Bold moves: eye-makeup risks worth taking

If you sported bright-garnet shadow, you might look like you'd just had a good cry; red is a tough eye-makeup color to transition into real life. Dimmick says, If you are dark-skinned, you could pull off a true scarlet; try a tone in the ruby range. To adopt the style in a subtle way, create a cat-eye look with Illamasqua's new Precision Ink liner in Havoc; it's a burgundy-brown that goes on effortlessly. It beautifully highlights green tones in hazel or brown eyes.

Though it's the of-the-moment hue in everything from home décor to nail polish, orange on your eyes may seem daunting. Yet Dimmick is cheery about the hue: Orange would work for green or blue eyes. In general, look for the opposite hue on the color wheel to make your eye color pop. A wearable version can be found in the Tangerine Tango Twist Eyeliner, part of the just-released Sephora + Pantone Universe Color of the Year Eyeliner set. It's unexpectedly flattering, brightening complexions immediately.

Though some may fear it will cast an unhealthy glow, Dimmick says, If you have blue eyes, yellow can work perfectly; try a golden shimmer powder. If you are devoted to it, go ahead and use the yellow pencil but be sure to ground the poppy hue by lining eyes with a black or deep-brown eyeliner, then applying a yellow shadow color on the lid. Glo tested the just-out Tarina Tarantino Eye Dream shadow in Mr. Gold (part of a duo sold with, yes, Mr. Silver). The shimmery yellow-gold goes on like a dream and is a stellar choice for a night on the town.

Yes, minty eye shadow may bring back memories of the '70s, and not in a good way. However, this is a great choice for brown eyes, says Dimmick. Go for more of an emerald-green—think jewel-tones, and make sure you're defining the lid first with a black liner. If you'd like to give this look a try, Covergirl Queen Collection Vivid Impact Eyeliner in Jade is a spot-on choice. The tone is deep and rich and it has just a hint of shimmer.

Again, for some of us, indigo will bring back unfortunate memories of roller-rinks and feathered hair, but this hue can be worn in the modern world. Says Dimmick, Blue-eyed people should generally not do blue because it will make your eye color look dull. He points out that sky-inspired makeup will work with brown eyes of any tone. If you're feeling a bit blue, Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Electric is a great place to start experimenting—the color is modern but not too extreme.

Purple seemed to make an appearance in nearly every Paris show. How to bring this trend down to earth? For brown or green eyes, it's going to really work for you; just wear is as a liner, says Dimmick. The new Dolce & Gabbana Crayon Intense Eyeliner in Lilac is just the thing to begin a purple reign. You can infuse color into your eye makeup routine without being too over-the-top, and this pencil works for both day and night.

If you're truly inspired by the colorful-eye trend, and would like to mix it up, then heed Dimmick's advice. He says, The key to wearing multiple shades on the eye is proper blending. He suggests sticking to two shades. I like to keep the lighter color in a shimmer, and the darker one in a matte, adds Dimmick. For example, try a matte-finish purple on the eye crease or lashline, yellow in shimmer or satin on lid. The good news about experimenting with hues? You can always start over after a sweep of makeup remover.