How to Apply Eyeshadow for Brown Skin

Co-authored by Yuka Arora

Last Updated: October 21, 2021 References

When a well chosen eyeshadow is applied correctly, it can complement a darker complexion and enhance natural beauty overall. To learn how to apply eyeshadow to brown skin, you’ll need to pick eyeshadows that go well with your skin and eye colors. You’ll also need to get the basic application technique down.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Choosing Colors for Brown Skin

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Stick with demi-matte neutrals for an everyday look. Deep neutrals that aren’t too far away from your natural skin color are great to use day-to-day. Nearly any dark neutral will look flattering, as long as it has a demi-matte or soft shimmer finish as opposed to a completely matte finish.
- Try a deep nude such as light chocolate or tawny brown.
- Light matte shadows may appear mismatched or too stark on your skin.^{[1]
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Pick jewel tones to create a bright pop. While they often look too intense on lighter skin tones, bright colors look very attractive on dark skin. Create a bold look with a royal purple, emerald green, aquamarine, or indigo eyeshadow.^{[2]
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Go with metallics for a nighttime look. The texture and finish of shimmery shadows are very complimentary to brown skin. Try using a gold, silver, or bronze eyeshadow when going out for the evening.^{[3]
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- If your skin is lighter brown, brown metallic shadows will make your eyes pop without appearing too glittery.^{[4]
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- Golds give your skin a warm glow.^{[5]
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Stay away from colors that are light or ashy. Extremely light colors don’t look great on brown skin because they create an unfavorable contrast. Additionally, colors that have an ashy cast tend to make the skin look dry and dirty.^{[6]
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Research source} Avoid using eyeshadows that have either of these characteristics.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Learning the Application Technique

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Pick three colors from a pallet that have the same hue but different tints. In order to have an appealing transitional effect in your eye makeup, you’ll need to select and use three colors that all have the same hue, but vary greatly in their tint.
- For example, you might use a pale peach, a medium coral, and a deeper metallic reddish orange.
2
Dab a brush in some shadow and tap off the excess. It’s easy to go overboard before you even start applying. Get a tapered precision eyeshadow brush and lightly dab the eyeshadow with it.^{[7]
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Research source} Then, tap the excess to make sure that there’s only a conservative amount of eyeshadow on your brush.^{[8]
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Research source} This way, application will be clean and precise.
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Apply the darkest shade to your crease. Apply the darkest of the three colors to the outside edge of your eye crease. While holding the brush at its middle, apply the color by doing a back-and-forth windshield wiper motion.^{[9]
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Research source} This will add an attractive depth to your eyelid.
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Apply the lightest shade to your inner eyelid and brow bone. Take out another clean eyeshadow brush and apply the lightest shade to the inside half of your eyelid, stopping near your tear duct. Then carefully apply directly beneath your eyebrow.^{[10]
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Research source} This light shade will add a highlighting effect which will assist in creating a sense of depth.
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Apply the middle shade to your entire eyelid. By applying the middle shade to your whole eyelid, you’ll create a soft, seamless connection between the dark and light shades. Work the brush in small circles and focus on connecting the two colors.^{[11]
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Blend everything in with a soft brush. Take out a small makeup brush that has a fluffy end. Carefully blend all of the colors with the brush to create an attractive and seamless color transition.^{[12]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Keeping Eye Color in Mind

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Choose nearly any color for brown eyes. Luckily, those with brown eyes can get away with using just about any eyeshadow color. Other eye colors like blue and green are typically much more limiting. If you want to play it safe, you can’t go wrong with neutrals such as a bronzy gold or a soft salmon.^{[13]
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Pair a deep purple with light brown for hazel eyes. Dark purple shades look great on those with brown skin and brown or hazel eyes.^{[14]
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Research source} Try a matte eggplant or a shimmery plum to make your eyes really pop.
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Use a vibrant blue for dark brown eyes. Rich blue shades create a nice contrast with dark brown eyes and skin. Go for an electric cobalt.^{[15]
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Try a teal green shadow if you have hazel eyes. If you have hazel eyes, green shades will bring out the green in your eyes, which can be very flattering. Put a vibrant forest or teal green on your eyelids.^{[16]
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Use a light metallic for light brown eyes. Lighter metallics bring out the sparkle of light brown eyes and are also translucent enough to go well with darker skin tones. To bring out the shine, consider a dusty pink color.^{[17]
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Expert Q&A

Question

How do you pop eyeshadow on brown skin?

Yuka Arora
Makeup Artist
Yuka Arora is a self-taught makeup artist who specializes in abstract eye art. She has been experimenting with makeup art for over 5 years, and has amassed over 5.6K Instagram followers in just 5 months. Her colorful and abstract looks have been noticed by Jeffree Star Cosmetics, Kat Von D Beauty, Sephora Collection, among others.

Yuka Arora

Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

Opt for a light-colored eyeshadow base. If you have darker skin, use an eyeshadow base that's 4-5 shades lighter than your skin tone. You can use that all the way up to your brow bone, if you want, and all the way down your eyelid. Then, when you do your eyeshadow on top of that, you'll get really good color payoff.
Question

How to apply eyeshadow for tan or black skin?

Community Answer

Follow the steps in this article. Use light color eye shadow because it looks very pretty on tanned and black skin.
Question

How do I apply a local concealer?

Community Answer

If it is a pen, apply a few strokes under your eyes or a small bit on specific areas, then use a beauty sponge/blender to blend it in. If not, just squeeze a little onto your finger. (You can also blend with your finger.)

Warnings

Applying an eyeshadow shade above the eyelid crease can make the look overly dramatic. Stop at the crease and blend the colors into the space between the eyebrows and the lid.

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