What You Need To Know To Pull Off Fiery Orange Eyeshadow

This season, orange is taking the stage as fun twist on the traditional neutral eye, and it's clear why. This shade is only a step away from the less saturated browns and pinks we're used to, and it's flattering on just about any skin tone and eye color. If you're looking to shake up your everyday makeup, orange is a great stepping stone into experimenting with bolder color. With that being said, however, there are still a couple things to keep in mind before you fully commit to the look.

Incorporating bold colors into your makeup can be intimidating, to say the least. A slightly overlined lip, mismatched shade, or unblended eyeshadow might leave you feeling more like a kid that got into their parent's vanity than the fashion-forward trendsetter you were hoping for. Luckily, there are ways to incorporate a highly saturated cosmetic accent without finding yourself in clown territory. Keep reading to learn how to pull it off, and ensure you'll create a look that leaves you feeling comfortable and confident.

The first step in pulling off a new makeup look is nailing down your undertone. This will guarantee that the orange shadow you choose doesn't clash with your skin, and instead blends seamlessly with the rest of your face. Look to your veins on the inside of your arm as a guide — if they appear more blue, you're cooler toned. Try out peachy shades that veer a bit more pink than yellow. If they look more green, you're warm. Go for true orange and terracotta shades.

From here, it's all about the pairings. Many people fall into the trap of mixing several competing elements on the face. Unless you're going for something maximalist, it's best to let one part of your look shine, and in this case, it's the eyes. Complete your beat with a minimal, natural base, and add a clear gloss or balm on the lips. If you still feel like you're a bit too far out of your comfort zone, consider adding some lashes and liner to help ground the look, or try out something a bit less saturated to start. Once you get comfortable, you can get more experimental.

If you're used to neutral makeup looks, you're likely familiar with the concepts of shade and highlight — darker contour to hollow out the cheekbones, light shades on high points like the nose and brow bridge — but when it comes to bolder colors like orange, you may have to think back to your color theory lessons in art class. Just in case you need a refresher, complementary colors sit across the color wheel from one another and provide contrast, while analogous colors sit next to each other and seamlessly work together (via MasterClass).

Orange is complementary to blues and analogous with reds and yellows, so stick to those pairings to ensure your eyeshadow look works together as you start experimenting. Keep your eye look in the same family for something wearable — gold accents to play up the yellow, a splash of deeper red in the crease to provide some depth — or add a bit of blue on the bottom lash line to create some contrast. From there, feel free to play. This trend is all about bringing the fun back to makeup, so use your face as your canvas and let your creativity run free.