Brown Eyeshadow Guide For Every Age | Red Apple Lipstick

If there is a single eyeshadow every woman should own, it is a brown eyeshadow. No makeup bag is complete without one.

I did not grow up knowing this, and my mama never taught me. But after research, talking to makeup artists, and lots of trial and error, I learned why a neutral brown palette is so useful.

Imagine owning one eyeshadow that is so flattering, you know you always look your best.

Prepare to learn everything there is to know about the versatility of brown eyeshadow, and all the benefits for you.

Brown Eyeshadow is a Must Because:

1. It is a neutral color that complements all skin tones. Your perfect shade of brown is always current and appropriate.
2. It is universally flattering at every age. Brown hues are classic and timeless.
3. Brown eyeshadow can be natural or sultry, which gives you great versatility.
4. It is a multi purpose makeup product. Brown eyeshadow can be used on the lids, in the crease, on the eyebrows (this is important, we will talk about it later), or as eyeliner.
5. It is the cornerstone of many makeup looks. Shades of brown are perfect for both daytime neutral looks and evening smoky eyes.

How do I pick the perfect brown for me?

1. Consider your daily beauty routine.

Are you an “I have five minutes to slap on some makeup in the morning” type?

• You will do well with two colors: a light neutral brown and a darker brown. Dust one on the lid and the other in the crease for an easy five minute routine.

Are you a “makeup junkie who cannot live without a huge makeup bag”?

• You will enjoy having multiple shades of brown in different tones for many looks. One for the crease, three or four for a smoky eye, one for your eyebrows, one for eyeliner.

Are you a “natural beauty who enjoys simple makeup during the day, but heavier at night”?

• You will love having three versatile shades. One neutral and two darker browns. The neutral for your lids, one of the darker browns for your crease, and another color for defining your eyebrows and using as eyeliner.

2. What color is your skin? Instead of worrying about warm or cool, ask yourself: “Am I super pale? Fair skinned? Tan or olive? Dark or super dark?”

• Pale and Fair: Think soft browns, light mochas, mushroom and raisin.

  

• Tan and Olive: Think light tan, caramel, terra cotta, espresso, and mushroom.

  

• Dark and Super Dark: Think champagne, copper, bronze, and espresso.

  

What color eyeshadow is best for brown eyes?

• Blue eyes pair well with warm browns, copper, and purple based browns, which makes blue eyes look even bluer.
• Green eyes work very well with purple based browns to make that green pop.
• Brown eyes look beautiful with purple and copper based browns that complement the brown and bring out the fun specks of color in your eyes.

3. Should I be wearing matte or shimmer based products? As our eyelids change with age, so should our eyeshadow. Brown shimmery shadow with a lot of frost or glitter reflects light and can draw attention to lines. That does not mean a sassy woman in her 60s cannot wear shimmer, but that color is best placed on the brow bone (under the arch of the eyebrow) and in the inner corner of the eye. This lightens the look without drawing attention to the places that have lovely laugh lines.

Brown matte eyeshadow is flattering and lovely at every age. Brown matte eyeshadow brings out your inner earth goddess and gives subtle luminosity to your gaze.

Blending brown matte eyeshadow and brown shimmery eyeshadow creates dimension in your eyes. Neutral shimmery eyeshadow in lighter tones gives the perfect highlight under your brow bone and in the inner corner of the eye. Champagne or Iced Mocha are good examples.

Combine shimmers with a brown matte eyeshadow such as Brownie Points, Yes You Canyon or Espresso for a stunning sultry eye.

What color eyeshadow makes brown eyes pop?

To instantly enhance the color of your eyes, eye makeup is an easy solution. For those with brown eyes, there is a wide array of colored eyeshadows to choose from because almost any color works. Brown eyes also come in many shades, and some even have speckled flakes of other colors mixed in.

From metallics to purples, try these eyeshadows to make your brown eyes pop.

Metallics: Metallic eyeshadows emphasize the natural sparkle in your eyes. Various shades of metallics pick up different specks in your eyes to highlight them.

Bronze Browns: Brown eyeshadow can enhance and intensify brown eyes, even when the eyeshadow is similar in color to your iris.

Silvers and Greens: Brown is a warm color. Using cooler tones such as silver on brown eyes helps them stand out. Green eyeshadow, especially teal, also looks beautiful with brown eyes.

Purples: Purple is one of the best colors to contrast with brown eyes. Beyond neutral eyeshadows, purple is very flattering. A purple eyeshadow with a blue tint creates even more contrast with brown.

How to make your eyes pop at any age

Eyebrows, ladies, eyebrows. They define your face, lift your eyes, and polish your look. They are one of the easiest ways to take your makeup look from zero to twenty in under two minutes.

I have bushy eyebrows, others have sparse brows. Either way, we need to define the brows we were blessed with.

A lovely girl once told me that eyebrows are sisters, not twins. Embrace that. They will never be identical, and that is ok.

After tweezing a little, brown matte eyeshadow is a perfect way to create definition without a harsh line.

Tweeze the rogue hairs in between your two sisters. The inner edge of your brows should line up with the inner edge of your eye. Next, find your natural arch, which usually lines up with the outer edge of your iris. Tweeze the hairs below your natural arch and out toward the outer edge. Then clean up the stray hairs above the outer corners of your brows. Always pluck hairs in the same direction that they grow, with one quick motion.

Eyebrows, ladies, eyebrows. They define your face, lift your eyes, and polish your look.

Once you are all cleaned up, use a small eyeshadow brush with stiff, small bristles, like our angled eyeliner brush. Load your brush with a small amount of brown matte eyeshadow. Find the thinnest area of your brow and start there.

With small strokes that follow the direction of your hair growth, begin to fill in lightly. Once that area is filled and you are pleased with the intensity of the color, finish the rest of the brow. With this technique you can fill in the most important spots and use the right intensity of color without darkening your entire brow too much.

If you are new to filling in your eyebrows, test the difference on yourself. Do your entire eye makeup look first without touching your brows. Look straight in the mirror. Then fill in one of your brows from start to finish. Look in the mirror again and notice the difference.

How do I choose eyeshadow?

Choosing the right shade of eyeshadow can feel tricky, especially if you do not wear makeup often. Thousands of colors, shades, and finishes can make the process overwhelming. Use your skin tone, eye color, and even hair color as your starting point to find eyeshadow that completes your overall look.

Which eyeshadow is best?

Brunettes: Choose an eyeshadow that is slightly lighter than your natural hair color (Brownie Points or Espresso).
Gingers: Choose a taupe or reddish brown (Sugar & Spice).
Blondes: Choose a color slightly darker than your natural eyebrow color (Yes You Canyon).
Silver Foxes: Choose slate, gray, or taupe depending on the color your brows have taken on. You want your brows to stand out, so pick a slightly darker shade than your silver hair (Clean Slate, Taken For Granite, Yes You Canyon, or Brownie Points).

How to wear brown eyeshadow

Let us look at three different looks that use brown toned neutrals.

#1 Daytime: 5 minute makeup

I created this daytime brown eyeshadow look with only two eyeshadows: Porcelain and Brownie Points by Red Apple Lipstick.

Porcelain is a matte neutral that I used over the entire lid up to the brow bone to brighten the eye.

Brownie Points is a matte light brown used in three ways:

• in the crease to create a shadow that makes the eye look bigger
• wet as an eyeliner to create soft definition on the upper and lower lash line
• as an eyebrow filler with a small brush to polish the look

Lips: I double purposed my lipstick too. Strawberry Lips was applied lightly to the lips and the cheeks. This coordinates the look and saves time.

Check out the close up photos below.

#2: Daytime to Nighttime: 15 minute makeup

I used four shadows: Iced Mocha, Yes You Canyon, Twinkle Taupe, and Bronze Bombshell by Red Apple Lipstick.

Iced Mocha is a light shimmery neutral that I used on the inner corner and brow bone for highlight and lift.

Yes You Canyon is a matte terra cotta shade used on the outer two thirds of the lid and into the crease.

Twinkle Taupe is a darker shimmery brown that I used in three ways:

• blended into the outer third of the lid and outer crease
• used wet as a liner
• used as an eyebrow filler to polish the look

Bronze Bombshell is a shimmery copper color applied wet below the lower lashes for a pop of color and to enhance my eye color.

Lips: Strawberry Lips Lipstick with Cabernet Kiss Gloss.

Examine the detailed pictures below.

#3: Nighttime Smoky Eye: 20 minute makeup

I used five eyeshadows: Champagne, Dirty Girl, Vamp, Espresso, and Brownie Points by Red Apple Lipstick.

Champagne is a shimmery neutral that I used in the inner corner and on the brow bone for highlight.

Dirty Girl is a matte mushroom based brown. Pack this onto the entire lid, in and slightly above the crease. Precision is not necessary because a smoky eye will be blended and softened.

Vamp is a slightly shimmery purple based brown. I blended this on the outer two thirds of the lid and into the outer crease, then used a thin brush to line under the lower lashes. Make a thicker line with Vamp and smudge it out with a cotton swab.

Espresso is a matte dark coffee brown eyeshadow that I used wet as eyeliner on both upper and lower lash lines.

Brownie Points is the same matte light brown shadow I always use to fill in my eyebrows with a small brush. Filling in your brows always defines and polishes the look.

Lips: Barely Pink Lip Pencil to fill in the entire lip, topped with Honey Badger Gloss.

Check out the detailed pictures below.

Mix it up with intensity

All Red Apple eyeshadows are mineral based. Each color can be worn in many different ways.

• Used wet or dry
• Sheer or intense, depending on how much you apply

Wet or Dry

By using RAL brown mineral eyeshadows wet, you can create many color intensities. Brown matte eyeshadows take on a deeper, richer hue, while brown shimmery eyeshadows intensify their undertones.

Run your RAL wet/dry eyeshadow brush under water slightly and shake off the excess so the bristles separate. Dip into the eyeshadow of your choice and apply. To test the difference in intensity first, apply the color to the inside of your wrist before going straight to your lid.

Use this technique with darker brown eyeshadows (Brownie Points, Espresso, and Vamp) to create eyeliner. Using eyeshadow as eyeliner allows you to choose a sharp defined line or a smudged, natural look that coordinates with the rest of your eye makeup.

All Red Apple eyeshadows are mineral based eyeshadows, which means they are high quality and each color can be worn in a variety of ways.

Amp up the application

RAL brown mineral eyeshadows can be worn light and natural or full bodied depending on how much you apply.

The key is not to swirl the brush endlessly in your eyeshadow, but to build the intensity slowly.

Think of seasoning when you cook. If you add too much at once, you cannot take it away. Instead, start light and build. Pick up a little color on your brush and work it into your crease or lid. Look straight into the mirror. Do you like it? Want more? Then add a little more to the brush and apply in the same area.

This approach lets you increase intensity while staying in control.

What are my go to brown mineral eyeshadows?

Let us list them by finish.

Brown Matte Eyeshadows: from lightest to darkest

• Porcelain – light neutral for eyelids and brow bone
• Yes You Canyon – terra cotta for eyelids, crease, eyebrows
• Brownie Points – soft brown for crease, eyebrows, or eyeliner
• Espresso – coffee color for crease, eyebrows, or eyeliner

Brown Shimmery Eyeshadows: from lightest to darkest

• Iced Mocha – light mocha shimmer for brow bone, inner corner, and under bottom lashes
• Champagne – light tan shimmer for brow bone, inner corner, and under bottom lashes
• Down To Earth – caramel bronze shimmer for lid, crease, or under bottom lashes
• Bronze Bombshell – copper shimmer for lid, crease, or under bottom lashes
• Dirty Girl – mushroom shimmer for lid or crease
• Twinkle Taupe – medium brown shimmer for crease, smoky lid, or eyeliner
• Chocolate Martini – deep coffee brown with gold glitter for smoky lid or eyeliner
• Vamp – raisin color for crease, smoky lid, or eyeliner

Bottom Line

Everyone’s eyes are different, even when the color is similar. Experiment with eyeshadows to find the looks that work best for you. The best eyeshadow to make your brown eyes pop is the one that makes you feel confident and attractive.

What about lipstick shade choices when pairing with eyeshadow?

This is a great question. We have several articles that cover this topic, and here is a helpful article about how to pair a lipstick to an eye shadow.

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