Buying guide for Best eyeshadows for blue eyes
Blue eyes are striking on their own, but there’s a lot you can do to draw more attention to your baby blues. The right eye makeup can help highlight your eyes but finding the best eyeshadows for blue eyes can be a little tricky.
Many eyeshadow formulas and finishes work well for blue eyes, so it really comes down to choosing the right shades. Drawing upon color theory is the easiest way to find the right shades for blue eyes. Colors opposite blue on the color wheel create a bold contrast that helps emphasize the blue in your eyes, so they’re usually the best option. Other shades can also complement blue eyes and make them pop.
In the market for new eye makeup? Our buying guide makes it easy to find the best eyeshadows for blue eyes and choose the best formula, finish, number of shades, and other features to really make your eyes shine. We’ve included several specific product recommendations as well to help get your shopping started.
Key considerations
Shades
The primary factor to consider when choosing eyeshadow for blue eyes is the shades offered. There are no hard-and-fast makeup rules, so you can wear any shade no matter what color your eyes are. However, certain shades are more suitable for blue eyes than others and can help make your eyes stand out.
In general, warm shades work well because they contrast with the cool tones in blue eyes. Specific eyeshadow shades that are most flattering for blue eyes include the following.
Champagne: A neutral champagne or beige shade works for nearly any eye color and is ideal as a lid shade. A shimmery champagne is also perfect for highlighting the brow bone or inner corner.
Copper: Copper is an excellent eyeshadow shade for blue eyes because of its orange tones. Orange is the opposite shade of blue on the color wheel, so it creates a contrast that makes blue eyes pop. It can work well as a lid, crease, or smoky eye shade.
Peach: Like copper, peach shadows have orange tones that create a contrast with blue eyes. Peach works especially well as a lid shade.
Rust: Rust or terra-cotta shades also have orange tones that help blue eyes stand out. They work well for the lid, crease, and smoky eye looks.
Brown: Brown shadows work well for most eye colors, but neutral and warm browns like chocolate are excellent crease and smoky eye shades for blue eyes.
Bronze: Bronze eyeshadows are somewhere between copper and brown, so they’re highly flattering for blue eyes. They work well for the lid, crease, and smoky eye looks.
Gold: Gold eyeshadows usually have warm tones that help blue eyes pop. Shimmery gold shadows make an ideal lid shade.
Purple: If you prefer more colorful, jewel-toned eye looks, purple eyeshadows are great for blue eyes. Those with red undertones are most flattering, but lilac, amethyst, and royal purple shades can all work well for the lid or crease.
Navy: Blue eyeshadows aren’t the best option for blue eyes because they tend to draw attention away from the eyes. However, navy eyeshadow works well because it helps brighten the whites of your eyes, making the blue color pop more. Use navy as a crease shade or as part of a smoky eye look.
Formula
When it comes to eyeshadow formulas for blue eyes, it’s all a matter of personal preference. Your skin type matters more than your eye color when choosing a formula, so you can use whatever formula you’re most comfortable with.
Pressed powder eyeshadow: This is the most common formula by far. It’s generally the easiest to use but requires a brush or sponge-tip applicator to apply. You can buy single shades in individual compacts or a larger palette that contains two or more shades. Pressed powder shadows work well for most skin types, though they may be too drying for dry or wrinkled eyelids.
Cream eyeshadow: Cream eyeshadow is a fairly common formula and usually comes in a pot, jar, tube, or pencil. It tends to be more moisturizing, so it works well for dry or wrinkled lids. It may be too hydrating for oily eyelids, though. You can apply cream shadow with a brush or blend it with a clean finger.
Loose powder eyeshadow: This is similar to pressed powder shadows, but it doesn’t contain any binders. Instead, it has a texture similar to loose setting powder. It requires a brush for application and can be somewhat messy to apply.
Liquid eyeshadow: Liquid eyeshadow is similar to cream shadow, though it’s thinner and dries down to a more budge-proof finish. It comes in a tube that features a brush or sponge-tip applicator built into the lid.
Did You Know?
Cream eyeshadows usually blend out more easily with a clean finger than a brush. The heat from your skin helps warm the product, so it spreads more easily.
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Features
Number of shades
Eyeshadows are available as single shades or as part of larger palettes that contain two or more shades. If you only want one particular shade for your blue eyes, a single eyeshadow is a good option. However, you’ll usually get the best bang for your buck if you opt for a palette with multiple shades because you’ll pay less per shade. You’ll also have various shadows, so you can experiment with different eye looks.
Some makeup brands offer palettes with several shades that flatter specific eye colors. These palettes usually include a shimmery highlight shade, a light lid shade, a mid-tone crease shade, and a dark shade for definition, all in tones that help the eye color pop. If you’re new to using makeup, a palette like this can be an excellent option because it takes all the guesswork out of choosing shades for your eyes.
Applicator
Some eyeshadows come with an applicator to apply the shadow. Most include a sponge-tipped applicator, while others feature a small brush. The applicators included with eyeshadows are usually fairly flimsy, but they can come in handy if you’re applying makeup on the go or don’t have your own brushes.
Cruelty-free
If you prefer not to use beauty products that undergo animal testing, make sure to choose eyeshadows from cruelty-free brands. These brands don’t engage in animal testing and usually feature a bunny symbol to indicate that they’re certified as cruelty-free.
If you’re wearing bright or smoky shades on your eyes, make sure to tone down the rest of your makeup. Wearing bold colors on your lips and cheeks at the same time takes the focus away from your eyes.
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Accessories
Eyeshadow brushes: Having the proper tools to apply your eyeshadow will help make your blue eyes look their best.
Eyeshadow primer: If you want your eyeshadow to last through the day, you need an eyeshadow primer that helps lock it in place. If you're shopping on a budget, you can also choose a drugstore eyeshadow primer.
Did You Know?
When creating a smoky eye look for blue eyes, avoid black eyeshadow. You’ll get a more flattering look with less harsh shades like chocolate brown, bronze, or even navy.
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Eyeshadow for blue eyes: prices
Inexpensive
The most affordable eyeshadows for blue eyes are drugstore formulas that usually contain lower-quality ingredients. Single drugstore eyeshadows for blue eyes typically cost between $1 and $10. For duos and palettes, you’ll pay between $5 and $15.
Mid-range
These eyeshadows for blue eyes are typically formulas from high-end makeup brands containing average to high-quality ingredients. Single eyeshadows for blue eyes in this price range usually cost between $9 and $20, while duos and palettes generally sell for $15 to $40.
High-end
The most expensive eyeshadows for blue eyes are formulas from luxury makeup brands and contain high-quality ingredients. Single shadows for blue eyes in this price range usually cost between $28 and $40, while duos and palettes could cost anywhere from $36 to $129.
Tips
- Apply eyeshadow primer before your eyeshadow. If you don’t have a primer, your concealer can also work well to lock your shadow in place all day.
- When you apply eyeshadow to your lid, use a flat shader brush to gently pat on the shadow. This action helps pack on the color, so the shadow looks more pigmented.
- To apply eyeshadow to your crease, use a fluffy brush in a back-and-forth, windshield wiper motion. This helps blend the color out, so you don’t end up with harsh lines.
- Black eyeliner can look harsh on blue eyes. Opt for brown, bronze, charcoal, or navy eyeliner for a softer look.
FAQ
Q. Is blue eyeshadow off-limits if I have blue eyes?
A. Blue eyeshadow can compete with the blue tones in your eyes, so it’s not the best choice if you want to emphasize your eyes. However, no eyeshadow shade is off-limits. You should wear whatever shades make you feel beautiful and confident. Dark blue shades like navy can work well because they can still create a contrast with the lighter color of your eyes.
Q. How can I intensify the look of my eyeshadow?
A. Applying an eyeshadow primer before your eyeshadow definitely helps. It prevents the oils in your lids from fading your shadow throughout the day, and it also creates a sticky base for the shadow to stick to, making the color more vibrant.
If primer isn’t giving you the intense look you want, it helps to pair a cream shadow with a powder shadow. Apply the cream shadow first, and then gently tap a powder shadow in a similar shade over it. Layering the two provides more intense pigmentation.
Q. Does eyeshadow have an expiration date?
A. Like all makeup and beauty products, eyeshadow can expire. Powder shadows typically offer the longest shelf life, lasting for one to two years. Cream shadow expires more quickly, so you should toss it after you’ve had it for about six months.
