Red eyeshadow is a fashion girl favourite for spring. And guess what? It’s surprisingly flattering

It’s also pretty telling when Chanel, the ultimate fashion barometer, releases an entire eye makeup collection – eyeliner, mascara and eyeshadow palette – devoted to the shade for Spring/Summer 2023. You just know that red eye makeup is set to go stratospheric.

And Chanel is not the only brand to jump on the trend. As part of its limited-edition Mitzah collection, Dior has released a 10-hue palette that embraces red-pink, an intense brick-brown and dark burgundy. While both MAC and NARS serve up eyeshadows in the boldest iteration of this primary colour.

Is red eyeshadow flattering?

But let’s take a step back for a moment. Even for bright colour-obsessed beauty editors, red around the eyes can sound pretty intimidating. According to Chanel makeup artist Marco Antonio it all comes down to application but, ultimately, the colour’s warm tones flatter most people’s irises and skin.

“The colour wheel shows that red and green are complementary colours,” Marco says. “By applying red eyeshadow or eyeliner, you can bring out the green or gold tones in your eyes, making them appear brighter and more vibrant. They add warmth and depth to the eyes, creating a sultry, romantic look.”

Remember, too, that red is a versatile colour so you don’t automatically have to get too bright. “It can be worn in a variety of shades, from deep burgundy to cherry red and rose,” says Marco.

How to wear red eyeshadow

To prove the point, his tip for wearing a red eye by day is a light touch and choosing a subtle hue in the colour spectrum rather than an intense pigment hit. “Apply a neutral base eyeshadow to your entire eyelid,” Marco recommends. “This will help the red eyeshadow to blend more easily and look more natural. Choose a light or medium shade, such as coral-red, and use a small eyeshadow brush to apply it to the outer corner of your eyelid, blending into the crease so there are no harsh lines. Finish the look with a coat of mascara on your upper and lower lashes.”

For a night-time look you can turn the traditional concept of a smoky eye on its head by going a few notches deeper. “For intensity, add darker tones of red eyeshadow to the crease of your eyelid or the outer corner,” Marco notes. “Apply a warm brown eyeliner pencil to your lower and upper lash lines, winging it out slightly for a cat-eye effect.”

Equipped with this info, remember that one pass of red eye makeup makes it soft enough to smudge, but don’t go overboard. This is not a shade to pile high on the lids. “Too much red can look garish and overwhelming,” Marco says, adding, “don’t apply red eyeshadow to your lower lash line, either, as it can make eyes look tired or irritated.” In other words, you’re aiming for edgy but chic.

In the same way that an offbeat veil of denim blue eyeshadow went mainstream, expect red eye makeup to become our favourite new cool-girl fix. If you’re already drawn to its charms, here’s our pick of the best red eye makeup to experiment with…

For more from Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR’s Acting Associate Beauty Director, follow her on @fiembleton.