The Best Eyeshadows

It has always been said that the eyes are the windows to the soul. If that's the case, then it’s worth the extra effort to help them light up with the right statement. Eyeshadow helps to make your eyes say anything you want. Dress them up in smoky, sultry ways for nighttime fun, or in smart, subtle ways to command the boardroom. You can use different colors, finishes, or textures to create the perfect look to get you noticed at any occasion. Whatever the budget, there’s a vast number of eyeshadows on the market to choose from! We have created the ultimate guide to the best eyeshadows to help you make the smart choice.

Best Choice

Lamora Beauty Revolution is the best Eyeshadow? Our review at totalbeauty.com uncovers all pros and cons.

Versatile Colors for Every Occasion

Lamora Beauty knows how to make a great color palette to suit all skin tones with their Nudes palettes. The coordinated metallics for subtlety and complexity at the same time.

Best Choice

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Pros:
This palette has mixed matte, shimmer, and metallic finishes in complementary shades. The colors are suitable for all skin tones. They are all blendable and create a very smooth texture. Each palette has sixteen complementary colors that can be easily combined with each other or any of the others in the range. It’s simple to create a nude look for the daytime before adding a dash of drama to suit the nighttime. This palette offers a robust, long-lasting formula. It is economical to use as you can form multiple looks from just one palette — great value.

Cons:
The palettes come offer light, medium, and dark shades, so you need to be discerning when selecting the best color palette for your skin to create a truly nude look. Subtle pigment needs layering for bold color.

Best Everyday Eyeshadow

Revlon Addictive is the best Eyeshadow? Our review at totalbeauty.com uncovers all pros and cons.

All-Day Coordinated Color in 12 Choices

Revlon Colorstay is a rich, color-coordinated quad eyeshadow that lasts for 16 hours. A vast color range made with a non-irritating formula and tested by ophthalmologists makes Revlon Colorstay a go-t

Best Everyday Eyeshadow

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Pros:
The color selection of Revlon Colorstay quads is large, and includes a mixture of matte and shimmer finishes. The opaque finish of the eyeshadow is easy to layer for a subtle or vibrant look. It is crease-resistant, fade- and smudge-proof. The long-lasting formula is smooth on the skin. The dual-tipped applicator allows you to create a subtle daytime or sultry nighttime look with ease. Packaged in a small size that makes it great for carrying with you. Colors can be layered and blended together.

Cons:
The subtle colors may need to be built up in layers. These can have fallout if not used with an eyeshadow primer.

Best Shimmer

HAUS LABORATORIES SHIMMER Aphrodite is the best Eyeshadow? Our review at totalbeauty.com uncovers all pros and cons.

Excellent Shimmer Powder for Vegans

Haus Laboratories by Lady Gaga produce Glam Attack Liquid Powder, a vegan-friendly, long-lasting, cruelty-free eyeshadow. The Glam Attack Liquid Powder line comes in 13 Lady Gaga-worthy colors in two

Best Shimmer

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Pros:
The color choice is large and all come in a metallic or shimmery finish. The opaque finish of the eyeshadow is easy to layer for a subtle or vibrant look. It is both crease-resistant and smudge-proof. The long-lasting formula also protects against glitter fallout. All choices are vegan-friendly and cruelty-free. The doe-foot applicator allows you to create body art or wear it as a lipstick.

Cons:
The opaque base is clear and needs to be built up in layers. It may require more skill to apply it to the desired effect. The liquid needs to be used with an eyeshadow primer for better wear.

Best Silky Formula

Covergirl Bedazzled Biscotti is the best Eyeshadow? Our review at totalbeauty.com uncovers all pros and cons.

Great Value That Blends Easily

Covergirl Eye Enhancers offers a great range of affordable, certified cruelty-free products. The single compacts come with a dual-ended applicator that makes beautiful blending a cinch.

Best Silky Formula

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Pros:
Very affordable, cruelty-free product. Ten high-pigment powder colors come in singles, three-, or four-well palettes. Good staying power is promised for all four finishes. These great colors blend well with each other. A silky-smooth formula that comes in beautiful shades make them great go-to basics.

Cons:
The eyeshadow can break up in the well if handled roughly. Nude shades are close in color.

Best Crème Eyeshadow

Revlon ColorStay is the best Eyeshadow? Our review at totalbeauty.com uncovers allpros and cons.

Durable, Glamourous, All-Day Eyeshadow

Revlon Colorstay Crème Eyeshadow is one of the most respected creme eyeshadows for a reason: It’s hard-working, luxurious color that stays put. It’s everything you need in an all-day look.

Best Crème Eyeshadow

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Pros:
Great range of 12 colors in four finishes, including metallic, matte, pearl, and satin. The small size and an integral brush make it a great travel option. The crème blends well and offers waterproof color. It lasts all day with normal use. Colors can be layered and blended together. This high-quality, versatile crème eyeshadow is available for a low cost.

Cons:
Although there are 12 colors in four finishes, you do not get to choose which color comes in which finish; none of the colors come in alternate finishes. The long-lasting formula can be difficult to remove.

What Really Matters

Staying Power

Eyeshadow is a way of expressing yourself. You can say different things with your eyes or accentuate a feeling by using a particular color or finish. The main thing about making a statement with your makeup is that it stays where it is put for the time you need it to. Nothing is more embarrassing than coming home from something important to find that your eyeshadow has migrated to your cheeks! Using eyeshadow primer is important to help set the color on to your lid and keep it there. Missing this step can result in the eyeshadow applying unevenly, clumping up in the crease of your eye, or allow it to shower fallout on your cheeks.

If you don’t want to use a primer, go for a crème or liquid eyeshadow that sets quickly. They tend to have better staying power, especially if it is used in conjunction with a powder shadow. These eyeshadows are also tested by the manufacturer to be long-lasting, oftentimes waterproof formulas.

Color

There is a massive range of eyeshadow colors available in multiple finishes. The color palettes available are now so broad that you can use eyeshadow like an artist uses paint. This gives you the freedom to create the style you want. The trick is to know which colors work well together and to say exactly what you want.

The ability to match eyeshadow color has lessened recently as pre-selected color palettes have become more common. Most of us stick to the colors in front of us, rather than mixing and matching colors from other ranges. Why not add a dash of hot pink or peacock blue to a nude color scheme if you’re feeling sexy? An outline of black always adds drama to any style or depth to a subtle shade — after all, who doesn’t love a good smokey eye? But why not use gunmetal grey, chocolate brown, or a deep emerald to achieve the same effect? Eyeshadow color was meant to help you state who you are, so go for it! Stop listening to the rules and look the way you want to look.

To Brush, or Not to Brush, That Is the Question

For decades, makeup artists and YouTube influencers have been telling us that using a brush is the only way to apply eyeshadow — No. Brushes are great for applying eyeshadow, but most people load them up with too much powder, which leads to fallout. This is especially true of glittery shades. Your fingers are a great tool for applying makeup and are harder to oversaturate with color. They also work well for blending and smudging.

Where eyeshadow is concerned: less is more. You can always build up the look you want in layers, and it’s much easier to correct a mistake before it happens! By using the combination of a brush and your fingers, you’ll get a perfect mix of shade and blending with any look. If you absolutely have to use a brush alone, tap it gently a couple of times before it touches your skin to remove any excess powder.

What’s in Right Now?

Colored smokey eyes are on point. The smokey style will never go out of fashion, but it has been livened up by using a color base other than black and gray. Haute couture runways are full of glittery gold, deep blood red, and dark navy smokey eyes. Some designers are going further and highlighting a neon colored swoop on the lid of a less striking style. Paired with a bright, highly pigmented mascara, the eye becomes the focal point of fashion.

The watercolor look is gaining strong support as an alternative to the nude look. Softer, subtle shades around the top and bottom lid of the eye, matched with a natural look for the rest of the face, create a classic watercolor style. The next few years will continue to see the rise of the next incarnation of the nude look: the natural look. Make-up artists and designers are moving to a no makeup look that accentuates the natural beauty of the skin.

Prices

Expensive

$60-$450 gets you a high-quality eyeshadow in either a single or small to mid-range palette format. The price may not necessarily reflect quality where quantity is concerned. $60 will get you a luxurious single compact, and high-quality multi-palettes start at around $200. There are a few huge multi-palettes with a massive range of colors included in this price range but be aware that they may be lots of cheap eyeshadows in one box.

Mid-Range

$10-$60 will buy you a vast range of single and multi-color palettes. There are a good number of quality brands that have single colors in this range. There are also some 100% natural and cruelty-free eyeshadows available.

Cheap

$2-$10 buys you a mixed range of quality. Leading brands have single, mid-sized compacts in this price range. There is even a small number of branded palettes, but these tend to be limited in colors and have small wells. If you’re getting a good number of multi-colored wells for this price, you cannot be sure that it will be easy to use, robust, durable, or safe for your skin.

FAQs

My eyeshadow gathers in my eyes’ crease. What can I do?

This is a common problem and can be due to a number of factors. If you don’t use a primer under the eyeshadow, the powder will move on the skin and gravitate to the crease of the eye. If you are using a crème or liquid shade, you can also use a powdered eyeshadow to set the color to help it stay put.

Layering your make-up will also reduce movement. By applying sheer layers of primer and foundation and then layering your eyeshadow in the style you want, you can achieve a look that will last all day. Finish off with a by spraying your face with a fixing spray, especially if you have a long day ahead.

How do I prevent powder fallout?

“Fallout” is a term used for eyeshadow powder that has fallen from the eyelid onto the cheek below. This seems to be a big problem for glitter-based eyeshadows. Most fallout occurs when there has been too much powder applied to the lid. It stands to reason that the excess color will fall from the lid as the eye is in a constant state of movement.

You can reduce fallout by applying less eyeshadow at a time, and use layering rather than broad brush technique. If you are using a brush, knock the brush against your hand a couple of times to lose any excess before applying to the skin. Using your finger to apply the powder also reduces fallout. Applying a primer or using a crème eyeshadow also reduces fallout.

I have sensitive skin. Can I use eyeshadow?

Yes, but not all of them. Around the eye is a very sensitive area so everyone has the same problem. Eyeshadows are not marked as ‘safe for sensitive skin’ because all eye areas are sensitive. If you have had reactions to different colors in the past, look for a 100% natural or organic compound. These are colored by natural minerals that your skin may accept more easily.

Is eyeshadow tested on animals?

If an eyeshadow is not tested on animals, it will be marked as cruelty-free. If you are unsure, ask the manufacturer.

How long should an eyeshadow last on my eyes?

There are no eyeshadows that guarantee any length of time to stay where they’re put. The longevity also depends on what activities you do during the day. There are some long-lasting crème formulas available that have been proven to stay on for up to 24 hours. That great staying power also makes them a little harder to remove. All shadows will stay longer if a primer and foundation are used, but the most reliable way to know is to try a single compact of one color and see how it works with your daily schedule.