Here are some color stories inspired by January’s birthstone: garnet! You are likely familiar with garnet being some shade of red, but garnet actually comes in a variety of colors. GIA calls out “greens, oranges, pinkish oranges, deeply saturated purplish reds, and even some blues.” I’m using the color varieties of garnets to inspire the stories below, but I did lean in to the more common types of garnets, which tend to be brighter red to blackened red and used the rarer varieties as ways to expand the color stories and offer a few unexpected takes, too!

About This Series

Each look idea is centered around a “quad” of four shades with the expectation that one might bring in the appropriate brow bone or additional transitional shade based on skin tone. I know that I tend to use more like five or six shades in a typical look, but I think that four is a happy medium to give a good idea of the “core” color scheme of a look while giving you the ability to lighten/darken as desired. I have listed the colors in this order: inner lid, middle of lid, outer lid/crease, and crease/above lid.

You might see combinations that seem slightly repeated but placement will vary (e.g. a halo placement where the lightest and more shimmery shade is placed on the center) as placement can also create a different effect/look! You might also want to consider incorporating your favorite matte/shimmer shades (as applicable) to increase the versatility of certain palettes. Consider these ideas a jumping off point!

January is for Garnets 1.0

Natasha Denona Sunset

Mandarine (123DC)

Bronzage (124K)

Panjin (132CM)

Horizon (127CM)

Mandarine (123DC), Bronzage (124K), Panjin (132CM), Horizon (127CM)

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January is for Garnets 2.0

ColourPop Garden Variety

Third Eye

Best Buds

Succa 4 U

Stuck On You

Third Eye, Best Buds, Succa 4 U, Stuck On You

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January is for Garnets 3.0

Clionadh Eyeshadows

Orb

Molten

Prophecy

Poinsettia

Orb, Molten, Prophecy, Poinsettia

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January is for Garnets 4.0

Natasha Denona Sunrise

Aster

Phlox

Glory

Clove

Aster, Phlox, Glory, Clove

16

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January is for Garnets 5.0

Clionadh Eyeshadows

Sol

Salamander

Midnight Sun

Hibernate

Sol, Salamander, Midnight Sun, Hibernate

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January is for Garnets 6.0

Pat McGrath Celestial Divinity

Megabyte

Gold Standard

Corruption

Venomous Void

Megabyte, Gold Standard, Corruption, Venomous Void

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January is for Garnets 7.0

Sydney Grace Eyeshadows

Be the Sunshine

Blaze

Role Model

Be Kind

Be the Sunshine, Blaze, Role Model, Be Kind

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January is for Garnets 8.0

Clionadh Eyeshadows

Molten

Morgana

Firewood

Bramble

Molten, Morgana, Firewood, Bramble

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January is for Garnets 9.0

Natasha Denona Sunrise

Morning

Carnelian

Glory

Jasper

Morning, Carnelian, Glory, Jasper

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January is for Garnets 10.0

Sydney Grace Eyeshadows

Siren

Princess Pay Pay

Vamped

Midnight

Siren, Princess Pay Pay, Vamped, Midnight

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January is for Garnets 11.0

Sydney Grace Eyeshadows

Laura's Memory

Loose Change

Chocolate Raspberry Fudge

Ivy League

Laura's Memory, Loose Change, Chocolate Raspberry Fudge, Ivy League

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January is for Garnets 12.0

Natasha Denona Love

Pure Love

Passion

Commitment

Heart

Pure Love, Passion, Commitment, Heart

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January is for Garnets 13.0

Sydney Grace Eyeshadows

Designer

Desert Sun

Be Kind

Thrilled

Designer, Desert Sun, Be Kind, Thrilled

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January is for Garnets 14.0

Natasha Denona Love

Transparent

Giving

Heartbeat

Commitment

Transparent, Giving, Heartbeat, Commitment

11

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January is for Garnets 15.0

Sydney Grace Eyeshadows

Green Mango

Commission

Ladylike

Plummet

Green Mango, Commission, Ladylike, Plummet

18

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The Colors of Garnet: 15 Eyeshadow Color Combos for January

The Colors of Garnet: 15 Eyeshadow Color Combos for January