Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.
Brown eyes may be the most common eye color but with these makeup hacks, you’re definitely going to stand out. I’ve chosen some of the most unique techniques doted about by the finest makeup artists in the industry. The twist? These techniques and tools have been modified so you can easily incorporate them into your daily makeup routine. Read to discover 7 makeup tips for brown eyes that are changing the game.
50 Shades of Brown?
Did you know not all brown eyes are the same? There aren’t quite fifty shades but there are just enough variations that it’s worth mentioning.
- Brown
- Cedar
- Cinnamon
- Brunette
- Mocha
- Umber
- Tortilla
- Chocolate
- Syrup
- Gingerbread
- Carmel
- Walnut
- Pecan
- Wood
- Hickory
- Espresso
- Peanut
- Tawny
- Coffee
- Russet
Phew! That’s quite a bit of variety for the “most common eye color”. The reason it’s important to point out that there are over 20 shades of brown eyes is to better understand what makes these shades different and how to adjust your eyeshadow, liner, and application accordingly.
Check out this article to better understand the undertone of your eyes and skin so that you can opt for warm, neutral, or cool tones when applying my tips.
These makeup tips for brown eyes are meant to highlight speckles of gold, hints of grey, and depth for chocolate undertones. They will also diminish dullness, make brown eyes brighter, and help you create makeup looks that are anything but standard.
#1 Easy Bold Look for Brown Eyes
Everyone knows purples and plums are great for all shades of brown eyes, but bright jewel tones are a makeup artist’s secret weapon. While bright blues and pinks might not be suitable for the office, it’s still easy to use these out-of-the-box shades in a subtle way.
For smaller or deep-set eyes, apply a bright blue-almost teal to your lower waterline for the most dazzling baby browns in the room! If you’ve got bigger or almond-shaped eyes, neon purple or pinks can be used as a shadow. Do a heavy line of color on your lid then with an unused blending brush, buff and blend the shade up and into the crease avoiding the browline.
Diffusing a single jewel shade around brown eyes will look like you’ve spent hours creating this look. But don’t worry, we won’t spill your secret.
-> Get this look with Sappho New Paradigm’s Pressed Eyeshadow in the shade, Tanya.
#2 Master Metallic Shades
Bet you didn’t think it could get bolder than jewel-tones but brown-eyed queens always go big, so I’ve got more-Metallics! Bronze, gold, silver-oh my!
Metallic eyeshadows are often creamy and best applied to the lid with your fingertip. Your skin will warm the formula and make gliding the glam onto your eyes effortless. Blend out a metallic shade using a nude transition color, smoke out the lower lash line with a grey or black liner, and throw on some mascara and your brown eyes will be poppin!
For hooded eyes, skip the lower liner and just add the nude transition color beneath your bottom lashes.
-> Get the look with Crop Natural’s Bio Metal Liquid Eyeshadow.
#3 Go Darker
Harness those beautiful browns by making them as deep and dark as possible. It’s fun to make your eyes shine bright but there’s nothing like the sultry depth that can only be created with brown eyes.
For this effect, the focus is on the lashes and liner. If you go for false lashes, choose the thickest and most dense pair you have, you can even layer feathery lashes. If you’re going natural, opt for the most volumizing mascara you own and layer baby, layer.
Next, use black eyeliner on the upper lid lash line and lower tear line. Then, create an ombre effect with a dark brown and light brown eyeshadow. Smoke out the upper lid liner using a dark brown then buff that out with the light brown. Do the same for the lower lash line but don’t go too far down.
Clean up the smokey look by applying foundation and concealer after the eyes are done.
-> Get the look with W3LL People’s Nudist Eyeshadow Palette in Taupe.
#4 Golden Glow
Move over purple, gold is brown eyes new best friend. Gold eyeshadow is a guaranteed way to make sure your brown eyes won’t go unnoticed.
Turn up the glam by packing on golden shimmer to your lid and thick winged eyeliner. Or, add a pop of glitzy gold into the inner tear corner on top of a nude day look. If your brown eyes have even the tiniest fleck of gold, amber, or yellow to them they will absolutely glow.
-> Get this look with Kjaer Weis’ Cream Eyeshadow in Alluring.
#5 Play With Your Bronzer
Bronzer isn’t reserved just for summer or cheekbones-at least not if you have brown eyes. Dust your favorite organic bronzer on your face and forehead as you normally would, then go in for additional applications to your eyelid and undereye.
For the perfect “no makeup, makeup” look, your eyes will naturally beam due to the accents of bronzer. Or does the bronzer look better because of your brown eyes? Either, the combination is a hit.
-> See a list of our favorite bronzers.
#6 Rose Gold
Rose Gold is universally a gorgeous eyeshade color, but no one can wear it quite like those with brown eyes. Put it on your inner corner tear line, the arch of your eyebrow or your entire lid. Rose Gold is the it color for brown eyes.
-> Get this look with Rituel De Fille Ash & Ember Eye Soot in Divinus.
#7 White Eyeliner
Want your eyes to look big, bright, and wide awake? Of course, you do, which is why this makeup tip for brown eyes is a personal fav.
Use white eyeliner on your lower and upper tear line. Gently warm the liner by putting a few strokes on your palm, the slightly tug down on the bottom of your eye and coat the inner line. Then, gently lift the eyelid and do the same.
The contrast of dark eyes against the white liner puts brown eyes front and center.
-> Get this look with Inika’s Organic Eye Pencil in White Crystal.
Conclusion
These 7 makeup tips for brown eyes are just the beginning. The best way to learn what looks best on your brown eyes is to play and get creative with safe, toxin-free makeup.
Got a look other brown-eyed-beauties must know about? Leave it in the comment section below!

While my eyes are not brown they are hazel, and can sometimes look brown, look green, look grey etc. So I tend to stick to what I know - neutrals and golds. This article is really helpful - I might just be able to try some more bold looks outside of my comfort zone! Thanks so much!
Hi Kendra, glad you found some inspiration! I also have a makeup tips post for hazel eyes 🙂
I love the master metallic shades and the go darker look the most. They look simply awesome and would be awesome for brown eyes. I always like to look a little bit out of the ordinary and adding these tips would make my dressing and appearance more awesome. I really fancy this a lot and would be just perfect for me to add to my make up hacks. Thumbs up for sharing this
You know, before reading this, I wouldn’t have thought that there was a way to match up to my make up with my eye colour. I have to say that this is really good to learn. I don’t usually add a bronzer to my makeup but I think now I will start that. I’m glad you could give information on this beautiful tips. Thank you!
Thank you a million times because I have a friend who keeps saying she cannot use the make up because of the fact that she has brown eyes. It sounded like a very lane excuse to me, I guess it’s really a thing but I’m happy you have tips to help the situation. I’m shari g this with her ASAP. Thanks!
Brown eyes on its own is a beauty but when well blended, it would be much more than just the ordinary and would exhalt it beyond just the normal. I like women with this look and my girlfriend has the brown eyes. Hence, I would share this hacks to her since I’m sure it would help diversify her looks more. To be honest, this is really great and would be worth trying out on her. Can’t wait seeing her rocking all these different shades. Cheers