What Colors Go with Green Eyeshadow? Colorful Makeup Hacks

Co-authored by Bia Rehman and Amber Crain

Last Updated: May 23, 2022 References

Green eyeshadow is absolutely gorgeous! Green is a bold color, though, so most people find it pretty intimidating to work with. Luckily, there are a few simple tricks you can use to ensure your makeup always looks on point. We'll start by covering the most flattering color options for your eyes, cheeks, and lips so your makeup is harmonious. Then, we'll touch on clothing color options that will complement your whole look. Let's get started!

1

Choose a green that flatters your skin tone.

Green shades can look harsh if they don't gel with your undertones. Anyone can pull off green eyeshadow, but matching the shade to your skin’s undertones is crucial.^{[1]
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Christin Birckhead
Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 14 April 2020.} If you have warm undertones, use a green shade with a bit of yellow in it. If you have cool undertones, try a green shade with a hint of blue.
- Warm green shades include olive, khaki, chartreuse, lime, and pistachio.^{[2]
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  Bia Rehman
  Licensed Esthetician & Makeup Artist
  Expert Interview. 8 November 2021.} Olive can be pretty neutral, though, so don’t write it off if you have cool undertones!^{[3]
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- Cool greens include forest, emerald, bottle green, seaweed, and turquoise.
- To test how a shade looks with your skin tone, try swiping the eyeshadow shade on the back of your hand first.

2

Pick a green shade that sets off your eye color.

Create contrast with your eye makeup to make any eye color pop. In general, if your irises are on the lighter size (hazel, amber, pale green, or light blue), pick a dark green eyeshadow to create a beautiful contrast. If your irises are dark, experiment with paler or brighter shades of green.^{[4]
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Research source} A few other tips for you:
- If you have brown eyes, try a blue-green eyeshadow shade to bring out the warm, amber tones in your irises.
- If you have light green eyes, try a darker olive-colored eyeshadow. For dark green eyes, pick a brighter jade eyeshadow to create contrast.
- For hazel eyes, go with a warm, light green shade, like chartreuse, to accentuate the green tones in your irises.
- If you have dark blue eyes, try a deep hunter-green eyeshadow. For lighter blue eyes, go with a mossy green eyeshadow to bring out the green flecks in your irises.

3

Use green eyeshadow to accentuate your eye shape.

A hint of green along the lower lash line makes big eyes pop. If you have large or almond-shaped eyes, sweep the green eyeshadow around the outside corners of your eyes and along your bottom lashes. If your eyes are on the smaller side, though, stick with green eyeshadow on the lid only.^{[5]
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- If you want to create an elongated cat-eye look, apply green eyeshadow on your top lids and gently extend it a bit on the outer edges.^{[6]
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4

Apply peach or brown eyeshadow in your crease for a softer look.

Since green really pops on the lids, go with a neutral in the crease. If your green eyeshadow is on the warmer side, great crease colors include peach, coral, and warm brown. Pair cool green eyeshadow shades with an earthy brown in the crease for a flattering, elegant look.^{[7]
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- The brown/green combo can be especially flattering if you have brown eyes.
- There’s no law that says you can’t wear green eyeshadow in the crease, of course! If you decide to try green in your crease, use neutral shades on your lids and brow bones so the green is the star of the show.

5

Try black or gray in the crease for a bold smoky eye.

Go full glam with this sultry nighttime look. Smoky eye makeup looks are pretty intense, so they tend to work better in the evening. But, like everything else in the makeup world, there are no absolute rules. Feel free to experiment! Remember to blend out with your finger or a brush to get rid of any hard lines.^{[8]
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- For a sleek look, build your smoky eye look around a metallic green shade.
- For a smoldering look, stick with matte green eyeshadow for the crease.^{[9]
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- For a dramatic smoky eye, smudge some green eyeshadow along your bottom lashes, too.^{[10]
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6

Highlight your brow bones with a light, neutral shade.

Cream, champagne, and soft peach eyeshadow are great options. The eyeshadow shade that goes on your brow bones (right underneath your eyebrows) essentially acts as a highlight, so use a really light color. Try a matte cream shade on your brow bones to create a soft, subtle look. If you want to go full glam, brush on a sparkly champagne or pearl shade.
- To make your eyes look bigger and brighter, try dabbing a little of this shade in the inner corners, too.^{[11]
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- If you want to play around with color a little more, pair a cool green eyeshadow with a soft, minty shade on your brow bones.^{[12]
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7

Make your eyes look bigger with flesh-toned eyeliner.

Pop nude or white liner into your waterline for a doe-eyed daytime vibe. Putting black eyeliner in your bottom water line can look pretty intense, so it tends to work best with nighttime and smoky eye looks. Black also tends to make your eyes look smaller. If you want to make your eyes look big and bright, try flesh-toned eyeliner in your bottom waterline.^{[13]
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- To accentuate your eyes even more, use the same eyeliner to tightline your upper lids, too.

8

Get a glam evening look with black eyeliner.

Use black along your top lashes and bottom waterline for a bold look. Green eyeshadow and black eyeliner look amazing together. You can use liquid or pencil eyeliner for your top lid; it’s totally up to you. For the waterline, always use pencil or kohl. For smoky eye looks, tightline your upper lid, as well, so everything looks seamless.^{[14]
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- If black is too dramatic for you, try dark brown eyeliner instead.^{[15]
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- Use your favorite eyeliner technique on your top lid! Winged eyeliner can look incredible with green shadow, especially for evening looks.

9

Go with a neutral blush on your cheeks no matter what.

Green is a strong color so keep the rest of your makeup understated.^{[16]
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Research source} Stick with a neutral blush shade, like light peach, barely-there nude, or even just a hint of bronzer. Instead of applying it on the apples of your cheeks, place the blush along your cheekbone closer to your hairline. That way, your cheekbones will look sculpted in a subtle, natural way.

10

Swipe on peach or nude lipstick for a softer look.

You really can't go wrong with peachy and coral-toned nudes. You want the green to be the star of the show, so choose a subtle, nearly-nude lipstick shade that won’t detract from your eye makeup. Peach and coral-tinged nudes are warmer colors, so they're particularly flattering with warm green eyeshadow shades.^{[17]
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- If you’re wearing a cool green eyeshadow shade, go with a cooler nude, like a pink-tinged flesh tone shade.^{[18]
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11

Try a red or burgundy lip for a glam aesthetic.

This bold, glamorous pairing is particularly stunning. If your eyeshadow is a cool, jewel-toned green (like emerald), a cool-toned burgundy or berry lipstick shade can look fabulous.^{[19]
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Bia Rehman
Licensed Esthetician & Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 8 November 2021.} For warmer green shades, try a classic red lip.^{[20]
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- Red pairs really beautifully with green if you did a smoky eye.^{[21]
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- Pairing a green smoky eye with a bold berry or red lip can look edgy and even a little gothic. If that’s what you’re going for, you’re going to love this pairing!
- This is a pretty bold look, though, so you might want to save this for a night out on the town or at a formal event.^{[22]
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12

Complement your makeup with a white dress or top.

Create an ethereal 70s vibe with this look. A white or soft cream-colored outfit helps your eye makeup stand out and softens your overall look.^{[23]
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Bia Rehman
Licensed Esthetician & Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 8 November 2021.} If you want to emphasize the ethereal 70s glam even more, go with a loose, flowing top or dress that's just a little bit sheer.^{[24]
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- Stick with a nude lip for this look to stay on-theme.

13

Wear a black outfit or dress to look effortlessly chic.

Smoky green eye makeup looks gorgeous next to black. Black never goes out of style! Plus, a black outfit is almost like a blank canvas—you can get away with bold makeup looks without worrying about anything clashing.^{[25]
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- The overall effect is smoldering, sexy, and a little gothic.

14

Pick green clothes that match your eyeshadow for a monochromatic look.

Try to match the shades closely to pull your whole look together. Worried this might look too matchy-matchy? Don't be! A monochrome approach can look absolutely stunning, especially if you don't want your makeup overshadowing your dress (or vice versa).^{[26]
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Expert Q&A

Question

How do you wear subtle green eyeshadow?

Bia Rehman
Licensed Esthetician & Makeup Artist
Bia Rehman is a Licensed Esthetician and Makeup Artist based in Austin, Texas. With more than 11 years of experience, she specializes in bridal, special event, and editorial makeup that highlights natural beauty. Bia attended cosmetology school in Houston, TX, and received a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from The University of Houston.

Bia Rehman

Licensed Esthetician & Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

Try adding some neutral eyeshadow tones to your look, like white, black, beige, khaki, and dark brown. These shades really complement your green eyeshadow!
Question

What compliments green eyeshadow?

Bia Rehman
Licensed Esthetician & Makeup Artist
Bia Rehman is a Licensed Esthetician and Makeup Artist based in Austin, Texas. With more than 11 years of experience, she specializes in bridal, special event, and editorial makeup that highlights natural beauty. Bia attended cosmetology school in Houston, TX, and received a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from The University of Houston.

Bia Rehman

Licensed Esthetician & Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

Red really complements green, since it acts as green's complementary color.