Your complete guide to choosing eyeshadow shades that flatter your natural eye color and make you feel beautiful!

🎨 Let’s Talk About Color Theory

Makeup artists have been utilizing color theory for decades, and for good reason. Because it works. But if you’ve been overwhelmed by “seasonal color” trends or trying to figure out if you’re a “deep autumn” or a “cool summer,” don’t worry. We’re not doing a deep dive into that rabbit hole (not yet, anyway 😄).

Here’s what you need to know:

• The color wheel helps us choose shades that naturally complement our eye color. Think opposites attract—the shades across from your eye color on the color wheel usually make them stand out.

• Your skin tone and whether you lean warm, cool, or neutral also matter, but don’t overthink it. Try the color. If you love it, wear it. Period. 💁‍♀️

• Amber and brown eyes are incredibly versatile and can wear so many shades—it’s just about finding the ones that enhance, not compete.

This color wheel is perfect for finding your complementary eyeshadow shade! Simply find the best representation of your eye color and then slide straight across to find your complementary color.

Used with permission. https://warrenmars.com

📹 Watch on YouTube

🙏🏻 Don't forget to subscribe

https://youtube.com/c/michellefoxbeauty

👁️‍🗨️ Brown Eyes – Rich, Warm, and Totally Versatile

If you have brown eyes (from deep espresso to light golden brown), you’ve hit the eye-shadow jackpot. Most colors will flatter you, but some will make those gorgeous eyes of yours truly pop.

Try these shades:

• 💜 Plum and eggplant (my personal favorites!)

• 🌞 Gold and bronze

• 🍫 Warm chocolate brown

• 🌅 Terracotta and copper

• 🌸 Rose gold and mauve

• 💚 Deep olive or emerald green

• ✨ Champagne shimmer (for inner corner highlight)

• 🔮 Navy blue (adds unexpected drama!) ⬅️ Blue is the complementary color of brown! Check out this video using Starry Night as a smoky eye look: Smoky Eye Secrets for Women Over 50

⚠️ Colors to skip: Super cool-toned silvers or icy blues can sometimes look too harsh—try them with caution.

My go-to eyeshadow shades are anything purple! Purple is my favorite color, but I also think it brings out my brown eyes beautifully. Look for some palette suggestions at the bottom of this post, btw.

🧡 Amber Eyes – Golden Glow

Amber eyes are rare, and honestly, kind of magical. They usually have warm gold or green undertones, and the right shadows can really bring that out.

Here’s what to try:

• 🌿 Mossy or olive greens

• 🍯 Honey-toned golds

• 🍁 Burnt orange or rust

• 🧡 Warm peach or coral

• 🌾 Mustard yellow

• 🌰 Rich browns with red or copper undertones

• 🍷 Burgundy or wine

• 🌸 Dusty rose

⚠️ Colors to skip: Silvery grays or icy lavenders might wash you out unless you mix them with a warm transition shade.

❄️🌷👙🍁 Let's talk about your "season" for a sec!

You may know your undertone, whether it's warm, cool, or neutral, and, yes, that does play a part in selecting your eyeshadow shades. According to Color Analyst and Personal Stylist, Dana Hammond, when choosing your highlight (lightest shade) and midtone (medium transition shade), you should stick with your undertone. So if you are cool, these would lean more pink/brown and if you are warm, they would be more of an ivory/caramel. However, feel free to use your complementary color as your accent shade to provide that "pop" of color!

Accent shades can be applied in the outer corners, all over your lid (smoky eye), or as a liner.

🎨 My Favorite Product Picks

These are my go-to palettes that flatter brown and amber eyes beautifully!

Brown eyes:

👉 Tarte Tartelette Amazonian Clay matte palette – My favorite palette of all time!
👉 ColourPop Twilight Palette – Moody blues, forest greens and sparkling cool neutrals in matte, metallic, matte sparkle, and pearlescent glitter finishes.
👉 Huda Beauty Empowered – Dramatic metallics and deep hues for rich brown eye enhancement.
👉 Anastasia Beverly Hills Fall Romance – Seductive, jewel-toned metallics and rich neutral shades.

Huda Beauty Empowered shown

Amber eyes:

👉 Melt Cosmetics Rust Palette – A rich blend of rust, burnt orange, deep chocolate, and mustard tones that draw out the gold in amber eyes.
👉 Anastasia Beverly Hills Cosmos Eyeshadow Palette – From neutral to turquoise tones in matte and intensely reflective metallic finishes.
👉 ColourPop Gone Matte – A range of warm to cool-toned neutrals, peaches, pinks, mauves and grays for a subtle, natural look.
👉 NYX Professional Makeup Ultimate Color Shadow Palette Vintage Jean Baby – Cool, vintage jeans blue shades that will make amber eyes pop!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Cosmos Eyeshadow Palette shown

Shop Brown Eye Palettes: https://shopmy.us/collections/1698865

Shop Amber Eye Palettes: https://shopmy.us/collections/1699548

📌 Final Thoughts

The most important thing? Have fun with your makeup. Yes, color theory can help you choose shades that flatter, but confidence is what truly makes a look work.

Stay tuned for next week’s post where I’ll be diving into eye shadow shades for blue and gray eyes (you icy queens, it’s your time to shine ❄️).

💌 Want a printable guide with all this info?

You can grab it HERE!

https://michellefoxonline.com/make-your-eyes-pop