By Kaitlyn McLintock
last updated
in Buying Guides
Have you ever wondered how celebrities get their makeup to look so good? Or, more specifically, how they get their makeup to make their eyes look so good? Look at any red carpet photo and you'll notice their eyesare bright and sparkling. In other words, they just pop.
So, how do they do this? It's simple. Their makeup artists choose eye shadow colors that complement and accentuate their eye colors. Take hazel eyes, for instance: Celebrities like Kristen Stewart, Zendaya, andRihannahave this eye color, and according toKatie Mellinger, fashion and celebrity makeup artist, "Hazel eyes mainly consist of a combination of green, brown, and/or gold." So you want this eye color to pop, Mellinger says you have to keep the color wheel in mind. "The color opposite of the color you want to emphasize is the shade of eye shadow you want to use," she says.
"When colors that are opposites on the color wheel stand side by side, it makes both shades seem more vibrant," according to Mellinger. Keep scrolling to see what colors thosework best for hazel eyes, according to three top makeup artists.
1. Red
Rituel de Fille
Ash and Ember Eye Soot in Viscera
Mellinger says this is one of her favorite cream products that make hazel eyes—specifically the green in hazel eyes—pop. "It’s the perfect shade of cranberry red with just a touch of shimmer, and the texture is gorgeous. You can use it as a base for powder eye shadow or on its own."
ColourPop
Main Squeeze Palette
If you're looking for a palette, Mellinger recommends this one from ColourPop. "The reds in this palette lean on the warmer side of red, which will make the green in hazel eyes pop more," she says. "This palette has a wide variety of warm reds for any occasion including mattes and shimmers."
Valentino
Eye2Cheek Eyeshadow and Blush in Rosoo Valentino
This deep-red eye shadow also doubles as a blush.
2. Berry
Lime Crime
Electric Slide Eyeshadow and Brush Stick in As If
Mellinger says shades of berryaccentuate all the colors that make up hazel eyes, and this berry-colored product is one of her absolute favorites. It's "super easy to use cream eye shadow in a stick form (obviously)," she says. "You can blend out the shade all over your eye or use the pointed end as an eyeliner. It even has a built-in brush for blending."
Trixie Cosmetics
Miss Jelly-Filled Cookie Palette
Mellinger says this palette "not only has the most adorable packaging you will ever see, but it [also] really packs a punch. Trixie Cosmetics makes some of my favorite mattes, and this one has two matte berry shades. There’s also a berry shimmer if you want something with more shine and a neutral gold tone to highlight the brow bone or the inner corner of the eye."
E.l.f. Cosmetics
Bite Size Eyeshadow Palette in Berry Bad
A berry palette that costs less than a latte? Yes, please.
3. Purple
Pat McGrath Labs
Midnight Voyage Mini Eyeshadow Palette
Mellinger says purple eye shadows tend to make gold pop. Since hazel eyes have a lot of gold in them, this color is sure to brighten and define your gaze. "Good things come in small packages, especially if it’s Pat McGrath Labs," she says. "The Midnight Voyage Mini Eyeshadow Palette is absolutely stunning. The deep eggplant color (Xtreme Aubergine) is beautiful on its own or in the crease, and the sparkly purple (Night Creature) is perfect for a party. The bonus is the added neutrals for use along with the purples or on their own."
Nars
Single Eyeshadow in Sultan
"For something more unconventional, I love Sultan Single Eyeshadow from Nars," Mellinger says. "Few shades bring more attention to your eye than neon, and this neon purple makes a statement."
Pixi By Petra
EyeLift Max Eyeshadow in Amethyst
Thisfrosty purple looks so good against hazel eyes.
4. Warm Brown
Patrick Ta Beauty
Major Dimension Eyeshadow Palette
Patrick Ta is a celebrity makeup artist and founder of Patrick Ta Beauty. His clients include the likes of Gigi Hadid and Camila Cabello. His go-to shade for hazel eyes is a warm brown tone. "Warm brown tones complement hazel eyes so beautifully, softly diffusing them onto the eye and underneath the lash line will make the eyes pop," he says.
He recommends his namesake eye shadow palette since it's "perfect for making hazel eyes stand out, but also a variety of different eye colors as well." He loves the shades Absolutely, Transition, and Mother. The first is a "beautiful warm bronze shade that compliments the eyes so well. It’s one I use in my kit every single day," he says. As for the second, "the name truly speaks for itself. It’s a gorgeous velvet-matte shade that works across all eye colors, especially for those with hazel hues." Finally,he applies the thirdshadow on the waterline and/or the lash line to "really make the eyes pop."
Dior
5 Couleurs Couture Palette in 629 Coral Paisley
Sabrina Bedrani, ambassador for Dior Makeup, is also a fan of warm brown tones. She recommends this five-color palette to make hazel eyes stand out, saying the peachy brown color is perfect for a soft, everyday look. "Mixed with the darker maroon color, it will make the perfect soft, smoky eye," she says.
5. Green
Dior
Backstage Eye Palette in 008 Khaki Neutrals
Bedrani also reaches for shades of green when she wants to accentuate hazel eyes—specifically the shades of green in this palette. "With this palette, you can achieve so many different looks," she says. "You can just bring out your eye in a very natural way with the brown/bronzy color and push it a little more with the khaki, and for those who are a little more adventurous, you can use the bright green to make more of a statement."
Glossier
Monochromes Essential Eyeshadow Trio in Prairie
This three-shade palette will match the olive in your dirty martini (and, yes, that's a good thing).
Rose Inc
Satin & Shimmer Duet Powder & Cream Eyeshadow
We love this eye shadow duo that combines a silky dark greenina satin finish with a sparkling goldina shimmer finish. It'ssocomplementary.
Next:2023's Color of the Year is Viva Magenta—Here are 15 Matching Beauty Products
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Kaitlyn McLintock
Associate Beauty Editor
Kaitlyn McLintock is an Associate Beauty Editor at Who What Wear. Although she covers a wide range of topics across a variety of categories, she specializes in celebrity interviews and skincare and wellness content. Having lived in Los Angeles and Austin, Texas, she recently relocated back to her home state of Michigan where she works remotely. Prior to Who What Wear, she freelanced for a variety of industry-leading digital publications, including InStyle, The Zoe Report, Bustle, Hello Giggles, and Coveteur. Before that, she held a long-term internship and subsequent contributor position at Byrdie. When she's not writing, researching, or testing the latest and greatest beauty products, she's working her way through an ever-growing book collection, swimming in the Great Lakes, or spending time with family.
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