brown eyes to make them stand out like an island in the sea!” she says.
And don’t just stop there. “Green is another color that will make your brown eyes pop,” Jackson adds. “And a vibrant purple will also work a treat. If you think about the colors that oppose brown on the color wheel - sky blue, or a grey blue is the opposite. So anything close to that will work wonders in making your eyes standout, by contrasting as much as possible.”
Makeup Artist Mandie Brice says she also abides by color theory when making up brown eyes, but that she also digs deeper to notice the little hues present in her client’s eyes.
“Most eyes aren't one solid color, but have small flecks of another color,” Brice explains. “Using an eyeshadow or eye liner color that opposes the fleck color on the color wheel can make those flecks (and the whole eyes) stand out. For example, if there are gold flecks, a pop of purple would do it. For flecks of orange, a blue shadow would be really fun.”
Other tips are tips that work for any eyes, she says, like using a light, shimmery pop of color in the inner corner, or a light color around the lash line and shading around the outer two-thirds of the eyes with brown, grey, or black.
What colors should you AVOID?
While any shade of brown eyeshadow is always flattering, Jackson says, in the case of this exercise, it is not the greatest choice to use to create a contrast with your eyes.
“So for the sake of making your brown eyes pop, it’s best to avoid those shades altogether this time,” she advises.
What eye makeup techniques do you recommend?
Jackson says she likes to keep the eye makeup as close to the lash line as possible. “This allows your eye makeup color to be as close (in placement) to your brown eyes to help that pop really take shape,” she says.
Another technique Jackson utilizes is lining the waterline (top and bottom) which takes out that skin tone and adds the eye makeup color close to your eyes as well. “Use either black or the same shade as your eye makeup,” she says.
One of Jackson’s favorite makeup tips doesn’t involve makeup at all. “Lumify to whiten up your eyes after makeup,” she says, referring to the popular eye drops. “It’s amazing how it’ll give your eyes clarity and really helps them standout against your chosen makeup color. Going for a monochromatic look is another way of really going all out to create a pop against your brown eye. So if you use a royal blue eye makeup, try pairing it with a royal blue mascara as well. So much fun!”
And, finally, a makeup tip that’s basic but so beneficial: don’t forget to curl your eyelashes before you apply your mascara. “It will really help to open your eyes up and create that contrasting pop you’re aiming for,” Jackson says.
Prepare to create an eye-catching makeup look for your beautiful brown eyes.
