Blue eyeshadow looks can be bold—or frighteningly '80s—and rather tricky to pull off. But in fact, there's a beautiful blue eyeshadow look for every eye color and skin tone—and we're here to prove it. (With help from some celebrity models, of course.) Below, makeup artist and Byrdie contributor Ashley Rebecca has rounded up dozens of stunning blue eyeshadow looks, and shared tips on how to recreate them at home. Feeling blue? You will be soon. Read on and major inspiration to create your next blue eyeshadow look.
Meet the Expert
- Ashley Rebecca is a makeup artist and Byrdie contributor.
- Alexx Mayo is a celebrity makeup artist known for his work with Lizzo.
Bronzed Beauty
Blue can be an accent color, too. If you're not feeling completely blue, try this move: apply a creamy bronze shadow all over your lid, then blend it out with your finger or a brush for a smoky, winged effect. Then, add a dab of creamy, pale-blue shadow in the corner of each eye. This look pairs particularly well with blue and hazel eyes, but it can make any color pop.
Cold Front
For an instant infusion of coolness, try this frosted look: After applying a denim-hued blue shadow to the lid and crease, blend it toward the outer eyes in a wing shape. Then, apply a shimmering white accent to each inner eyelid for a frosty effect.
Emerald City
Green pairs beautifully with blue. To recreate this jewel-hued, Olivia-Munn-inspired look, start by brushing a pearlescent green shadow into your lids and into the creases. Use a bold shade of blue to line the eyes and add some dimension.
Halo Eye Makeup
If blue eyeshadow on its own hardly seems bold to you, let's take it up a notch. Halo Eye Makeup, as shown here, "is where there is a bright pop of shimmer in the center contrasting a deeper smoky eye, creating a spotlight effect," celebrity makeup artist Alexx Mayo has told Byrdie.
"The darker you go with the inner and outer corner shades, the more dramatic effect you will get," he added. "Don't be afraid to play with contrasting colors as well." The look shown here combines hues of shimmery royal and navy blue to spectacular—and celestial—effect.
Cornflower Power
Light shades of blue—such as cornflower—really enhance brown eyes. To recreate this look, swipe a cornflower or sky-blue shadow, such as Glossier's Skywash Matte Eyeshadow Tint in Pool ($18), all over the lid. Blend it out into a wing shape, and then apply the hue under the eyes, too. Leaving the rest of the face dewy and bare will underscore the fresh-as-a-daisy feel.
Teal Deal
If you're a maximalist by nature, this blown-out teal look is for you. To recreate it, point your blending brushes toward a super-pigmented blue hues such as the Pat McGrath Dark Star 006 V4 duo ($46.) Don't be afraid to add black liner and mascara — but go light on the skin. An eye makeup look that's this statement-making works best with dewy, bare skin and a light glossy lip.
Blue Skies
Why settle for one shade of blue when you can use a few of them to create a gorgeous, ombre effect? To recreate this look—which works well with any eye color—line the lids, under-eyes, and the areas around the eyes with a baby-blue shadow. Then, create contrast by filling the crease in with a darker shade such as denim blue, and highlight the brow bone with a swipe of pale, creamy shadow.
Stunning Sapphire
Makeup artist Patrick Ta used complementing shades of blue shadow on Taylor Hill's lids and sealed it all with a bright, electric colored eyeliner. If you're wanting to use more than one shade of blue on your eyes, the easiest way to do this is to have a palette handy with multiple shades. Play with the colors until you find color combinations that suit you the best.
Steel Blue
Minimal application of blue on the lash-line, extended to the outer corner of the eyes, creates a simple eyeshadow look worth trying. When wearing this look, apply a blue eyeliner on the top lash line first, and follow up by blending a blue eyeshadow on top and outward in a wing shape towards the outer corners of the eyes. This will help intensify the color, and the more you practice the more you'll know how to get it right each time.
Haute Azure
Shades of contrasting azure blue and teal work together for the most glam eyeshadow look ever. Start by blending the darker blue tones in the crease with a blending brush, and seal the look with strong blue-green eyeliner. Applying one last bit of blue shadow on top of the liner will give the teal a nice pop.
Cool Colbalt
Ebonee Davis wore a one-of-a-kind blue cobalt eyeshadow look incorporating sister shades of grey and navy—and it's perfect. To try this look yourself, apply the cobalt color all over the lid, blend the navy shadow in the crease for the smoky effect, and pat the grey shadow in the center of the lid until it's visibly noticeable.
Graphic Aqua
What's better than one shade of blue you might ask? Two. Cerulean and lapis blue paired together make for a memorable makeup moment. When wearing this look, choose the shades you want to wear on the top and bottom lash line. You can apply eyeshadow wet for longer staying power by misting your makeup brush with water or use an eyeshadow cream base first to ensure the powder stays throughout the day.
Icy Foil
Ice, ice, baby—this icy, shimmering baby blue eyeshadow adds just the right amount of sparkle and color. For this look, finding a light blue cream or powder shadow that has a shimmer to it is all you need; just apply to lids until satisfied; it's that easy and effortless.
Shimmering Teal
One of the best ways to attract attention to your eyes is by placing color right in the center of your lid. This look illuminates the entire eye. Apply your chosen eyeshadow colors (you can opt for more neutral hues) on the eyelids and crease, and bring in a blue touch by placing it in the center of each eye and underneath it.
Sky-High Blue
Only have one shade of blue shadow? Make it monochromatic. For a colorful eye look, one shadow shade is all you need. Applying shadow with a blending brush to the lid and using the same color underneath the eyes brings a nice balance. Minimal eye makeup doesn't need to be boring.
Powder-Blue Beauty
This powdery blue shadow look is right up our alley. The key? Keeping the shadow color consistent from the eyelid to the eyebrow. Apply a stronger base of color on the lids and when blending upwards, sheer the color out so it appears gradient.
Kaleidoscope Crush
Mixing blue with other colors can create a soft kaleidoscope effect that just works. Not to mention, you'll feel like a true artist. This sheer blue paired with soft lilac is the perfect example of how different colors can work together when creating eyeshadow looks. Applying the blue as the dominant color in the crease and adding a touch of the second color under the brow bone is all you need to do. Pretty easy, right?
Navy Wing
Navy rims the top and bottom of the eyes here with sparkling eyes as a result. From eyeliners to eyeshadows, navy compliments all eye colors and is perfect to wear day or night. Line eyes with a navy pencil and finish by blending navy shadow on top—the smokier, the better.
Gradient Sweep
Dress up your lids with a little metallic shimmer and sparkle; the multi-toned holographic finish of this blue eyeshadow is ideal when you're wanting to wear something with glitter. The best way to achieve this is to use a loose powder eyeshadow pigment that has accompanying colors for a multi-dimensional finish. Apply liberally until everything sparkles just the way you want it.
Steel-Blue Smoke
Both indigo and denim blue hues were used to create this soft, smoky blue eyeshadow look that has a nice contrast with the slightly varying shades. Applying lighter blue to the eyelids creates a halo effect, and in return, this opens up the shape of the eyes and they can appear larger. After you've applied both shadow colors in their respective places, finish with a bold eyeliner on the top and bottom lash line.
Cerulean Shock
A guaranteed bonus about blue eyeshadow is it comes in several different jewel tones. This monochromatic turquoise eyeshadow look is modern while giving great color payoff at the same time. Start with applying a cream eyeshadow all over the eyelid, and move onto powder shadow next. Cream and powder work together to keep shadow in its place while also helping to intensify the color.
Glittery Smoke
Royal blue paired with a lighter shade of blue are two colors you can use to experiment with when creating this smoky blue look on yourself. Blending the deeper blue shades in the crease and following up with the lighter shade by applying it on the center of the lid adds a delicate balance between the colors. Line the inner eyes with a navy pencil to seal the look, and finish with a volumizing mascara.
Celestial Shine
Two contrasting blue colors make this eyeshadow look stand out from the rest. Baby blue is applied to the lids, while a deeper blue is used in the crease to give a contouring effect. The tiniest amount of soft blue is applied under the brow bone, along with the bottom lash line as the finishing detail.
Pop of Aqua
Jewel-toned blue eyeshadow? Yes please. All you need to do is apply the shadow from the inner corners to the center of your lid and then blend outward for a more sheer, watercolor effect. You can use a cream or powder shadow to re-create this and build the color with your finger or brush until you're satisfied. Need more control when applying? Opt for a chubby cream eyeshadow pencil that will get the job done.
Denim Lids
January Jones looks radiant in this denim blue shadow look that's concentrated predominantly on the eyelid. A hearty swatch of the shadow is applied to the lids and not blended past the crease, keeping the color confined and clean. Follow up with a soft highlight shadow color in light blue or champagne underneath the brow.
Blue-Grey Wash
Jackie Aina demonstrates how sparkly blue eyeshadow can be so chic. With glistening blue applied across the top lid and orange liner on the bottom waterline, her eyes really pop. The key element to re-create this look is using a metallic eyeshadow that shines and sparkles versus a matte eyeshadow.
Touch of Turquoise
Lizzo is showing us how it's done with an electric shade of blue shadow paired with an abstract winged eyeliner, to beat. You can apply a graphic (or classic) winged eyeliner and incorporate blue by simply adding a swatch of glitter shadow above the liner (or anywhere you want, really) on the lid. A total work of art.