Eye maxxing is really just color theory with better PR.
If your eyes are green, you're about to become very attached to anything with a rosy, berry, or coppery lean. Chances are, they're already some of the most-loved shades in your palette.
What Is Eye Maxxing?
Eye maxxing is all about making your eye color pop.
The trick is color contrast. Colors opposite each other on the color wheel naturally make each other stand out. Green sits opposite red, which is why shades like plum, berry, burgundy, rose gold, and warm copper make green eyes look brighter, richer, and, somehow, even greener.
Rosy, Plum & Mauve Tones
If you only steal one tip from this article, make it plum. It pretty much never misses.
Mauve is plum's more laid-back cousin. It gives you the same vibe, just turned down a notch. If plum feels like a bit much for a random Tuesday, mauve is the answer.
Berry is plum after dark. It's a little moodier, sitting somewhere between romantic and dramatic.
If green eyes had an official palette, it'd be the Rose Quartz Crystal Eyeshadow Palette. Plum mattes, rosy metallics, soft lavenders, pink duochromes...if your goal is making green eyes look as green as possible, this is the palette we’d reach for first.
Looking for something quicker? Our Cream Eyeshadow in Serafina gives you the same soft rosy effect in one swipe. Its luminous baby pink finish brightens green eyes on its own or layered under powder shadows for extra dimension.
Warm Copper & Golden Tones
Copper has been making green eyes look incredible long before anyone started calling it eye maxxing.
Then you have all the shades around it: warm peach, ginger, amber, rust, sienna, golden brown. They're warmer, sunnier, and especially good if your green eyes lean hazel.
Think golden hour in palette form. That's exactly what the Summer Solstice Crystal Gemstone Palette feels like. If Rose Quartz is your cool-girl palette, Summer Solstice is its sun-chasing sister, bringing out the warmer, richer side of green eyes.
If you prefer cream shadow, Our Cream Eyeshadow in Bronzed creates that rich coppery warmth in seconds, while Solar Citrine is perfect if you want a softer honey-gold wash that makes hazel-green eyes glow.
Not All Green Eyes Are the Same
Not all green eyes are the same, so don't be surprised if one color completely steals the show while another is just...fine.
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If your green eyes lean... |
Try... |
|
Emerald |
Plum, berry, burgundy |
|
Hazel |
Copper, bronze, warm rose gold |
|
Blue |
Mauve, cool plum, rosy pink |
|
Olive |
Berry, burgundy, copper |
Most green eyes sit somewhere between two categories anyway. If that's you, borrow from both.
How to Eye Max Green Eyes: Step by Step
Soft mauves melting into rosy metallics. A little plum tucked into the outer corners. Green eyes that somehow look brighter every time you blink.
Here's exactly how we'd recreate it using the Rose Quartz Crystal Eyeshadow Palette.
EYES
- Sweep 'Sandstone' softly through the crease to create a diffused base.
- Tap ‘Moonstone’ into the inner corner for a pop of light-gathering brightness.
- Press 'Vibes' across the lid, concentrating the most pigment toward the centre where it catches the light.
- Blend 'Scorpio' onto the outer third of the eye for soft plum depth.
- Smudge 'Aphrodite' lightly along the lower lash line for a subtle wash of violet-grey.
- Finish with several coats of The Big Bang Mascara for fluffy, brow-grazing lashes that last all day.
What Eyeshadow Colors Should You Avoid If You Have Green Eyes?
Cool greys, silver, charcoal, and icy taupes aren't doing your green eyes any favors. Instead of making them brighter, they can leave them looking subdued and a little flatter than they really are.
The same goes for green eyeshadow that's almost an exact match for your eye color. A little contrast is what makes green eyes come alive. Without it, everything starts blending into one another.
Your green eye questions, answered
What colors make green eyes pop?
If we had to choose just one, it'd be plum. Mauve, berry, burgundy, rose gold, and warm copper are all right there with it. They sit across from green on the color wheel, which is exactly why they make green eyes look their greenest.
How can I make my green eyes look greener?
Color contrast is the secret. Eyeshadows with red and orange undertones—like plum, mauve, berry, rose gold, and copper—naturally make green eyes stand out.
What color eyeliner is best for green eyes?
Plum is our first pick, but burgundy, bronze, and chocolate brown are just as good. They create definition without overpowering your eye color.
Can people with green eyes wear green eyeshadow?
You can, we'd just avoid matching your eyes too closely. A little contrast is what makes green eyes so striking. If you’re leaning towards green, opt for deeper olive, forest, or emerald shades that aren’t identical to your eye color.
Is purple or copper better for green eyes?
Honestly, you can't go wrong with either. Purple creates the strongest contrast, while copper brings out the warmth in green and hazel-green eyes. If you own both, you're covered for pretty much every makeup mood.
Does eye maxxing actually work?
It does—but it's not exactly new. Eye maxxing is really just color theory with a better name. Makeup artists have been using complementary colors forever to make natural eye colors pop.
Can people with hazel-green eyes use eye maxxing?
Definitely, hazel-green eyes get the best of both worlds. Some days they'll look greener. Other days they'll pick up more gold or olive, which means they suit both cool-toned shades like plum and mauve and warmer shades like copper and bronze. Try both depending on the day.
Your Greenest Eye Era
If color theory has a favourite, it might just be green eyes. Lucky you.
