Photo: Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Every girl likes to have a few bold, bright eyeshadows for evenings out, but neutral eye makeup is the workhorse of most makeup bags. It's easy to wear because it works with all skin tones, and it's polished and professional enough for even the stuffiest of offices. Every makeup line typically has a range of neutral shades, but if you're on a quest to beef up your eyeshadow collection, certain brands have reputations for offering particularly strong neutral options, making them a good place to start the next time you hit the makeup counter.
Stila Cosmetics
Even if you’ve never purchased a product from Stila Cosmetics, you’ve probably noticed its eco-friendly plain cardboard packaging and the cool cartoon Stila girls that adorn many of its makeup palettes. But the brand’s beauty is definitely more than skin-deep – Stila offers great neutral eye makeup shades that work for most skin tones and are perfect for polished office looks or natural “no-makeup” looks for weekends. In particular, Allure Magazine recommends Stila’s Kitten eyeshadow, a shimmery pink champagne color perfect for a soft wash across your lids. Other neutral shades worth checking out include Chinois, a matte cream color; Cloud, a shimmery light gray; and Go Lightly, a brown with a satin finish. If you want more bang for your buck, Stila offers eye shadow palettes that include three or more shades. For a neutral look, you can’t go wrong with the “In the Light” palette.
Bobbi Brown Cosmetics
Celebrity makeup artist Bobbi Brown has always been a cheerleader for neutral eye makeup because she believes that bright, bold colors like purple, turquoise or hot pink overshadow a woman’s natural beauty. It only makes sense that she developed a makeup line full of neutral shadow options that allow your eyes to pop and take center stage instead of your makeup. Bobbi Brown eyeshadow in Bone is a matte off-white perfect for highlighting beneath your eyebrow or adding some brightness to the inner corner of your eye. Wheat is a medium beige shade that works well as a lid color, while mahogany is a dark neutral brown that can help define your crease or your lash line. Bobbi Brown Cosmetics offers eye shadow palettes with neutral shades so your entire eye look is coordinated for you.
Tarte Cosmetics
Tarte Cosmetics is a makeup brand that’s known for its use of cutting-edge natural ingredients and eco-friendly packaging made of recyclable or post-consumer recycled materials, making it ideal for fans of green beauty products. But if you’re into neutral eyeshadows, you may like the brand’s color selection even more. Sephora’s “Beauty and the Blog” recommends Tarte’s NeutralEyes palette, Vol. II, a collection of 10 matte and shimmery neutral shades that can make your eyes pop without creating too dramatic a look. Tarte also offers single eyeshadows in gorgeous neutral colors like Soft Sienna, a mid-tone brown, and Soft Sand, a light taupe color.
Nars
With its sleek black packaging and sometimes scandalous shade names, Nars Cosmetics is a favorite brand of edgy makeup fans everywhere. But while the brand likes to push the envelope, it also offers a wide range of neutral eyeshadows that are office- and school-appropriate. Allure suggests Nars Single Eye Shadow in Blondie, a light taupe shade, as an all-over lid color to cover up blotchy skin. If you’re looking for a shimmery neutral crease color, Ashes to Ashes is a sexy mid-tone brown that works for all skin tones. You can stretch your makeup dollar a little further with Nars’ shadow duos, which come in a bunch of gorgeous neutral colors. The Alhambra duo is great for medium skin tones, while All About Eve works well for fair skin. Dark-skinned gals should give the dark-neutral duo of Cordura a try.
