Eyeshadow Colors for Various Skin Tones

Choosing the right eyeshadow colors can greatly enhance your overall look and matching them to your skin tone is key. Here’s eyeshadow colors for various skin tones, helping you create stunning eye looks that complement your natural complexion.

Fair Skin Tones

Fair skin tones have a light, sometimes porcelain, appearance. Eyeshadow colors that provide contrast while still looking soft and natural work well.

• Best Colors: Soft pastels, light browns, champagne, peach, rose gold, and taupe shades complement fair skin beautifully. Lavender and soft pinks also work well for a pop of color without overwhelming the look.
• Bold Choices: Cooler tones like icy blues, silvers, and baby pinks can be used to create bold but not overpowering looks. Shades of teal or emerald green also make a striking contrast.

If you’re looking to add drama, a light wash of gray or mauve works well for smokey eyes, without being too harsh.

Medium Skin Tones

Medium skin tones include olive, tan, and warm undertones. These tones pair well with both warm and cool shades, providing a versatile canvas.

• Best Colors: Bronze, gold, copper, and warm brown shades are perfect for medium skin tones. Earthy tones like terracotta, olive green, and deep taupe also enhance natural warmth.
• Bold Choices: Jewel tones such as emerald, sapphire blue, and burgundy can add richness to your eyes. For a fun pop of color, try purple, orange, or teal shades.

Golds and bronzes are particularly flattering, giving medium skin a radiant glow that feels both natural and glamorous.

Olive Skin Tones

Olive skin tones tend to have a natural warmth and a slight greenish undertone, allowing for a wide range of shades that can complement or contrast.

• Best Colors: Warm neutrals like browns, golds, and earthy greens enhance the olive skin’s natural warmth. Soft peach, coral, and deep purples also complement well.
• Bold Choices: Jewel tones like emerald green, teal, and royal blue provide a striking contrast. Warm metallics like copper and bronze work beautifully for evening looks.

Avoid overly cool tones like icy blues or silvers, which can wash out the skin’s natural warmth. Stick to warmer shades to enhance your natural glow.

Tan Skin Tones

Tan skin tones have more depth and warmth, allowing for a wider range of eyeshadow colors that add dimension and vibrancy.

• Best Colors: Rich golds, deep coppers, bronze, and rust colors enhance tan skin. Warm browns and burnt orange shades also add beautiful depth.
• Bold Choices: Jewel tones such as emerald, amethyst, and sapphire work well for adding drama. Plum and cranberry shades are also stunning on tan skin.

Bright, warm tones like orange and coral pop beautifully against tan skin, while earthy tones maintain a natural glow.

Deep Skin Tones

Deep skin tones with warm undertones look stunning in bold, vibrant colors that add contrast and dimension.

• Best Colors: Deep purples, rich plums, navy blue, chocolate brown, and copper tones work wonderfully. Gold and bronze shades also bring out the warmth in deep skin tones.
• Bold Choices: Bright shades like cobalt blue, fuchsia, and emerald green provide a bold, dramatic contrast. Metallics in gold and copper enhance your skin’s natural radiance.

To add definition and dimension, use deeper hues for the crease and metallic shades for the lid. Avoid light pastel shades that may appear chalky on darker skin tones.

Dark Skin Tones

Dark skin tones provide the perfect backdrop for rich, deep, and bold eyeshadow shades that create striking looks.

• Best Colors: Shades like burgundy, bronze, deep plum, forest green, and cobalt blue bring out the richness of dark skin tones. Warm metallics like gold and copper are perfect for adding a luminous glow.
• Bold Choices: Bright oranges, vibrant purples, electric blues, and pinks provide beautiful contrast and intensity. Deep metallic shades like gold, bronze, and copper highlight dark skin wonderfully.

Experiment with vibrant shades like electric blue or deep green for an unexpected yet striking eye look.

General Tips for All Skin Tones

Neutral Base: No matter your skin tone, neutral eyeshadow shades like beige, brown, and taupe can serve as a versatile base for both every day and dramatic looks.

Shimmer vs. Matte: Shimmery shades work well for adding dimension and sparkle to any eye look, especially on the lid. Matte shades are great for defining the crease and creating depth.

Layering: Layering colors can add depth and make your eyes stand out. Blend darker shades in the crease and lighter shades on the lid to create a balanced, flattering look.