The Best Eyeliner Colors To Wear If You Have Brown Eyes

For those with brown eyes — the most common eye color in the world — it may seem that the only eyeliner color you ever need is a classic black. After all, it's a safe neutral. You'd be partially right. But much like how color theory works in fashion, eye shades interact with color differently, which is why makeup artists and makeup lovers often tailor their approach depending on whether someone has hazel, blue, or brown eyes. With the right shade, liner becomes one of the easiest ways to highlight your eyes with makeup. And for those with brown eyes, a basic black isn't the only option.

"Brown eyes are usually the most versatile and can wear nearly any liner color," Luna Viola, red carpet hair and makeup artist, exclusively tells Women. However, if you want to make your irises pop, there are certain shades that will do the job better than others. "[R]ich jewel tones, navy, emerald, plum, and black all work well," says Viola.

How is it possible that brown can wear all these colors? Scientifically, all eyes (including blue and green) contain varying amounts of melanin – a dark brown pigment – in the iris stroma. As brown eyes have high levels of melanin, they absorb most of light wavelengths we see and reflect brown back. Eyeliner can be used strategically to emphasize different fleck and undertones within the brown iris. The jewel tones, like plum and emerald, also pop beautifully against the brown due to their near opposite positions on the color wheel.

Luna Viola exclusively tells Women that because brown eyes "provide a strong backdrop [for makeup]," can support both subtle definition and more saturated liner shades without looking harsh. This means they are especially adaptable when experimenting with color, finish, and intensity depending on the desired look. So if you've been learning how to achieve that angel wing liner, using deep plum liner or black liner will work just fine over your brown eyes.

However, technique still matters. According to Viola, "[A] softer, smudged liner often works better than a sharp graphic line when working with eyeliner" because it allows the eye's natural color variation to show through more effortlessly." The makeup artist adds that, "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."

To further enhance your brown eyes, apply eyeshadow in shades that deepen the contrast, or complement your liner color. For instance, a purple shadow can be paired with a rich, plum liner, while a taupe or gold shadow can pair beautifully with dark brown or black.