Autumn Eyeshadow: 8 Looks in Bronze, Plum and Smoke That Anyone Can Do

A primer or a dab of concealer on the lid so shadow doesn't crease. One fluffy blending brush. A small flat brush or your ring finger. A cream shadow stick for the days you can't face brushes. That is it. A small palette of four to six shades will get far more use than an enormous one.

1. The one-swipe bronze. A bronze cream stick across the lid, smudged out with a finger. Thirty seconds, flatters every eye colour.

2. The soft plum. A matte plum blended into the crease with a shimmer on the centre of the lid. Makes green and hazel eyes look brighter.

3. The brown smoky eye. Like a black smoky eye, but wearable to work. Dark chocolate along the lash line, smudged upwards into a softer brown.

4. The copper lid. A metallic copper patted on with a fingertip. Gorgeous on blue eyes and even better with copper hair.

5. The smudged liner. Skip shadow entirely. A brown or khaki kohl along the upper lash line, softened with a cotton bud.

6. The burgundy wash. A sheer wine shade across the lid and just under the lower lashes. Very fashion, surprisingly flattering on brown eyes.

7. The gold inner corner. Neutral lid, a dot of gold in the inner corner. Wakes up tired eyes in seconds.

8. The proper smoke. Charcoal on the lid, black kohl in the waterline, a nude lip. For the party, not the office.

For sticks, the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick and the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick are the two everyone repurchases. For a small palette, the Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette is four shades that make a full look. Urban Decay Naked palettes are the workhorse option, and Revolution at Superdrug is the budget version that does a decent job. For liner, Victoria Beckham Beauty at Space NK makes the softest kohls going.

Blue eyes look brightest in copper, bronze and warm brown. Green and hazel eyes come alive with plum, aubergine and burgundy. Brown eyes can wear almost anything, but navy, gold and deep wine are particularly good. Hooded lids should keep the colour slightly above the crease so it shows when the eyes are open.

Do your eyes before your base, so any fallout wipes away without taking foundation with it. Blend more than seems necessary. And keep the rest of the face simple when the eyes are doing the work. For how it all fits together, see our autumn make-up and skincare routine.