I've said it before, and I'll say it again, but beauty "rules" are becoming more passé by the second. In fact, I believe (and many experts I've consulted agree) that the only beauty rule right now is that there are no rules! Watch a red carpet, scroll through Instagram, or spend time on TikTok, and you'll 100% see what I mean. 

However, remember learning about the color wheel when you were in grade school? If we want to be technical about it, there will always be certain colors and tones that are more complementary to other colors and tones. For instance, if you have blue eyes, like me, wearing certain eye shadow shades will make the blue pop 10 times more than other, less complementary shades. Sure, you can choose to ignore said shades and wear whatever color eye shadow you feel like, but since my blue eyes happen to be my favorite feature (and one that others often compliment me on), I want to do everything I can to enhance them.

I love to play with makeup—it's a big part of my job, after all—but I'm no expert. So to find out what hues and specific eye shadows would make my blue eyes shine their brightest, I reached out to two celebrity makeup artists: Jamie Greenberg, whose clients include Kaley Cuoco, Joey King, and Brittany O'Grady, and Jillian Dempsey, who works with the likes of Kristen Stewart, Leslie Mann, and Gwyneth Paltrow. Below, they're not only sharing the all-time best eye shadows for blue eyes, but they're also lending some helpful pointers and application advice along the way. Keep scrolling! 

In general, what are the most flattering eye shadow colors for blue eyes?

"Any complementary color on the color wheel is going to make your eye color pop," explains Greenberg. Blue’s complementary color is orange, so she and Dempsey both recommend prioritizing eye shadows with warm or blue-based tones: ruby-rose, peach, apricot, coral, copper, bronze, and even something like a beige-pink shimmer.

If warm eye shadows aren't your vibe, Greenberg says the next best shades will be something similar to your actual eye color, like blues or a light purple. Her fave tip? Do a little bit of both! "I love to use a complementary color like coral on the lids and then line the eye with a blue eyeliner. It’s like a double trick to make the eyes pop. Or you can use blue mascara instead of blue eyeliner." 

Dempsey is also a fan of enhancing blue eyes with a dose of eyeliner and is a big fan of rich brown: "I love to use my Rich Brown Khôl Eyeliner. It has the perfect amount of warmth in it to really flatter blue eyes. I have blue eyes, and it's my number one makeup staple and smudges nicely for extra definition."

And what eye shadow colors should people with blue eyes avoid?

Do like Gisele and stick to those bronze shades! "Yellow and green hues really don't do blue eyes justice," Dempsey shares. "Some metallic shades too, like bold purples and yellow-gold, tend to make blue eyes look washed out."

Greenberg adds that grays can also dull the look of blue eyes, and bright reds (that look opaque, not sheer) can also look a little off.

The best eye shadows for blue eyes:

1. Pür On Point Eyeshadow Palette in Friday

"This palette has the most perfect shades for an orange eye look that will complement blue eyes. The shadows don't contain talc, and there's barely any fallout." — Greenberg

2. Jillian Dempsey Lid Tint in Ruby

"This Lid Tint in Ruby is the one from my line that is underrated and really pops the intensity of blue eyes. Simply swipe it on your lid and blend it with a finger. To soften and brighten up the red tone from the Lid Tint, use my new Khôl Eyeliner in FTA White ($20) on the base of the lid either before or after applying the tint." — Dempsey

3. MAC Pressed Eyeshadow in Coppering

"The color and texture of this eye shadow from MAC really make blue eyes pop." — Greenberg

4. Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Eyeshadow Palette in Pillow Talk Dreams

"Every single shade in this quad will really bring out the blue in your eyes. Use a brush to apply and customize the look with just one or even all four shades." — Dempsey

5. Jamie Makeup The Blighlighter in The Coral One

"I love this multitasking pigment in either The Coral One or The Penny One for blue eyes. It not only works on the eyes but the cheeks too for a great monochromatic look." — Greenberg

6. Chantecaille Luminescent Eye Shade in Zebra

"This eye shadow delivers a shimmery warm beige that complements blue eyes—apply with an eye shadow brush and blend!" — Dempsey

7. Joah Chasing the Sun Eyeshadow and Bronzing Palette

"I like this because the colors work well but it also has the added bonus of bronzing the face, which can help boost the look of blue eyes." — Greenberg

8. Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eyeshadow in Burnished Bronze

"Reach for this pencil eye shadow when you want a different texture that still has complementary warmth for your eyes. Draw it over lids and blend with your finger or a brush." — Dempsey

9. Sisley-Paris Ombre Éclat Liquide Eyeshadow in Copper

"A liquid eye shadow like this one is easy to use and looks gorgeous alone or on top of powder eye shadow to mix up textures." — Greenberg

10. Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Eyeshadow Palette in Copper Charge

"Every shade in this copper quad is really pretty and complements blue eyes." — Greenberg

More makeup artist–approved products that enhance blue eyes:

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