Makeup options with brown shadows

Brown has long been considered the most versatile color for makeup, since almost any make-up can be done with it, and it suits all girls, regardless of the type of appearance. Another reason why the representatives of the fair sex give their choice to brown is that it does not lose popularity, but only gains momentum.

The nuances of applying brown shadows, and who are they suitable for?

Cosmetics in shades of brown can be used as a daily make-up product. But an evening make-up in such colors also takes place, the main thing is to choose the right color of the shadows for your appearance (skin and eye color) in order to emphasize the advantages and hide any flaws.

It is very important to have more than one shade in your arsenal: it is better to choose a palette of brown shades of your tone so that you can mix them and do different makeup.

Rules for selecting brown shades by color type

In the world of makeup, there is a special classification of color types: spring, summer, autumn and winter. According to the “temperature” there are two types:

• cold – summer and winter correspond to it;
• warm – spring and autumn.

If you have pink/peach undertones and copper, wheat, or auburn (spring) hair, you should avoid warm browns and red-based colors. It is better to pay attention to:

• translucent colors;
• warm tones of brown – terracotta, nougat, caramel, etc.

If you have an ashy shade of hair (light blond, ash chestnut) and light thin skin (sometimes with translucent vessels) – the color type is summer, then it is better not to use red-brown colors and warm shades. Worth choosing:

• ash brown – smoky brown and “coffee with milk”;
• other cold shades – sepia, bistre, cocoa, rosewood, etc.

“Autumn” girls (with yellow / peach undertones, reddish hair and possibly freckles) can choose the following colors:

• warm shades of shadows – copper, tan;
• earthy shades – brick, etc.

The winter color type (black, brown or ashy hair, a barely noticeable blue / purple skin tone) should give up warm brown, like summer. But you can wear colors such as:

• black-brown;
• red-brown;
• dark with a pink base;
• other dark brown colors – for example, oak, dark chocolate.

Selection of a brown palette for the color of the iris

You can also choose the right shade of brown shadows according to the color of your eyes. In this case, it will be possible to come up with more interesting combinations, “win” both on the contrast of the color of the product with the iris, and on the combination of the prevailing shades.

For brown eyes

Since brown eyes are a shade of brown, you can operate in makeup with any color. But you should give preference to the following:

• gray-brown shadows;
• shimmery shades of copper, bronze colors;
• colors “Iris” and “Dark chocolate”.

For blue and gray eyes

Gray and blue eyes only at first seem almost the same. In fact, completely different shades of shadows suit them. Blue-eyed girls should avoid very dark brown shades, especially chocolate ones, it is also recommended to use more warm shades in makeup.
What suits blue-eyed:

• camelopard;
• ocher;
• vanilla;
• brown Crayola;
• classic cinnamon, etc.

In a situation with gray eyes, you can give free rein to your imagination and choose any color – this color of the iris is considered universal for brown makeup. Gray eyes have a neutral undertone, so any shade will decorate the appearance of their owner.  

For green eyes

With a green iris, shades of any temperature are perfectly combined. But to make the look brighter and more expressive, it is better to adopt warm colors:

• yellow-brown;
• metallic shades – bronze, rust;
• chestnut;
• brick, etc.

Makeup preparation

Preparations need to be made for any makeup with shadows – so that they fit better on the skin of the eyes, last longer, do not crumble, do not roll, do not lie stained, etc. What rules should you use:

• Before eye makeup, be sure to do the main make-up: apply base, tone, concealer (you can add it to the eyes).
• Before applying the shadows themselves, use a special base / primer for shadows, so their pigmentation and durability will increase significantly;
• If the primer is not enough, you can use a brown eyeliner (as a base under the shadow), so the makeup will be richer.
• Do not forget to fix the result with special means.

Makeup options with brown shadows

There are a huge number of make-ups with brown shades of shadows, but it is important to choose the right colors and brightness of the make-up according to the situation so that it is appropriate and correct. Next, consider the basic types of makeup with brown shadows.

Daytime: beige-brown make-up

The main and simplest type can be considered everyday makeup. A light brown make-up is done in two shades: brown and beige, so arm yourself with a good blending brush to make a good transition.

It is important not to overdo it with brightness, the daytime make-up should be light, not “load” the eyelid.

How to:

1. After the main makeup, apply a primer under the shadows on the eyelids.
2. On a fluffy brush, type a beige shade, mark the boundaries of the moving eyelid. Blend the color into the skin.
3. Darken the outer corner with brown.
4. Make a smooth transition between two colors, blend.
5. With a black / brown pencil, paint over the space between the eyelashes (optional).
6. Apply false eyelashes or tint your own with mascara.

Detailed video tutorial of such makeup: https://youtu.be/euEFUuZdgfk

Evening

Unlike daytime, evening eye makeup can use a larger range of shades, usually various dark brown colors predominate in such a make-up. You need to take better care of the base for loose shadows, as it is important that your makeup does not lose its attractiveness during the evening.

It is worth using not only a fluffy brush for shading, but also a flat one (to better apply a dark color), and a barrel brush (for detailed shading of small areas).

How to do:

1. Apply a base under the shadows.
2. With a flat brush, pick up a dark brown shade. Spread it over the entire area of ​​​​the moving eyelid.
3. Blend the borders with a fluffy brush.
4. Add a lighter shade to the shading so that the transition is not too sharp.
5. With a barrel brush, work on the lower eyelid (dark color), blend where it did not work out.
6. On the inner corner and part of the moving eyelid, add shimmer shadows.
7. Glue on or tint your lashes.

smoky makeup

A variation of the evening can be a smoky make-up, it is also performed in fairly dark shades. But this method differs in that it usually uses three or more colors: the essence of “haze” is that the transition from the main color to the skin color is very smooth. Also, shadows are used on both the moving and the fixed eyelids.
Again, it is important to use a stable base under the shadow and an extended range of the tool in order to get a better result. To perform a smoky make-up:

1. Apply a special primer to the eyelids.
2. Sculpture the eyelid with the “medium” color.
3. With a flat brush, spread the darkest color over the entire moving part of the eyelid.
4. Blend the borders with a fluffy brush.
5. In the same way, add lighter colors, moving yours towards the eyebrows.
6. Finish the shading with a shade close to the color of the skin.
7. If desired, add shimmering shadow/pigment to the corner of the eye.
8. Glue on or tint your lashes.

To enlarge your eyes

Recently, make-up for visual enlargement of the eyes has become quite popular, as girls in makeup often want to focus on the look, but not everyone has wide-open eyes from birth. Make-up is perfect for owners of eyes that are not very large and those who have an overhanging eyelid. Makeup can be attributed to everyday, it does not involve very bright brown shades. To enlarge the eyes, you need to use products and tools such as:

• brown/black eyeliner;
• white / light pink mucosal pencil;
• fluffy eyeshadow brush
• barrel brush.

How to do this makeup:

1. Apply concealer and base under the shadows (add a little more concealer to the mobile eyelid to make it appear lighter).
2. On the moving eyelid with a fluffy brush, add a beige shade, almost white.
3. In the crease of the eyelid with the same brush, add light brown, blend.
4. Gray-brown walk along the crease (can be repeated several times).
5. With a brown / black pencil, paint over the ciliary line and the space between the eyelashes.
6. Use the color for the crease on the lower eyelid (barrel brush), blend with a fluffy brush.
7. Draw the mucous membrane of the eye with a light pencil (so the size of the eye will appear larger).
8. Add shimmery shadows to the corner of the eye.
9. Color your natural lashes liberally/add false lashes.

A detailed video tutorial on visual eye enlargement: https://youtu.be/qp6fWZJE2M0

Festive golden brown makeup

Festive and evening make-up may not differ, but to add “zest” to your look, you can make a brighter and not so “heavy” version of makeup with the addition of a beautiful golden color. Such a make-up is much easier than the rest, as it does not require much time. In order to make a golden brown makeup:

1. Apply a base under the shadows.
2. With a medium brown shade, outline the crease of the eyelid, blend with a fluffy brush.
3. If you like, add a darker color to the outer corner.
4. With beige, blend all the makeup into the skin.
5. In addition, apply a concealer / base under the eye on the mobile eyelid and corner of the eye.
6. Use your finger/flat brush to apply gold shimmer eyeshadow.
7. Add/make up eyelashes.

Detailed implementation video: https://youtu.be/yoFMQJhTWvU

with blue arrows

If you want something new in brown makeup, a blue arrow is a great option as an accent on the eyelid. It will contrast with a simple make-up. It is important to get blue eyeliner / eyeliner or shadows of the appropriate shade.

If it is difficult for you to make freehand arrows, you can use tape to clear the line.

To perform a brown makeup with a blue arrow:

1. Spread the eyeshadow primer over the eyelid.
2. Work the crease with a chocolate shade.
3. With a fluffy brush, blend using a caramel color/lighter shade.
4. Draw a classic blue arrow.
5. Use a barrel brush to work on the lower eyelid.
6. Add or color over eyelashes.

smokey ice

Smokey ice can also be called one of the basic brown shades: it is much lighter than the black version, since the shading here is easier and suitable even for beginners. It is important to work out the crease of the eyelid well and shade the shadows without spots. Makeup is done like this:

1. Prep your eyelids with an eyeshadow primer.
2. With a cold, rather dark shade, sculpt the eyelid.
3. Blend the color with a fluffy brush.
4. Add the darkest brown in your arsenal to the outer corner of the eye. Blend it with the color in the crease.
5. With a barrel brush, work on the lower eyelid, blend the small nuances.
6. Optionally, add shine to the moving eyelid.
7. Actively paint over eyelashes or stick false ones.

Video material on this make-up: https://youtu.be/nCmPp2o22E8

with brown arrows

To make brown liner makeup, you’d better get a brown eyeliner or pencil. You can perform this make-up using only the arrow, or add brown shadows. How to:

1. Apply a base under the shadows.
2. Use a cold light shade of brown to work on the crease of the eyelid.
3. Add a luminous pigment to the moving eyelid.
4. With brown eyeliner / pencil, draw a classic, but rather thin arrow. Work the lower eyelid with the same product.
5. Paint/paste eyelashes.

Brown and black eye makeup

This type of brown makeup is very similar to smokey ice, but here the darkening is done on the most mobile eyelid, and the gradient will not be drawn to the corner of the eye, but to the eyebrow. Here, as well as in other dark makeups, it is worth paying a lot of attention to high-quality shading and preparation of the eyelid so that there are no negative consequences in the form of shedding and a rolled product. How to:

1. Apply a base on the eyelid.
2. Fill in the crease and movable eyelid with a beige shade.
3. Add a black pencil to the entire moving eyelid, you can seal it with black shadows.
4. With medium brown, make a shading along the crease.
5. Beige make the transition to skin color.
6. Barrel work on the lower eyelid, small nuances.
7. Tint/glue on lashes.

matte makeup

A great way to update brown makeup is to make it completely matte. It is best to make such a make-up in one color. This type of make-up in recent years has also become known as autumn, as the shade of autumn leaves or cocoa is usually used. Matte makeup can be attributed to light and even everyday. It is considered to be best suited for blue eyes and brown hair, as “autumn” colors go well with this type of appearance. Execution scheme:

1. Prepare eyelid for makeup.
2. In beige, mark the border of the moving eyelid.
3. With a fluffy brush, apply the selected shade of brown to the eyelid.
4. Blend with beige almost to the eyebrows.
5. Use a small brush to work on the lower eyelid.
6. Add a classic arrow (optional).
7. Cover your lashes with mascara or apply false lashes.

Video analysis of a matte make-up: https://youtu.be/aehnk9h5zGk

pink brown makeup

The components of such a makeup are necessarily shades of brown with a pink base, you can also add various variations of pink and red (not bright) colors. The make-up will perfectly refresh the appearance, give it a little romance. Sequencing:

1. Apply a base on the eyelid.
2. With a red-pink shimmer, fill the center of the moving eyelid (with a flat brush).
3. Blend the color with a rosy-brown shade.
4. Take the ink to the temple.
5. Use the same colors to work on the lower eyelid (barrel brush).
6. Add a pink tint to the mucous membrane. They can also draw an arrow in the direction of shading.
7. Tint your lashes or put on false ones.

Korean eye makeup

In recent years, Korean makeup trends have become world-famous, and many girls are trying to repeat them. This option also applies to everyday life, because Korean women emphasize that cosmetics are translucent: this is how girls emphasize natural beauty. It is very important to focus on the eyes, in Korea this is a principle. Preference should be given to a warm range of browns. How to do Korean makeup:

1. Apply a thin layer of primer.
2. With an orange-brown tint, paint over the upper and lower eyelids (without pressing the brush hard).
3. With a fluffy brush, apply a radiant copper shade to the moving eyelid.
4. With brown shadows / pencil, make a short arrow, always looking down or straight, but not up.
5. Underline the lower eyelid with a radiant shade.
6. Add a white pencil to the mucous membrane.
7. Color your eyelashes.

Don’t forget the peach-orange blush and light contouring to complete the look.

With brown lipstick

If the brown shade on the eyes is not enough, then you can make an excellent accent on your lips – make up them with matching lipstick. It is important to rely on your appearance color type and choose a cold or warm shade of a certain saturation. To perform, you will also need a pencil in the color of lipstick.

For the contour, you can use an eyebrow pencil in a suitable shade, as it is more resistant.

To make brown lipstick makeup:

1. Draw a lip contour with a pencil (diagram below);
2. Fill in the rest of the space with lipstick, without going beyond the outline.

The video shows an example of light makeup with brown lipstick: https://youtu.be/QwK5xHQAuLw

Photo examples of make-up with brown shadows

In this section, we have collected brown makeup photos for your inspiration.




Brown is considered the base color in makeup. There are a huge number of options for how to make up only with brown shades, or by diluting them with brighter tones. Get inspired, fantasize, turn ideas into reality and upgrade your makeup skills.