The Best Eyeliner Colors To Try If You Have Hazel Eyes

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Though grouped under a single name, hazel eyes can come in a range of colors.  They differ from brown or blue eyes in that they often contain a range of pigments, which means no two sets of hazel eyes are quite the same. That means this dimensional eye color deserves a makeup approach all its own. "The liner color choice has a bigger impact on hazel eyes than it typically does for brown eyes," makeup artist Luna Viola tells Women exclusively. "I use liner strategically to pull out specific flecks in the iris, usually opting for a subtle smudged liner rather than a stark graphic line, since hazel eyes naturally have a lot of color variation that can be enhanced."

That means the best shade for your particular hazel eyes will depend on their unique color composition. Avoid jet black, which can look harsh next to lightly pigmented hazel eyes. Instead, color theory offers a helpful starting point. "Plum shades are the most flattering choice for hazel eyes as purple sits opposite green on the color wheel, and it makes green flecks appear more vibrant," explains Viola. Charlotte Tillbury Eyeliner in Pillowtalk offers a creamy, buildable plum-toned neutral. Other shades can work well, too, depending on the effect you want to achieve. "Bronze enhances the gold, copper intensifies the green, and emerald provides contracts, while navy adds definition while appearing softer than black," Viola adds. Finally, regardless of eye shade, white eyeliner is the makeup multitool you need in your arsenal. 

Nailing your eyeliner shade is just part of the equation when it comes to defining your eyes. You'll also need the right makeup tricks to highlight your eye color, as well as a complementary eyeshadow and mascara. Again, color theory is your friend here. The best way to accentuate your eyes is by selecting the color you most want to bring out in your irises and then reaching for the color that's opposite on the color wheel. Often, this can mean softer shades of the same plum or bronze tone that you used for liner. "I have hazel eyes that I love making look more green by using copper, bronze, pink, and purple eyeshadow!" shared one Reddit user. The Anastasia Beverly Hills Essential Eyeshadow Palette offers a range of copper and lavender tones that you can mix and match to get the right effect.

When it comes to mascara, don't make the mistake of thinking you're limited to black shades. In fact, as with eyeliner, harsh black shades can overwhelm hazel eyes. Instead, there is colored mascara to try for every eye shade. A purple-toned mascara, like Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara in Burgundy Haze, can do even more to enhance the green shades in your irises. If you would rather stick to the classics, then even switching to a brown mascara, like Clinique High Impact Mascara in Black Honey, can give you lash definition while offering a more subtle, natural look than true black.