The Best Eyeshadows for Green Eyes, According to Makeup Artists

Stop and stare.

two models with green eyes wearing eyeshadow
(Image credit: Launchmetrics)

It brings me a small amount of smug satisfaction to say that I am part of the two percent of the world's population with green eyes. I've inherited a unique olive green shade with an inner ring of bright copper. With a little help from the best eyeshadows for green eyes, it's so easy to make my eyes pop.

Not just any shade of eyeshadow will do the trick, though. While you can wear whatever shade you want (makeup has no rules!), certain tones will brighten and flatter green eyes the most, as opposed to blue eyes or brown eyes. There are liquids, sticks, and palettes to choose from, so you can find the best possible option for your beauty routine. Ahead, makeup artists Vincent Oquendo, Tonya Riner, and Emily Gray all shared their favorite shadows for green eyes.

What Eyeshadow Colors Are Best for Green Eyes?

To make your eyes pop, reach for complementary eyeshadow colors. “On the color wheel, colors opposite each other are called complimentary colors," explains Gray. “These bring the most contrast, thus making the color pop.”

Because pink and red are directly across the color wheel from green, these shades make green eyes appear the most vivid. “It does not have to be a bold red color,” Gray says. “It can be light pink or even a touch of rose sparkle.”

Oquendo suggests playing into the undertones of your eyes with purple, gold, and grey tones, too. For example, a deep purple can bring out the brown in green eyes, while gold will make any yellow tones in your irises stand out.

The Best Eyeshadows for Green Eyes

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Meet the Experts

Tonya Riner headshot makeup artist
Tonya Riner

Tonya Riner is a beauty expert and makeup artist with thirty years of experience in the industry.

Tonya’s work has been featured prominently in the media, including Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue and Paper City among other publications and destinations and Allure Magazine has named her one of the best makeup artists in the United States. Her long list of celebrity and bold print clients includes Kate Upton, Simone Biles, Heidi Klum, Elle Macpherson, and Annie Leibovitz.

Portrait of emily gray pro makeup artist
Emily Gray

Emily prides herself on a balanced skill set of bold glamour, flawless editorial, and clean natural looks. However, her true gift is making her clients realize their most beautiful selves while simultaneously putting them at ease with the entire process. Emily's background studying classic art combined with her relentless quest for staying current with the freshest styles and latest techniques makes her the celebrated artist she has become. Emily splits most of her time between Nashville, Detroit, and Los Angeles. Some of her clientele include Kristin Cavallari, Maren Morris, Lily Aldridge, and Leann Rimes,

portrait of vincent oquendo pro makeup artist
Vincent Oquendo

Vincent Oquendo is a globally recognized makeup artist, known for his bold aesthetic and creative vision. A “make-up maestro,” according to ELLE, Vincent’s red carpet clients include Lily Collins, Janelle Monae, Bella Hadid, Karlie Kloss, Hailey Bieber, Diane Kruger, and Jessica Biel. Vincent emulates Old-Hollywood glamour with a dash of modern flare. In addition to the red carpet, Vincent works with photographers such as Alexei Hay, Zoey Grossman, Miguel Reveriego, and Ben Watts, and his work has been featured in Vogue, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, W, and more. Vincent is the Brand Ambassador for LUMIFY Eye Drops.

Brooke Knappenberger
Associate Commerce Editor

Brooke Knappenberger is the Associate Commerce Editor at Marie Claire, where she specializes in crafting shopping stories—from sales content to buying guides that span every vertical on the site. She also oversees holiday coverage with an emphasis on gifting guides as well as Power Pick, our monthly column on the items that power the lives of MC’s editors. She has over three years of experience writing on fashion, beauty, and entertainment and her work has appeared on Looper, NickiSwift, The Sun US, and Vox Magazine of Columbia, Missouri. Brooke obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism with an emphasis on Magazine Editing and has a minor in Textile and Apparel Management.

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