Best Eyeshadow Palettes for Brown Eyes: Reviews & Guide (2018)

Updated 5 years ago

Did you know that brown eyes make any color look good? If you have brown eyes, you can enjoy wearing a wide range of eyeshadows, from shimmery neutrals to cool purples and mossy greens.

Top eye shadow palettes for brown eyes

Let's take a look at the top eye shadow palettes for brown eyes. We bet you’ll find the perfect one here today.

Product Features
theBalm La Balmba Steal the Spotlight Eyeshadow Palette Volume 1 Wet or dry application Long wearing Highly pigmented Mattes and shimmers
Jouer Skinny Dip Ultra Foil Shimmer Eyeshadow Palette Wet or dry application Long wearing, no creasing Highly pigmented Shimmers
stila Eyes Are The Window Shadow Palette 12 shades Beautiful compact case All day wear Wet or dry application
LORAC PRO Palette 7 matte and 9 shimmer colors Intense pigments No triclosan, GMO derivatives, phthalates, sulfates, or petroleum products Mirrored case
Wet Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Collection Comfort Zone Colors are equivalents to MAC shadows 8 shades Application guide
Maybelline New York Eye Studio Color Explosion Luminizing Eyeshadow, Forest Fury 15 5 shades plus application guide Green tones brighten up tired brown eyes Luminizing shimmer top coat
Revlon ColorStay 16 Hour Eye Shadow Quad, Seductive 4 colors in purple and cool shades Last up to 16 hours, especially with primer 11 other Quads available with other color combinations
e.l.f. Flawless Eye Shadow, Party Purple Small palette focused on purple Includes applicator
e.l.f. Eyeshadow Palette Matte Earthy and smoky tones 10 shades total
Coastal Scents Revealed 3 Eye Shadow Palette (PL-038) 20 shades Some colors are equivalent to Naked eyeshadows Both shimmer and matte Slim case

theBalm La Balmba Steal the Spotlight Eyeshadow Palette Volume 1

theBalm has lots of fans for good reason. Their La Balmba eyeshadow palette is triple-milled to be super smooth. Each shadow is highly pigmented for easy application and long wear. And you can apply them either dry or wet.

As you’ll see, there are both shimmer and matte shadows, in neutral, warm, and cool tones. So if you’re recovering from a late night, try some Rumba green to brighten up those tired eyes.

Jouer Skinny Dip Ultra Foil Shimmer Eyeshadow Palette

The Jouer Skinny Dip palette can also be applied wet or dry to your lids. These metallic foil shades add a bit of sparkle to bring out the best in your eyes. And best of all, their formula is free from parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. Customers have commented that the color lasts all day without creasing.

stila Eyes Are The Window Shadow Palette

stila’s Eyes Are The Window palette includes 12 of their most popular shades encased in a beautiful compact case. Each one is buttery soft and intensely pigmented for all day wear and easy blending. Plus, you can apply all of them wet or dry.

LORAC PRO Palette

The LORAC Pro Palette comes with a sample size Behind the Scenes Primer. If you apply primer before you put on eyeshadow, your shadow will keep its color without creasing or fading for hours longer.

Of course, LORAC eyeshadows are manufactured without triclosan, GMO derivatives, phthalates, sulfates, and petroleum products. And each of these 16 colors are highly pigmented and velvety for easy application. There are seven matte and nine shimmery shades, from white to espresso, deep purple, and slate—all designed to make your eyes pop.

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Collection Comfort Zone

The Wet N Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Collection contains eight shades that are very similar to popular (and more expensive) MAC brand shadows, like Vex and Club. Each one is marked to assist you with blending the colors for best results. They are labeled, not with color names, but with zone names, like “Crease” and “Browbone.”

Each shade has a light shimmer to bring out the glitter in your eyes. Users report that it’s important to apply primer if you want the Wet N Wild eyeshadow to last all day long without touch-ups.

Maybelline New York Eye Studio Color Explosion Luminizing Eyeshadow, Forest Fury 15

Did you know that mossy green shades will brighten up your tired brown eyes? That’s why the Forest Fury palette from Maybelline is a hot item. It includes four intense colors plus a luminizing shimmer top coat. The palette’s case has suggestions for placing the colors for best results. The only downside is that some users find that the eyeshadow needs touchup after a few hours, and that it tends to migrate downward onto their cheeks if they don’t use a primer.

Revlon ColorStay 16 Hour Eye Shadow Quad, Seductive

Revlon’s Colorstay Seductive Quad is a four pack of velvety shadows in neutral and purple colors. While users report the pigment does tend to create some fallout, it seems that applying it with your fingers instead of an applicator tends to reduce this. And applying primer will help the eyeshadow last as long as it claims, up to 16 hours. Many customers seem very pleased with the value for the price, plus the fact that there are eleven other Colorstay Quads available for purchase.

e.l.f. Flawless Eye Shadow, Party Purple

e.l.f.’s Flawless Eye Shadow offers quite a bit of value for a low cost. Their Party Purple Collection will accent those brown eyes as subtly or as strongly as you want. Plus, the case includes an applicator. Users say they were pleasantly surprised at how well the shadows lasted without creasing.

e.l.f. Eyeshadow Palette Matte

e.l.f.’s Matte Palette brings together 10 earthy tones and smoky shades. They build well and blend easily. If you’re looking for an inexpensive selection for everyday wear, this might be the perfect pick for you.

Coastal Scents Revealed 3 Eye Shadow Palette (PL-038)

Our final palette includes 20 eye shadows, both shimmer and matte, for a wide range of moods and events. They come in a compact case sized to slip into a purse.

Fans of Naked shadows may recognize some of the colors as being very similar. And for such an inexpensive palette, it’s impressive how long these shadows last and how little fallout they create.

The Best Accessories for Applying Eye Makeup

Of course you can use your fingers to apply eye shadow. You certainly don’t need brushes or primer or anything other than those pigments in your compact. But if you’re serious about looking your best, you’ll want to try these tools for perfecting your application and making it last as long as possible.

Qivange Eye Brush Set

Treat yourself to an inexpensive selection of 12 eye makeup brushes. They have stylish black and rose gold handles with synthetic bristles that don’t shed. You’ll get brushes for blending, contouring, highlighting, and more.

Thank Me Later Eye Shadow Primer, Paraben-free and Cruelty Free

This tube of transparent eye primer goes on silky smooth and gives you waterproof protection all day long.

How to apply eye shadow for best results

See how to get the most wear out of your eyeshadow with these simple tips. And consider yourself lucky that you have brown eyes. Brown is neutral, so you can make any color look great!

  • First, eye primer is worth buying. It keeps your skin’s oil from fading out and creasing your eye shadow. If you want to avoid touching up in the middle of the day, use primer. Many foundations also serve as primers.
  • The best order for applying eye makeup is eye shadow, then eye liner, then mascara.
  • Applying a white eye liner or highlight shadow as the base will make colors stand out.
  • For shadows that can be applied either wet or dry, decide how much pigment you’ll want. Dampening your brush and applying the shadow wet will make it thicker.
  • Sponge applicators aren’t as good at applying eye shadow, even though that’s what you’ll get included in some palettes. Instead, use a stiff flat brush for the base coat over your entire eyelid. Pat the shadow on for solid coverage.
  • For the crease color, use a dome-shaped brush. These work well for blending.
  • Then for eye shadow close to your lash line, apply with a soft pencil brush.
  • Blend with slow, short strokes all going in the same direction, not back and forth.
  • Generally, if you have a four-color palette, or quad, the colors work together like this: the lightest shade is a brow bone highlighter. Then the next lightest shade is designed to go on your eyelid. The next color (not the darkest, but almost) is for your crease. Then the darkest color of all is for the outer corner of your eye.

If you have the time and a large palette, play with the colors. Usually, greens will help tired brown eyes look more awake. Purples will make them stand out, look clear and bright. And smoky charcoal and shimmery silver with blue hues will make brown eyes pop and sparkle.

Conclusion

Did you find the perfect eye shadow collection today? We hope so! Visit us again soon for new reviews of the best in beauty and personal care products.