I have a theory that quite honestly is not very popular with people but has yet to be proven wrong. That theory states: you should never wear eyeshadow colors that are not part of your personal color palette. 

There are 4 personal color palettes -- winter, spring, summer and fall. You can probably assume that the winter and summer colors are part of the blue-based family, while the spring and fall are yellow-based. Winter and fall are the darker version of their companions summer and spring. Ok, that might sound good to you, and maybe you already know your season - even better.

But here comes the tricky part...

Most of us in the world are winters or summers. Only a small, very small portion of the world is a fall or spring because most people do not look good draped in yellow-based colors. (Which is really a bummer considering how most of the colors in the stores are browns, oranges, yellows, and yellow-green - UGH.) If you aren't sure of your palette colors you can be color analyzed by a fashion consultant, or an easier and cheaper way to do the same thing is think of the outfits and colors you get complimented on most. The colors you look best in will be the ones that complement your skin, eye and hair color best.

So how does that translate into eyeshadow colors?

Well, if you are like the majority of the world and yellows wash you out, making you look sick and tired, then you should stay away from yellow-based colors around your eyes. Now I know people who work at makeup counters will disagree. I just had my makeup done at one of those places in the mall and was shocked when the women put browns all over my eyes. She claimed that is was the best color for blue eyes. But when I looked in the mirror after she finished I could barely see the color of my eyes and the little circles under my eyes stood out much more clearly.

Blacks, grays, blue, purples, etc., work much better on our eyes than browns, tans, greens, yellows. Those of you graced with naturally red hair are the one huge exception to this rule and should rock the yellow tones in honor of all of those who can't.

Like I said before, this theory is not well liked. But try it. Do an experiement. Wear your yellow-based colors one day and your blue-based colors another day. Take note of which you felt more comfortable in, which you were complimented in, which caught your eye in the mirror as you thought, 'Dang, I look good today.' I'm willing to bet the one that wins is the one that is your part of your color palette.