How to Do Makeup for Hazel Eyes

Co-authored by Devorah Kuperland

Last Updated: November 29, 2024

Do you have hazel eyes? Lucky you. Hazel is a beautiful blend of green, brown, and gold that looks different depending on the light. The eye shadow and liner you choose can make your eyes look more green, more brown or simply brighter. You can't go wrong with warm, earth-toned colors that will bring out the best in your hazel eyes.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Bringing Out the Brown in Your Eyes

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1
Choose eyeshadow in a shade of brown or gold. Using an earthy color will accent the brown in your eyes, causing them to look deeper and darker. Look for a brown palette with a range of colors so you can experiment with hues that bring out the best in your eye color.
- For daytime wear, look for neutral, sandy or milk chocolate tones that accent your eyes without standing out too much.
- For nighttime wear, look for dark chocolate or shimmery gold tones that draw attention to your eyes.
2
Apply the eyeshadow in layers. If you're using a single color, you can skip this step. If you have an eyeshadow palette with multiple tones, apply it in layers to make your eyes look larger and more striking. Here's how to do it:
- Apply a medium tone, such as light brown, all over your lid. Blend well up to the crease of your eye.
- Blend the darkest color, such as chocolate brown, into your crease.
- Apply the second lightest color, such as light sand, above your crease color and blend into the darker color.
- Apply the lightest color in your pallet or a creamy white to your brow bone as a highlight.
- Blend all four colors together neatly and clean up any mistakes.
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3
Use brown eyeliner. Using a dark brown eyeliner will help your eyes look darker and downplay the green. Line your upper and lower lids with brown for subtle definition, using either an eyeliner pencil or an eyeliner brush dipped in shadow.^{[1]
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- To brighten your eyes, use gold eyeliner to line the inner corners of your eyes.
- For a bolder nighttime look, go for black liner instead of brown.
- If you're feeling bold and want to really bring out the hazel eyes, apply a deep plum or purple eyeliner instead of black or brown.
Your eye makeup isn't complete without an application of mascara to lengthen and define your lashes. Using dark brown mascara will bring attention to the brown lights in your eyes and pick up on hints of gold. If you're going for a bolder look, use black eyeliner instead.
5
Use bronzer. Using bronzer to accent the makeup on the rest of your face will finish your look with a warm, golden glow. Since gold pairs perfectly with hazel, you can't go wrong with a sun-kissed look.
- Do a light application of bronzer on your nose, brow and cheeks.
- Choose a bronzer with shimmer for a striking nighttime look.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Bringing Out the Green in Your Eyes

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1
Choose green eyeshadow. Hazel eyes look beautiful with subtle green eyeshadow, which works to accent the green in your eyes. Look for a kelly or forest green palette with a range of colors so you can experiment with hues that bring out the best in your eye color.
- Choose greens with warm, rather than cool, undertones. Look for golden greens instead of sea greens, since the gold pairs better with the natural gold undertones in your eyes.
- If you're having trouble finding just the right green, you can layer green and brown eyeshadow to create an earthy green hue that looks just right with your eye color.
2
Apply the eyeshadow in layers. If you're using a single color, you can skip this step. If you have an eyeshadow palette with multiple tones, apply it in layers to make your eyes look larger and more striking. Here's how to do it:
- Apply a medium tone, such as tawny green, all over your lid. Blend well up to the crease of your eye.
- Blend the darkest color, such as hunter green, into your crease.
- Apply the second lightest color, such as pale green, above your crease color and blend into the darker color.
- Apply the lightest color in your pallet to your brow bone as a highlight.
- Blend all four colors together neatly and clean up any mistakes.
3
Line your eyes with black eyeliner. A brown liner could clash with your green eyeshadow, so choose a basic black to line your eyes. Line your upper and lower lids using either an eyeliner pencil or an eyeliner brush dipped in shadow.
- Avoid cool-toned eyeliner with blue or gray undertones, since this could clash with your eye color. Go for warm, matte black liner.
- To brighten your eyes, use gold eyeliner to line the inner corners of your eyes and blend outward with the black liner using a brush.
- A purple eyeliner can work wonders when paired with the green eyeshadow as well.
Your eye makeup isn't complete without an application of mascara to lengthen and define your lashes. Use black mascara to bring attention to the green lights in your eyes. For a more striking look, curl your lashes before applying mascara or apply false eyelashes for a dramatic flair.
5
Use highlighter. Using creamy highlighter to accent the makeup on the rest of your face will bring more attention to your hazel eyes. Choose a warm-toned highlighter you can use to create a dewy look.
- Do a light application of highlighter at the corners of your eyes, above your brows and on the apples of your cheeks.
- Choose a highlighter with shimmer for a striking nighttime look.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Creating a Smoky Look for Hazel Eyes

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1
Choose dark, warm-toned eyeshadow. Not all smoky eyes are created alike; it's important to choose a shadow that will compliment your hazel eyes instead of downplaying their color. The key is to choose colors that are smokey and warm, rather than smoky and cool. Avoid blues and cool grays in favor of one of the following:
- Eggplant
- Dark chocolate brown
- Warm gray with reddish undertones
Choose black eyeliner with reddish undertones to create a striking smoky look for your hazel eyes. Apply the eyeliner thickly to your top and bottom lids. Use a blending brush to smudge the liner on both lids to add to the smoky appearance.
For a truly unique take on the smoky eye, apply a light layer of shimmery gold eyeshadow over your base layer of shadow. Apply a smudge of gold below your bottom lashes as well.

Expert Q&A

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What colors make up hazel eyes?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Hazel eyes are a mix of colors, usually brown and green or gray and green. They can also contain 3 colors, usually brown, gray or blue, and green.

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What color makes hazel eyes pop?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

This depends somewhat on the tones in your eyes, but neutral shades, especially gray are very flattering. Soft contrasting shades like light purple are also a great choice.

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What makes hazel eyes look green?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

You can bring out green tones by wearing soft green shades like olive. You can also enhance them with pink or violet which are complementary to green.

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Your clothing affects which color is brought out most in hazel eyes. Green clothes tend to emphasize the green, while earthier colors tend to bring out the brown more. Blues will draw out lighter shades in hazel eyes, even blue if you have flecks of blue in your eye color too.

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