In my opinion, a good makeup look is all about enhancing your natural features, especially when it comes to eyes. Those with green eyes will love purple and plum eye shadow shades, whilst those with brown eyes will gravitate more towards bold blue and earthy green tones. However, if you have blue eyes, then brown eye shadow will be your new best friend. But what type of brown eye shadow should you be looking for?
As a beauty editor and makeup artist with blue eyes, I’ve tested hundreds of options over the years, from eye shadow palettes to eye shadow sticks, and I’ve created a concise edit of my go-to shades that always make my eyes pop. I also caught up with Bobbi Brown senior pro artist Zara Findlay to get her opinion on the best brown eye shadows for blue eyes, so keep scrolling for our tips, tricks and top picks.
Why Is Brown Eye Shadow a Good Choice for Blue Eyes?
“Brown eye shadow is a great choice for blue eyes because it enhances the natural contrast, helping the blue appear brighter and more defined,” explains Findlay. “It’s also an incredibly versatile shade that works beautifully across different skin tones.”
Deputy beauty editor Grace Lindsay wearing Merit Solo Sheen shade Midcentury.
Which Brown Eye Shadows Should Someone With Blue Eyes Look For?
I think we can all agree that with so many brown options on the market, it can be hard to narrow them all down. However, Findlay has some tips. “To really make blue eyes stand out, I recommend browns with warm undertones, such as coppery browns or rich chocolate shades. These tones add warmth around the eye and help intensify the blue, making the colour pop.”
Of course, once you’ve got the correct undertone, you’ll also want to choose between powder, cream and liquid formulas. This all comes down to personal preference, but Findlay tells me that powder shadows tend to look softer and are easier to build, whilst cream formulas tend to deliver a stronger pigment and are quicker to apply.
I’ve been testing some of the best brown eye shadows for blue eyes below, so keep on scrolling to shop my favourites.
The Best Brown Eye Shadows for Blue Eyes1. Merit Solo Shadow in Midcentury
Best eyeshadow overall
MERIT Beauty
Solo Shadow in Midcentury
ProsQuick and easy to applyPerfect everyday shadeBuildable finish ConsCan be a little messy at timesIf you have oily eyelids, you’ll want to use a primer
This is the Merit Beauty eye shadow I reach for daily. I tend to go between two shades: Midcentury and Brun. Midcentury is a subtle, warm, everyday colour, whereas Brun is a little darker. If I’m doing an evening look, I’ll use Brun in the crease of my eye for a little more definition, but you’ll usually find me wearing Midcentury all over the lid. The creamy texture glides onto the eyelid and blends like a dream. Plus, you can build it up depending on your desired finish. It’s a cream-to-powder formula, but if you have oily eyelids like me, I recommend using an eye shadow primer to help keep it in place.
2. Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Hazelnut
Best cream eyeshadow
Bobbi Brown
Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Hazelnut
Formula: Cream
An eye shadow recommended to me by Findlay herself, the Bobbi Brown eye shadow stick is a swipe-and-go formula that is perfect if you don’t like to spend loads of time on your makeup in the morning. It’s also one of those products you can throw into your handbag and top up on the go. It definitely gets my lazy-girl seal of approval. I’ve got my eyes on the shade Hazelnut, as it looks like the perfect choice to make blue eyes pop.
ProsQuick and easy to applyBuildable formulaLong wearingConsSome may prefer a powder formula
Best liquid eyeshadow
Armani
Eye Tint in Cashew
ProsEasy to applySubtle brown shade makes blue eyes popConsCan crease a little bit by the end of the day
I’m a big fan of the Armani Eye Tints, and I recently got my hands on the shade Cashew, the perfect brown for everyday wear. I thought a liquid eye shadow would be my oily eyelids’ worst nightmare, but this dries down to a natural finish and actually lasts surprisingly well. Don’t get me wrong: I did experience a little bit of creasing after a while, but nowhere near as much as I expected. It’s definitely a subtle brown, but I really like how it brings out the blue in my eyes (if I do say so myself).
4. Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette
Best cool-toned eyeshadow
Urban Decay
Naked 2 Palette
Formula: Powder
I don’t think this palette needs any introduction. An absolute OG, it comes with a range of brown shades to create both day and evening eye shadow looks. The powders are pigmented, last all day, and blend like a dream, so it’s no surprise that I’ve held onto my palette for so long (although it definitely looks a little worse for wear these days). One thing to note is that the shadows are predominantly cool-toned. This means they will create a more muted look compared to warm-toned options in this roundup, so although they won’t make your eyes “pop”, they will look super sophisticated.
ProsCan create a range of looksPigmented colourEasy to blendLong-lastingConsNot everyone will love the cool-toned shades
5. Victoria Beckham Eye Wardrobe in Cocoa
Best eyeshadow palette
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Eye Wardrobe in Cocoa
ProsStunning chocolate shadesChic packagingSuper pigmentedConsMore expensiveHave to blend quite quickly
Speaking of outstanding eye shadow palettes, I’d have to rate this Victoria Beckham Beauty one as my favourite. Not only does it look chic, but the selection of chocolate-brown shades is unmatched. A word of warning: these eyeshadows are so pigmented that a little goes a long way. The only downside is that because of this, I find I have to blend them quite quickly, but the result is always worth it.
6. Rimmel Wonder’Last Shadow Stick in 002 Choco Shimmer
Best affordable eyeshadow
Rimmel
Wonder’Last Shadow in Stick 002 Choco Shimmer
Formula: Cream
Rimmel has created an affordable eye shadow stick in the most striking, shimmery chocolate-brown shade. The creamy formula is easy to apply and buildable, and the stick format is another great one for throwing in your handbag on the go.
ProsAffordableEasy to use on the goConsNot everyone will love the shimmery finish
7. Yves Saint Laurent Couture Mini Clutch in 710
Best luxury eyeshadow
Yves Saint Laurent
Couture Mini Clutch in 710
ProsChic packagingIdeal for blue eyesConsCan be quite easy to apply too much, so start slowly!
How chic is this? If you like a bit of luxury, YSL won’t let you down. This brown eye shadow clutch features three shimmery shades and one matte option, and the warm tones are ideal for blue eyes. It’s the palette I reach for whenever I’m creating an evening makeup look. Similar to the Victoria Beckham Beauty palette, these shadows are very pigmented, so I recommend starting with a small amount and building each shade up as you go.
At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products, including skincare, makeup, hair and nails, over the years and work closely with trusted experts—dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders—to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.
