Beauty Trend: A Trip to the Eye-lands With Tropical Aqua Colors

If the crummy winter weather has you thinking of gloomy grays and slushy browns, you need to look to the perpetually sunny islands for some pick-me-up makeup inspiration. Rhianna and Ugly Betty's Becki Newton have both rocked the tropical vibe on the red carpet, with shimmering emerald shadow and sparkly lagoon-blue liner, respectively. Here are our picks for can't-miss aqua eyes:

Most Luxurious: Shiseido's Hydro-Powder Eye Shadow in Green Exotique ($23) goes on silky smooth and dries without creasing. The effect of this buttery créme shadow is subtle at first, but gets bolder as you add layers. The opalescent greenish-blue hue catches the light beautifully, making your eyes look wide and bright.

Most User-Friendly: It's ok to be a little leery of swabbing on a swath of jewel-toned color — we all remember the '80s, and those eye shadow trends were not good. But with Black Radiance's Shadow Créme in Ocean or Jewel ($2.50), you're in total control. The lip gloss-like applicator wand is long and tapered, so the cream shadow goes only where you want it to. And the colors — lush green Ocean or cobalt blue Jewel — are a far cry from the powder blues of the '80s.

Most Versatile: VonNatur's Natural Minerals Eye Color in Lapis ($16) has everything going for it. Apply the gold-hued blue dry for a subtle sheen, or add water for a more dramatic nighttime look. You can even break out the eyeliner brush to add just a hint of the moistened powder to your lids. The vegan and sun-friendly loose powder formula is packed with metallic minerals like mica, so the color is potent enough to really make a statement.

Remember: no matter how far you take your aqua eyes, be sure to pair this look with minimal makeup to avoid looking too campy. A peachy blush and nude gloss should do the trick without upstaging your island-ready eyes. Did we miss your favorite beachy-keen eye color? Let us know all about it in the comments section.