There's no exaggeration in the phrase "Black Girl Magic." Though it encompasses so many aspects of how popping we are, the beauty of our various velvet hues are still deserving of more. The depth of our skin mixed with jewel-toned eye shadows is nothing short of a masterpiece; celebrity makeup artist Joanna Simkin knows that all too well. The face painter extraordinaire, whose clients include Issa Rae, Amber Rose, and Kerry Washington, is quite familiar with how jewel tones accentuate brown skin. "The contrast between bright colors and deeper skin is eye-catching, and the richness of the skin is complemented beautifully by the bold tones of the shadows," she told Revelist.
But with such vibrant color, creating dimension on the lid is important for deeper skin tones, but it's easy even for makeup newbies. "A simple way to create dimension on the eye is to use your bronzer or contour powder in your crease," she says. "Sweep it on with a fluffy blending brush to really define the hollow of the eye socket, then, using a flat brush, pat a single jewel tone all over the eyelid up to the crease. Softly buff the edge with the fluffy brush."
We compiled a list of 15 of our favorite jewel-toned eye shadows for women of color, including three of Simkin's faves from Urban Decay, Juvia's Place, and Anastasia Beverly Hills. Check out the winners below.
Pat McGrath Labs Mothership III Eyeshadow Palette in Subversive, $125
