Brunette, blonde, redhead: which make-up is right for me?

You're brunette with a deeper complexion, blonde with light eyes, redhead with pale skin… and you wonder why certain eyeshadows flatter you while others drain you? There's no mystery here: your hair colour and your eye colour work together, and the make-up that wins is the one that plays to both. We've gone through the colour-by-colour guide — and honestly, there's plenty of fun to be had!

Brunettes

Good news, brunettes: your richer complexion lets you wear almost anything — well, almost. This is the moment to lean into deep colours, the ones that would look overdone on a paler complexion. From grey to brown, with a touch of gold, dark warm shades define the eyes instead of flattening them. And if you fancy a little adventure, green, violet or pink all work beautifully — as long as you keep them as an accent, not an all-over wash. A navy smoky eye rather than black, for example, looks stunning and far less ordinary.

Be careful with shades that are too light, though: on a brunette they can quickly wash out the eyes, as if the eye had lost half its intensity. If you also have blue eyes, avoid blue altogether: it tends to dull the iris rather than make it sing. That said, not all blues are the same — in very nuanced versions, with grey or mauve reflections, the result is really pretty. For the complexion, keep the opposite logic: the more colourful the eyes, the more neutral the skin should stay. And never forget your blush, otherwise the contrast with a bold eyeshadow turns the complexion sallow. Rose or apricot blush, everything suits you. The step that changes everything? Apply your cream blush before foundation, then blend towards the temples: the complexion immediately looks fresher, as if you'd had one extra good night's sleep.

Blondes

Let's be honest: there are always exceptions, but one thing comes up again and again with blondes — very fair skin, plus light brows and lashes. On an almost translucent canvas, it's better to look for light first rather than a feat of make-up. For daytime, stick to soft, light shades: pastels for a little brightness, but above all nudes and naturals — beige, rose, brown, apricot, taupe. In reality, these shades look almost invisible, and that's exactly why they work: they don't compete with the skin's natural glow.

In the evening, however, wake up the character! Cool or metallic shades stand out beautifully on a fair complexion: grey and charcoal, violet and mauve, blue for brown eyes, a deep green too, or a pearly brown for blue eyes. And remember black mascara — it's what intensifies light lashes and wakes up the whole look. For blush, avoid overloading: too much blush on pale skin gives a doll effect that can quickly look cheap. Pink gives you a baby-doll look; that's its charm. Beige or apricot also flatters, but on one condition: a very light hand, in keeping with what you've put on your eyes.

Redheads

You lovely redheads, play the warm, copper, golden card — whether your eyes are light or dark, that's where it's at. Gold, copper, ochre and brown tones bring out the colour that sets you apart. For mascara, black or brown depending on your overall look.

But the real issue is the complexion. Fair-skinned, your watchword is light: very lightweight tinted textures in nude, and above all don't overload. A flawless complexion, not a heavy one. Blush stays in the beige or apricot family, not pink. And here's a classic that's been a bit forgotten: contrary to what you might read here and there, red doesn't really flatter redheads. Blue, green or violet also tend to clash on a pale complexion framed by red hair. We'll leave those — but we'll keep gold, because that's a gift.

What about mid-brown hair?

In between, mid-brown-haired ladies have a freedom others don't always have: almost every colour suits them, provided you look carefully at eye colour. Blue eyes? Avoid blue and choose apricot, grey, green, brown or violet. Brown eyes? You can wear a lot: blue, gold, brown, green, a metallic grey too, as long as it feels coherent. Green eyes? Violet and plum, mauve, pink, brown and gold are yours.

For the complexion, rose or beige blush — it's up to you to feel what works best with the rest of your make-up. But one piece of advice we can't repeat enough: if you fall for deep colours, take extra care of your skin. A strong eyeshadow on tired skin shows immediately; the same eyeshadow on well-prepared skin simply looks beautiful.

Brunette, blonde, redhead or mid-brown: hair colour is only a starting point, never a destiny. What matters is the dialogue between your complexion, your actual skin tone and your eye colour. Before buying anything, test the texture on the back of your hand and rub it: an eyeshadow that immediately marks the skin won't look the same in the crease of the eye, where the skin is creased and damp. Take ten seconds in the shop and you'll save yourself three palettes forgotten at the back of a drawer. And bear in mind that the rules mentioned here are general tendencies — your mirror and your eye remain the only real judges of what suits you.

Budget

Expect to pay around £9–£18 for a single eyeshadow, and £22–£43 for a palette of several shades — prices vary by brand, but also by formula and size. A mascara costs between £9 and £31, a blush between £10 and £35. At beauty counters and designer brands, prices climb quickly; in pharmacies, supermarkets, health-food shops or online, ranges often stay more affordable for practising. If sustainability matters to you, check the labels. Refills, solid eyeshadows sold loose or in metal cases reduce packaging, and closing your make-up properly helps it last longer — good news for your wallet as well as the planet.

Sources

• Choosing cosmetics wisely — ANSM: cosmetics, understanding the labels, accessed 3 October 2026.
• Eyeshadows and heavy metals — Ministère de la Transition écologique — consumer information on cosmetics, accessed 3 October 2026.
• Applying complexion make-up — Fédération des entreprises de la beauté: advice and public information, accessed 3 October 2026.