3 Expert Tips to Follow When Sporting Silver Eyeshadow

If you’re a makeup enthusiast, then you’ve probably seen the metallic eyeshadow trend everywhere — whether you’ve realized it or not. Take a closer look at recent red carpet makeup, editorial features and social media influencers, and you’re bound to notice how many people are donning gold, bronze and silver tones on their eyes. 

And while people are often more comfortable sporting warm shades such as bronze and gold as they pair nicely with neutral browns, there’s certainly a time and place for a silver eyeshadow look. Playing with silver can make for eye-catching looks and the shimmering quality it has makes it pop on the eyes. But we get it — unlike other metallic shades, it can be tricky to make it look cohesive as part of an entire makeup look. 

So, we consulted with Sir John, celebrity makeup artist and L’Oréal Paris expert, to share his tips on how to make this metallic hue look ultra-flattering and we’re sharing them below. 

1. Ground It With Deep Eyeliner 

Because silver is typically a light metallic shade in terms of saturation and it reflects light so well, it can wash out the eyes or make them lose dimension. Sir John explains that a great way to combat this is by grounding it with a deep eyeliner. 

“You can ground it with black liner and black mascara or navy liner and navy mascara,” he says. 

Doing this will add definition back into your look and accentuate the shape of your eyes which can get lost in a monochromatic silver look. 

Pairing it with a navy eyeliner, like the L’Oréal Paris Le Liner Signature Easy-Glide Mechanical Eyeliner, Waterproof in Blue Jersey is incredibly flattering because the depth of the eyeliner creates contrast while the cool, blue tone matches the coolness of silver. 

You can also add even more definition to your eyes by opting for graphic eyeliner in a deep shade, or creating a graphic eyeshadow look with the silver hue and outlining with a dark liner. 

2. Pair It With Matte Makeup 

Makeup looks are the most dimensional when they have contrast. Metallic eyeshadow is shimmery and light reflecting by nature, so it pairs beautifully with matte makeup on other areas of the face.

“If you’re opting for something so light reflecting and foiled [in the silver eyeshadow], find a beautiful matte lipstick to ground it,” says Sir John. “It’s a little bit airy [on its own], so it needs something to anchor it.”  

If you want to pair it with a matte lip, the L’Oréal Paris Rouge Signature Matte Lip Stain is perfect because it’s shine-free. 

You can also pair your eyeshadow with a matte complexion to create additional contrast. The L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear in a Powder, matte finish is a great option for this because it’s completely matte without looking flat. 

3. Create Contrast With a Deep Lip Color 

Creating contrast can be done with finishes and colors. To really make the chrome shadow pop, pair it with a deep lip in addition to matte finishes. 

“I would pair [silver shadow] with a merlot lip,” says Sir John. “A deep merlot matte lipstick or a red matte lipstick with a silver eye would be sexy.” 

The L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Reds Of Worth Satin Lipstick With Saturated Color in Hopeful Red is a striking merlot shade with a creamy formula. You can make it matte by dusting a bit of translucent powder on top or lightly blotting it with tissue. 

If you prefer a completely matte formula, the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Liquid Lipstick in Stirred is an excellent choice. 

Next: 5 Eye-Catching Ways to Wear the Crystal Makeup Trend

Written by: Alyssa Kaplan, Photo Credit: IG/@vioricagutuleac