Eye spy with my little eye...the best shadows for your eye colour

Every day I say a little prayer of thanks that most of the makeup trends of the 80s are over.

This was an era when we genuinely believed blue eyeshadow (or worse: unblended stripes of yellow, pink and orange) looked divine. At the time, the idea of 'blending' was about as incomprehensible as Duran Duran splitting up.

Thanks to the likes of the legendary Kevin Aucoin and superbrands like MAC, we now have universally-appealing shades designed to flatter specific eye colours.

One of the most common questions I get asked about makeup is "What shades of eye shadow suit my eyes?"

So here are my top pics... and no stripes in sight:

FOR BLUE EYES:
Blue eyes are often seen as the lottery winner of eye colours, but the wrong shade (such as pinkish tones) can often make blue look red or washed out. If you hair is blonde, red or dark, it doesn't matter - most shades of shimmering bronze, warm browns, vanilla and peachy-golds will look fantastic teamed with blue. Blue-eyed girls can opt for a blended charcoal-black liner, but for a more flattering daytime look, a chocolate brown looks softer and more natural.

FOR BROWN OR BLACK EYES:
The most versatile eye colour ever: almost everything suits you, dammit! Creamy coffee colours with a hint of shimmer will make dark eyes look velvety and seductive; metallic stamps of colour in plums, deep blues and teal are ideal for creating an impact. Experiment with highlighter in the corners of your eyes to give them a lift.

FOR GREEN EYES:
Green-eyed girls can smile smugly in the knowledge theirs is the most rare (and often the most impactful) eye colour on the planet. I rarely recommend purple eyeshadow, but in the case of green, this is for you. Go for rich shades of violet, plum or purple and rejoice in the fact that black eyeliner (blended well for a smoky effect) looks incredible. If you're not too keen on plums or purple, try a dusting of golds or shimmering neutrals.

FOR HAZEL EYES:
So many women look mildly disappointed when they say "my eyes are hazel" but I think this is the prettiest of eye colours. Depending on the time of day, the chameleon quality of hazel eyes can transform hazel to chequered-brown, forest green or a mix of both. Experiment with colours for brown and green eyes - try coffee neutrals with a hint of shimmer, deep violet, purple or plum and if in doubt - simply smudge black eyeliner along the upper lid for maximum impact.

TIPS:

~ If you're over 35, throw out anything frosted.

~ Blend. See the rosiecheek post on brushes ('a brush with the law').

~ Use a tiny sweep of highlighter (such as white or cream) just below your eyebrows. It will emphasise the arch.

~ If you're averse to experimentation or prefer a simple look, invest in a good quality palette of neutrals (vanilla, beige and a few browns). Bobbi Brown do some of the best and most wearable colours on the market.

~ Rosie x