This eye maxxing technique uses the colour wheel to make your eyes pop
Have you ever stared at yourself in the mirror wondering how to make your eyes truly stand out? Since the summer of 2026, a makeup technique called eye maxxing has been taking over social media with a precise, colour-theory-based answer. The principle relies on playing with contrasts between your iris colour and your makeup shades.
Choosing your colour based on your eye colour: the heart of the eye maxxing method
The logic behind this trend is straightforward: to intensify your natural eye colour, you need to select a shade that sits opposite it on the colour wheel. The greater the gap between the two colours, the more striking the contrast. That mechanism is what gives eye maxxing its power.
Aliénor, a professional makeup artist specialising in contrast-based makeup, breaks down this approach on her Instagram account. She explains that two broad logics coexist: people with light eyes benefit from using darker shades, while those with dark eyes achieve a bold effect with brighter, more luminous colours on their lids.
Which shades work for each eye colour?
For green eyes, the shades to reach for sit in the red family: burgundy, plum, aubergine violet and rose are particularly recommended. These tones, positioned opposite green on the colour wheel, create an immediate and flattering contrast.
Blue eyes, meanwhile, are best enhanced by shades close to orange: copper orange, terracotta, bronze and rust are all effective choices. Brown eyes, on the other hand, find their best match in blue-toned shades such as electric blue, turquoise and cobalt.
For hazel eyes, the recommended complementary colours are violet, blue and burgundy. All of these pairings are rooted in colour wheel oppositions, allowing each iris colour to fully express itself.
A softer take with analogous colours
Not everyone who wants to try this technique is looking for a high-contrast result. For a more subtle finish, analogous colours offer an interesting alternative. Sitting adjacent to the main colour on the colour wheel, they create a natural harmony that intensifies eye colour without any jarring effect.
Blue eyes can therefore lean into violet, mauve or slate grey. For green eyes, gold, champagne and warm brown are the recommended shades. Brown eyes pair beautifully with gold, bronze, copper and plum. Finally, hazel eyes can play up gold, champagne and copper for a naturally luminous finish.
How to do eye maxxing step by step
Putting this method into practice follows a clear progression. Here are the key steps to structure your makeup look:
- Apply a neutral base across the entire lid before anything else.
- Blend a transition shade into the crease to prepare the base.
- Draw a darker liner along the upper lash line and apply a dark shadow along the lower lash line.
- Add pencil to the waterline and a luminous shade to the inner corner for extra intensity.
- Place a copper shadow at the centre of the mobile lid to amplify the brightness of your gaze.
For those who prefer a more understated approach, simply starting with an eyeliner in the complementary colour of your irises is enough. That single step can make your eyes stand out without requiring a full makeup look. It is a great way to test eye maxxing before committing to the whole technique.
In this way, the method adapts to every skill level, from a light everyday look to a more polished finish. The key is always to start from the right base colour, the one that matches your irises, and then choose the shade that will truly make your gaze shine.
