Soft Blue Eyeshadow for Fall

In 2020, Pantone named Classic Blue its Color of the Year, a deep, calm blue it described as dependable and steady. Blue has been creeping back onto eyelids ever since, but in a much softer way than the bright shadows of the 80s. This fall it looks like faded denim, slate and navy, colors that feel as easy as a blue sweater. Blue also makes the whites of your eyes look brighter, which is a nice trick on a tired morning.

The first row is blue eyeshadows, mostly in easy cream and liquid formulas. Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Tailored Denim is a soft matte dusty blue, the one I would start with. MAKEUP BY MARIO Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow in Slate is a blue gray that stays put. Anastasia Beverly Hills Glidr in Star is a metallic sky blue stick. VIOLETTE_FR Yeux Paint in Dieu Bleu is a matte royal blue that works as a shadow or a liner. MAC Dazzleshadow in Bedazzled Denim is a deep navy with pearls. Bobbi Brown's dual-ended stick pairs a shimmering beige with a rich navy. Urban Decay 24/7 Glaze-On in Frost Boss shifts from light blue to lavender, and Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeshadow in Float is a teal blue shimmer.

A quick test: sweep a soft blue across your lid and look at it next to a window. If it makes your eyes look clearer, it is your shade.

Navy eyeliner is the quietest way to wear blue. From a distance it reads as black, but up close it is softer and makes the eyes look brighter.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On in Sabbath is a deep matte navy, creamy and long lasting. Marc Jacobs Beauty Drawn This Way in Hit It is a waterproof gel liner you can sharpen. Bobbi Brown 24 Hour Kajal in Deep Navy is soft and smudgeable for a smoky line. Fenty Beauty Fine Linez in The Navy is good for tightlining and the waterline. Valentino Colorgraph in Deep Blue is a dual-ended gel pencil with a shimmer. Laura Mercier Caviar Tightline in Bleu Marine is made for the lash line. Sarah Creal Eyes Up in Maritime is a midnight navy designed for sensitive and hooded eyes, and Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal in Navy Noir is a creamy, satin liner.

Pairing tip: line the upper lash line with navy, then smudge it with a small brush. It gives definition without the harshness of black.

What I would skip: navy liner on the lower waterline if your eyes water easily. It smudges into shadows. Keep it to the upper lash line, which is more flattering anyway.

A colored mascara is the most playful way to wear blue, and it is easier than it sounds. On dark lashes, a blue mascara reads as a deep, glossy shade, only a little brighter in the light.

Size Up in Blue is a vibrant cobalt volumizing mascara. Benefit BADgal BANG in Power Blue is a volumizing formula that lasts all day, and Wild Plum from the same line is a berry option. YSL Lash Clash in Electric Blue has an oversized brush for big volume. Kosas Soulgazer comes in Enigma, a blackened blue, and Bewitch, a night violet, and it is made for sensitive eyes. Dior Diorshow Overvolume in Overblue is an electric blue that does not transfer, and Marc Jacobs Beauty Flashes in Indigo gives long, defined lashes.

How to use them: apply one coat of black mascara first, then a coat of blue on the tips. You get depth at the root and color at the ends.

What I would skip: a bright blue mascara with a bright blue shadow. It is too much blue in one place. Pair a colored mascara with neutral lids, or a blue shadow with black mascara.

Start with one soft blue shadow or a navy liner, whichever feels easier. Wear it with your usual makeup and see how it changes your eyes. Next, try a blue mascara on the tips of your lashes for a weekend. Keep the rest of your face simple, with a neutral lip and a little blush. Soft blue eyeshadow is the kind of color that looks thoughtful rather than loud, and it goes with every fall outfit, from denim to navy wool to a camel coat. A cream stick is the easiest start, since you can blend it with a fingertip in seconds.