Choosing the right colors to complement brown eyes can really make them pop! As a brown-eyed girl myself, I’ve experimented over the years with different eyeshadow and clothing hues that enhance my eye color. Here are some quick tips and recommendations for making the most of beautiful brown eyes.
Warm vs Cool Brown Eyes
The first thing to understand is that not all brown eyes are the same! Some are warmer with hints of gold, amber and olive. Others are cooler with notes of chocolate, espresso and ebony. Determine whether your brown eyes lean warm or cool so you can accentuate them properly.
Look at your eye color in natural sunlight. Are there warm golden flecks and smokey olive tones? If so, you likely have warm brown eyes. Do your eyes appear dark chocolate brown or almost black? Then you probably have cool-toned brown eyes.
You can also examine the veins on your wrist. Bluish veins indicate cool undertones, while greenish veins point to warm undertones. Your skin tone is another clue. Those with warm brown eyes usually have peach, yellow or golden skin tones. People with cool brown eyes often have pink or rosy skin.
Best Colors for Warm Brown Eyes
Warm brown eyes contain glimmers of gold, green, orange and amber. To make these beautiful eyes sparkle, you’ll want to wear colors on the warm end of the color spectrum.
Some of the best colors for warm brown eyes include:
- Copper
- Bronze
- Gold
- Champagne
- Honey
- Camel
- Khaki
- Olive
- Sage
- Hazel
- Chestnut
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Mocha
- Taupe
- Beige
- Ivory
- Peach
- Coral
- Terracotta
- Rust
- Cinnamon
Clothing, makeup and accessories in these warm, earthy shades will make warm brown eyes glow. Go for rich metallics and shimmery bronzed hues on the eyes. Try peach, gold or copper cheeks. Opt for camel coats and olive green tops. Stick to this color palette for a cohesive look that flatters warm brown eyes.
Best Colors for Cool Brown Eyes
Cool brown eyes are dark and intense, mixed with notes of deep chocolate, espresso and ebony. For these dramatic brown eyes, you’ll want to embrace cooler hues that complement their complexity.
Some of the best colors for cool brown eyes include:
- Plum
- Burgundy
- Eggplant
- Wine
- Forest Green
- Emerald
- Teal
- Slate
- Silver
- Pewter
- Steel Grey
- Charcoal
- Black
- Chocolate
- Espresso
- Coffee
- Mocha
- Cherry
- Raspberry
- Cranberry
- Mauve
- Lavender
- Orchid
- Purple
- Eggplant
- Indigo
- Navy
Deep, dramatic eyeshadows like chocolate, charcoal and plum will intensify cool brown eyes. Try a bold burgundy lip or rich emerald green top. Silvery gray, black and navy blue will also enhance these deeper brown eyes.
Most Flattering Eyeshadow Colors for Brown Eyes
Now that you know which color family flatters your specific shade of brown eyes, let’s talk about the best eyeshadow hues and palettes.
Warm Brown Eyes
Look for eyeshadow palettes with warm bronzed neutrals, peach tones and champagne shimmers. Some perfect palettes include:
- Tartelette In Bloom Clay Palette
- Too Faced Natural Eyes Neutral Eye Shadow Palette
- Urban Decay Naked Honey Eyeshadow Palette
- Natasha Denona Biba Palette
- HUDA Beauty Warm Brown Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette
- Anastasia Beverley Hills Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette
Individual warm brown eyeshadow shades to try:Gold Champagne, Bronze, Copper, Camel, Khaki, Olive, Mocha, Chocolate, Chestnut
Cool Brown Eyes
Look for richly pigmented cool-toned palettes featuring plums, emeralds and deep browns. Some ideal palettes include:
- HUDA Beauty Sapphire Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette
- Natasha Denona Glam Eyeshadow Palette
- VIOLET VOSS Essentials PRO Eyeshadow Palette
- Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons Eyeshadow Palette
- URBAN DECAY Naked Smoky Palette
- Anastasia Beverley Hills Jackie Aina Eyeshadow Palette
Individual cool brown eyeshadow shades to try: Eggplant, Plum, Burgundy, Forest Green, Olive, Ebony, Espresso, Black, Charcoal
Most Flattering Eyeliner Colors for Brown Eyes
The right eyeliner can really intensify brown eyes. Here are the best options for warm and cool brown eyes.
Warm Brown Eyes
Try bronze, copper, olive and brown eyeliners. Some top picks include:
- NYX Retractable Eye Liner in Golden Olive
- Milani Stay Put Eyeliner in Bronze
- L’Oreal Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner in Bronze
- Maybelline Lasting Drama Light Eyeliner in Soft Nude
- Essence Longlasting Eye Pencil in Hot Chocolate
Cool Brown Eyes
Go for black, dark brown, charcoal and plum eyeliners. Some stellar options:
- NARS Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in Via Veneto
- Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion
- MAC Eye Kohl in Smolder
- L’Oreal Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner in Carbon Black
- Milani Stay Put Eyeliner inexecutives 03
Most Flattering Mascaras for Brown Eyes
Mascara makes brown eyes pop! Focus on formulas that thicken, define and darken lashes. Popular volumizing mascaras like these will accentuate brown eyes beautifully:
- Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
- L’Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara
- Covergirl LashBlast Volume Mascara
- Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara
- Rimmel London Scandaleyes Wow Wings Mascara
For definition, try:
- Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara
- Lancome Hypnôse Drama Instant Full Body Volume Mascara
- It Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara
- Benefit They’re Real! Lengthening Mascara
- MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash
Most Flattering Lip Colors for Brown Eyes
The right lip color can make brown eyes stand out. Here are the most flattering shades for warm and cool brown eyes.
Warm Brown Eyes
Look for warm, brown-based lipstick hues like:
- Peach
- Coral
- Brick Red
- Terracotta
- Rosewood
- Spiced Apple
- Cinnamon
- Mocha
- Taupe
- Nude
Great lipsticks for warm brown eyes include:
- NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita
- Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Chai
- BareMinerals Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipstick in Swag
- Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Spiced Cider
- Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Nude Nuance
Cool Brown Eyes
Embrace richer berry shades, purples and reds like:
- Berry
- Burgundy
- Raspberry
- Purple
- Magenta
- Pink
- Red
- Wine
- Plum
- Mauve
Stunning lip colors for cool brown eyes:
- NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella
- Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick in Babe Alert
- Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso
- Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Outlaw
- MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo
Most Flattering Clothing Colors for Brown Eyes
Certain clothing hues will complement brown eyes perfectly. Consider wearing these shades close to your face:
Warm Brown Eyes
- Cream
- Gold
- Yellow
- Orange
- Olive Green
- Chocolate Brown
- Tan
- Beige
- Khaki
- Camel
- Nude
- Peach
- Coral
Cool Brown Eyes
- Royal Blue
- Emerald Green
- Burgundy
- Deep Red
- Purple
- Eggplant
- Wine
- Hot Pink
- Black
- Gray
- Charcoal
- Navy
Best Metals and Jewelry for Brown Eyes
Certain metals and stones look amazing with brown eyes. Here are the top jewelry picks:
Warm Brown Eyes
- Gold
- Bronze
- Copper
- Brass
- Amber
- Citrine
- Tiger’s Eye
- Topaz
Cool Brown Eyes
- Silver
- Platinum
- Gunmetal
- Rose Gold
- Onyx
- Amethyst
- Sapphire
- Emerald
Wear these metals and gemstones near your face as earrings, necklaces, rings or cuff bracelets to enhance brown eyes.
How to Apply Eye Makeup for Brown Eyes
Here are some key makeup application tips to accentuate different brown eye colors:
Warm Brown Eyes
- Use a champagne or copper shimmery eyeshadow across the lid and inner corner to brighten.
- Add a medium brown hue into the crease to add depth.
- Use a darker brown eyeshadow in the outer V of the eye to intensify.
- Highlight under the brow bone with a light shimmery shadow.
- Line upper lash line with bronze or olive liner. Smudge slightly.
- Finish with 2-3 coats of black brown mascara on top and bottom lashes.
Cool Brown Eyes
- Pat a shimmery gray shadow across lids as a base.
- Blend a soft matte brown shade into the crease.
- Layer a deep eggplant or charcoal shadow on outer V and outer third of lid.
- Highlight brow bone with a pearly white or soft pink shadow.
- Line upper lashline with black or dark brown pencil. Smudge gently.
- Apply plum or rich brown mascara to top and bottom lashes.
Do’s and Don’ts for Makeup with Brown Eyes
Follow these makeup dos and don’ts to play up beautiful brown eyes:
Do:
- Use a primer to intensify eyeshadow color payoff.
- Choose matte neutrals for the crease and lid.
- Add pops of metallic, shimmer or glitter shadows.
- Define eyes with soft smokey eyeliner.
- Curl lashes before applying mascara.
- Stick to your eye color’s color palette.
Don’t:
- Apply black eyeliner or shadow too heavily.
- Overdo pale or pastel eyeshadow shades.
- Use only mattes – incorporate shimmer.
- Forget to highlight the inner corner of eyes.
- Apply mascara only to top lashes.
- Use colors that don’t enhance your eye color.
Conclusion
Brown eyes are so beautiful! Play them up properly by embracing flattering colors and smart makeup techniques. The right hues can make brown eyes positively sparkle! Experiment with different shadow palettes, eyeliners and lipstick shades to see what flatters your eye color best. With these tips, you’ll be playing up and enhancing gorgeous brown eyes in no time.
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