How do I know which eye shadow colors are right for me?
How do I know which eye shadow colors are right for me?
Unless you just want to play with color, the main purpose of eye shadow is to accent the color of your eyes. The best way to do this is to choose eye shadow colors that are neutral and don’t compete with your eye color (like blue shadow with blue eyes).
A good rule of thumb is to always choose eye shadow shades that are either lighter or darker than your eyes; for example, if you have dark brown eyes, you’ll find lighter colors will make your eyes stand out more. Here are a few current guidelines to make color selection easier:
For blue eyes, purples from lilac to eggplant are most flattering
For brown eyes, you can wear just about anything, so don’t be afraid to experiment
For green eyes, try a rosy or reddish brown
A few things to avoid:
Red: Unless you like to look really tired or like you’ve been crying all day, anything remotely red near your eye is not flattering.
Excessive sparkle: At night, get as sparkly as you want, but for a basic, polished look during the day, stick to matte or slightly shimmery shades.
Obvious lines: Should you choose to use more than one eye shadow color, I can’t stress enough the importance of careful blending. Use a clean soft eye shadow brush to blend the edges of your colors so there is not harsh line.
Muddiness: Always use a clean eye shadow brush for each color you apply so you don’t end up with a muddy mess. Blend gently to erase lines but still keep the individual colors distinct.
If you still aren’t sure what colors suit you, visit a few department store cosmetic counters to try on colors that appeal to you. Try on a few and wear them around for a while. Then, if you like it, you can go back and buy it, or even look for an alternative at the drugstore if you don’t want to spend that much.