The 12 Best Eyeshadows for Green Eyes to Make Them Stand Out
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Let warm reds, cool plums, and a dusting of golden shimmer do all the work for you.
InStyle / Reese Herrington
With more melanin than blue eyes and less than brown ones, green eyes sit right in the middle, emitting warmth and vibrancy from their gaze. Green eyes are the rarest eye color out there and stun as they boast a variety of tones, such as golden brown and rich emerald. But to draw even more attention to them, you can lean on eyeshadow shades that help them shine.
“If you want to get the most ‘pop’ payoff, we have to go back to the color wheel,” says celebrity makeup artist Emily Amick. “Colors that are opposites create the most contrast, so green eyes stand out most when surrounded by colors in the red family. Aim for shades with a reddish, warm undertone to really contrast your green. I also love a layer of warm golden sparkle or shimmer with green eyes.” Celebrity makeup artist Tobi Henney adds that “plums and navy look great on green eyes.” From soft crimson to cool plum, we’ve got 12 fabulous options the pros love to use on their green-eyed clients below.
Best Overall: Dior Diorshow 5 Couleurs Couture Eyeshadow Palette
What We Love: The palette includes stunning pink and purple hues.
What We Don’t Love: The included brushes may be small for some.
Shade Name: Plum Tutu
“Dior's Diorshow 5 Couleurs Couture eyeshadow palettes work really beautifully on green eyes,” says celebrity makeup artist Neil Scibelli. “The palette features a range of nude pinks and coppers, and for a bolder option, the Plum Tutu palette is a favorite.”
Henney adds that the formula for these palettes is really lovely. “Dior eyeshadows are super silky, and I love how easily they can be applied and blended,” she says. Make the look last all day (and night) by starting with a layer of eyeshadow primer to grip the shades you dust on top.
Type: Pressed powder | Finish: Shimmer｜Number of Shadows: 5 | Formula Highlights: Vegan, cruelty-free｜Size: 0.2 oz each
Best Budget: Neutrogena Sensitive Skin 2-in-1 Eyeshadow + Primer
What We Love: It goes on smooth and pigmented.
What We Don’t Love: It dries down quickly, so you have to work fast.
Shade Name: Rose Gold
“For an easily accessible option, I love Neutrogena's Eyeshadow + Primer in Rose Gold,” says Scibelli. “This formula truly makes green eyes pop. It also works to extend any eye makeup you wear over it and contains provitamin B5 to protect the lid barrier. The metallic finish reflects light and really brings out the eye color. Plus, it doesn't crease or smudge once it dries.”
Type: Liquid | Finish: Shimmer｜Number of Shadows: 1 | Formula Highlights: Ophthamologist-tested｜Size: 0.22 oz
Best for Green-Blue Eyes: NARS Orgasm Rising Eyeshadow Palette
What We Love: The shades have fantastic color payoff.
What We Don’t Love: It’s a limited-edition item.
Full of pinks, metallics, and browns, this gorgeous eyeshadow palette is great for creating a look that pops against green eyes. “There are lots of warm undertones in this palette to choose from,” says Amick. “From nudes to bright pinks, you have a lot of flattering shades to play with.” The shadows have a rich and velvety texture, allowing for easy blending and application.
Type: Pressed powder | Finish: Shimmer, matte｜Number of Shadows: 9 | Formula Highlights: Vegan｜Size: 0.18 oz
Best for Hazel Eyes: Tarte Tartelette Toasted Eyeshadow Palette
What We Love: The palette has a great mix of finishes and shades.
What We Don’t Love: The outer shell of the packaging tends to flake off over time.
“If you have deeper green or hazel eyes, bronzey, copper tones work really well to pick up those light hues in the eyes,” says Scibelli. This palette exudes warmth and has “a great, wide selection of red undertones,” says Amick. It has 12 shadows, including shades of beige, brown, rust, gold, copper, and plums that all will look gorgeous with green eyes. Each shadow is infused with Tarte’s Amazonian clay, allowing for rich, long-wearing, and creamy shadows.
Type: Pressed powder | Finish: Shimmer, matte｜Number of Shadows: 12 | Formula Highlights: Ophthalmologist- and dermatologist-tested｜Size: 0.053 oz each
Best for Green Eyes and Blonde Hair: Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Eyeshadow Palette Pillow Talk Collection
What We Love: The quad allows you to create a multi-dimensional look easily.
What We Don’t Love: The packaging isn’t as weighty as we’d like for the price.
This collection is great for green eyes and is available in two colorways: Pillow Talk and Dreams. “They contain the perfect peachy, rose gold tones throughout,” says Scibelli. “The colors can be worn individually or layered for a more smoky effect.” Amick is particularly fond of the Dreams option. “It has beautiful pinky, rose-y shades that look so gorgeous on green eyes,” she says. The shadows are pigmented, buildable, and non-creasing.
Type: Pressed powder | Finish: Shimmer｜Number of Shadows: 4 | Formula Highlights: Cruelty-free｜Size: 0.18 oz each
Best for Green Eyes and Brown Hair: Tom Ford Eye Color Quad Eyeshadow Palette
What We Love: Each shade can be applied wet or dry.
What We Don’t Love: The included brushes may be small for some.
Shade Name: Honeymoon
“This eye quad has been a fave of mine for years,” says Henney. “The shades can be worn in many different ways, making it a super versatile product.” It includes four stunning hues: a peachy champagne, bronze, and two shades of plum. You can build the shades to achieve your desired level of intensity.
Type: Pressed powder | Finish: Shimmer｜Number of Shadows: 4 | Formula Highlights: Made without mineral oil｜Size: 0.35 oz
Best for Green Eyes and Red Hair: Victoria Beckham Beauty Smoky Eye Brick
What We Love: The intense blue hues.
What We Don’t Love: The cream shade you get the most of may not be as useful for deeper skin tones.
Shade Name: Royal
Contrast the warmth of green eyes with these cool-toned blues. They look especially gorgeous if you also have red hair and neutral undertones as the blue and red create another layer of contrast. “I love these eyeshadow formulas; the packaging is super luxurious and gorgeous,” says Henney. The smooth shadows are perfect for creating a smoky eye.
Type: Pressed powder | Finish: Matte, satin｜Number of Shadows: 4 | Formula Highlights: Gluten-free, soy-Free, vegan｜Size: 0.3 oz
Best Cool-Toned Palette: Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Eyeshadow Palette
What We Love: The silvery hues in each of the shades.
What We Don’t Love: The shades appear ashy on deeper skin tones.
Shade Name: The Uptown Girl
“I love these palettes for my kit,” says Henney. “They have a mixture of finishes which can complete many eye looks, including metallic, velvety, and matte.” She’s especially a fan of The Uptown Girl colorway for green eyes. The shadows are shimmery, buildable, and non-creasing.
Type: Powder | Finish: Shimmer｜Number of Shadows: 4 | Formula Highlights: Vegan｜Size: 0.18 oz
Best Warm-Toned Palette: Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette
What We Love: The palette has a lot of range between the shades.
What We Don’t Love: The shades are mostly matte, so it may not be a fit if you want more shimmer.
“The Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Palette includes 14 wearable shades for green eyes, which range from neutral caramels and cinnamons to pinks and burgundies,” says Scibelli. “They're buildable shades in both matte and metallic finishes.” It’s a great option if you lean toward warm eye shadow looks.
Type: Pressed powder | Finish: Shimmer, matte｜Number of Shadows: 14 | Formula Highlights: Paraben-free｜Size: 0.02 oz each
Best Stick Eyeshadow: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eyeshadow
What We Love: There are so many coppery shades.
What We Don’t Love: The formula sets quickly, so you have to work fast.
Shade Names: Forbidden Rose, Bed of Roses, and Sienna
“Laura Mercier's Caviar sticks are also perfect for green eyes, especially since they offer such a range of rose tones and coppers,” says Scibelli. “They are easy to use because they glide on with no brush required, are creaseless, and have a 12-hour wearing time.” He’s a fan of Forbidden Rose and Bed of Roses, while Amich loves Sienna.
Type: Stick | Finish: Shimmer｜Number of Shadows: 1 | Formula Highlights: Waterproof｜Size: 0.05 oz
Best Metallic Liquid Eyeshadow: Armani Beauty Eye Tint Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeshadow
What We Love: The versatile applicator tip.
What We Don’t Love: Liquid shadows dry down quickly, so you have to work fast.
Shade Names: Sunset, Gold Copper, Gold, and Rose Gold
“Armani's Eye Tint Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeshadows are among my top picks for green eyes because they offer such a range of tones, including champagnes, pinks, maroons, and golds, and are so easy to wear,” says Scibelli. “They come in a range of finishes and also wear up to 16 hours.” The applicator tip has a pointed shape that allows you to use the liquid as an all-over shadow or as a liner.
Type: Liquid | Finish: Shimmer｜Number of Shadows: 1 | Formula Highlights: Long-lasting｜Size: 0.13 oz
Best Matte Liquid Eyeshadow: Ilia Liquid Powder Eye Tint
What We Love: The cream-to-powder finish.
What We Don’t Love: The formula is quick-drying so it can be tricky to blend.
Shade Name: Baroque
This liquid shadow goes on like a creamy dream and dries down to a smudge-resistant, matte finish. “Baroque is a deep burgundy liquid shadow for an easy wash of color that will really makes green eyes stand out,” says Amick.
Type: Liquid | Finish: Shimmer｜Number of Shadows: 1 | Formula Highlights: Vegan｜Size: 0.12 oz
What to Keep in Mind
Formula + Finish: Eyeshadows come in finishes ranging from matte to shimmer. You’ll often find a mix of many finishes in one palette, but some are strictly one, so pay attention to your options. Choosing between powder, cream, or liquid depends on your preferred application method. Grab a cream or liquid for quick application or powder to create more intricate looks.
Finding Your Perfect Fit: Just because these shades all work well on green eyes, that doesn’t mean you have to like them. “It’s all about finding what works well for your own preference and style,” says Scibelli. “If you find that you're not a rose gold or maroon fan, green eyes also work really well with coppers, champagnes, and golds.”
Your Questions, Answered
How can you change the intensity of a color?
Just because a shadow is buildable, doesn’t mean you have to build it up. “These tones can be worn sheer or bolder,” says Scibelli, so play with them! If you want to go bold, cream and liquid formulas tend to go on heavier than powder. To make a powder stand out more, wet your brush a bit before dipping it into the palette.
Why should you still wear whatever shadow color you like?
“Playing with color is never that serious,” says Amick. “Instead of contrasting colors, try matching your eyes with a similar green shade for a cool monochromatic moment. Throw in some yellows or blues. Who cares?! You can always take it off if you change your mind!”
Why Shop With Us
Kara Jillian Brown is the beauty editor at InStyle and has worked in the industry for nearly five years. For this piece, she interviewed celebrity makeup artists Emily Amick, Tobi Henney, and Neil Scibelli. The three have worked on many green-eyed stars and models, and know just how to make the eye color pop.
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