Eye Makeup for Brown Eyes

Eye Makeup for Brown Eyes: Easy!

Many women lament their brown eyes, falsely believing that the eye color is plain or boring. Au contraire! Using the right eye makeup for brown eyes can yield intensely dramatic looks, or subtle styles that are every bit as captivating as their bold cousins!

Choosing the Right Colors

One of the best ways to ensure that brown eyes look alluring is to choose the right colors. This needn’t be difficult. To help, think of the wheel. Colors that fall on the opposite side of the color wheel sharply contrast one another, and thereby make the first color “pop” (this one of the reasons why red and green go together so nicely at Christmas time).

For brown eyes, locate brown on the color wheel and find the colors on the opposite side (namely purple and blue). These makeup colors help brown eyes stand out in the most attractive of ways.

For those who are wary of color, opt for sheer shades of violet or blue. These shades present a more subtle palette that may be easier to pull off during the daytime hours. On the other hand, nighttime hours are the perfect time to choose intense shades of purple and indigo.

Subtle Looks

Sometimes dramatic eye makeup is unnecessary, or inappropriate. At times like these, employing a subtle look can be the perfect answer. To achieve a subtle eye look, without looking barefaced, reach for the lighter shades. Consider using eye shadows in champagne, peach, or light pink. This will lighten and “open” up the entire eye area.

From there, choose an eyeliner. For a soft look, reach for brown eyeliner, or a white eye pencil. Next, it’s time to focus on the lashes (grab an eyelash curler to make them look long and luxurious). Reach for a softly colored brown or a clear mascara to add the finishing touch, and remember to clear up any stray hairs that may mar the brows. Beautiful!

Dramatic Looks

One can argue that no type of eye makeup for brown eyes looks more sensual and sultry than the dramatic look. There are several options when it comes to dramatic eyes, the smoky route or the colorful route. Some terrific tips for achieving the perfect smoky eye can be found in our Smoky Eye Makeup article.

If, however, bold and colorful feels more appropriate (for example, a summer party is on the agenda) then try the following:

• Go for a subtle look (follow the steps mentioned above), but add false lashes. To tone it down, only add extensions to the ends of natural lashes, or ramp up the look by attaching the entire extension.

• Play with glittery eyeliners (depending on skin tone), in silver, gold, turquoise or purple. Two options are available with glittery eye pencils; they can be fully drawn across the eye (both top and bottom), or added solely to the inner corner of the eyes. This will give off such a fierce look, Tyra Banks may come calling!

Tread Cautiously

Some looks need to be used sparingly when it comes to brown eyes. Harsh black eyeliner is one of them. While many are nostalgic for black eyeliner, the truth of the matter is that this look can often make the face look “drawn” or overtired. Besides, with so many fantastic colors to play with, scratching the black stuff for a while, or at least for a season, can make good makeup sense.

Lastly, it’s important to stay away from shades that clash with the skin’s undertones. If hunter green look hideous, don’t wear it! Refuse to be a slave to the trends of the moment and go instead for shades that are universally flattering to brown eyes. Some of these shades include the following:

• Gold
• Vanilla (as a base color)
• Shades of purple and violet
• Deep shades of blue
• Deep shades of brown
• Nutmeg
• Mushroom