How To Choose The Right Eyeshadow For Your Coloring

Have you ever tried applying eyeshadow, and no matter how great your technique is, you could tell something was missing, but you just couldn't pinpoint what? Well, the answer to this puzzle might lie in the eyeshadow color and not necessarily your technique.

You see, when deciding on the best eyeshadow color, you need to consider a few other factors besides a perfect technique. In fact, some of these don't have anything to do with how experienced or artistic you are when it comes to doing your makeup. This is why, in this article, we'll give you some tips on how to choose the perfect eyeshadow based on your unique features.

How To Choose the Right Eyeshadow for Your Coloring

Professional makeup artists have a keen eye for detail, and they often use this skill to choose the best eyeshadow colors for their clients. Many of them go by the principle that the best eyeshadow color is the one that complements the client's natural coloring. So, if you want to choose the right eyeshadow for your coloring, here's what to pay attention to.

Based on Hair Color

Choosing your eyeshadow based on hair color can be an excellent way to get an idea of what may or may not look good on you. For example, if you’re someone with light or blonde hair and you’re trying to figure out the best eyeshadow color, you can't go wrong with choosing something nude, pink, peach, or sparkly.

If you have medium-to-dark hair, experimenting with eyeshadow colors like plum, mauve, chocolate brown, and grey-brown can be a great way to add some dimension to your eyes. 

Dark or black hair usually goes well with eyeshadow colors like deep plum, burgundy, metallic silver, and charcoal grey. 

And finally, red hair looks great with eyeshadow colors like deep green, copper, and bronze.

Based on Eye Color

Eye color, compared to hair color, can be an even more helpful guide when choosing the perfect eyeshadow. This is because the primary role of eyeshadow is to accentuate the eye color and make your eyes look even more beautiful and pronounced, so choosing this product by your eye color will indeed have a bigger impact than choosing solely based on your hair color.

That said, those with blue eyes can find that eyeshadows in the purple or beige family help make their eyes pop. Some good eyeshadow colors for blue eyes are lavender, plum, periwinkle, grey, nude, beige, light khaki, and cool or grey-brown.

If you have green eyes, eyeshadows with red hues, such as maroon, coral-orange, pinkish-red, and copper, will help accentuate them even more. Additionally, rose gold and bronze can be great options because the slightly red undertone of these shades allows green eyes to shimmer.

Brown eyes can pull off any eyeshadow color, but if you’re looking for something to make your eyes really stand out, eyeshadows in the orange family can be very flattering, such as peach, apricot, and gold. And finally, hazel eyes are best complimented by eyeshadow colors in the brown or gold family. Some good eyeshadow colors for hazel eyes are champagne, bronze, and copper.

Based on Skin Tone

Last but not least, choosing the right eyeshadow color based on your skin tone is important because you want to make sure that the eyeshadow you choose is complimentary and doesn't clash with or disappear into your skin tone.

The best colors for fair skin tones are taupes and grey-beige. Additionally, rose gold and champagne hues can also look amazing on pale skin tones, as do warm, earthy shades like gold and bronze for when you feel like experimenting with a little bit of shimmer.

Medium skin tones are best complemented with warm, cozy colors such as bronze, cinnamon, chocolate brown, plum, and dark purple. And dark skin tones can rock eyeshadows in the copper, bronze, and gold family. If you have dark skin and are looking for a more daring eyeshadow color, bright and shimmery shades like grey, blue, green, metallic silver, and purple also look fantastic.

What’s a Cool vs. a Warm Undertone?

When it comes to choosing the perfect eyeshadow, knowing your undertone is even more important than observing your skin tone. This is because your undertone will remain the same no matter how tanned you get or how your skin changes over time, whereas your skin tone can vary based on these things.

Basically, there are two most common undertones: cool and warm. Cool undertones usually have a pink, red, or blue hue and tend to look best in eyeshadows with silver or grey tones and colors such as emerald, deep purple, lavender, pink, ice blue, and other bright blues.

On the other hand, warm undertones have a yellow, gold, or peach hue and look best in eyeshadows with gold or brown tones and earth-toned colors such as green, brown, mustard yellow, coral, bronze, copper, amber, and gold.

Additionally, there are two less commonly talked about undertones: neutral and olive. Olive undertones usually have a greenish hue and look best in eyeshadows with earthy tones, such as bronze or copper, as well as brown and berry for when you want something more daring. Neutral undertones are a mix of cool and warm undertones and can easily pull off any eyeshadow color. 

If you’re unsure of your undertone, an easy way to test it is to look at the veins on your wrist. If they appear blue or purple, you have cool undertones. If they appear green or olive, you have warm or olive undertones. And if they appear to be a mix of both, then you probably have neutral undertones.

If this doesn't quite cut it, and you’re having difficulty recognizing your undertone, picking up a few pieces of fabric in the cool or warm family and matching them against your skin can be another great way to tell if you are a cool or warm undertone.

Now that we know how to determine our undertone, let's move on to eyeshadow colors. Some of the best eyeshadow colors for those with cool undertones are:

• Lavender

• Silver

• Light blue

• Pink

• Grey

• Brown

• Beige

If you’re looking for a more daring eyeshadow color, bright and shimmery shades like green, metallic silver, and purple can also look fantastic.

Some of the best eyeshadow colors for those with warm undertones are:

• Bronze

• Copper

• Gold

• Cinnamon

• Chocolate brown

• Coral

• Amber

• Dark purple

Some of the best eyeshadow colors for those with olive undertones are:

• Moss green

• Olive green

• Khaki

• Golden brown

• Bronze 

• Copper

• Terracotta

• Cream

If you have a neutral undertone, eyeshadows in any color will look great on you! So experiment with different shades and colors to find what you like best.

How To Pair Eyeshadow Colors with Each Other

The key to creating a beautiful eyeshadow look is to pick two colors that complement each other. For example, if you have cool undertones, you could pair a grey eyeshadow with a cool brown or beige eyeshadow. Or, if you have warm undertones, you could pair a bronze eyeshadow with a cinnamon, amber, gold, or copper eyeshadow. If you have olive undertones, you could pair an olive green eyeshadow with a terracotta or khaki eyeshadow. And finally, if you have neutral undertones, you could pair a cream eyeshadow with a golden brown eyeshadow.

These are just a few examples, but remember that the key is to find two colors that complement each other and make your eyes pop based on your skin tone, undertone, eye color, as well as the outfit you are wearing, and the event you are attending. So experiment with different eyeshadow combinations until you find a look you love.

Tips to Enhance Your Look When Experimenting With Makeup

Besides choosing the perfect eyeshadow color, here are some other tips to enhance your look and make experimenting with makeup a fun and easy process:

Bold Lip

When it comes to makeup, one of the best ways to enhance your look is with lipstick. Lipstick is a great way to add a pop of color to your face and can really put an accent on your appearance as well as enhance your features. And the best part is that there are so many different shades and colors to choose from, which means there is a color out there for everyone.

If you don't really feel comfortable wearing heavy lipsticks, or you are just going for a natural day look, start with a nude or light pink shade. This will help you get used to wearing lipstick and allow you to see how different colors look on your lips.

On the other hand, if you want to opt for something bolder and more daring, introducing stronger colors such as red, brick, orange, or even darker burgundy, purple, and brown may be a good statement option. Remember, when it comes to lipstick, the key is to find a shade that you feel comfortable wearing and one that compliments your features.

Product to try: Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint Fluid Lip Color in Underdawg

Flattering Blush

In addition to lipstick, another great way to enhance your look is with blush. Blush is a fantastic way to add some color and life back to your face, especially if you are feeling tired or run down. When applied correctly, blush can really help to brighten up your appearance and make you look more awake and refreshed. Plus, it can also help to contour your face and give you a more polished appearance.

There are two main types of blush: powder and cream. Powder blush is usually best for those with oily skin, as it can help set your makeup and give you a more matte finish. Cream or liquid blush is usually best for those with dry skin, as it will give you a more natural finish instead of making you look dull and dehydrated.

When it comes to choosing the right blush shade, remember that you want to find a shade close to your natural skin tone, as this will bring the entire look together and enhance your features without looking like it just sits on top of your skin. A good rule of thumb is to opt for a light pink or peach shade if you have fair skin, a coral or mauve shade if you have medium skin, and deep plum or berry shade if you have dark skin.

Product to try: Patrick TA Monochrome Moment Velvet Blush in She's Seductive

Smokey Eye

A smoky eye is another excellent way to enhance your look. A smokey eye is usually achieved by using a dark eyeshadow on the lid and crease of the eye and then blending it out to create a soft and sexy look. Don't forget to add some mascara or false eyelashes to really make your eyes pop. Smokey eyes are perfect for special occasions or nights out but can also be toned down for a more casual look.

Product to try: Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter Luxury Eyeshadow Palette

Closing Thoughts

Experimenting with makeup can be a lot of fun, especially when you find the perfect combination of products that enhance your natural beauty. So don't be afraid to experiment with different eyeshadow colors, lipsticks, and blushes to create looks that help you radiant confidence. And, who knows? You may just find your new signature look using products you'd never expected to love.

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