20 Best Eyeshadow Looks to Make Your Blue Eyes Pop
It doesn’t take much to make baby blues sparkle, but if you want to play them up with makeup, there's a wide range of eyeshadow colors that will look great with blue eyes. But first, a bit of color theory for you. Brown tones, like copper, bronze, gold and orange sit opposite from blue on the color wheel, which means they are complementary colors. Makeup artist Nick Lujan tells us: “the fundamentals of color theory show that opposite colors on the color wheel create the biggest impact; For example red and green, yellow and purple, and blue and orange.” Complementary colors work together to create just the right amount of contrast to make the other look brighter, bolder and more vibrant. “The more the shade leans toward orange, the more intense the pairing,” explains Lujan. What this means for you is working with such shades is the secret to making your blue peepers pop.
Meet the Expert
Alexis Oakley is a celebrity makeup artist based in Los Angeles, California. Her clients include Kris Jenner, Demi Lovato, and more.
Nick Lujan is the director of artistry and education for Kevyn Aucoin Beauty.
“I love using warm gold shades to brighten up bold blue eyes,” says makeup artist Alexis Oakley. “Gold [shades] have been my recent go-to this summer for a bronze glowy look, which is also perfect for transitioning to fall. On the other hand, sometimes I like playing up blue eyes by matching the hue to a blue shadow.” Basically, no matter how you choose to play up blue eyes, you can’t go wrong. Here are a few of our favorite looks you can try out with products from your IPSY Glam Bag.
1. Green Machine
There’s nothing like a golden-green shimmer on the lids to bring out the natural dimension in your eyes. Pat shimmer shadows on your lid with your finger for a serious color payoff every time. The Cutting Edge Eyeshadow Palette in Green, Yellow and Olive by Dose of Colors is just the collection you need to recreate this look at home.
2. Back To Brown
A deep brown with a hint of shimmer hits differently with blue eye—and if you have shade-shifting irises, it has a way of drawing the green out of your baby blues. A hint of it along the lower lash line really finalizes the look. Crack open Fenty’s Beauty by Rihanna Snap Shadows Mix & Match Eyeshadow Palette in 7 Cadet for a selection you’ll keep on repeat.
3. Feeling Blue
While the color wheel is a foolproof approach to getting the most out of your shadow and eye color pairing, we can’t help but love a blue-on-blue moment. An electric baby blue, like Glam Attack Liquid Shimmer Powder in Blue Jean Dream by Haus Laboratories, packed on the lid and paired with an inky black liner is a win, even if it goes against the practice of color theory.
4. Got You Cornered
A neon shade of orange is such a powerful shade for blue eyes, you can make your peepers pop with just the slightest touch. Pack it on the inner corners for a truly show-stopping look. Black Up’s NBL08 Yellow Orange Blush is an excellent alternative to create this eyeshadow look.
5. Red Alert
Go for a bold look when you introduce a fiery shade of hot pink on the entire lid. All you need is a single shade on the lid and diffused up to the brow bone for a modern monochromatic approach to eye shadow. If you’re looking to recreate this look, NARS’ Single Eyeshadow in Fatale is a gorgeous option.
6. Strike-Out
If you’re looking to upgrade your classic cat eye, a swipe of red eye shadow along the lower lash line and out towards your wing will turn heads all day and night long. A brick shade, like the one in Dior’s 5 Couleurs Couture palette, blended into the crease ties the look together.
7. Creamsicle
If you’re a fan of brown tones, swap them for a creamy shade of orange on sunny days for a brighter take on classic neutrals, like Glossier’s Monochromes in Mesa. Swipe a generous amount on the lids with your favorite brush for an eyeshadow look you can wear every single day.
8. Purple Reign
Violet-toned eyeshadows, like MAC’s Powder Kiss Eyeshadow in Such A Tulle, on blue eyes can make makeup dreams a reality. They have a way of enhancing your eyes in the best way and come in many versatile hues. Take the look up a notch when you layer on gold leafing or a gilded shimmer.
9. Bare With Me
If we’re being honest, blue eyes are so dynamic on their own, an eyeshadow is more like the cherry on top. But truly, a flesh-toned shadow dusted across the entire lid removes shine and creates the slightest contour without looking overdone. The Urban Decay Naked2 Basics Eyeshadow Palette is packed with a range of skin-brightening nudes.
10. Shades of Gray
A variety of gray tones in matte finishes, like in the Chanel Les 4 Ombres Palette in Blurry Blue, are both modern and sure to draw out the dimension in your blue eyes. But if that doesn’t do it on its own, a blue liner on the waterline is sure to do the trick.
11. Smoky and Bold
Oakley recommends avoiding super smoky eye looks for blue eyes, but if you want to black out your lids to make the blue hue shine, try a subtle smoked-out look, like this look Oakley created. To achieve it, wet an eyeliner brush into a shade of gray or charcoal eyeshadow (we love this palette from CHARLOTTE TILBURY) before applying.
12. Golden Hour
Make blue eyes pop easily by using a metallic shadow pencil to line your eyes and smudge outwards to create an eyeshadow effect. Oakley recommends THRIVE CAUSEMETICS Brilliant Eye Brightener in copper shimmer.
13. Peach Smudge
There's not a shade in this HUDA BEAUTY Obsessions Palette in Toffee that won't look amazing when paired with blue eyes. If you're not wildly into shimmery shadows, these (mostly) matte colors will still make your eyes stand out. Wear just one shade at a time, or apply a few to create a multidimensional eye makeup look. The shadows are densely pigmented and extremely easy to blend together.
14. Blued Lines
Chloe Grace Moretz’s eyes sparkle with this blue-on-blue look. Try a highly pigmented eyeshadow like the SHISEIDO Pop Powder Gel Eyeshadow in Zaa Zaa Navy. And don’t be afraid about “overdoing” this look—in this case, more is definitely more.
15. Bronze Ambition
To add warmth to gray-blue eyes, try a bronze shade of eyeshadow like this shimmery golden amber color. If this feels too intense on its own, combine it with a matte brown eyeshadow. You could also apply a neutral brown all over the lid and instead use this as a sort of DIY eyeliner, applying it only along the upper and lower lash line to really make your eyes glow. Try using this NARS Duo Eyeshadow to achieve the look at home.
16. Honey Drip
If you're looking for an everyday color that you can apply in seconds, give this honey-beige shadow from PHASE ZERO MAKEUP in Cashmere a try. The shimmery golden flecks will look amazing when paired with blue, green, or even brown eyes. In a pinch, this buildable color can also be used as a highlighter.
17. Ice, Ice, Baby
Here’s an ideal option for anyone with cool, gray-blue eyes. For a super dramatic eye look, smudge this silvery liquid shimmer color from HAUS LABORATORIES all over the upper lid. To tone it down, use it as an accent color alongside deep purple shades.
18. Graphic Matte
Draw on a graphic look by dipping a wet eyeliner brush into a matte gray shadow. This look is versatile and can be extended into a wing or simply smudged all over the lid as a muted background to your baby blues. For this look, we love the LAURA MERCIER Matte Eye Shadow in Twilight Grey.
19. Royal Flush
Ready to warm things up? Create something sweet with this cozy pink eyeshadow palette from TARTE. Mix the pink and brown shades together for a romantic smoky eye or apply the neutrals for a simple look with just the right amount of shimmer.
20. Under-Eye Shadow
Have a bit of fun with your look by lining the bottom lid only in a punchy color, like this blush and eyeshadow color from VALENTINO BEAUTY in Call Me Coral. Wet your brush for a more intense, pigmented look, and dust with translucent setting powder to keep the look in place all night long.
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