@willowsmith / Instagram
Makeup doesnt truly have any rules: Anyone can (and should) wear whatever they like. That being said, if youre looking for the best ways to accentuate your eyes, there are plenty of eye makeup guidelines that you can follow. Ask any makeup artist, and theyll tell you that, depending on the color of your irises, some shades will accentuate your eyes better than others. This, of course, rings as true for green eyes as it does for blue, brown, and hazel. If youre looking for ways to make your eyes pop, youve come to the right place:Read on for 28 stunning makeup looks for green eyes, inspired by our favorite celebrities.
Meet the Expert
Top Makeup Tips for Green Eyes
If you dont know where to start when it comes to creating the ideal makeup look for your green eyes, celebrity makeup artist Sandy Linter is here to help. Ahead, she breaks it all down in a video, plus we broke down some of the key points below.
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How to Make Green Eyes Pop
Steps to Creating a Look
Start with Eyeshadow Base:Linter likes to apply the MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Painterly ($25) all over the lid. "Use a brush to apply the base only directly on the eyelid," she says. "This is just to make sure that your eyeliner and your eyeshadow stay on smoothly all day."Line the Eye with Pencil:Using a black or brown eye pencil like Make Up For Evers Artist Color Pencil ($22), Linter lines the eye, working out from the inner corner in small, controlled strokes. "When you get to the outer corner of your eye, take a pointed Q-tip and give it a fleck up," she says.Outline the Lid: Next, Linter takes the Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil in Total Taupe ($22) to outline the lid. "You start in your eye hollow and the outer corner of your eye," she tells us. "You make this V shape on its side, but youre thicker in the outer corner of the eye."Blend with Matching Shadow: "I always layer," Linter says. "Ill take a little complementary shadow, maybe light brown or another taupe color." With a medium-sized brush, she blends over the liner with the matching shadow: "What this does is create a larger lid." Blend inward toward the inner corner of the lid.Apply Light Shadow: "Wipe off your brush and go to a pale shade," Linter says. "Pop that onto the eyelid, so you get a little contrast." This gives the appearance of a wider, more open eye.Double Line the Eye: Linter then goes over the pencil with the Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen ($62), mirroring the shape of the original liner. You can also use a gel formula if you prefer. She says that "its really hard for me to do those pointed ends, so I fake it" with a Q-tip.Apply Individual Falsies: To make eyes appear larger, Linter applies the Kiss I-envy Flare Individual Lashes ($5), then curls her natural lashes together with the falsies. "When you pick up these little flares, go as far down to the root as you can so youre not going to destroy the lash," she advises. "And dont put too much glue on."Brighten with Concealer: Finally, Linter applies a liquid concealer (she uses the Armani Beauty High Precision Retouch, currently unavailable, but any similar formula will work) on the inner part of the eye. "This will help lighten up the inside area of the eye and make your eyes look further apart and wider-set."
Makeup Looks for Green Eyes to Try Now
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Warm Neutral
@ayeshacurry / Instagram
Warm, matte neutrals with a subtle, glowy inner corner highlight are a great everyday look for green eyes. Ayesha Currys perfectly blended shadow is the work of makeup artist Patrick Ta, and we especially love how her feathery lashes make her eyes appear even larger.
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Strong Liner
@jessthe_mess / Instagram
This bold, editorial cat eye by @nikki_makeup instantly draws attention to the eyes. Black goes with anything, and liquid liner should be a staple in your makeup collection if you want to create dramatic looks.
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Shimmery Silver
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Lady Gaga is one of our ultimate sources of green eye makeup inspiration, and we love the statement silver eyeshadow look she went for here. By pairing the bold shadow with classic lashes and a red lip, the look feels simultaneously modern and classic—a balance the Haus Labs founder is a veritable expert at.
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Pink and Brown
@artbyashleyrebecca / Instagram
Makeup artist Ashley Rebecca once told buuk.top, "Pink really brightens green eyes and can sometimes bring out hidden tones of gold." This eyeshadows pink-and-brown tone is the perfect juxtaposition to the models bright green eyes—especially since the shadow goes right up to the brow bone. If you want to play with color without resorting to bold brights, use a subdued taupe-brown variety of pink similar to the one here.
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Petal Pink
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Bring out your green eyes with a true petal pink shadow like the one seen here on actress Katherine McNamara. Charlotte Tilburys Eyes to Mesmerise cream shadow in Rose Gold ($35) is sure to pop, while the Glossier Lidstar in Cub ($18) has a similar effect but is slightly more sheer and natural.
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Soft Goth Glam
@loganlaurice / Instagram
Soft goth is all the rage across beauty and fashion right now, and a heavier-than-usual dose of black liner works wonders in creating a contrasting makeup look for green eyes. We love how Logan Browning let the dramatic eye take center stage by keeping the rest of her makeup minimal.
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Soft Blush
@edenfines / Instagram
Mega-watt lashes and a subtle blush-toned shadow combine for a natural vibe appropriate for both work and play. Ta created a "monochrome moment" by applying his brands Velvet Blush in Shes Seductive ($32) to the cheeks and layering his Lip Creme in Shes Confident ($26) with a little bit of Shes Unapologetic ($26) popped in the center.
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Bold Pink
Getty Images
Ta enhanced Rihannas hazel and green with a bold pink shadow concentrated on the outer corner and blended into her high-fashion, totally 80s blush. Try using a shadow like Cater 2 U from Colourpops Its All Good Shadow Palette ($35).
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Coppery Bronze
@emmaroberts / Instagram
Coppery bronze shades are an easy pick for accentuating green eyes since they pick up flecks of gold in the irises and warm tones in the skin. Here, Emma Robertss green eyes shine alongside a shimmery copper color, courtesy of makeup artist Nikki DeRoest.
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Pink Monochrome
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Here, Ta used pink eye makeup to highlight Olivia Munns green eyes, and we love the monochromatic effect from her matching shadow, blush, and lipstick. Huda Beautys The New Nude Eyeshadow Palette ($65) is a great option for achieving this look.
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Silver and Gold
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Emma Stones makeup artist, Rachel Goodwin, complemented the stars jade green eyes using a unique silver-copper combo. Most of the coppery gold color is concentrated on her eyelids, while the silver sheen features most along the inner corners, almost as a highlight.
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Graphic Gold
@willowsmith / Instagram
Green eyes often have a hint of gold in them, so lean into that by going for a bold makeup look that uses graphic swipes of the metallic shade. Willow Smith went very editorial with this Mugler campaign look, but if youre looking for something a bit more understated, we think just the eyes work just as well.
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Mod Lashes
@sydneyjharper / Instagram
This cool white shadow paired with @nikki_makeups Sweed Lashes No Lash- Lash ($30) gives off a mod 60s appearance that manages to be thoroughly contemporary at the same time.
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Shimmery Neutral
@katiejanehughes / Instagram
Makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes is a master at combining color in a chic, editorial way (in fact, shes a pioneer of the pink eyeshadow and red lipstick combo thats so popular on Instagram). Were crushing on this copper eye look, which makes her eyes gleam. The soft brown wing that accentuates her eye shape is achievable with a pencil liner.
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Bold Brow Highlight
@beautyisboring / Instagram
Robin Black, the makeup artist and photographer behind always-chic Instagram account and website Beauty Is Boring, shows us how copper eyeshadow picks up green tones in the iris and draws them out for all to admire. A gold brow highlight adds extra pop.
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Glossy Liquid Liner
@hailey.long / Instagram
Sometimes, simple is key. A swoop of thick liquid liner and a glossy lid allow your green eyes to take center stage.
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Fiery Single Shadow
@beautyisboring / Instagram
Black used the Kosas 10-Second Eye in Fahrenheit ($15) to create this fiery look. Simply sweep the shadow across your lid and pat with your finger, or gently run a fluffy brush through the crease to blend.
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Modern Old Hollywood
@adele / Instagram
Adele has a handle on wearing classic glam looks that never feel stale, and the inner corner liner and fluttery lashes here really make her green eyes pop. The brick red ombré lip is a modern twist on a classic that complements the look beautifully.
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Purple Halo
@meriem_sarolie / Instagram
Makeup artist Andreea Ali used Makeup by Mario shadows for this shimmery electric lavender halo eye makeup look. It just goes to prove what makeup artist Kristine Cruz from Antonio Prieto Salon told us: "Purple hues bring out the yellow in golden green eyes, and the same for bringing out the flecks of green in hazel eyes."
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Classic Smoky Eye
@tyrabanks / Instagram
A classic smoky eye works on every eye color and complexion. Here, Tyra Bankss makeup artist Valente Frazie, accentuated her big green eyes with dark gray shadow and black liner.
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No-Makeup Makeup
@shaninamshaik / Instagram
A no-makeup makeup eye look lets vibrant green eyes stand out with no distractions. Wispy lashes, highlighted cheeks, and glossy lips create a stunning natural canvas.
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Glossy Lilac
@katiejanehughes / Instagram
We love this juxtaposition of lilac shadow with high-shine gloss, once again by Katie Jane Hughes. It accentuates her eyes in a unique, colorful way.
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Mauve Wing
@beautyisboring / Instagram
A soft mauve, like this one from Urban Decays Naked Heat Eyeshadow Palette ($59), is a great option to play up green eyes. We love how Black shaped the shadow into a sharp wing and paired it with a glossy red lip.
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Major Purple
@beautyisboring / Instagram
This bold shadow also comes courtesy of Black. To achieve this warm-toned purple, she layered two shadows and created a soft, dramatic wing shape, carrying the color onto the lower lash line.
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Champagne Shimmer
@artbyashleyrebecca / Instagram
Dewy skin complements any eye color, as does a sheer champagne shadow. Here, MUA Ashley Rebecca swept a shimmery shade across the lid, with a slightly deeper taupe contouring the crease.
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Taupe Smoky Eye
Getty Images
Here, Terrell Mullin gave Eva Marcille a soft, taupe-toned smoky eye that draws attention to her eye color. Dark shades can make the eye area appear smaller, but fluffy lashes can open things back up.
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Vibrant 60s
@yelyahwilliams / Instagram
Hayley Williams has been rocking the most stunning vintage-inspired looks on tour with Paramore, with one of her go-to statements as of late being dramatic, Twiggy-inspired lashes that draw attention to her green eyes. For this particular moment, she also used green and gold shadow for a fitting complement, completing the look with rosy neutral lip gloss.
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Icy Smoke
@jessicachastain / Instagram
As several looks here demonstrate, few choices rival shimmer in highlighting your eye color, and we love how this look on Jessica Chastain blends a vivid white shimmery shade with smoky gray to bring the drama. Keep the rest of the look relatively simple for the strongest effect.