Every decade has its defining make-up colour palette, from the sepia tones of the Seventies to the bold blues of the Eighties (which are enjoying a strong revival right about now, FYI).

But somewhere along the way, we forgot the mood-altering powers of a bold flash of colour, opting instead to smudge, smoke and smoulder with endless palettes of identikit nudes (there’s at least three in your bedroom, isn’t there?).

The message for SS20 is clear: colour is back. From Helmut Lang’s lurid-green liner and Ferragamo’s paintbox lids to Peter Pilotto’s primary hues, designers in every capital brought a rainbow of options to our eyes, and we are all for it. It’s time to ditch the contouring trickery of an Insta-worthy eye look and opt for the bold, maybe brash, definitely uplifting powers of a punchier palette.

'For the past few seasons of fashion week we have been incorporating stronger, bolder uses of colour in eye make-up and this has started to come through to everyday looks,' says Dominic Skinner, MAC Global Senior Artist. 'I’ve found smoky blues and greens have found their way into my red-carpet colour palette. A wash of emerald is a great way of adding a flash of colour without stepping too far out of your comfort zone,' he says.

Of course, single shadows come into their own here – call it the Kondo of eye colour, but there’s a lot to love about a lone eyeshadow. MAC still steals the show when it comes to singles, whereas E.l.f is flying the flag for the midi-palette with its new petite-as-possible Bite-Size quads, each one offering a spectrum of tonal shades. (Plus, at £3 a go, they’re an absolute steal.)

For those who prefer a sharper take, a neon cat-eye flick of liner is a striking route to mastering the trend– head to Dior and Shiseido for the strongest shades. Glossier is taking a typically Glossier approach to the trend, sneaking a perfect sky-blue shade into its sheer-matte Skywash eye colours earlier this year.

If you still require a dose of glamour, Charlotte Tilbury (who else) has you covered. Her latest drop contains a palette to enhance every eye colour, with each of the four pans coded for foolproof application. Think of it as eye make-up by numbers.

All you need to do is locate the colours that best bring out your eye colour – and luckily, we’ve already done that for you. Here, see the expert verdict on the best eyeshadow shades for every eye colour...

Best eyeshadow colour for...Blue eyes

'Blue-eyed women should always go for oranges, browns, golds, peaches and pinks,' says Terry Barber, MAC Director of Make-up Artistry. 'These colours are great for complementing the blue of the eyes and allowing it to really stand out.'

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what colour eyeshadow should i wear
On Stage Eyeliner

Dior

£27.50

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what colour eyeshadow should i wear
Neon Pink Obsessions

Huda Beauty

£27

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what colour eyeshadow should i wear
Highliner Liquid-Gel Eyeliner

Marc Jacobs

£25

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what colour eyeshadow should i wear
Couture Palette

YSL

£44.50

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Best eyeshadow colour for...Green eyes

'Adding a dash of the opposite colour to your iris makes your eyes really zing. It doesn’t have to be all over, just a simple flash on the outer edge or inner corner will be enough to give added sparkle,' says Skinner.

Make-up Artist Lynsey Alexander recommends trying a rich jewel-toned purple to bring out the intensity of green eyes.

what colour eyeshadow should i wear
Kajal InkArtist Shadow

Shiseido

£22

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what colour eyeshadow should i wear
Eyeshadow Single

M.A.C

£15

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purple eyeshadow
Caviar Stick Eye Colour

Laura Mercier

£25

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what colour eyeshadow should i wear
Powder Eyeshadow

Illamasqua

£17

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If that sounds a little too statement for your Monday morning meeting, rich copper shades are also a great idea – and as Alexander adds, your perfect terracotta tone may already be lying in your make-up bag. 'Another great make-up artist trick for green eyes is to sweep bronzer over the lids.' she says.

'The reason this works so well is because bronzers generally have a red undertone to them, which is the opposite to green on the colour wheel. It stands out, but in a harmonious way.'

what colour eyeshadow should i wear
Bite Size Eyeshadows

e.l.f

£3

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what colour eyeshadow should i wear
Voyageur Palette

Nars

£28

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what colour eyeshadow should i wear
Marbled Metals

Ciaté

£22

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what colour eyeshadow should i wear
Coffee and Cocoa Bronzer Palette

Beauty Bakerie

£36

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Best eyeshadow colour for...Hazel eyes

If you have hazel eyes then you're in luck – from primary brights to soft pastels, practically every colour will look striking on you.

'Hazel eyes look especially rich and deep if you wrap them in green or blue tones,' says Skinner. While these colours might sound intimidating, consider that you can always ease yourself in with a slick of eyeliner instead.

Best eyeshadow colour for...Brown eyes

'Brown eyes can be accentuated by green or blue shades, but to complement them with gold tones also works well,' says Alexander.

what colour eyeshadow should i wear
Eye Colour Magic Luxury Palette

Charlotte Tilbury

£40

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what colour eyeshadow should i wear
Khôl Couture Waterproof

Givenchy

£18

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what colour eyeshadow should i wear
Dazzleshadow Extreme

M.A.C

£16.50

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what colour eyeshadow should i wear
Skywash

Glossier

£15

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Finally, don't let these loose guides become a barrier to experimentation – if you want to try a certain shade, don't let anything stop you. 'You don't need to always paint by numbers' adds Alexander. 'Essentially, if you like something and it looks good - wear it.'

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