15 Blue Eyeshadow Looks and How to Wear Them

by Jessica Alberto
Blue Eyeshadow Looks

From the mod pastel eyeshadow trends of the 60s, the bold eye makeup looks of the 80s, to the frosted lids of the early 2000s, blue eyeshadow has weaved in and out of the beauty zeitgeist over the years. Though it’s since had some time away from the limelight, it was only a matter of time before blue eyeshadow made a comeback.

Seen all over the runway, red carpet, and even on hit series like HBO’s Euphoria, you might be feeling inspired to try this beautiful hue yourself. With such a wide and eclectic range of shades, your options are pretty much endless.

Whether you’re in the mood to try a soft baby blue or a bold sapphire hue, there are tons of ways to rock blue shadow. If you need some inspiration to get started, then keep scrolling. Below, we’ve rounded up 15 blue eyeshadow looks and how to wear them.

Smokey Sapphire

Sapphire Blue Smokey Eyes
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Put a colorful twist on the classic smoky eye by incorporating a vibrant blue shade like sapphire. This jewel tone looks stunning on any skin tone and has the ability to make dark brown eyes pop. To get this look, blend blue eyeshadow to deepen the crease. Apply kohl or black gel liner on the top lid, then buff out the edges to smoke it out. Sweep a dark blue shadow along the crease and lower lash line. Then, take a shimmery or metallic sapphire eyeshadow and apply this on your eyelids to set the eyeliner.

Frosted Inner Corners

Frosted Blue Eyeshadow on the Inner Corners
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One of the easiest ways to add more color to your makeup routine is to use a bright or shimmery eyeshadow as a highlighter. Try dabbing a light blue eyeshadow onto the inner corners of your eyes. It’s a super cute look that doesn’t take much time or effort to do. Not only will it add a subtle pop of color to your makeup look, but it also brightens up the eyes.

Modern Mod

Mod Eye Makeup Look Using Blue Eyeshadow
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Exaggerated crease lines, feathery lashes, and blue eyeshadow were signatures of 60s eye makeup. Though timeless, there are ways to modernize the mod look. Instead of using black eyeshadow to draw the crease line, use a deeper blue shade like navy or midnight blue to deepen the crease. Moreover, a bit of shimmer can add more dimension to an otherwise flat eyeshadow look, so swap out the matte shadows for a metallic or shimmery finish. Winged eyeliner and false bottom lashes will add a subtle (as compared to cartoonish) definition to your eyes.

Lower Lash Line

Shimmery Blue Eyeshadow on the Lower Lash Line
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The under-eye area provides valuable lid space that you definitely shouldn’t sleep on. Try sweeping a shimmery blue eyeshadow along the lower lash line. It creates a gorgeous pop of color that, while subtle, still stands out. Transform this into a monochromatic eye makeup look by applying blue eyeliner on the lower waterline and coating your lashes with blue mascara.

Azure Wings

Azure Blue Winged Eyeliner
PHOTO BY INSTAGRAM/d.aleksandria

If you love a classic winged eyeliner and want to make your brown eyes pop, then this azure cat-eye look is for you. Sweep blue eyeliner along the lower lash line, lightly smudging it out towards the outer corner. Then, use a blue liquid eyeshadow to line the upper lash line. Start from the inner corner and slowly make your way toward the outer corner to create a wing. To get a super sharp look, use a bit of concealer to straighten out the edges or cover up any mistakes. Additionally, you can apply light blue eyeliner on the center of the lower lash line to add dimension to your eyes.

Glossed Turquoise

Glossy Lids With Blue Eyeshadow
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Gloss has the ability to intensify any color of eyeshadow and give you an editorial look. If you have blue eyes, try blending a similar shadow shade all over your lids and applying gloss over them. This low-effort, high-shine monochromatic eye makeup look is perfect for day or night.

Graphic

Baby Blue Graphic Eyeshadow
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This maximalist graphic eyeshadow look is all sorts of glam, and it’s perfect for anyone who wants to show of their makeup skills! After priming your eyelids, apply a baby blue eyeshadow all over your lids and crease, blending the pigment outwards from the outer corner to create a cat eye shape. Use black gel or liquid eyeliner to define the upper lash line and create your winged eyeliner. You want the wing to extend past the crease. Then, take a metallic blue shadow and draw a line from the tip of the wing toward the inner corner. Finish the look by lining the lower waterline with blue eyeliner and applying a few coats of mascara.

Ocean Eyes

Ocean-Inspired Eye Makeup
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Feeling creative? Try layering different blue shades to create an oceanic eye makeup look. Blend blue eyeshadow on the outer corner of your eye and sweep an indigo shade on the bottom lash line. Define the upper lash line with a sapphire blue eyeliner to add a layer of depth, and draw a floating liner using a light blue shade to create “waves.” Apply an eye-safe gloss on your lids to get a “wet” look, and your ocean eyes are complete!

Royal Blue Lids

Royal Blue Eyeshadow Look
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Single-color eyeshadow might be simple, but this low-effort eye makeup can look seriously stunning, especially when done with blue shadow. Deep blue shades complement brown eyes beautifully. After priming your lids, sweep a royal blue eyeshadow on your lids, then use a fluffy brush to buff the edges. If you don’t want to overwhelm your eyes with color, avoid spreading the pigment too far above your crease. This creates a clean look that you can wear for a subtle pop of color.

Teal Halo

Teal Halo Eyeshadow Look
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An easy way to draw attention to your eyes is to place color on the center of your lids. Also known as halo eyes, this look brightens up the eyes by sandwiching a lighter eyeshadow color in between two darker shades. Apply a neutral shade on the inner and outer corners of your eyes, then work a bold blue shade like teal onto the center. Mimic this color on the lower lash line to get the full “halo” effect. Use a small fluffy brush to blend the edges until the colors blend seamlessly into one another.

Denim Smoke

Denim Smokey Eyes
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Like denim, smoky eyes can go with pretty much anything. When you combine the two, you get a subtle wash of blue while retaining the drama of a dark smoky eye. This blue eye makeup look involves mixing and layering different products to get the color of dark wash denim, so feel free to experiment with different shades of shadows and liner. If you want to re-create this look for yourself, start by applying dark blue pencil eyeliner all over the lid and bottom lash line, then blend it out. Press blue eyeshadow over the liner to intensify and set the color. Sweep a shimmery blue shadow on your lids to add some dimension to your eyes.

Monochromatic Blues

Monochromatic Blue Eye Makeup Look
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Matching your eyeshadow to your eye color might sound like an outdated trend, but professional makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes proves that this technique is timeless. Combining cool- and warm-toned blues creates a striking contrast that looks modern and sophisticated. Use cyan or turquoise eyeshadow to create a winged liner, then apply light blue eyeshadow on your lids. This monochromatic eye makeup look is best paired with your favorite nude-pink lipstick, groomed brows, and a few coats of volumizing mascara.

Navy Cat Eye

Navy Blue Cat Eye Makeup
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Deeper shades of blue, such as navy or royal blue, are incredibly versatile; they add a dose of color without being too bold or loud. Plus, they go well with a variety of lipstick colors. You can create this dark blue cat eye by placing tape diagonally from the lower lash line towards the tip of the brow. Apply your eyeshadow like normal, and don’t be afraid to dust over the tape. Once finished, gently peel it off to reveal a super sharp edge.

Two-Tone

Two-Tone Blue Eyeshadow Look
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If your palette comes with multiple blue shades, try creating a two-tone eyeshadow look. It’s an easy way to do a monochromatic eye makeup look and experiment with eyeshadow colors you haven’t used yet. Apply one shade of blue on the top lid, and sweep another shade on the bottom lash line — it’s as simple as that! Complete the look with a cat eye, a swipe of blue eyeliner along the waterline, and a few coats of mascara.

Y2K Princess

Y2K-Inspired Blue Eyeshadow Look
PHOTO BY INSTAGRAM/davidrazzano

Frosted eyeshadow is back in, and what better way to pay homage to the 2000s beauty trends than by rocking baby blue eyeshadow with a touch of shimmer? Apply a metallic blue eyeshadow along the upper lash line and build up the pigment all the way up to the crease. Blend a darker blue metallic eyeshadow on the outer corners and crease to add more dimension to your eyes. To get that frosty look, use a small eyeshadow brush to highlight the inner corners with a shimmery white eyeshadow. Pair your frosted eyes with matte skin, a touch of blush, and a pair of falsies to complete the Y2K princess look.

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