Brown eyes are beautiful in their own right, with shades ranging from light honey brown to almost black. While brown eyes have depth and warmth, some people with brown eyes wish they could make their eye color stand out more. The good news is that there are certain colors that can help enhance brown eyes and really make them pop. In this article, we’ll discuss what color clothes, makeup, and accessories will complement brown eyes and help bring out their rich color.
How Color Works With Brown Eyes
Before getting into specific color recommendations, it’s helpful to understand a little bit about color theory. Colors that appear opposite each other on the color wheel, known as complementary colors, create high contrast when placed next to each other. This high contrast helps certain colors stand out more. For brown eyes, choosing clothing, makeup, and accessories in colors that strongly contrast brown will make the brown eye color more noticeable.
Warm, rich browns and golds are analogous colors, meaning they sit next to each other on the color wheel. Wearing these colors near the face can accentuate the warmth in brown eyes. Cool tones like blues, greens and purples are complementary to warm brown eyes, so they create pleasing contrast. Bright, saturated versions of these cooler colors stand out the most against brown eyes.
Best Clothing Colors for Brown Eyes
Certain hues of clothing can really intensify the color of brown eyes. Here are some of the best clothing color choices:
Blues: Shades like royal blue, cobalt, and sapphire blue create striking contrast against brown eyes. These cooler shades bring out golden flecks in light brown eyes. Darker navy blues also complement those with darker brown eyes.
Greens: Green is opposite brown on the color wheel, so shades of emerald, jade, and forest green stand out beautifully with brown eyes. Olive green brings out amber tones in lighter brown eyes. Darker hunter greens complement nearly black brown eyes.
Purples: Rich purples like eggplant, lilac, and amethyst provide a bold accent color to brown. Darker plums and burgundies also flatter darker brown eyes. Soft lavender can brighten lighter brown eyes.
Golds: Warm metallic golds and bronzes enhance the golden flecks in lighter brown eyes. Gold shirt, tie, or blazer can make brown eyes glow. Rose gold also flatters lighter brown shades.
Neutrals: Cream, beige, tan, and taupe are soft neutral colors that aren’t overpowering but provide enough contrast to make brown irises stand out. White and black paired with brown eyes create classic contrast.
Best Makeup Colors for Brown Eyes
Makeup is another great way to make brown eyes pop. Using the right eye makeup colors draws attention right to the eyes. Here are some flattering makeup shades for brown eyes:
Eyeshadow: Purples, greens, golds and bronzes make ideal eyeshadow colors for brown eyes. Try a sweep of metallic purple or forest green liner on the top lash line. A gold or rose gold shimmery eye shadow washed across the lid also makes brown eyes sparkle.
Eyeliner: Black, dark brown, navy, cobalt blue, plum, and dark green eyeliner look striking with brown eyes. For daytime definition, use chocolate brown pencil liner on the upper lash line. A cat eye with liquid liner in black or navy blue makes brown eyes stand out.
Mascara: Black or dark brown mascara provides definition and frames brown eyes beautifully. Waterproof mascara in black or brown will keep lashes looking lush all day.
Eyebrows: A dark brown eyebrow pencil with reddish undertones mimics natural brow hair and gives definition. Use a color one to two shades lighter than your hair color.
Best Accessory Colors for Brown Eyes
Certain jewelry, scarves, glasses frames and other accessories can complement brown eyes. Here are some top accessory choices:
Jewelry: For necklaces, hoops or dangling earrings, opt for gold, rose gold, silver, turquoise, cobalt, purple or emerald. Brown wood and amber jewelry also pick up the tones in brown irises.
Sunglasses: Frames in tortoiseshell, rose gold, cobalt blue, olive green, plum, and translucent browns complement brown eyes. Retro cat eye frames in these hues also accentuate eyes.
Scarves: Scarves provide a quick way to complement brown eyes. Wrapping on jewel tones like emerald, sapphire, lilac or gold instantly makes eyes pop.
Hats: Warm brown felts, bronze metallic caps, and rich burgundy or hunter green winter hats bring out brown eyes beautifully. A gray wool beret or cream sunhat also complements brown irises.
Tips for Making Brown Eyes Stand Out
Aside from wearing flattering colors, there are some extra tricks for bringing out the richness of brown eyes:
– Use an eye brightening primer before eye makeup to make brown irises look alert.
– Line the inner rims of eyes with a nude pencil to open up eyes.
– Curl eyelashes and apply two coats of volumizing mascara.
– Fill in and shape brows with brow gel for a polished frame.
– Get plenty of rest for clear, bright eyes. Stay hydrated and limit alcohol.
– Add definition by wearing darker liner on top lids and lighter liner on lower lids.
Summary
The rich, earthy beauty of brown eyes can be enhanced through strategic color pairings. Warm metallics like golds, rose golds and bronzes bring out the golden undertones in brown. Cool, bold jewel tones like cobalt blue, violet and emerald green create eye-catching contrast with brown irises. Choosing the most flattering clothing colors, makeup shades, and accessory colors for your unique shade of brown is a great way to really make your beautiful brown eyes pop!
