The 12 Best Eyeshadows for Brown Eyes in 2024

Alexa, play "Brown Eyed Girl."

Zendaya attends the "Dune" UK Special Screening wearing purple eyeshadow on her brown eyes
(Image credit: Lia Toby/Getty Images)

Brown may be the most common eye color, but it's far from boring. Brown eyes come in so many stunning shades, like amber, chestnut, chocolate, honey—I could go on. And when the sunlight hits those golden-flecked peepers, boy, do they sparkle. While brown eyes are a sight to behold on their own, there’s nothing like some amazing eyeshadow to make them pop from a mile away.

Luckily, brown-eyed babes can pretty much run the gamut of eyeshadow shades. According to celebrity makeup artist Zara Kaplan, “Brown eyes are extremely versatile when it comes to color pairings.” Fellow professional makeup artist Amrita Mehta agrees, "I don’t think there are any parameters when it comes to shadows for brown eyes. Wear what you’re drawn to!"

However, both Kaplan and Mehta agree that some colors bring out the beauty in brown eyes more than others. Thus, we’ve compiled a guide to the best eyeshadows for brown eyes, from subtle neutrals to vibrant jewel tones, drugstore eyeshadows to luxury eyeshadow sticks.

What to Look For in Eyeshadow for Brown Eyes

  • Color

First, Mehta reminds us that no matter your eye color, it's best to consider your skin tone and undertone when choosing an eyeshadow color. Having a warm, cool, or neutral undertone can impact whether a color flatters you or washes you out.

But no matter your undertone, Kaplan says that neutral colors and warm tones (like red, orange, and even pink) make brown eyes stand out the most. “I always seem to gravitate towards gorgeous copper tones and rich bronze shades to really enhance brown eyes,” she says. "Something about a slightly orangey bronze tone on a brown eye just really makes them pop.” Mehta agrees, explaining, "Bronzes and coppers lend warmth while gold shadows will lighten up and bring luminosity to your lids."

But if you're a bigger fan of bright colors, never fear. Mehta also recommends deep shades of green and purple, and Kaplan says that blue eyeshadow can make brown eyes look divine. "The contrast of these jewel tones will really make brown eyes pop and add lots of richness to any eyeshadow look," says Mehta. And contrast is, indeed, key: Brown is technically a dark shade of orange, which sits opposite blue and purple on the color wheel.

Finally, for an earthy look that's just a bit more lively than monochromatic brown, Kaplan says to go for olive green, calling it an "unbelievable" shade for any and every shade of brown eyes.

  • Finish

The right eyeshadow texture boils down to personal preference, but different finishes can have different effects on brown eyes. Typically, deeper matte shades are used to define the eye shape, while lighter shimmery shades are used to highlight it. Of course, you can mix and match finishes to create your desired eye makeup look, but keep in mind that Kaplan says shades with a little shimmer makes brown eyes especially pop.

Best Eyeshadows for Brown Eyes

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Meet the Expert

Zara kaplan headshot, celebrity makeup artist
Zara Kaplan

Zara Kaplan is a British celebrity Makeup Artist currently living in Los Angeles. Having started her career in 2012, Kaplan has since gone on to work with globally renowned brands such as Chanel, La Mer, Louis Vuitton, Kosas Cosmetics, and many more.

Zara’s work has caught the eye of celebrity clients such as Alessia Cara, Stephanie Sheperd, Iskra Lawrence, Peyton List, Taylour Paige, Tylynn Nguyen, Raveena Aurora, and Ally Brooke to name a few, and her work has been recognized in leading publications such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, ID Magazine, Dazed Magazine, InStyle Magazine and Vanity Fair Italia.

Known for her ‘less is more’ approach when it comes to complexion makeup, she truly believes in enhancing ones beauty rather than masking it and is known for creating beautiful, breathable makeup looks, taking any opportunity to add fun pops of color or accents to any makeup look she creates.

Amrita Mehta
Amrita Mehta

Amrita Mehta is a professional makeup artist who has worked with celebrities, on editorial shoots, and backstage at runway shows. Over the course of her career, she has worked with big names like Pat McGrath and Patrick Ta, and has most recently collaborated with Maybelline. Originally from San Francisco, she is currently based in New York City.

Brooke Knappenberger
Associate Commerce Editor

Brooke Knappenberger is the Associate Commerce Editor at Marie Claire, where she writes across the board from fashion and beauty to books and celebrities. As a pop culture junkie, Brooke obsessively consumes and writes about the latest movie releases, streaming TV shows, and celebrity scandals. She has over three years of experience writing on fashion, beauty, and entertainment and her work has appeared on Looper, NickiSwift, The Sun US, and Vox Magazine of Columbia, Missouri. Brooke obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism with an emphasis on Magazine Editing and has a minor in Textile and Apparel Management.

With contributions from