The Lipstick Colors That Are Perfect Pairings With Blue Eyeshadow

Blue eyeshadow was a fashion staple at some point in every decade from the 1960s through the early aughts, but every single era saw the cosmetic styled differently. In particular, back in the 1980s, blue eyeshadow went hand-in-hand with all of the other big, loud style trends of the day. While there's a time and a place for giant hair, neons, and shoulder pads, these days makeup wearers are looking for a little more balance when making a bold shadow statement. This is especially true where the all-important lip is concerned.

A lot of success with makeup has to do with how well one understands the color wheel, and how to put it all together from head to toe. Generally speaking, colors directly opposite from each other work best together, like red and green, blue and orange, and yellow and purple. However, there's an awful lot of wiggle room when it comes to color, as there are so many shades of each, and they often trend to some degree of warm or cool. Blue, for example, has dozens, if not hundreds, of shades, from sweet and mild powder blue all the way through to ultra-rich royal or midnight hues. Because of these plentiful options, not to mention other color variables like skin tone, outfit shade, and more, it's hardly one-size-fits-all when selecting the ideal lip shade to go with blue eyeshadow. Fortunately, there are many blue-tiful options to choose from.

Just dipping your toes into the waters of blue eyeshadow? A coral lip is a safe bet since orange and blue are directly across from each other on the color wheel. Want to match your look just so? Opt for a navy blue eyeshadow — coral's perfect color pairing — for a truly statement look.

Sometimes the bold eyeshadow needs to be the focus of the face, not the lip. For shadows that contrast with the skin, it's a great idea to stick with a nice nude color to keep the focus on your dramatic eyes. Just be sure to match the undertones (warm or cool) of the lipstick with that of your natural skin tone. 

Bronze is just a skip away from both the brown and orange families, so it only makes sense that such a lip pairs well with darker blue shadows. This a good option for anyone put off by a fully neutral shade but who also wants to avoid lip overkill. 

For people with pinker undertones, a soft pink lip will contrast beautifully with a blue shadow without washing out the complexion. A subtle lip will help to balance out a bold eye so that your shadow isn't too overpowering. The lip color should ideally just enhance your natural lip stain. A matte hue is best if using metallic eyeshadow because sometimes, there can be such a thing as too much shine and sparkle.

A mid to bright pink lipstick can pair perfectly with the cool tones of blue eyeshadow, especially if the shadow is less bold or dark in its hue. Remember that those with warm-toned skin should select a pink with yellow undertones (trending toward red or orange-ish), while people with cool-toned skin should stick with blue-undertoned colors. Not sure what your undertone is? If the veins in your arm have a blueish tint, then your tones are likely cool. If they trend toward green, then your undertone is warm. 

Sometimes understated is just so overrated. Makeup risk-takers who want to be bold can always opt to wear a bright red lip with blue eyeshadow. The same concept goes for a bright pink or deep purple lip color. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but as long as you feel vibrant and beautiful, who really cares?