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Byrdie / Lecia Landis
When it comes to finding the perfect eyeshadow for your eye color, you want to find the one that truly makes your eyes pop. We want to enhance our already beautiful natural features, not hide them. But, depending on your eye color, eye shape, and skin tone, specific shades can truly make all the difference.
You know what I’m talking about—that day you spent fielding compliments of how pretty your eyes look in a specific eyeshadow color. Or, when you try a new makeup technique and everyone seems to notice it. These are the days we’re talking about; when you truly felt confident in yourself for letting your natural features shine.
While green eyes can truly wear any color, they look particularly striking in reds and purples, explains Kelli J. Bartlett, NYC-based makeup artist. We’ve talked about the best shadows for brown eyes and blue eyes, but now it’s time to find the best shadows for green eyes.
From mattes to shimmers, read on to find the best shadows for green eyes that’ll really make your eyes stand out.
Best Palette
Byredo Eyeshadow 5 Colours
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Lightweight
Long-lasting
Chic packaging
Pricey
Composed of metallics and lightly colored hues, every shade in this Byredo eyeshadow palette is perfect for green eyes. Aside from its lightweight, easy-to-blend formula, the shadows can be worn together or apart to create endless eyeshadow looks. Plus application is a breeze—apply with your fingertips or a brush with a beautiful eyeshadow look guaranteed every time.
Price at time of publish: $75
Number of Shades: 6 palettes with 5 colors each | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Palette, Runner-Up
Fenty Beauty Snap Shadows Mix and Match Eyeshadow Palette in Cool Neutrals
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Has various finishes
Long-lasting
Blends easily
Reviewers note color payoff could be better
Just snap your fingers and a gorgeous eyeshadow look will appear—or so we wish! Similar to its name, this Fenty Beauty eyeshadow palette will allow you to create breathtaking eyeshadow looks for your green eyes in a snap. Its six shades—a combination of browns, metallics, pinks, and purple—will all look stunning on green eyes. And, its range of matte and shimmer finishes will literally stay on all day.
Price at time of publish: $28
Size: 0.035 oz. | Number of Shades: 7 palettes with 6 shades each | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Multitasking
Range Beauty Golden Hour Dual Eye/Highlight in No Shade
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Courtesy of Range Beauty
Can use as a highlighter
Works for all skin tones
Fragrance-free
Unhygienic container
This shimmery bronze-gold is great for creating a multitude of looks that flatter green eyes, and we love that its multitasking formula doubles as a highlighter for a seamless monochromatic look. This silky, pigment-rich powder literally melts into the skin for a natural-looking glow that shows up on all skin tones. It’s also clean and free from fragrance and talc, to boot.
Size: 0.35 oz. | Number of Shades: 5 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Metallic
Pat McGrath Eyedols Eye Shadow in Sextrovert
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Great color payoff
Smooth application
Hydrating
Not as long-lasting as other options
Not only does this metallic eyeshadow have an incredible color payoff, but it also applies velvety-smooth and creamy. Infused with vitamin-enriched emollients, it’s formulated to keep your eyes hydrated while looking fabulous. Since it’s a gel-powder formula, it’s super simple to apply with your fingers or a brush and can be thrown into your bag for on-the-go application. Warning: it’ll truly captivate with its iridescence regardless of what light you’re in.
Size: 0.04 oz. | Number of Shades: 17 | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Iridescent
Danessa Myricks Beauty Colorfix Eye, Cheek & Lip Cream Pigment in Alien
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Courtesy of Sephora
Waterproof
Can use all over face
Dries quickly
Reviewers note the tube clogs easily
For an eye look that's truly otherworldly, this multidimensional cream pigment from Danessa Myricks Beauty is an absolute must. When this pigment-rich liquid hits the light, it captures all of the pinks, browns, and molten golds and bronzes that make green eyes pop. It’s also smudge-proof, waterproof, long-wearing, and can be used anywhere on the face, allowing for an infinite amount of head-turning looks.
Price at time of publish: $18
Size: 0.34 fl. oz. | Number of Shades: 15 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Gold
Chantecaille Mermaid Eye Color in Seashell
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Waterproof
Can be worn wet or dry
Contains skin-loving ingredients
Pricey
Creaseless and waterproof, this eyeshadow will become your go-to for everything from virtual meetings to date nights. Creating any look with your green eyes is easy—it can be worn wet or dry or as an eyeshadow or eyeliner. It's also infused with silk-tree extract so you’ll get skincare benefits, too.
Price at time of publish: $36
Size: 0.14 oz. | Number of Shades: 5 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Purple
NYX Professional Makeup Baked Eyeshadow in Violet Smoke
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Lightweight
Great color payoff
Affordable
Contains parabens
Any shade of purple will truly make green eyes pop—and this one is our favorite. Silky and lightweight, it blends easily to create a natural or dramatic finish while remaining highly pigmented. For maximum impact (while still looking understated), Bartlett recommends using a purple shadow very close to and blended into the lash line. “The color is concentrated close to the iris of the eye, so it makes the green pop!”
Price at time of publish: $9
Size: 0.1 oz. | Number of Shades: 6 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Dark Pink
Marc Jacobs Beauty O!Mega Shadow in 630 RO!SE Marc Jacobs Beauty O!Mega Shadow in 630 RO!SE
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Minimal fallout
Smooth application
Great color payoff
Pricey
There is a reason this eyeshadow is a bestseller—it’s incredible. Aside from its smooth application, its color payoff is unreal and it has minimal fallout when applied. Known as the cashmere sweater of eyeshadows, this beauty repertoire essential looks fabulous with all green eyes.
Size: 0.13 oz. | Number of Shades: 15 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Copper
Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise in Copper Sunrise
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Long-lasting
Lightweight
Doesn't crease
Limited-edition shade
Want your green eyes to truly mesmerize? Try this Charlotte Tilbury cream eyeshadow. The pink-toned copper shade will truly leave your green eyes shimmering while blurring any imperfections on your lids. Gliding on seamlessly, its lightweight formula locks onto lids with zero creasing whatsoever.
Price at time of publish: $34
Size: 0.2 oz. | Number of Shades: 9 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Lavender
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Singles in Asphyxia
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Great color payoff
Blends easily
Long-lasting
Reviewers note shadows can arrive crumbled
Since purple looks so incredible on green eyes, we simply had to include a lavender shade. This one—with its rich color, velvety texture, and uniform pigment distribution—is at the top of our list for green eyes. Remarkable qualities aside, it’s also unparalleled for blending—meaning it can be paired with any color and leaves no harsh eyeshadow lines.
Size: 0.05 oz. | Number of Shades: 45 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Light Pink
Alima Pure Pressed Eyeshadow in Isla
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Courtesy of Alima Pure
Lightweight
Long-lasting
Can use as eyeliner or blush
Pricey
While you might not think of pink as a color to enhance green eyes, it’s definitely a must-try. Weightless and long-lasting, you’ll have no problem wearing this in a snowstorm or while lounging by the pool. Bonus: its silky-smooth powder formula can be worn as eyeshadow, eyeliner, or blush.
Price at time of publish: $30
Size: 0.08 oz. | Number of Shades: 14 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Brown
Cle De Peau Eye Shadow in 210 Graceful Dark Brown
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Dermatologist-tested
Ophthalmologist-tested
Hydrating
Pricey
If you prefer a more subtle eyeshadow look for your green eyes, try a shade of brown. Aside from being our favorite shade for green eyes, this eyeshadow will really make your eyes pop and are versatile enough for those of us who don’t feel comfortable wearing bright colors every day. In addition to its exquisite color, its dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested making it safe for sensitive skin and eyes.
Size: 0.03 oz. | Number of Shades: 10 | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Burgandy
Kosas 10-second eyeshadow in Fahrenheit
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Dries quickly
Waterproof
Buildable
Difficult to fix mistakes once dry
Always running late? Try this Kosas eyeshadow that can be applied in 10-seconds or less—zero brushes required. Dubbed as a watercolor for your lids, its color is both buildable and blendable to help you achieve your desired eyeshadow look with minimal effort.
Price at time of publish: $15
Size: 0.06 fl. oz. | Number of Shades: 6 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Red
Haus Labs Glam Attack Metallic Creme in Glamour Puss
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Vegan
Doe-foot applicator
Long-lasting
Reviewers note formula is watery
Reds—although unexpected—will truly make green eyes pop. With its all-day wear, this one won’t smear, smudge, or transfer regardless of how long it’s worn. Its opaque coverage is truly mesmerizing and can be built upon for a more intense look. It’ll become your absolute favorite—we know it.
Price at time of publish: $8
Number of Shades: 17 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Final Verdict
Whether you’re looking for a bold or subtle way to make your green eyes pop, these eyeshadow colors will truly be game-changers. With its five blendable shades, the Byredo Eyeshadow Palette in Syren provides endless eyeshadow looks for green eyes. If you’re looking for the perfect purple to make your eyes pop, try NYX Professional Makeup Baked Eyeshadow in Purple Smoke or Urban Decay Eyeshadow Singles in Asphyxia. For a more subtle option, try Cle De Peau’s Eyeshadow in Dark Brown or Charlotte Tilbury’s Eyes to Mesmerise in Copper Sunrise. Regardless of what color you choose, your green eyes will most definitely be a showstopper.
To get the highest color-payoff, explains Bartlett, begin with an eyeshadow primer. “Not only will your shadow last longer and “grab” in the right spots, but the color will also be more vibrant on your lids.
What to Look For in an Eyeshadow
Color
Look for contrasting eyeshadow colors when searching for complementary eyeshadow shades, explains Bartlett. “For example, red-based browns and purples are across from green on the color wheel—which would make them stand out.”
Finish
To experiment with different looks, try choosing different eyeshadow finishes. “Look for a variety of finishes—from matte to shimmering—to give you a range of color options to suit your mood,” explains Bartlett.
Why Trust Byrdie?
Byrdie contributor Rachel Dube has written for a wide array of digital publications. Along with writing about beauty, she has also tested hundreds of beauty products and is constantly researching the latest trends. Although she doesn’t personally have green eyes, she spoke to friends, industry experts, and makeup artists to discover the best eyeshadow shades for green eyes for this article.
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