Brown eyes come in many different shades so let’s look at a kaleidoscope of colors to help us to enhance eye color. To brighten each other up, colors opposite each other will be complementary For example: Red and green, orange and blue, purple and yellow. Depending on the shade of brown your eyes are will determine the shades of eye shadow you may use to brighten the brown which, may give you the effect of lightening that you are after, especially if you use colors that shimmer.

Choosing An Eyeshadow: The most popular question I get is “what eyeshadow can I wear with my eye color?” Listen up, and I’ll tell you. General makeup tips for brown eyes always include browns, beige and neutral tans. Grays and charcoals look good with this eye color, as do violet and lavender. You can mix it up with a lavender and a violet. Khaki and olive green are a great color combination. Browns with green highlights or copper highlights are always a fun option. Try copper and even gold. If your eyes have a tinge of green, or like mine are half green, choose green eye shadows as well. You’ll find that even though you’ve heard that you should never wear an eyeshadow the same color as your eyes, that brown shadow can look very good with brown eyes and green shadow can look very good with green eyes. Sometimes it’s a matter of finding the “right” shade. Brown eyeshadow are all pretty safe, so you don’t have to worry too much about those. Colors like purple, green and blue require a bit more testing. Black is out, so don’t use it as an eyeshadow. Keep trying until you find a color you like. You’ll know when it’s right- trust your instincts.

Colors To Avoid: Like I said, I hate to rule anything out, but makeup tips for brown eyes should include that certain pink and mauve eyeshadow can cause you to look swollen or puffy around your eyes. It isn’t true for all women or for all pinks, either. But if you’re certain you don’t want to risk it, avoid pinks. Mauve also fall into this category. It may be because women with brown eyes tend to have more yellow skin tones making them warm complexioned and pinks and mauve are definitely cool colors. The blue in the pinks can react with the yellow of the skin producing an unattractive feature. And while it isn’t specifically makeup tips for brown eyes, you may want to avoid blue eyeshadow too. There’s the misconception that blue eyeshadow is “out”, but like I said, it really depends on who’s wearing it. Playing it safe would include skipping this color. Silvers are not a good color for brown eyes. They tend to cause a “washed out” look. Leave silver for blue eyes.

Eyeliner Colors: And now for the eyeliner colors. Brown eyes always should include dark brown and black eyeliner. These are very good choices for this eye color. Don’t line your black liner too thick, though. That’s passe. Raccoon eyes are a big no-no.

If you’re trying to open small eyes, line with silver or white, especially the first third from the inside corner of your eyelid. Then finish with a dark brown. Navy, forest green, violet and copper are also great eyeliner choices. Play around with the different colors and pick the ones you like best.