No matter how much bold eyeliner or colorful eye shadow might be trending, sometimes a nude eye look is just what the doctor ordered. Nude eye shadow is so versatile you can wear it to work or pair it with a bold lip for a night out. It’s always elegant and timeless.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Nude eye shadow is just code for “boring,” but I promise that could not be further from the truth. Nude eye shadow may be subtler than bold eye looks, but with the right inspiration and products, it can be exciting. Think showstopping smoky eyes and eye-catching shimmer. I’ve taken the liberty of rounding up my favorite celebrity examples of nude eye shadow done the right way. Trust me—you’ll want to copy all of these immediately. (I’m already planning on re-creating Zoey Deutch’s look tonight.)
Selena Gomez’s cool-toned smoky eye is wearable in nearly every situation, especially if you have cool undertones. Opt for an ash-toned taupe to blend into the crease and outer corner, and make lashes the star of the show by using a volumizing mascara.
Issa Rae’s makeup is always on point. While the actress looks great in bolder eye looks, I’m obsessed with this more neutral look. Golden, shimmery shades and precise black eyeliner help draw attention to her eyes.
Leave it to Megan Fox to make nude eye shadow look edgy with the addition of a dark, vampy lip. If you ask me, though, her neutral eye shadow look is doing work here. Shimmery shadow and a highlighted inner corner look amazing on her.
We love this bold, smoked-out eye shadow look on Laura Harrier. To achieve the same result, go for a neutral palette with lots of brown shades and a brown pencil liner that’s easy to blend out. I recommend one like Makeup by Mario’s, which has a blending tool on the end.
Jessica Alba’s look is so simple, but it packs a punch. Apply a wash of champagne shadow all over your lids, making sure to blend out the edges so it looks natural and not harsh. Go in with an eyeliner crayon to create a diffused wing.
Peach eye shadow looks dreamy when you have warm undertones like Lana Condor. Opt for a semi-matte shade with a subtle shimmer, and use it all over the lid for a wash of neutral color. Top off the look with a sharp wing.
Espresso shades look good on just about everyone, and Zoey Deutch proves how wearable an espresso-toned smoky eye is. Take a page out of Deutch’s book, and make this look all about eyebrows by accentuating yours with a fine-tipped brow pencil, like Kimiko’s Super Fine Eyebrow Pencil Automatique, which helps create hairlike strokes.
Next, I Tried 8 Eyeliner Looks for Your Spring Inspo Board—Thank Me Later