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the best eyeliner shade for your eye colour

The right eyeliner shade does more than define your lash line. It brings out the colour you already have, whether that means warming up brown eyes or sharpening the cool tones in grey. Choosing by eye colour, rather than reaching for black by default, is the simplest way to make your eyes the focal point of your whole look.

Colour theory makes this easy. Shades positioned opposite your eye colour on the colour wheel create contrast, which is what makes an iris look brighter and more defined. Below is a shade guide built around this principle, using the ten shades in our Jojoba Eye Pencil range.

best eyeliner shade for blue eyes

Warm metallics and earth tones are the strongest match for blue eyes. Bronze, Copper, Oro and Earth all sit warm on the colour wheel, directly opposite blue's cool base.

This contrast is what creates the pop. Rich Copper and warm golden hues make blue eyes read brighter and more saturated, especially when blended along the upper lash line rather than applied as a hard, precise line.

best eyeliner shade for brown eyes

Brown eyes have the most flexibility, but jewel tones and deep neutrals bring out their warmth most effectively. Cerulean, Gem, Forest and Black are the shades to reach for.

Vibrant blues and deep greens sit in contrast to brown's warm undertone, which is what highlights the golden flecks many brown eyes carry. A swipe of Cerulean along the waterline, for example, tends to draw those flecks forward in a way that black alone won't.

best eyeliner shade for green and hazel eyes

Plums and soft neutrals work with the green pigment already present in green and hazel eyes. Gem, Clay and Bronze are the three to try first.

Lilac and warm reddish-brown undertones complement green pigmentation directly, which softens and enhances rather than competes with it. This is a gentler, more tonal approach than the high-contrast pairing used for blue or grey eyes.

best eyeliner shade for grey eyes

Cool tones bring out the icy quality that makes grey eyes distinctive. Stone, Cerulean and Black are the strongest options.

Slate grey and cool sky blue both sit close to grey's own cool undertone, which sharpens rather than contrasts. The effect is more subtle than the warm-on-cool pairings above, but it reads as deliberate and polished rather than flat.

beyond eye colour: shading for the moment

Eye colour is the starting point, but how you wear a shade can shift with the occasion. The Jojoba Eye Pencil range is grouped into four families for exactly this reason: Everyday Neutrals (Black, Earth, Clay), Warm Metallics (Bronze, Copper, Oro), Cool Tones (Stone, Forest) and Statement Pops (Gem, Cerulean).

For a soft daytime wash, a single line in a neutral or metallic, blended with a fingertip, is usually enough. For a smoky night look, layering two shades from the same family builds definition without needing a separate palette. Because the formula is creamy and buildable, one pencil moves between both without changing products.

how to choose your shade

If you are still narrowing it down, a simple three-step process works for most people.

Start with your eye colour. Use the guide above to identify your base family: warm metallics, jewel tones, plums, or cool tones.

Consider your everyday wear. A neutral from your family works for daily definition, while a metallic or jewel tone suits evenings.

Test before committing. Colour appears differently under indoor light versus daylight, so it's worth trying a shade in both before deciding it's the one.

Richly pigmented and easy to build, the Jojoba Eye Pencil delivers smooth, even colour that can be worn as a clean line or blended into a soft, smoky finish. Its creamy texture glides on without tugging, while the long-wearing formula helps colour stay defined throughout the day. Formulated with jojoba seed oil, coconut oil and natural vitamin E, it also feels comfortable around the delicate eye area. Curious about the skin-loving benefits of jojoba? Discover more in our guide to jojoba oil for sensitive eyes.

Explore the full Jojoba Eye Pencil range, pair your new shade with Avocado Waterproof Mascara to finish the look, and keep your pencil perfectly precise with the Perfect Catch Duo Sharpener.

the packaging

Jojoba Eye Pencil is housed in 100% plastic-free packaging made with wood and aluminium. Aluminium is infinitely recyclable when recovered correctly, making it a considered material choice within our wider approach to sustainable beauty packaging.

Read more about our approach on our Sustainable Beauty page.

frequently asked questions

How do I find my eyeliner shade if I'm not sure of my exact eye colour?
Most people fall into one of four broad categories: blue, brown, green or hazel, and grey. If your eyes combine colours, such as blue-green, try shades from both matching families and see which brings out more contrast in natural light.

Is this eyeliner suitable for sensitive eyes?
The formula is made with jojoba seed oil to support smooth, comfortable application around the eyes. As with any eye product, avoid applying directly inside the eye and discontinue use if irritation occurs.

Can I blend two shades from different families together?
Yes. While the families are grouped by undertone for ease of matching, they are designed to layer. A neutral base with a metallic or jewel-toned accent along the lash line is a common way to build a smoky eye.

Will a natural, oil-based formula actually last through the day?
The creamy formula is buildable and designed for comfortable wear once set. It can take the eye from a soft daytime wash to a smoky night look, depending on how you apply and layer the shade.

Where is the Jojoba Eye Pencil made and what is it packaged in?
It's made in Italy and comes in a 100% plastic-free wood pencil with an aluminium lid, in line with our wider approach to sustainable packaging. Pair it with the Perfect Catch Duo Sharpener to keep the tip clean, precise and easy to apply.