Aimee asks: Could you tell me what color shadows will go best with hazel, blue and brown eyes? Oddly, I get asked a lot and most people pick the color they like but I would like to have the right information. Thanks.

Nathan: That is actually an amazing question. When I answer this, I want you to be clear that the colors I list are not the only ones you should use if your eyes are a specific color. The ones I mention here are for the specific purpose of making your own natural color pop more.

Eyes are truly magical. Their color can change drastically based on weather, environment or the clothes you are wearing. To outsmart the externals and maximize the color you want to show off, lets consider basic color theory. There are certain hues that make green eyes more green, blue eyes more blue and so on.

Lets start with something I don’t recommend that you do. Choosing to accent your eyes with a shade in the same family is dated and often makes the whole area look like a muddy wash of color. To make a color pop, the best option is to choose a color that boldly contrasts it. Think about an old white shirt. If you hold it next to a new white shirt it looks yellowed or grayish. But, if you hold it next to a black shirt, it looks crisp and white. The magic lies in the contrast. The further you go from a color on the color wheel, the more dramatic the pop.

Green eyes are notorious for changing color based on the light or the environment. To keep them as bold as emeralds, concentrate on violet, purple, lavender and indigo shadows.

Blue eyes are one of the easiest to make magic with…Copper, yellows, golds and browns really make the eyes glow as brilliant as sapphires.

Brown eyes look great with most colors. If you want to experiment further, there are a few that really give more of a pop. If your eyes are light brown, lilac or teal shades might become a favorite. If your eyes are dark brown try sliver, white or gunmetal shades.

If your eyes are hazel, you need to decide exactly what you want to bring out. If you want to bring out the green, follow the tips above for green eyes. If you want to bring out the brown, follow the tips for brown eyes. If you want to use a single color, a champagne color will be spectacular.

These tips are a great short cut to get extra pop out of your eyes, but the best way to learn about what works best is to actually try for yourself.