How do you make blue eyes look bluer?

In addition to wearing eyeshadow colors that contrast nicely and make your blue eyes pop, you can venture out to other makeup products to enhance your eye color. For example, a red lipstick , especially a bright one, may create the illusion of your blue eyes being ever bluer.

Is black or brown mascara better for blue eyes?

Black mascara may be tempting, but because of the color wheel and its "opposites attract" rule, it's actually brown mascara that will make your blue eyes stand out more. Try one of these for a subtle lash lift.

Does blue mascara look good on blue eyes?

If you're interested in a blue mascara , note that you won't get the same color popping effect as you would from a brown one. However, blue mascara has the power to make the whites of your eyes appear slightly whiter. They're available in a variety of hues, from powder blue to navy.

The 10 Best Eyeshadows for Blue Eyes of 2023

From Frank Sinatra to Princess Diana, history is replete with icons who flaunted their beautiful blue eyes. Why shouldn't you join them?

There’s no better way to do so than with the right eyeshadow. To determine which hues are most flattering for you, think back to the color wheel that hung on the wall of your elementary school art class. Because orange is directly opposite blue, these types of warm tones (namely, oranges, bronzes, coppers, and anything in that family) are the best option to truly make your eyes pop and stand out.

But it doesn’t have to stop there! When it comes to pastel shades, consider opting for cool gray-blues; pinks can accentuate redness and make you look tired. As far as jewel tones go, pass on greens and blues, which are too close to your natural eye color, in favor of rich, amethyst purple. Yet another foolproof pick is a warm champagne shade; it has the same brightening and eye-opening effect as a beige or white, without looking too stark set against your light eyes.

On the search for a blue eye-flattering shadow? The top picks below fit the bill.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Maybelline New York The 24KT Nudes Eyeshadow Palette at Amazon

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Best Budget:

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Single at Walmart

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Best Palette:

Urban Decay Naked Heat Eyeshadow Palette

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Best Natural Formula:

Jillian Dempsey Lid Tint at Bluemercury.com

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Best Gloss:

Surratt Beauty Lid Lacquer at Bluemercury.com

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Best Drugstore :

Burt’s Bees Color Nurture Cream Eye Shadow

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Best Stick:

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eyeshadow at Sephora

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Best for Smokey Eyes:

ILIA The Necessary Eyeshadow Palette at Amazon

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Best Cream:

Kosas 10-Second Eye at Nordstrom

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Best Matte:

Hourglass Eyeshadow Single in Doe at Sephora

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In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For
FAQ
Why Trust Byrdie

Maybelline New York The 24KT Nudes Eyeshadow Palette

Amazon

View On Amazon

What We Like

This palette is a great bang for your buck
Includes colors that could work as a liner

What We Don't Like

The brand is not cruelty-free

What do buyers say? 85% of 24,100+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.

Consider this a one-stop-shop for all of your shadow needs. With a dozen different shades, there’s a wide range of colors to choose from, all of which happen to be extremely flattering on blue eyes. Mix and match any of the five shimmery gold and bronze metallics, or use one of the three pale beige tones for the perfect neutral, all-over color. A rich purple will pop on blue eyes, and there is also two dark black-brown shades ideal for lining.

Price at time of publish: $13

Shades: 12 | Size: 0.3 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Wet n Wild

View On Walmart View On Wetnwildbeauty.com

What We Like

Very affordable

What We Don't Like

Could come in more colors

This brand recently revamped their powder shadow formula, with a supremely silky feel that rivals that of much pricier powders we’ve tried. (The blendability and staying power have also been improved.) All of the shades pack a punch of pigment and ringing in at such a bargain price, you truly can afford to try them all. But you’re going to have to start somewhere, so pick up this saturated, pearlescent deep purple. Whether swiped across your entire lid or used as the base for a smokey eye, it adds instant drama to any shade of blue eyes.

Price at time of publish: $1

Shades: 7 | Size: .02 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

4.8

Urban Decay Naked Heat Eyeshadow Palette

Nordstrom

View on Ulta View On Nordstrom View On Sephora

What We Like

Comes with both a mirror and a dual-sided brush
All colors are very pigmented

What We Don't Like

Packaging can sometimes be hard to open

If You Buy One Eyeshadow Palette This Year, Make It Urban Decay’s Naked Heat

The OG Urban Decay Naked palette has now spawned many spin-off versions, none of which is more flattering on blue eyes than this one. The dozen amber-hues range from burnt oranges to warm browns, and everything in between, all gorgeous complements to cooler-toned blue eyes. All of them tout the brand’s unique pigment infusion system, which makes for the velvety feel and rich color; happy customers often call attention to how pigmented the shades area. Plus, it comes with a full-size mirror, dual-sided brush, and is available in a mini version, too.

Price at time of publish: $49

Shades: 7 | Size: .02 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

4.8

Bluemercury

View On Bluemercury.com View On Credo Beauty View On Jilliandempsey.com

What We Like

Colors go on sheer but buildable
Formula is infused with good-for-your-skin ingredients

What We Don't Like

On the more expensive side
Finish may be too sheer for some

Made with a long list of organic ingredients, sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, and shea butter make up the extra hydrating and creamy base in this vegan formula. Not to mention that it’s super easy to apply; sheer and blendable, it’s pretty much mistake-proof, even if you haphazardly dab it on with your fingertips. (And it can be layered over powder eyeshadow, too.)

There are several colors that look great on blue eyes, but this vibrant peach is one of our favorites. While it may look unnervingly bright in the pan, it goes on fairly sheer, delivering just the right amount of eye-popping warm color.

Price at time of publish: $28

Shades: 10 | Size: .11 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Violet Grey

View On Bluemercury.com

What We Like

Has a gorgeous, glossy finish that isn’t sticky
Can be layered to build-up intensity

What We Don't Like

On the more expensive side

Breaking news: Glossy lids are in, in a big way. And while many eye glosses can feel sticky or tacky, this lacquer packs high-sheen and buildable color, all in a totally lightweight formula. Tap it on with your fingertips for a more sheer finish, or with a sponge-tip applicator for more impact. While we’re fans of all the shades, this sunset hue is especially choice for blue eyes. It looks equally pretty dabbed on alone, or paired with some graphic black liner for a more dramatic effect.

Price at time of publish: $36

Shades: 8 | Size: .11 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

burts-bees-color-nurture-cream-eye-shadow

Ulta

View on Ulta View On Amazon View On Ulta

What We Like

Can be used as a highlighter
Large size and very affordable

What We Don't Like

Dries out quickly if lid not closed properly
Only comes in three shades

You may think of this brand more for their lip balms, but don’t sleep on their cream shadow. All three of the neutral, shimmery shades—champagne, rose gold, and bronze—look amazing on blue eyes. In true drugstore fashion, it’s super affordable, and you get even more bang for your buck given that each of the colors also work equally well dabbed on cheekbones as a highlighter or blush topper.

Price at time of publish: $10

Shades: 3 | Size: .25 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Sephora

View On Sephora View On Ulta View On Lauramercier.com

What We Like

Very easy to apply
Long-wearing and transfer-proof formula

What We Don't Like

On the more expensive side

How much do we love stick eyeshadows? Let us count the ways. Not only are they extremely easy to apply—no brush, or even mirror required—they also work equally as well as a liner, all over the lid, or just in the crease. This particular formula is one of our faves, thanks to a creamy base that glides on smoothly without tugging or pulling on delicate skin. There are a multitude of shades that flatter blue eyes, but if you’re going to pick just one, make it this warm bronze, which boasts the perfect level of shimmer.

Price at time of publish: $32

Shades: 25 | Size: .02 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Sephora

View On Amazon View On Sephora View On Fwrd.com

What We Like

Contains both different shades & finishes
Both clean & cruelty-free

What We Don't Like

On the more expensive side

Creating a smokey eye using warmer tones (browns, bronzes, coppers) will make blue eyes the star more than opting for the traditional cooler blacks and grays (think: color theory—blue is opposite orange). Enter this palette, which comes with six colors in matte, satin, and metallic finishes. Each hue is super blendable and buildable, too, a boon when it comes to creating a diffused finish on any type of smoky look.

Price at time of publish: $40

Shades: 6 | Size: .05 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Sephora

View On Nordstrom View On Sephora View On Kosas.com

What We Like

Doefoot want makes for easy application
All the shades look good on blue eyes

What We Don't Like

The formula does dry quickly, so there’s not a ton of time to blend

Hourglass Curator Eyeshadow Single in Doe

Sephora

View On Sephora View On Ulta View On Hourglasscosmetics.com

What We Like

Packaging is refillable
Even though it’s a matte powder, the formula still feels comfortable and not drying

What We Don't Like

This product is very expensive, especially for a single shadow

You may think a matte, powder eyeshadow would be drying and chalky—and you wouldn’t necessarily be wrong. Still, that’s not the case here, thanks to sunflower seed oil in the mix that keeps this from ever looking or feeling cakey. There’s no shortage of shades to choose from—all of which can be used to create your own refillable palettes—but this clay brown is an especially nice choice for those with blue eyes who are looking for a matte shadow. It’s warm enough to contrast your eye color, though still neutral enough to look pretty on all skin tones, and the perfect everyday hue.

Price at time of publish: $29

Shades: 40 | Size: .03 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

What to Look For in Eyeshadow For Blue Eyes

Warm Shades

Because blue is the opposite of orange, anything in the orange color family will brighten your eyes and contrast well. Among the top choices are nude shades, which may have tones of copper or bronze. Byrdie writer and makeup artist Ashley Rebecca points out that everything from champagne gold to bronze or peach will flatter blue eyes.

Jewel Tones

It's true that you want to avoid a jewel tone that's too close a match to your eye color, but there's a lot of wiggle room in there. You have all those glorious purples to choose from, as well as plenty of greens. Rebecca notes that "jewel tones of emerald green will perk up any shade of blue eyes."

Product Format

Love a shadow in a cream pot? Or do you prefer a powder? Even if you're more the gel stick shadow type, there's a shadow that will make your blue eyes look beautiful. Just choose the format you like the best, and that you find stays on well.

Long Wear

Every type of shadow has its own set of tricks and tips to keep it from sliding off your face. But you'll worry about this less if you choose a product known for having staying power. Look for keywords like "all-day wear" if you're unsure about how well a particular eyeshadow is supposed to last.

FAQ

How do you make blue eyes look bluer?

In addition to wearing eyeshadow colors that contrast nicely and make your blue eyes pop, you can venture out to other makeup products to enhance your eye color. For example, a red lipstick, especially a bright one, may create the illusion of your blue eyes being ever bluer.
Is black or brown mascara better for blue eyes?

Black mascara may be tempting, but because of the color wheel and its "opposites attract" rule, it's actually brown mascara that will make your blue eyes stand out more. Try one of these for a subtle lash lift.
Does blue mascara look good on blue eyes?

If you're interested in a blue mascara, note that you won't get the same color popping effect as you would from a brown one. However, blue mascara has the power to make the whites of your eyes appear slightly whiter. They're available in a variety of hues, from powder blue to navy.

Why Trust Byrdie

Melanie is a contributing writer for Byrdie where she covers all things skincare—from buzzy ingredients to acne advice. She has over 10 years of experience working in the beauty editorial industry. Over the years, her work has appeared in such digital and print publications as Real Simple, Shape, Allure, and Better Homes & Gardens.

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