I Never Thought I Could Pull Off This "Tricky" Eye Shadow Color—Then I Learned This French-Girl Tip

Let me begin by saying how much I adore experimenting with jewel-toned eye makeup. I'll slick on a violet mascara any day of the week, and I love how green liner makes my eyes pop. Cobalt or aquamarine shadow? Bring it on! Adding an unexpected wink of color is such a low-lift way to make a statement with your look, especially as we head into the holiday season. The only hue I tend to steer clear of is red. But not for lack of trying! Every time I swipe on a crimson shadow, I look bleary eyed—like I'm dealing with a rough bout of allergies. Not cute.
Recently, however, I had the opportunity to meet with French makeup artist Violette Serrat, who schooled me on how to rock the "tricky" eye shadow shade like an effortless Parisian. See below for all her must-have tips.
"First of all, it has to be the [right] color," Serrat tells me. See, there are myriad shades of red (cherry, scarlet, burgundy, etc.), and each contains undertones that can make or break your look. "If you have a red that's more tomato red or orangey red, it's quite hard to wear," Serrat explains. "You need a bit of black in it to create some depth." A fiery-red lip looks gorgeous, but the eyes can be finicky; especially on my fair skin tone, a too-bright red can read more like irritation.
It's why the two new red shades in her coveted Yeux Paint collection have rich, deep undertones. They're still bright, but "This is, to me, the most wearable red I could possibly think of," she adds. The duo is inspired by Parisian nightlife, like the velvet chairs at restaurants and nightclubs or the neon lights outside (think Moulin Rouge and Le Palace).
Serrat takes Paris La Nuit—a twinkling, gold-infused red—and dabs just a dot on my lash line (a little goes a long way, she tells me). She blends the color with her fingertips until she nails that "lived-in" look quintessential French-girl beauty. "It almost looks like you slept in it," she instructs. "It doesn't have to be perfect. You wear the makeup; the makeup doesn't wear you." She then suggests I swipe on a few coats of inky black mascara; while I typically wear brown formulas, she says black pigment will bring out the deeper undertones of the liquid shadow and make the color appear even more intentional.
Finally, Serrat recommends keeping the rest of my complexion fresh—just a pink blush, a minimal lip, and enough concealer to effectively brighten dark circles. (After all, red eye makeup with sallow under-eye shadows can catapult you back into "I've been crying" territory.) "Keep it easy by just having the smoky eye," Serrat adds. I shouldn't be surprised that a French makeup artist could make this "complicated" color feel so effortless, but here we are. Red eye makeup has officially become my new neutral.
More Chic Red Eye Makeup

Jamie Schneider isBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing ’s senior beauty editor based in New York City. With over seven years in the industry, she specializes in trend forecasting, covering everything from innovative fragrance launches to need-to-know makeup tutorials to celebrity profiles. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Organizational Studies and English before moving to NYC, and her work has appeared in MindBodyGreen, Coveteur, and more. When she’s not writing or testing Wholesale Replica Bag beauty finds, Jamie loves scouting vintage boutiques and reading thrillers, and she’s always down for a park picnic in Brooklyn.
-
Dakota Johnson Wore a Completely Backless Mini In This Better-Than-Black Color to the "Splitsville" After Party
Plus, see her metallic, leather gown from the premiere.
-
Wow, Moda Operandi and Citizens of Humanity Just Released a Capsule Collection Inspired By Pennsylvania's Dreamiest Farm
In collaboration with Bloom Farm.
-
Sofia Richie, Alix Earle, and Sophia Culpo Swear By This French Pharmacy Cream for Smooth, Glowy Skin
It's the ultimate skin-prep step.
-
Hailee Steinfeld's Soft, Ethereal Glam Is My Entire Bridal Mood Board, so I Asked for Her Go-To Product Recs
From a peachy-girl blush to an "instant glow" serum.
-
These Are the Best Makeup Products of Summer 2025—Full Stop
Some are new. Others are tried-and-true. All are stunning.
-
Sabrina Carpenter and Addison Rae Love This TikTok-Famous Eye Shadow, so I Put It to the Test
Spoiler alert: I'm obsessed.
-
Accessible, Aspirational Beauty Is the Future—a Model and Amputee Shares the Brands Doing It Right
Plus, the daily staples she swears by.
-
Frosty Silver, Baby Blue, and Cherry Red—Cool-Toned Makeup Is the (Unexpected) Star of the Summer
Major makeup inspo ahead.
-
We Can't Explain It, But These 6 Fashion and Beauty Brands Give Off the Same Cool-Girl Vibes
Better together.
-
Psst, Even Derms Can't Get Enough of These 14 Incredibly Good French Pharmacy Staples
They never miss a chance to stock up.