Taupe eye shadow is a grey-brown hybrid shadow that looks beautiful on the eyes.
It often feels like few people get excited over taupe. It’s one of the most underrated eye shadows, yet oftentimes, it’s deemed as “dull” and “uninteresting” or just overlooked altogether.
I disagree. I love a good taupe!
Taupe eye shadows add dimension to the eye area and can be used alone to achieve a no-makeup look or amplified with liners to look more dramatic.
With the ever-present no-makeup look going nowhere, taupe eye shadows give you the appearance of alluring eyes without making you look all dolled up. If you’re interested in giving this trend a try for yourself, here are my 24 best taupe eye shadows you can buy in 2022.
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Types of Taupes
Taupes come in two main types. Shimmer and matte.
Shimmery taupe eyeshadows are best for more glamorous looks. If you’re seeking a sultry, playful vibe, make shimmer taupe your go-to. It’s a great way to add a sparkly touch to your eyes. Simply sweep it over your lids, draw on some eyeliner, and apply a few lashings of mascara for a glam, going-out look.
And dare I say, a shimmer taupe may just be where I break the rules and say wear it at any age!!!
I know I’m always crying foul about using shimmer on anyone over the age of about 35, but hey, sometimes it’s fun to play your wild card, right? And for me, that wild card is a good solid shimmery taupe. Life in the fast lane!
Now, you can keep things more minimalistic by steering clear of mascara and eyeliner altogether with a wash of taupe, too, if you like.
Matte taupe eyeshadows are the epitome of a simple yet stylish finish. For the days when you’re feeling lazy or you’re pressed for time, sweep your lids with a matte taupe shadow for a quick makeup look.
Or if you’re creating a soft, no-makeup look (or even slightly bending the rules on some old-period looks) a little taupe can go a long way!
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Best Taupe Eyeshadow Products
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Viseart Neutral Matte 01 Palette
The one and only Viseart Neutral Matte 01 Palette.
Probably the palette I’ve gone through more of than any other matte eyeshadow palette. For the makeup lover and artist alike.
It features 12 removable neutral, smooth textured shadows in matte shades. The pigments are super-impressive and vary from white and cream through to dark brown and black.
Thanks to its finely milled powder, all shades blend seamlessly into one another for professional results at home, or on the job. Definitely my #1 pick of the bunch for neutral palettes. I love this palette!!
Anastasia Beverly Hills Warm Taupe Eyeshadow
With its titanium taupe shade and the perfect amount of warmth, this is a great transition color with beautiful pigment. It also blends really well and lasts all day. And as is the case with taupe eye shadow in general, it works great with any other shade.
Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette
I love this palette, and use it on myself all the time.
It’s a super versatile palette that contains six taupe-hued matte neutrals. Perfect for all skin types. Urban Decay has presented us with a massively popular little palette – and reviewers and makeup artists alike praise these shadows for their staying power and blendability. It’s everything you need to create a dressed-up or dressed-down eye.
Tarte Tartlette In Bloom Clay Eyeshadow Palette
This Tarte palette offers everything you need to create a chic makeup look, featuring a combination of micro shimmers and mattes in brown shades. The formula is also infused with Amazonian clay for seamless blending and intense results without a trace of chalkiness. Think stunning smokey eyes!
Keep an eye out (no pun intended!), as I have experienced some Tarte eyeshadow pigments oxidizing and going warm on the skin. So be sure to try this out on the face you’re applying it to so there are no unexpected surprises later in the day.
Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Eyeshadow in The Sophisticate
The Sophisticate Luxury Eyeshadow Palette features a quad of matte neutral eyeshadow shades in cream, tan, taupe, and chocolate shades for a stunning low-key look that suits every season. Another favorite of mine – these CT palettes are super silky and fine powdered eyeshadows.
Bobbi Brown Real Nudes Palette
This luxurious neutral eyeshadow palette offers gorgeous golden tones, soft browns, and taupes. It’s all you need to create a range of beautiful looks and may well be my pick of the nude makeup palettes. The BB Palette contains a variety of matte, shimmer, and sparkle finishes. It’s easy to apply and lasts all day.
Japonesque Velvet Touch Eyeshadow Palette
Buying Options
Amazon
These soft, warm hues make up this versatile Japonesque eyeshadow palette for minimalistic, neutral-toned looks. Soft, intense, matte, and shimmery, this palette offers everything you need to create your desired look with soft, nude shadows.
You can also apply the matte shadows to your eyebrow hairs to enhance their appearance, and the highlighter to your cheekbones to accentuate them.
I have this particular Japonesque eyeshadow palette. It’s sleekly presented with 8 neutral tones, both matte and shimmer. There are some warmer tones in there, too, to help create a soft, neutral look for day or night.
MAC Eyeshadow in Coquette
MAC presents a highly pigmented powder that elevates your eyes and stays on all day with non-creasing wear. This eyeshadow blends into the lids and other colors easily for a stunning finish.
MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Tailor Gray
MAC changed the eyeshadow game when they released their Paint Pot range. Creamy and luxurious, Mac Pro Paint Pot in Tailor’s Gray offers a light-taupe creamy finish. I love Tailor’s Gray as much for a base for your eye makeup as a gorgeous, light taupe eyeshadow itself.
It’s easy to apply, blend, and diffuse perfectly as desired. It starts to show signs of creasing after around 15 hours of wear, so you can expect to get your money’s worth from this one.
Have I mentioned just how fantastic Paint Pot is? If you haven’t used this eyeshadow marathon runner yet, then you must try it!
Bare Minerals Mineralist Ultranatural Eyeshadow
Embrace a natural, soft and feminine makeup look with this talc-free, vegan eyeshadow featuring six blendable taupe and cool brown and golden shades in several finishes. Thanks to its creamy texture, it’s easily blendable and buildable. It delivers all-day, crease-free wear.
Ilia Beauty The Necessary Eyeshadow Palette in Cool Nude
Ilia is becoming a new fan-favorite, and with talc-free, cruelty-free, vegan products such as this one, it’s not hard to see why.
This eyeshadow palette offers 6 soft shades in warm, almost pinkish browns. Both in matte and metallic finishes.
Colourpop That’s Taupe Eyeshadow Palette
Who said there’s such a thing as too much taupe? Noone! Cause there’s not – and Colourpop prove it here with the palette dedicated entirely to shades of taupe. Soft matte taupes, and stunning shimmer taupe tones and mushroom pewter shades plus some deeper rich chocolate browns, I suspect this will be the palette you go back to time after time after time.
Enjoy!
e.l.f Perfect 1- Eyeshadow Palette in Summer Breeze
The e.l.f. Perfect 10 Eyeshadow Palette in Summer Breeze contains a mix of ten gorgeous matte and shimmer eyeshadows perfect for achieving a subtle or bold daily makeup look at such a reasonable price. It also has a range of tones suitable to go with any eye colors. These neutral shades are perfect for shading, highlighting, or defining the eyes.
I have this palette at home. Love it (can you tell I have a thing for taupes?)
Keep it in your makeup bag, keep it in your kit – it’s an everyday staple.
Revlon Colorstay Cream Eyeshadow in Espresso
In just one swipe, this espresso-hued cream eyeshadow offers saturated color with a lifeline of up to 24 hours.
And don’t be fooled by the color of the image – this really doesn’t do this strong taupe creme eyeshadow any justice whatsoever!
There’s even a built-in eye shadow brush in the cap to simply the application process. Make this your first choice when you’re attempting a smokey eye. It’s also a great dupe for MAC’s Paint Pot (sshhhh!)
By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Frozen Quartz
This creamy eyeshadow stick glides on the lids and blends in beautifully. The color also doesn’t crease and lasts for hours of wear.
Bright and shimmery, Frozen quartz is a stunning pink/taupe shade that illuminates the eyes in a truly dazzling way.
Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon Eyeshadow Pencil in Dark Pearl
A gorgeous, rich pewter taupe shade, this eyeshadow pencil certainly adds an understated glimmer to the lid for daytime use. This taupe dries beautifully for a satin finish and refuses to crease.
Keep a good eye out for this pencil, as it can be hard to come by. It’s a great formula for adding a subtle shimmer to your lids and the perfect shade for a minimal makeup look.
Mally Beauty Evercolor Eyeshadow Stick in Timeless Taupe
This eyeshadow stick from Mally glides evenly over the eyes with little pressure to deliver a subtle yet stunning eye makeup look.
And what I love about Timeless Taupe is that in a seemingly growing world of shimmers and sheens and satins and sparkles, this baby is pure matte.
Such a gorgeous, rich matte taupe. You might call it timeless?
It lasts through sweaty, oily lids, so no worries if you’re going on vacation or attending a dance party. This formula will get you through the heat!
Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow in Lots O’ Latte
Clinique’s eyeshadow pencil delivers a soft pinky/taupe with hints of silver. This shimmery shade wears wear for both night and day. With the support of your favorite eye primer, this shadow holds strong for hours of wear. Plus, it covers the lids with one quick sweep, thanks to its chubby! (thick) design.
Julep Eyeshadow 101 in Shimmery Taupe
Simulate a smoky, sultry, slept-in shadow look with this shimmery taupe eyeshadow. Simply sweep it over your lids. Then, use the other end of the stick, which features a flat-tipped brush to fade out the shadow for a seamless finish. This shadow lasts up to 12 hours.
Armani Liquid Eye Tint in Cedar
With its soft and velvety texture, this creamy eyeshadow blends beautifully with other hues. It’s a stunning matte shade that makes the perfect transition color or the ideal shadow to dab in the center of your lids. The perfect base to go full drama over the top of, or to keep on its own for subtle definition.
Cedar is a cool taupe tone, and Armani assures you it will last all day long.
Maybelline Expert Eye Wear in Made for Mocha
While not strictly a taupe eyeshadow, this shade is often used by makeup artists thanks to its versatility. Besides blending beautifully, this shadow lasts for up to 14 hours. It’s best for those wanting to achieve a richer, slightly warmer and deeper version of your standard taupe eyeshadow. Love this shade.
MAC Eyeshadow in Satin Taupe
This eyeshadow has a gorgeous purple-gray hue and a hint of shimmer to create a dazzling look for an upcoming cocktail party. If you’re looking for a taupe eyeshadow with cool undertones, look no further than Mac satin taupe.
Jones Road Just A Sec Bright Eyes in Cool Taupe
Buying Options
Jones Road
One of my favorite new discoveries of the past year or so. From the makeup queen herself, Bobbi Brown, I love love love this product, this shade, it’s super silky smopth and soft.
Makeup lovers love it for its silky and shiny formula.
Keep it subtle and washy or build it up for a more intense multi-dimensional glow on your lids.
Just sublime.
Plus its like skincare for your lids, too!
Honest Beauty Get It Together Eyeshadow Palette
Seemingly made without anything at all, this clean palette is a must-have if clean beauty is your jam. Featuring 10 shades of warm tones, taupes, and black, this delicious palette will have you covered for all looks from natural no-makeup, to a full-on evening glam or smoky eye.
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Taupe eyeshadows really are the best for acing up your makeup game.
Whether you want to don a no-makeup look or achieve a glitzy evening appearance, taupe eyeshadow is a versatile product for switching up or down a look. Best of all, these eyeshadows pair beautifully with a variety of cool or warm shades.
Overall, taupe eyeshadow is worth keeping in your makeup kit or personal makeup bag at home, as it really is a staple for achieving a variety of classic, flattering looks, for all moods.
Featured Image by Kelly Sikkema
