As a brown-eyed girl, I can say it: I’ve always found my eye colour boring. Up until I was about 10 years old, I actually thought I had black eyes because they’re so, so dark, and I was so envious of my friends at school with their blue and green eyes. A girl I used to know even had these speckly amber eyes that were kind of mesmerising. So for as long as I can remember, I've always yearned for an eye colour that was a bit more interesting (and hair colour, but that’s another issue). Part of the issue was that there just wasn't any advice out there on what eyeshadows or looks might work for me. I would read countless articles about how to make blue eyes pop or green eyes more vivid, but nothing really about brown eyes.
Fast forward a few years, and I started playing with makeup properly. It was then that I realised that brown eyes are so neutral that pretty much every eye look worked for me! "I believe brown is one of the easiest eye colours to work with because they can literally go with anything,” says Joy Adenuga, celebrity makeup artist and founder of By Joy Adenuga brushes.
Because of this versatility, I now have a rainbow of colours in my eyeshadow collection. And while I experiment a lot, there are a few hues that I always come back to, all of which fall into the metallic, shimmery spectrum. And Adenuga agrees, with metallic browns and bronze colours being the shades she reaches for most in her kit bag when working with brown-eyed beauties. But if you fancy something different and want a fun, bright-eyed look, Adenuga says that purples and blues are the standout shades.
All this info and experience mean I feel fully qualified to report on this very important make-up matter. So, without further ado, scroll down to discover the best eyeshadow palettes for us brown-eyed girls.
Best Eyeshadow Palettes for Brown Eyes
- Best Overall: Makeup By Mario Master Mattes The Neutrals Eyeshadow
- Best Neutral Eyeshadow Palette: Hourglass Curator Eyeshadow Palette in Minimalist
- Best Pink Eyeshadow Palette: Vieve The Muse Eyeshadow Palette
- Best Bright Eyeshadow Palette: MAC Connect in Colour Eyeshadow Palette in Hi-Fi Colour
- Best Luxury Eyeshadow Palette: Chanel Les 4 Ombres Multi Effect Quadra Eyeshadow in Tissé Camélia
1. Makeup By Mario Master Mattes The Neutrals Eyeshadow
This might be the most perfect nude eyeshadow palette for brown eyes if you want a selection of neutral shades. It comes in both a warm and cool-toned version, but the latter is perfect for creating everyday makeup looks through to smoky eyeshadow moments for the evening.
2. Hourglass Curator Eyeshadow Palette in Minimalist
Hourglass' eyeshadow quads contain a curated mix of colours designed to complement one another. And for those with brown eyes who love neutral or brown-toned shades, Minimalist features four chic shades you'll actually use.
3. Vieve The Muse Eyeshadow Palette
Depending on your skin tone, layer the shimmer Regal over any of the orangey-brown mattes for a subtle colour pop. In general, all these rich pink and terracotta shades and shimmers will suit brown eyes.
4. Nyx Professional Makeup Ultimate Edit Petite Eye Shadow Palette in Brights
While this palette lacks the shimmer and metallics that work so well on brown eyes, these brights, especially the blue and purple shades can really help your eyes stand out.
5. Pat McGrath Labs Mothership Ix: Dream Palette
The shade Astral Amethyst Moon (bottom far right) is one of my favourite eyeshadow shades of all time.
6. Glossier Monochromes in Heather
If you have cool undertones to your skin, this is the ideal little palette for you. Heather has shimmer, glitter and matte shadows in a pretty purple colourway.
7. Chanel Les 4 Ombres Multi Effect Quadra Eyeshadow in Tissé Camélia
Tissé Camélia is a compact palette with a selection of cool greige mauves—great for a cool-toned gentle smoky look for those with brown eyes.
8. MAC Connect in Colour Eyeshadow Palette in Hi-Fi Colour
I love that each of the matte colours in this palette has a corresponding shimmer to elevate the look. The teal is a standout shade for brown eyes.
9. Isamaya Industrial Colour Pigments Eyeshadow Palette
These shadows have a unique texture; they are creamy to blend, and you can build the intensity too. The sparkle is off the chart—one for the festive season for sure.
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