How To Wear Pink Eyeshadow Like A Grown-Up

Pink eyeshadow is not super popular. It can be a scary shade to experiment with because you may wind up looking like you have pink eye or you've been crying all night. But let me tell you: Once you find a perfect pink look for your skin tone, it's magic. Here's how to wear pink eyeshadow, just in time for Valentine's Day.

Yes, pink shadow has always been around. It was the first shade I reached for when starting my makeup journey, and I'm thankful I did. When I look back at my middle school pictures, it doesn't look like I have conjunctivitis, so I think I did something right! Pinks can be as loud as you want, from electric pink to a soft, warm rose gold. I think everyone can nail a pink look without looking ultra girly or like a member of the Capitol a la The Hunger Games. In my opinion, pink is so universal, I practically treat it like a neutral.

When starting your pink eyeshadow exploration, don't just stick to one shade. There are different hues for different uses on different areas of your eye! You can use sheer, frosty pinks as an inner corner highlight in a smoky eye,or pop a vibrant color on the center of your lid to make your eyes appear larger. You don't have to go all in with the pink, but instead, use subtle incorporations while building up to your favorite shade of pink.

Still not convinced you can pull off pink eyeshadow? Here are three elegant and simple ways to rock a gorgeous (and not sickly) pink eye:

1. Pink Smoky Eye

I used the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette to create a super dramatic pink and purple smoky eye. It's a fun, feminine take on the classic bombshell smoky eye, and the pop of pink makes it that much more unique.

I used "Limit" and "Nooner" to transition and create depth, and "Blitz" and "Blackheart" for the sparkle.

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette, $54.00, Sephora

This palette doesn't have great color payoff, so I sprayed my flat applicator brush with setting spray to help the glitter, shimmer shades stick to my lids.

2. Rose Gold Pink

This look is so easy to recreate and totally wearable, in my opinion. I took a warm, matte orange shade called "Salted Caramel" from the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette and swept it across my lids as a transition color. Next, I applied a sparkly cream shimmer eyeshadow just on the lids (be careful not to go too high!).

I only used a fluffy brush and my God-given, clean fingers to apply this look. Orange shades make all other shadows pop. The lesson? A matte orange is great to always have in your kit.

L'oreal Paris Infallible Eyeshadow in Amber Rush, $7, Amazon

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eyeshadow Palette, $49, Sephora

This warm, rose gold look is perfect for all occasions and really quick to pull together.

4. Pink Pop

This was a loud, very pink look that too a lot of work, but how pretty was the result?! It definitely proved what everyone believes — that pink is much harder to work with than other color shades, like browns or oranges.

I used colors from the new Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani palette, which is packed with pinks. I centered the high voltage "Harajuku" in the center of my lid for a super bright pop, but experienced a lot of fallout, unfortunately.

UD Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette, $58, Sephora

I much prefer rose gold tones for my skin than cool-toned pinks, but I definitely think this is still a fun look for a party or night out.

Whether you're looking to wear pink eyeshadow for Valentine's Day or are just game to try out a bold and exciting color, these three simple tutorials will hopefully get you excited about adding the hue to your repertoire.

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Images: Jessica Willingham