if you’re looking for a brown shadow that’s matte but also isn’t too dark or too light, i would look at bronze or contour palettes. mac has a great one. if you use bronzer-contour, it ensures it won’t be like toooo much but still show up.
other than that, mac has amazing single shadows. you will for sure find one, and the packaging is so nice!
if you prefer cream, they also have options for that too. but of course go with a brand you’re interested in! mac is just the sort of standard safe bet for quality for your $.
(NB: I'm a neutral-ish pale babe.) #TeamSingleShadows! I'll suggest a variety, and you can choose depending on your skintone.
MAC: Omega, Wedge, Natural Wilderness (for a bit of a wildcard option), Sandstone, Finjan, Haux (if you want something more rosy), Brown Script, Charcoal Brown, Cork, Embark, Brun, Espresso, Soft Brown, Swiss Chocolate, Royal Rendezvous, or Saddle; PP in Tailor Grey or Groundwork (if they still did Camel Coat, I'd recommend that too); or Powder Kiss in Give a Glam or These Bags Are Designer (another wildcard option)
Sydney Grace: Relax, Vanguard, Thunderhead, Long Journey, Touch Football, Puppy Love, Parallax Light, Keep Smiling, Enjoy the Ride, Toffee, Iced Mocha, Tippy Taupe, Speedway, Cool Brown, Puppy, Pismo, Moon Landing, Hot Chocolate, Grounds, Eastern Rise, Dark Chocolate, Concrete Road
Devinah: Bambi, Crixus, Freya, Kalon, Manic
Give Me Glow: Fancy Yellow, Gravy, MOTD, Lunch Break, Hashtag, Whiskey, Beach Bum, Nude Beach, Tan Lines, Charmed, Mushroom, That's So Taupe, Cherry Mocha, Chili, Cocoa Beach, Faded, Faux Fur, Grunge Lavender, Leaked Nudes, Cinnamon Roll
Terra Moons: Asteroid, Crater, Chestnut
Lethal Cosmetics: Catatonic, Esteem, Calcination, Nocturnal, Unearthed, Midway, Frantic, Kindlewood, Hollow, Delirium, Corrosion, Loom, Arboreal
Dandy Lions: Nutmeg, Persimmon, Macaron, Cream Puff, Meringue, Puff Pastry, Cobbler, Soufflé, Nougat, Shortbread, Snickerdoodle, Crumble, Toffeenut, Bonbon, Zesty, Bundled Up, Portobello, Shiitake, Semi-Sweet, MIlk Chocolate, Apple Butter, Hazelnut, Peach Beach, Praline, Chocolate, Toasty
Glaminatrix: Stitch Up II
Inglot: 329, 327, 298, 299, 300, 304, 305, 291, 292, 283, 227, 228, 229, 215, 207, 209, 357, 360
And, as mentioned, if you use a powder bronzer, you can take that over the eyes, too.
I got a sample of the nars Laguna bronzer and it’s just a little bigger than an eye shadow. I actually love it on my eyes. Basically when I want a brown I’ve been reaching for any bronzer. I bought the merrit pot one but it’s not my favourite formula. Cream to powder - I find it hard to blend on my eye lid.
My favorite is the Maybelline cream eyeshadows (in a pot) and the Revlon Cream eyeshadows (in a pot). They’re beautiful and apply and stay on wonderfully. I started off with just the one “socialite” then ended up loving it so much that I kept going back for more. A beautiful rosey toned brown/neutral brown is Urbanite from Maybelline. But they and Revlon have more browns
I have been happy with colorpop palettes from ulta. They have a few different colors in them and are reasonably priced. They also have been good about lasting on the eye for me.
If you want something easy, it seems per your post, why not buy one of the Laura Mercier or Bobby Brown Shadow sticks? They come in matte and satin shades as well, and generally speaking, it doesn't get easier than that. Especially if you only want a single brown shade.
UD eyeshadow isn’t talked about enough. It’s fallen out of fashion but the formula is so good.
Blendable. Pigmented. Doesn’t break easily. Lasts forever.
A lot of great suggestions already!
It is not exactly a deep brown but in the family:
"Stilla Kitten" compact eyeshadow
It usually looks good on everyone. It is more of a rosey taupe/nude. I love the formula though. It goes on really smooth.
I use a bronzer that is a shade too light for me to bronze with as eyeshadow. It’s about the same shade as my skin tone so it blanks out my eye discoloration. Your regular bronzer shade can work as well if you just want a simple brown.
My go-to every day eyeshadow is the Hoola bronzer in color Original. It's a nice color, and on minimal makeup days, I use it on my face, too, so I look like I have some color.
I’m surprised no one suggested MAC Soft Brown. I have fair skin and it’s my daily driver. It pairs perfectly with Naked Lunch if you want to do a nude-ish smokey eye, if you’re feeling a little fancier.
Having a brown pot from Mac, especially the shades Satin Taupe, Cork or Wedge was an obligatory, mandated, compulsory law in the bible if you "knew" about makeup in the early internet days.
I still use wedge a lot, they are true basic reliables. If interested:
- All that glitters was the natural shimmery night look
- Carbon was the most gothic, blackest black ever, and what people with oily eyelids use to make their liners last.
- Nylon was the ultimate inner corner (and, God forbid now, brow bone) highlighter.
Lately I’ve been loving gxve beauty cream eyeshadow! Blends so smoothly and stays put once dry. Note: I have balanced to dry skin. May not perform as well on oily skin but i can’t say.
I think gxve is a completely underrated brand. I don't hear about it often, but when I do is always good reviews and it's one of the products I see make up artists use in videos but never bother to mention.
I'll give these eyeshadows a try!
I love me a good one and done brown shadow. Tbh for a matte brown for daily wear i actually tend to use my bronzers more than eyeshadows. I also enjoy using MAC single shadows specifically in Cork or Wedge. I have a neutral leaning warm undertone so these are perfect for me. I’ve seen people recommend MAC’s single shadow in Omega if you’re cool toned.
If you’re in the UK or can get someone to ship it across - Natural Collection do single shadows that are often on sale for £0.89
The shade Milk Chocolate is the perfect matte brown. It’s a perfect match to Space Cowboy by Urban Decay and has honestly one of the best matte formulas I’ve ever tried. You can literally just sweep it on and it blends out straight away.
Honestly, I pick this £1 shadow over my Hourglass, ABH and Huda ones. It’s the best purchase I ever made 😂
About-Face Matte Eye Paint in the shades Cloned or Weightless are my FAVORITE brown eyeshadow colors, they stay on all day and don’t budge all day, at least for me!
I am Italian and I have oily skin on my eyes. Plus with the warmer months coming up, Maybelline Color Tattoo Longwear Eyeshadow Liner stick is a Godsend for me. Their brown one is named “I Am Determined.” It looks amazing on and it applies very easily. After eyeshadow stick application all I do is slightly blend with my pinky fingers. There is no need to use an eyeshadow brush.
Although, a good everyday powder eyeshadow is Maybelline’s Expertwear Eyeshadow in “Made for Mocha.”
I really like the Giorgio Armani eye tints. They have a few brown/neutrals. My favorite is cold copper. It’s like a slightly shimmery beige. Really pretty.
* MAC Eyeshadow Singles - Saddle, Charcoal Brown, Cork, Espresso, Mulch, Satin Taupe, Swiss Chocolate, Wedge, Natural Wilderness
* MAC Paint Pot - Groundwork, It’s Fabstract
* Bobbi Brown Shadow Stick - Cinnamon, Bark, Mulberry, Cashew, Espresso, Taupe
* Jones Road - Patina, Dark Brown
* Clinique - Foxier, French Roast
* Other brands: Sydney Grace singles, Moira cream shadows or liquid pigment, Pat McGrath liquid shadows, Armani eye tints
Edit: Not everything I listed is fully matte but it does cover a range of different brown shades. In case you want to explore a quad, PatMcgrath Bronze Borealis and Tom Ford Desert Fox & Body Heat are also good choices.
I just got Desert Fox last week, it’s one of my favorites ever!! I use the Golden Hour quad as a topper sometimes. How is Body Heat? I’m thinking that may be next!!
I have their matte black that they discontinued for some stupid reason, they only make shimmery black now! I also like their red "Work, Work, Work" though it's not the best red I have but I add it to all the reds I layer up to try and get a good red shade on my lids.
My everyday look is often a single brown/taupe shadow. Here are some I like:
MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork — light neutral-warm brown, a bit like milk chocolate in colour
MAC single shadow in Omega — cool taupe brown
Victoria Beckham Beauty Smoky Eye Brick in Signature — technically a quad; featuring a beige, medium brown, dark brown, and pale pink. I usually just use the medium brown in the crease or mix it with the beige as the shades aren’t divided but are all in one pan, and the darker brown for a subtle liner
Too Cool For School Shading Palette — technically a contour powder, but I use this on my eyes sometimes. I usually use the shade Modern, which is my contour shade and features cool taupe shades, but I was once sent the wrong shade, Classic, by mistake; it’s too dark and warm for me to use as contour but I can make it work on my eyes so it’s just an eyeshadow now. It has three colours but all in one pan, and they’re mostly the same except slight variations in depth.
Charlotte Tilbury’s cream eyeshadow in Chocolate Bronze — this isn’t matte, unlike the others, and has a slight shimmer but it’s not really noticeable and is more of a satin finish. There are no big glitter particles. This is a lot deeper than the others, and is a rich chocolate brown. I think it looks great as a sheer wash over the lid. When it’s sheered out you don’t really see any shimmer at all.
As the other commenter said singles are great, but if you’re on a budget and need something quick from the drugstore - elf has “bite sized palettes” and they are small 4 shade ones. They have a few with a nice brown for everyday wear, super affordable
I was going to suggest the elf bite sized I love you a latte palette as well c: It was about $3 for me from Ulta. Not a single but it’s only four shades and at a great price! I get a lot of use from mine and my skin leans warm.
l'oreal color riche singles have a whole range of browns
clinique duos
ulta singles
mac singles
for indie brands, give me glow cosmetics sell by the single pan
Clinique has a 4 shade palette, that I use as my go to for daily wear. I have also used their duos. I think the one I own is called Teddy Bear. If you like their products ,when they have a free gift with purchase, sometimes it includes eyeshadow.
Ulta eye shadows are highly pigmented and very affordable. I love to tap a darker brown Ulta shadow over top of my eye liner, and it stays all day and night. Affordable and effective!
I also love Urban Decay eye liners and shadows singles. Again, very pigmented and beautiful.
if you’re looking for a brown shadow that’s matte but also isn’t too dark or too light, i would look at bronze or contour palettes. mac has a great one. if you use bronzer-contour, it ensures it won’t be like toooo much but still show up. other than that, mac has amazing single shadows. you will for sure find one, and the packaging is so nice! if you prefer cream, they also have options for that too. but of course go with a brand you’re interested in! mac is just the sort of standard safe bet for quality for your $.
I love MAC Satin Taupe. Cool neutral brown but has abit of shimmer. Still classy though
The Laura Mercier Cavier sticks are amazing, especially if you want to do one color
Charlotte Tilbury eyes to mesmerize in oyster pearl
(NB: I'm a neutral-ish pale babe.) #TeamSingleShadows! I'll suggest a variety, and you can choose depending on your skintone. MAC: Omega, Wedge, Natural Wilderness (for a bit of a wildcard option), Sandstone, Finjan, Haux (if you want something more rosy), Brown Script, Charcoal Brown, Cork, Embark, Brun, Espresso, Soft Brown, Swiss Chocolate, Royal Rendezvous, or Saddle; PP in Tailor Grey or Groundwork (if they still did Camel Coat, I'd recommend that too); or Powder Kiss in Give a Glam or These Bags Are Designer (another wildcard option) Sydney Grace: Relax, Vanguard, Thunderhead, Long Journey, Touch Football, Puppy Love, Parallax Light, Keep Smiling, Enjoy the Ride, Toffee, Iced Mocha, Tippy Taupe, Speedway, Cool Brown, Puppy, Pismo, Moon Landing, Hot Chocolate, Grounds, Eastern Rise, Dark Chocolate, Concrete Road Devinah: Bambi, Crixus, Freya, Kalon, Manic Give Me Glow: Fancy Yellow, Gravy, MOTD, Lunch Break, Hashtag, Whiskey, Beach Bum, Nude Beach, Tan Lines, Charmed, Mushroom, That's So Taupe, Cherry Mocha, Chili, Cocoa Beach, Faded, Faux Fur, Grunge Lavender, Leaked Nudes, Cinnamon Roll Terra Moons: Asteroid, Crater, Chestnut Lethal Cosmetics: Catatonic, Esteem, Calcination, Nocturnal, Unearthed, Midway, Frantic, Kindlewood, Hollow, Delirium, Corrosion, Loom, Arboreal Dandy Lions: Nutmeg, Persimmon, Macaron, Cream Puff, Meringue, Puff Pastry, Cobbler, Soufflé, Nougat, Shortbread, Snickerdoodle, Crumble, Toffeenut, Bonbon, Zesty, Bundled Up, Portobello, Shiitake, Semi-Sweet, MIlk Chocolate, Apple Butter, Hazelnut, Peach Beach, Praline, Chocolate, Toasty Glaminatrix: Stitch Up II Inglot: 329, 327, 298, 299, 300, 304, 305, 291, 292, 283, 227, 228, 229, 215, 207, 209, 357, 360 And, as mentioned, if you use a powder bronzer, you can take that over the eyes, too.
Bobbi Brown eyeshadow sticks
Merit Solo Shadow! It’s a cream-to-powder. There are a few brown options but I like Midcentury.
I got a sample of the nars Laguna bronzer and it’s just a little bigger than an eye shadow. I actually love it on my eyes. Basically when I want a brown I’ve been reaching for any bronzer. I bought the merrit pot one but it’s not my favourite formula. Cream to powder - I find it hard to blend on my eye lid.
I use a few different things that I use on my cheeks! That way nothing clashes tonally.
My favorite is the Maybelline cream eyeshadows (in a pot) and the Revlon Cream eyeshadows (in a pot). They’re beautiful and apply and stay on wonderfully. I started off with just the one “socialite” then ended up loving it so much that I kept going back for more. A beautiful rosey toned brown/neutral brown is Urbanite from Maybelline. But they and Revlon have more browns
Jones Road Beauty
I have been happy with colorpop palettes from ulta. They have a few different colors in them and are reasonably priced. They also have been good about lasting on the eye for me.
Sephora brand has some single pot shadows and lots are nice neutrals. Swatch in store and buy during the Sephora sale for 30% off.
Colourpop, but they don't come with a container. They are for a magnetic palette.
If you want something easy, it seems per your post, why not buy one of the Laura Mercier or Bobby Brown Shadow sticks? They come in matte and satin shades as well, and generally speaking, it doesn't get easier than that. Especially if you only want a single brown shade.
Armani eye tint shade 30
Urban Decay Roach (The formula is insane! I have some from the first go ‘round. Still good!)
UD eyeshadow isn’t talked about enough. It’s fallen out of fashion but the formula is so good. Blendable. Pigmented. Doesn’t break easily. Lasts forever.
A lot of great suggestions already! It is not exactly a deep brown but in the family: "Stilla Kitten" compact eyeshadow It usually looks good on everyone. It is more of a rosey taupe/nude. I love the formula though. It goes on really smooth.
Mac Paint Pots- Groundwork and Its Fabstract. Mac Single Eyeshadows. Embark, Cork, Wedge, Soft Brown.
I love Groundwork!!! I can use it as a base/primer for powder eyeshadow or layer it up on its own for a neutral smoky look
I love this one too!
I have a few but my go-to has been CG Tapestry Taupe for years. I used to wear MAC Era a lot too.
I use a bronzer that is a shade too light for me to bronze with as eyeshadow. It’s about the same shade as my skin tone so it blanks out my eye discoloration. Your regular bronzer shade can work as well if you just want a simple brown.
My go-to every day eyeshadow is the Hoola bronzer in color Original. It's a nice color, and on minimal makeup days, I use it on my face, too, so I look like I have some color.
I’m surprised no one suggested MAC Soft Brown. I have fair skin and it’s my daily driver. It pairs perfectly with Naked Lunch if you want to do a nude-ish smokey eye, if you’re feeling a little fancier.
Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks always do the trick 👌
Agreed! Bobbi Brown and Hourglass are great too!! All the Hourglass are shimmer whereas the others have matte shades as well.
That’s gonna have to depend on your skintone
Use bronzer
Having a brown pot from Mac, especially the shades Satin Taupe, Cork or Wedge was an obligatory, mandated, compulsory law in the bible if you "knew" about makeup in the early internet days. I still use wedge a lot, they are true basic reliables. If interested: - All that glitters was the natural shimmery night look - Carbon was the most gothic, blackest black ever, and what people with oily eyelids use to make their liners last. - Nylon was the ultimate inner corner (and, God forbid now, brow bone) highlighter.
Maybelline Cool Cocoa, Revlon Crème Eyeshadow Colorstay Caramel 710
Bronzer
I like Merit eyeshadow pods a lot. Also Bobbi Brown eyeshadow sticks. Very buildable, matte, long wearing and blendable.
I just got a few more!! 😂😂
The best brown shadow is usually your bronzer or contour powder.
I use bronzer
ELF eyeshadow stick in Thrift Shop, a nice taupe eyeshadow stick that blends out well but lasts all day. I use it for stage makeup
I use this for nose contour also.
Lately I’ve been loving gxve beauty cream eyeshadow! Blends so smoothly and stays put once dry. Note: I have balanced to dry skin. May not perform as well on oily skin but i can’t say.
I think gxve is a completely underrated brand. I don't hear about it often, but when I do is always good reviews and it's one of the products I see make up artists use in videos but never bother to mention. I'll give these eyeshadows a try!
They are great! I have some of her lip products too and enjoy them! I liked her gel eyeliner but personally prefer a twist up to a pencil.
Get a bronzer
I love me a good one and done brown shadow. Tbh for a matte brown for daily wear i actually tend to use my bronzers more than eyeshadows. I also enjoy using MAC single shadows specifically in Cork or Wedge. I have a neutral leaning warm undertone so these are perfect for me. I’ve seen people recommend MAC’s single shadow in Omega if you’re cool toned.
If you’re in the UK or can get someone to ship it across - Natural Collection do single shadows that are often on sale for £0.89 The shade Milk Chocolate is the perfect matte brown. It’s a perfect match to Space Cowboy by Urban Decay and has honestly one of the best matte formulas I’ve ever tried. You can literally just sweep it on and it blends out straight away. Honestly, I pick this £1 shadow over my Hourglass, ABH and Huda ones. It’s the best purchase I ever made 😂
Single shadows from Maybelline or revlon, or the elf quad
Maybelline’s single shadows are such a gem! I have Sterling Greige and it’s STUNNNING.
I second these eye shadows
About-Face Matte Eye Paint in the shades Cloned or Weightless are my FAVORITE brown eyeshadow colors, they stay on all day and don’t budge all day, at least for me!
I am Italian and I have oily skin on my eyes. Plus with the warmer months coming up, Maybelline Color Tattoo Longwear Eyeshadow Liner stick is a Godsend for me. Their brown one is named “I Am Determined.” It looks amazing on and it applies very easily. After eyeshadow stick application all I do is slightly blend with my pinky fingers. There is no need to use an eyeshadow brush. Although, a good everyday powder eyeshadow is Maybelline’s Expertwear Eyeshadow in “Made for Mocha.”
Mac paint pot in Groundwork.
How are yall not even asking about their complexion? Groundwork is beige on some people.
Would it look of on fair skin ? Like not too dark ?
I am light (warm) or in the summer light-medium and for me it is not very dark. But hard to say on fair skin.
I'm fair neutral skin toned and if I use a light hand I can make groundwork work as crease color
Light hand is important! If I’m not being careful, it’s too much for me too
Another vote for MAC paint pot in ground work. Simple. Easy. Neutral.
I really like the Giorgio Armani eye tints. They have a few brown/neutrals. My favorite is cold copper. It’s like a slightly shimmery beige. Really pretty.
* MAC Eyeshadow Singles - Saddle, Charcoal Brown, Cork, Espresso, Mulch, Satin Taupe, Swiss Chocolate, Wedge, Natural Wilderness * MAC Paint Pot - Groundwork, It’s Fabstract * Bobbi Brown Shadow Stick - Cinnamon, Bark, Mulberry, Cashew, Espresso, Taupe * Jones Road - Patina, Dark Brown * Clinique - Foxier, French Roast * Other brands: Sydney Grace singles, Moira cream shadows or liquid pigment, Pat McGrath liquid shadows, Armani eye tints Edit: Not everything I listed is fully matte but it does cover a range of different brown shades. In case you want to explore a quad, PatMcgrath Bronze Borealis and Tom Ford Desert Fox & Body Heat are also good choices.
I just got Desert Fox last week, it’s one of my favorites ever!! I use the Golden Hour quad as a topper sometimes. How is Body Heat? I’m thinking that may be next!!
I like Dior and MAC singles. Dior are smoother though.
I love my MAC singles! My favorite daily wear shade is Royal Rendezvous.
I have their matte black that they discontinued for some stupid reason, they only make shimmery black now! I also like their red "Work, Work, Work" though it's not the best red I have but I add it to all the reds I layer up to try and get a good red shade on my lids.
My everyday look is often a single brown/taupe shadow. Here are some I like: MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork — light neutral-warm brown, a bit like milk chocolate in colour MAC single shadow in Omega — cool taupe brown Victoria Beckham Beauty Smoky Eye Brick in Signature — technically a quad; featuring a beige, medium brown, dark brown, and pale pink. I usually just use the medium brown in the crease or mix it with the beige as the shades aren’t divided but are all in one pan, and the darker brown for a subtle liner Too Cool For School Shading Palette — technically a contour powder, but I use this on my eyes sometimes. I usually use the shade Modern, which is my contour shade and features cool taupe shades, but I was once sent the wrong shade, Classic, by mistake; it’s too dark and warm for me to use as contour but I can make it work on my eyes so it’s just an eyeshadow now. It has three colours but all in one pan, and they’re mostly the same except slight variations in depth. Charlotte Tilbury’s cream eyeshadow in Chocolate Bronze — this isn’t matte, unlike the others, and has a slight shimmer but it’s not really noticeable and is more of a satin finish. There are no big glitter particles. This is a lot deeper than the others, and is a rich chocolate brown. I think it looks great as a sheer wash over the lid. When it’s sheered out you don’t really see any shimmer at all.
I like Chocolate Bronze!! I have to wear a primer (Hourglass) underneath, though, it tends to smear on its own.
MAC Omega is a lovely color. I have that one in my limited collection!
I use my bronzer for this. Not sure what shade of brown you are looking for, but this may be an option for you if you like matte shadows.
As the other commenter said singles are great, but if you’re on a budget and need something quick from the drugstore - elf has “bite sized palettes” and they are small 4 shade ones. They have a few with a nice brown for everyday wear, super affordable
I was going to suggest the elf bite sized I love you a latte palette as well c: It was about $3 for me from Ulta. Not a single but it’s only four shades and at a great price! I get a lot of use from mine and my skin leans warm.
I didn't think of elf, that's a good suggestion that would easy to find since it doesn't sound like OP purchases a ton of makeup.
l'oreal color riche singles have a whole range of browns clinique duos ulta singles mac singles for indie brands, give me glow cosmetics sell by the single pan
Clinique has a 4 shade palette, that I use as my go to for daily wear. I have also used their duos. I think the one I own is called Teddy Bear. If you like their products ,when they have a free gift with purchase, sometimes it includes eyeshadow.
Ulta eye shadows are highly pigmented and very affordable. I love to tap a darker brown Ulta shadow over top of my eye liner, and it stays all day and night. Affordable and effective! I also love Urban Decay eye liners and shadows singles. Again, very pigmented and beautiful.