Brown eyes are beautiful, but many women wonder just how to best enhance this eye color with makeup. See what our makeup expert has to say about making your brown eyes look thatir best!
Makeup for Light Brown Eyes

Reader Question
Hi Dana!I am 14 years old and a high school student. I was wondering if you could help me. What color eye shadows and eyeliners should I use for my light brown eyes? Also, what are the best colors of contact lenses should I use?

~~Thank you, Anne

Expert Reply


Dear Anne,

My suggestion is to try cream, champagne or apricot shadow for the base, covering your whole eyelid. Follow with any shade of brown either matte or one with shimmer and apply to the crease. You can also try shades of plum. Always use brushes instead of applicators for the best results. Now line the top and bottom lashes with very dark brown pencil. Next, take a fine lining brush and using a dark brown or even deep gray, smudge the lines. Follow with blackest black mascara and don't forget to curl those lashes first for an added pop.

As for colored contacts, you can experiment with almost any color since your eyes are light in color. Deep blue or even darkest brown could be a fun alternative.

~~Dana

Brown Eyes and African American Skin Tone

Try a shimmery shadow for brown eyes.
Reader Question
Hi Dana,

I am 15 and African American and I have medium tone skin. I also have brown eyes. What would be the best colors for me and how should I use them to bring out my eyes?

~~Thank you, Samoane

Expert Reply
Dear Samoane,

With brown eyes you can use almost any combination of colors. I too have brown eyes and my signature look is to use a shimmery cream or eggshell for the entire eyelid first, then blend a dark brown or plum in the crease. Always try to use brushes as they apply the shadow more professionally and it will stay a lot longer.

Line your eyes using a dark brown eye liner; not black. It's a softer, yet still dramatic look. Next, take a fine brush, dip it into the dark brown eye shadow or even black shadow and blend the line creating a soft, smudgy effect.

Another alternative is to use a deep hunter green eyeliner. Two favorites of mine are Prescriptives Soft Lining Pencil in Void ($17.50) and Bobbi Browns Long-Wearing Gel Eyeliner in Hunter Ink ($19.00). Each one goes on a little differently but has very similar effects. The Prescriptives pencil has a smudging sponge on the end and it's a quicker, simpler solution. A brush is needed to apply Bobbis gel so its a little trickier, but it has a lot of staying power. The deep green up against dark brown eyes is a surprisingly wonderful effect and it will look absolutely gorgeous with your tanned skin try it and see what you think! Last, curl your lashes with an eyelash curler and top off with a good coat or two of black mascara.

~~Dana

Natural Makeup for Brown Eyes

Try natural makeup for brown eyes.
Reader Question
Hi Dana

I have BIG brown eyes and I have trouble with my eye liner. I don't want to use a lot of make up. I want to look natural. What do I do to keep it natural, but bring the bigness of my eyes out?

~~Thank You, Janet

Expert Reply
Dear Janet,

With brown eyes you can use almost any combination of colors. I too have brown eyes and my signature look is to use a base color in cream or eggshell for the entire eyelid first, then blend a dark brown or plum in the crease.

For a very natural effect, use matte not shimmer or frost shadow. Always use brushes as they apply the shadow more evenly and smoothly and it will stay a lot longer. Line your eyes using a dark brown eye liner - not black. It's a softer, yet dramatic look.

Next, take a fine brush, dip it into the dark brown eye shadow or even black shadow and blend the line creating a soft, smudgy effect. You can also skip the line and simply line the eyes with the eye shadow for an even softer look Last, curl your lashes with an eyelash curler and top off with a coat or two of black mascara.

~~Dana

Dark Brown Eyes and Fair Complexion

Reader Question
Hi DanaI have dark brown eyes and a medium fair complexion. I just wanted to know what would be the best eye shadow colors to use. I love brown eye shadows. Is it ok for me to use these even though I have brown eyes? I'd really like to make my eyes look more attractive.

~~Thanks very much, Saiga

Expert Reply
Dear Saiga,

With brown eyes you can use almost any combination of colors. I too have brown eyes and my signature look is to use a shimmery cream or eggshell for the entire eyelid first, then blend a dark brown or plum in the crease. Always try to use brushes as they apply the shadow with a professional touch, and it will stay a lot longer. Line your eyes using dark brown eyeliner, not black. It's a softer yet still dramatic look.

Next, take a fine brush, dip it into the dark brown eye shadow or even black shadow and blend the line creating a soft, smudgy effect. Another great look is to use gel eyeliner. One of the best eyeliners on the market is Bobbi Brown's Long Wear Gel Eyeliner ($19.00). In fact, any gel eyeliner is a sure bet as far as I'm concerned. Bobbi's innovative eyeliner offers the precision of liquid liner and the ease of a gel-based formula. It is long-wearing and water-resistant.

You can create subtle to dramatic looks. To apply, use a fine eyeliner brush and dip both sides of the tip into the gel formula (coat both sides of brush head). Wipe off excess on tissue before applying to eye. Work quickly as product becomes transfer-resistant once dry. Last, curl your lashes with an eyelash curler and top off with a good coat or two of black mascara. You're done!

~~Dana

Easy Brown Eye Makeup

Reader Question
Dear Dana,Hi, I'm 16 (with brown eyes!) and I am pretty new to makeup. At most, I will occasionally wear some black eyeliner. Could you give me some tips for using eyeliner/eye shadow?

~~Thanks! Newbie

Expert Reply
Dear Newbie:

With brown eyes you can use almost any combination of colors. I too have brown eyes and my signature look is to use a shimmery cream or eggshell for the entire eyelid first, then blend a dark brown or plum in the crease. Always try to use brushes as they apply the shadow more professionally and it will stay a lot longer. Line your eyes using a dark brown eye liner-not black. It's a softer yet still dramatic look. Next, take a fine brush; dip it into the dark brown eye shadow and blend it in the crease area.

Eyeshadow and Eyeliner for Brown Eyes

Reader Question
Hi, could you please advise me what color eyeshadows best suit brown eyes? Thanks, Marina

Expert Reply
Hi Marina,

Before makeup.
Having brown eyes opens you up to endless possibilities. Don't let anything limit you. For basic shadows, I like using earth tones, like yellow, taupe, and orange bases.... Try using a light shade, yellow-based shadow all over your lid. As a middle shade for the mixer, try using something with an orange shade (that's right, I said orange...give it a try) mixed with a warm gold tone, maybe with a slight shimmer, it will give your eyes life and brighten them up. As your contouring, deep shadow, try a deep brown and on days you feel extra sassy, try a deep blue or even a forest green. Really, when mixed and used in the appropriate areas, you can have fun with your shadows. If you line your eye with a black liner on the top of your lid, try using that dark deep color to smoke out the liner. This will smooth out the liner, prevent it from smudging, and give you a sexy, sultry look. If you line your eyes on the bottom, try that shimmery gold mix and blend on the top of your eyes and on the edge of the bottom liner. It will soften up the harshness of the liner.

Try to have fun with colors, keep them warm and rich without much glitter. Shimmers are fun, just be careful of too many glitters that might flake on your face and make you look shiny. But for the holidays, anything goes....

I have included some pictures of before and after brown eye makeup techniques.

~~Eve

After applying makeup.
Reader Question
Hi, I'm 13 and I have brown eyes. I am wondering if there are any tips you have for eyeliner and/or eye shadow? Right now I use a light shimmery pinkish color.

~~new2makeup

Expert Reply
Dear New2Makeup,My suggestion is to try using two colors on your lids. Choose a cream, champagne or apricot shadow for the base, covering your whole eyelid. Follow with any shade of brown, either matte or one with shimmer, and apply to the crease. You can also try shades of plum.

Always use brushes instead of applicators for the best results. Now line the top and bottom lashes with very dark brown pencil. Next, take a fine lining brush and using a dark brown or even deep gray, smudge the lines. Follow with blackest, black mascara and don't forget to curl those lashes first for an added pop!