How to Pick Eyeshadow Colors for Skin Tones, According to Celeb MUAs
From classic nudes to eye-catching jewel tones.
As it turns out, your eye color isn't the only factor you should consider when choosing an eyeshadow — your skin tone can also affect whether you find a shade more or less flattering. But don't just take it from us — we turned to several celebrity makeup artists to figure out what shadows to start using ASAP, from classic nudes to eye-catching jewel tones. Keep scrolling for how to pick eyeshadow colors for skin tones and discover which work best for you.
Related: The Best Eyeshadow Palettes for Every Skin Tone and Occasion
Fair
Mai Quynh, who counts Elizabeth Olsen among her clients, suggests trying a cream antiqued bronze to warm up the yellow undertones in fair complexions.
Charlotte Tilbury's Eyes to Mesmerise in Amber Gold is a crease-free cream formula that has a buildable finish. If you aren't a frequent eyeshadow-wearer, this one blends effortlessly, making it impossible to mess up the application.
Related: The 11 Best Cream Eyeshadows of 2023 That Won’t Slide or Smudge
Medium
Brown powder with hints of bronze and cinnamon creates warm, smoky eyes like Shay Mitchell's.
Smoky eyes might seem complicated, but all you have to do is pick shades that complement each other. That's why eyeshadow palettes exist. Smashbox's Cover Shot Eyeshadow Palette in Petal Metal has all of the shades you need to recreate a look that's similar to Mitchell's.
Related: 10 Celebrities That Make a Strong Case for Wearing Red Eyeshadow
Olive
If you have an olive complexion like Lea Michele, reach for a teal shade as opposed to a powdery, sky blue which has the tendency to wash out this skin tone.
Shiseido Pop PowderGel Eyeshadow in Shimmering Teal is enriched with light-reflecting powders that make it perfect for shading, highlighting, or lining the eyes — depending on the look you're going for.
Tan
Few eyeshadows are as good of multitaskers as gold. Freida Pinto's makeup artist, Kirin Bhatty, says that a shimmering gold shadow also works well on tan skin as a highlighter.
L'Oréal Paris Infallible Eyeshadow in Eternal Sunshine might be a powder, but it doesn't look chalky as it wears, which is why it's an ideal formula to use on your eyes and cheeks.
Related: 4 Eyeshadow Looks for Brown Eyes
Deep
Vibrant green shades really pop, while the mix of cool and warm undertones is universally flattering on deep skin tones. To get a look similar to Aja Naomi King, try MAC Cosmetics Eyeshadow in Humid and New Crop.
Related: The Unexpected Eye Makeup Color That's About to Be Everywhere
Medium-Deep
As seen on Yara Shahidi, cranberry is an unexpected neutral on medium-dark complexions. Dust it across your entire lid as an alternative to scraping the last bits of your usual eyeshadows from their pots.
Make Up For Ever Artist Shadow in M847 is a warm berry shade that will brighten up your whole face. The matte-finish shade holds up for 12 hours before you need to reapply.
(Note: This shade is currently sold out; for something similar, we recommend M-820 - Dark Pink Purple).
Very Deep
Nick Barose, Lupita Nyong'o's MUA, says that a rose-gold shade looks luxe on dark skin. "But it'll look edgier if it has a strong, orange tone to it." Consider the shimmery shade the most flattering color you're probably not wearing — yet.
Fenty Beauty Snap Shadows Mix & Match Eyeshadow Palette in Deep Neutrals includes shades that fit all the requirements Barose mentions.
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