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- Best Eyeshadows for Hazel Eyes
- What to Look For in Eyeshadows for Hazel Eyes
- How to Apply Eyeshadow on Hazel Eyes
- Meet the Experts
By Brooke Knappenberger, Sophia Vilensky
last updated
in Buying Guides
If you’ve ever stared into a pair of hazel eyes, we’re willing to bet you were entranced—they're nothing short of mesmerizing. Just look to hazel-eyed celebrities like Rihanna, Zendaya, and Kristen Stewart for proof of their hypnotic power. If accentuating your eyes is at the top of your beauty to-do list, the best eyeshadows for hazel eyes offer a wide range of color options to play with.
"I love applying makeup to hazel eyes because they never fail to captivate me. Their unique blend of green, brown, and gold hues shifts and sparkles with different lighting and surroundings," says international makeup artist Benjamin Puckey. "The multifaceted nature of hazel eyes makes them look different depending on the context—sometimes more green, other times more brown, with flecks of gold catching the light. It's like having a built-in chameleon effect, giving hazel eyes a captivating versatility."
With a range of flattering colors at their disposal, those with hazel eyes have the unique ability to accentuate their many different eye colors. Below, you’ll find the best eyeshadows for hazel eyes. Whether you prefer drugstore eyeshadows or luxury gems, cream shadows or eyeshadow palettes, we’ve got you covered. Grab your eyeshadow primer; let's get to work.
Best Eyeshadows for Hazel Eyes
- The Best Eyeshadow for Hazel Eyes Overall: Pat McGrath Labs Mothership V Eyeshadow Palette in Bronze Seduction
- The Best Luxury Eyeshadow for Hazel Eyes: Clé de Peau Beauté Eye Color Quads
- The Best Budget Eyeshadow for Hazel Eyes: Catrice Cosmetics The Dusty Matte Eyeshadow Palette
- The Best Eyeshadow Stick for Hazel Eyes: Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon Eye Shadow Pencil in Golden Quartz
- The Best Blue Eyeshadow for Hazel Eyes: Revlon ColorStay Day to Night Eyeshadow Quad in 580 Gorgeous
The Best Eyeshadow for Hazel Eyes Overall
Pat McGrath Labs Mothership V Eyeshadow Palette - Bronze Seduction
If you're looking for the perfect eyeshadow palette for hazel eyes, the marvelous Pat McGrath Labs Mothership V Eyeshadow Palette should top your list. This versatile option has everything you need with the shimmery shades adding flecks of gold to your already gold-flecked eyes and the matte shades offering a touch of depth. We promise that the second you try this richly pigmented formula, you'll know exactly why it's a winner. (P.S.—If you're looking for a smaller palette, the brand's Celestial Divinity Eyeshadow Palette is also fabulous. It even includes a denim blue shade to make the brown elements of your eyes pop.)
Pros: Highly pigmented; blendable; long-wearing; includes a mix of finishes; smooth application
Cons: More expensive than other options
The Best Luxury Eyeshadow for Hazel Eyes
Clé de Peau Beauté Eye Color Quads
"From my experience, the key to enhancing hazel eyes lies in choosing shades that complement and bring out their natural complexity," explains Puckey. While you really can't go wrong with any of the color options here, Puckey suggests you go for rich earthy tones, like in the colorway "Starlight Splendor," if you want to make your eyes' gold flecks pop. "The greens in Sea Grass can beautifully enhance the green tones in hazel eyes," he adds, noting that the purples in purple ocean twilight will also do the trick. And if you want something that highlights your eyes' warmth overall? Go for the coral reef palette, full of warm browns and taupes.
Pros: Expert-approved; many shade options; rich formula; infused with skincare ingredients
Cons: More expensive than other options; Compact case sold separately
The Best Budget Eyeshadow for Hazel Eyes
Catrice Cosmetics The Dusty Matte Eyeshadow Palette
No, your eyes are not deceiving you. This eight-pan palette is just $6, but the best part is that it comes recommended by makeup artist Emily Gray. "There are these beautiful blue-grey shadows that would be perfect for enhancing the brown tones in hazel eyes and also this red shadow perfect for enhancing the green," she says. "All of these shadows are matte, long-lasting, and easily blended." A pro-approved eyeshadow palette for less than your Starbucks order is a total win if you ask me.
Pros: Expert-approved; under $10; long-wearing; blendable; highly pigmented; vegan
Cons: Only available online
The Best Eyeshadow Stick for Hazel Eyes
Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon Eye Shadow Pencil in Golden Quartz
When I can't be bothered to layer multiple shades but still want to play with eyeshadow, I turn to eyeshadow sticks—and Charlotte Tilbury's are some of my favorites. They are so easy to use and can be used for multiple looks—just switch up the angle and pressure you apply. The shade golden quartz was specially made for hazel eyes to use for daytime looks. Just swipe this bronze stick across the lashline to make your hazel eyes sparkle.
Pros: Editor-approved; highly pigmented; long-wearing; waterproof; blendable
Cons:Over $25; product may smear on oily eyelids
The Best Blue Eyeshadow for Hazel Eyes
Revlon ColorStay Day to Night Eyeshadow Quad in 580 Gorgeous
If your hazel peepers lean more on the side of brown than green, blue eyeshadow is going to be incredibly flattering on you. This mini palette from Revlon has all of the colors you need to make the brown in your eyes pop like crazy. Coming in at under $7 with over 10,000 five-star reviews, this is a great pick for those on a budget. Reviewers say these shades are smooth and saturated, plus they last well over eight hours. What's not to love?
Pros: Under $10; highly pigmented; long-wearing; applies smoothly; travel-friendly
Cons: Some shades have fallout
Also Recommended
The Best Sheer Eyeshadow for Hazel Eyes
Glossier Lidstar Long-Wearing Shimmer Cream Eyeshadow in Fawn
"On days when I’m not in the mood to put on a ton of eyeshadow, I reach for this Glossier Lidstar in Fawn," says Marie Claire's Fashion E-Commerce Editor and resident hazel-eyed employee Julia Marzovilla. "It’s great because the color is so sheer but it leaves behind just a hint of the mauve tone. I use it also as a base underneath other glittery eyeshadows, or on its own for a laidback sparkly look."
Pros: Editor-approved; buildable; long-wearing; applies smoothly
Cons: You may need several layers for opaque color
The Best Easy-to-Use Eyeshadow for Hazel Eyes
ILIA Liquid Powder Eye Shadow Tint in Hatch
Ilia's cream-to-powder eyeshadow tints are so good, and this sage green shade—which features soft gold pearlescent elements—is especially lovely for hazel eyes. Named one of Marie Claire's best liquid eyeshadows (we love this one for layering!), it dries down to a crease-resistant finish and is oh so easy to apply. Simply sweep on, blend, and off you go.
Pros: Easy to use; doesn't crease; oil-free; approved by both editors and makeup artists
Cons: Some customers report it dries too quickly; fades throughout the day
The Best Eyeliner for Hazel Eyes
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Flypencil Longwear Pencil Eyeliner
Rihanna has some of the most famous hazel eyes out there, so it's no surprise that her beauty brand is full of products suited for the shade(s). Celebrity makeup artist Renée Loiz is a fan of the flypencil longwear pencil eyeliner in the aptly named purple stuff (paired with Charlotte Tilbury's eyes to mesmerize in pillow talk!) for her clients with hazel eyes that lean more golden. "For golden hazel eyes, I choose shadows with purples and pinks, as purple complements yellow," she notes.
Pros: Expert-approved; creamy formula; long-lasting; triangular shape makes it easy to apply
Cons: None
The Best Bronze Eyeshadow for Hazel Eyes
Juvia's Place The Chocolates Eyeshadow Palette
"For brown hazel eyes, I prefer using bronze shades to enhance the lighter brown tones," explains Loiz. She specifically recommends this (very affordable!) palette from Juvia's Place, which features six rich shades of tan, auburn, and rich dark chocolate.
Pros: Super affordable; great pigment; features all the bronze-y/brown shades you could want
Cons: Some find the shades too dark
The Best Red Eyeshadow for Hazel Eyes
L'Oreal Paris Infallible 24HR Shadow in Glistening Garnet
As Gray explained, red is the color to reach for if you want to bring out the green in your hazel eyes. The hue might be on the bolder side for some, so we suggest going for a one-dimensional swipe of color to test the waters. At $9, this is a great shadow to see how you feel about the shade. These cream-to-powder shadows feel silky smooth and boast waterproof, crease-proof, and(intense) long-wearing powers.
Pros:Highly pigmented; long-wearing; waterproof; non-creasing; applies smoothly
Cons:Only available in shimmery and metallic finishes
The Best Purple Eyeshadow for Hazel Eyes
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Shadow in Plum
Marzovilla used to steal this from her mom’s makeup bag when she was a teenager, and is now happy to report it lives in her own collection. "The payoff is intense but is also equally creamy, and the pencil applicator makes it a dream to keep in my bag to amp up my daytime makeup before drinks," she says. "I often treat it as a liner when I want a rougher, blended-out look that’s not so precise."
Pros:Editor-approved; long-wearing; highly pigmented; applies smoothly; product offered in over 20 shades and three finishes
Cons:Expensive; reviewers note some colors don't match the website's description
The Best Glittery Eyeshadow for Hazel Eyes
Danessa Myricks Beauty Infinite Chrome Flakes Multichrome Gel for Eyes & Face in Hot Lava
All that glitters... looks positively gorgeous on hazel eyes. While Danessa Myricks has plenty of fitting eyeshadow products in her lineup (Loiz loves her Blooming Romance palette for hazel eyes that lean green), this is the product to reach for if you're looking for a little extra fun. The self-setting, water-based gel formula features suspended multicolored, multi-chrome flakes that stick to your eyes without the help of a mixing medium or adhesive. The blood-orange hot lava shade is particularly stunning and can be used on top of your other eyeshadow to add some extra pizzazz.
Pros: Innovative formula; smooth application; transfer-proof; dries down quickly
Cons:Some customers report flaking
The Best Nighttime Eyeshadow for Hazel Eyes
Lisa Eldrige Myth Eyeshadow Palette
Another palette Gray recommends for hazel eyes is Lisa Eldridge’s “myth” eyeshadow palette. "I love the size of this palette, it's smaller, so it is great for travel and touch ups," she says. "The colors are all purples and the textures are fantastic." While there are colors you can use for daytime looks, Gray finds it especially great for nighttime and we're inclined to agree. Use the metallic gray across the lid, the mauve as a transition shade, and the deep purple along the lashline for a killer smokey eye.
Pros: Expert-approved; highly pigmented; long-wearing; travel-friendly; applies smoothly.
Cons: More expensive than other options; only available online
The Best Pink Eyeshadow for Hazel Eyes
Iconic London Glaze Dual Ended Eyeshadow Crayon in Nectar
Words can not do justice to the love I have for these eyeshadows. On one side, you have an ultra-creamy shadow stick that feels like butter against the lid. I tend to have oily eyelids and these sticks last all day and night without creasing—a major win in my book. But the real fun with these sticks comes on the other side, a liquid topper that adds extra sparkle to your look. It's the perfect formula for getting that "wet" look without ending up as a sticky mess. This pretty pink shade will look so good with shades of green eyes.
Pros:Editor-approved; 2-in-1 formula; applies smoothly; highly pigmented; long-wearing
Cons:Only available with a shimmery finish
The Best Single Eyeshadow for Hazel Eyes
NARS Single Eyeshadow in Guayaquil
If your eyes are green hazel, Loiz says you should reach for bronze shades with a red undertone. This single NARS shadow, a bright metallic rust, just might be the only color you ever need. A longtime favorite, these shadows go on smoothly and don't crease. What else could you wish for?
Pros: Beloved formula; strong pigment
Cons: If you want a less monochrome look, you'll have to buy more
The Best Eyeshadow Palette for Hazel Eyes
Too Faced Born This Way Sunset Stripped Eyeshadow Palette
If Marzovilla is traveling, she's bringing this palette with her. "The tones are all quite warm and rosy, so they make my green-hazel eyes pop without looking too pink. The matte purple-brown shade called 'Chai Times' is a specific favorite for blending out my liner, and the darkest shade, a warm brown-black called 'black sand' is a touch softer than the other black shades in my collection," she explains "'surfboard; is also great as topper across the center of my lid or in the inner corner."
Pros:Editor-approved; includes a mix of shimmery, metallic, and matte shades; highly pigmented; long-wearing; blendable; infused with skincare ingredients
Cons:More expensive than other options
The Best Clean Eyeshadow for Hazel Eyes
Jones Road Beauty The Best Eyeshadow in So Pretty
"I love this eyeshadow because it is, as the name might suggest, SO pretty on my eyes," notes Marzovilla. "Taupe-y shades like this are a softer way to to get that purple-y tone without going full plum, and the formula is so creamy and pigmented I thought it was a cream-powder hybrid when I first tried it on. I wear it whenever I want something that’s fun and easy but looks like I spent a lot of time blending."
Pros: Editor-approved; highly pigmented; applies smoothly; blendable; clean
Cons: More expensive than other options
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What to Look For in Eyeshadows for Hazel Eyes
- Formula
Puckey has found that (always highly pigmented!) satin and shimmer shades are the most complementary for hazel eyes. A highly pigmented, long-lasting formula that blends easily is also essential.
"When choosing eyeshadow, it's all about the right texture, formula, and finish," he notes. "Matte shadows are excellent for creating a natural look and defining the crease, while shimmer shadows add dimension and highlight to areas like the center of the lid or the inner corner of the eye."
- Texture
According to Loiz, the texture of eyeshadows should match your specific needs. "For oilier eyelids, matte textured shadows are ideal. A matte textured primer or cream-to-powder eyeshadow can be used to prep the eyelids and is suitable for everyone," she explains.
- Shade
It doesn't matter if you prefer liquid, powder, or cream eyeshadow formulas—choosing the right eyeshadow shade is what’s going to make your hazel eyes pop. And because hazel eyes typically have a combo of green, gold, and/or brown in them, the best eyeshadow color depends on what color you want to highlight.
Think back to complementary colors on the color wheel. Gray explains, “Colors opposite of each other on the color wheel are going to make the colors the most vivid.” So what are the complementary colors those with hazel eyes should pay attention to? Gray breaks it down:
- To bring out the green, use red and rose-toned shadow colors.
- To bring out the brown, use blue shadow colors.
- To bring out the gold, use purple shadow colors.
Puckey has a rule of thumb, too. "Pink and purple hues are ideal if your hazel eyes lean more towards green," he notes, while "golden browns and greens work wonders for hazel eyes with a warmer tint."
It's also best to avoid shades that closely match the brown tones of your eyes, as they can dull their vibrancy.
How to Apply Eyeshadow on Hazel Eyes
Do you need a bit more guidance than a product recommendation when doing your eye makeup? No problem—that's what the experts are here for. Puckey has a go-to eyeshadow look that he loves to create for clients with hazel eyes. Here's his methodology (using Clé De Peau Beauté’s Eye Color Quad shade in “Sundried Driftwood"!) in his own words:
Primer: Start with the creamy ivory primer shade and apply it all over the lid and up to the brow bone to create a smooth canvas.
Lid: Apply a soft pink shade over the entire lid to create a subtle, flattering base.
Crease: Use a shimmering taupe shade in the crease to add depth, blending well to avoid harsh lines.
Outer Corner: Apply a deep plum shade to the outer corner of the eye and blend it into the crease for added dimension. Use this shade as a powder eyeliner along the upper lash line and the outer third of the lower lash line for extra definition.
Highlight: Use a shimmery ivory primer shade in the inner corner of the eye and just under the brow bone to highlight and open up the eyes.
Finish: Apply a brown eyeliner pencil along the upper lash line and finish with a few coats of mascara.
"This look is fantastic for hazel eyes because the soft pink and shimmering taupe shades enhance the green and gold flecks, while the deep plum adds a contrasting pop that makes the eyes stand out even more," he shares.
Meet the Experts
Benjamin Puckey
Benjamin Puckey is a New York-based makeup artist. Born in London and raised in Amsterdam, Puckey’s visionary talent grew from a lifelong love for fashion and art. Puckey’s conceptual approach to makeup has since launched his career into high fashion titles and leading designer brands around the world. Since his breakthrough fashion spread withW Magazinein 2011, Puckey’s work has appeared across international editions of numerous publications such asVogue,Dazed,iD,W Magazine,Allure, andHarper’s Bazaar.
He has also worked with brands including Ralph Lauren, Versace, and Oscar de la Renta, as well as jewelry houses David Yurman and Van Cleef & Arpels. Puckey’s trademark approach to enhancing natural beauty and his pursuit of uncompromising quality resonates deeply with Clé de Peau Beauté, where he now serves as the brand’s Global Color Director.
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 backstage work has included being a member of the renowned styling teams of Frederic Fekkai and Ted Gibson. Her long list of celebrity and bold print clients includes Kate Upton, Simone Biles, Heidi Klum, Elle Macpherson and Annie Leibovitz among others.
Renée Loiz
Renée Loiz is a top celebrity makeup artist and beauty expert with over 20 years in the industry. Renée is best known for her work with celebrities including Quinta Brunson, Cynthia Erivo, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Sherry Cola, Adele, Chelsea Peretti, Uzo Aduba, Danai Gurira, Thuso Mbedu, and Jaylon Barron.
Her industry expertise and artistry are regularly tapped by the top fashion publications includingInStyle, Cosmopolitan, Essence, EBONY, People, L’Officiel, Who What Wear, Vanity Fair, The Zoe Report, Allure, and featured on Saturday Night Live.
She is also known as the founder ofColor May Vary—the ultimate guide to the best black-owned brands for beauty enthusiasts. After launching, Color May Vary was recognized by Ulta Beauty in an initiative to celebrate inspirational Black voices, and won aRefinery29Beauty Innovator Award.
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 bouncing back and forth between Nashville, Detroit, and Los Angeles. Some of her clientele include Kristin Cavallari, Maren Morris, Lily Aldridge, and Leann Rimes,
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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 also tackled shopping content as Marie Claire's Editorial Fellow prior to her role as Associate Commerce Editor.
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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