Best Eyeshadows to Complete Any Makeup Look
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Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Gel Eye Shadow -
Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee Eye Shadow -
Half Baked by Urban Decay Eye Shadow -
Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow -
Amber Lights Eyeshadow by MAC -
L'Oreal Paris Infallible Eyeshadow -
Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Gel Eye Shadow -
Mineral Fusion Natural Brands Eye Shadow Trio -
Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color -
L'Oreal Paris Infallible Eyeshadow -
Buyer's Guide
Eyeshadow is one of the most common and versatile makeup products because it effectively enhances eyes by adding dimension, depth, and highlights. There are many types of eyeshadow including powders, liquids, minerals, and creams to suit various skin types and preferences. They also come in shimmery, matte, and satin-like finishes along with a wide variety of shades for all eye colors.
Whether you want to achieve a bold look or simply highlight your eyes, there’s an eyeshadow out there perfect for your needs. For more information on what to look at in selecting the best eyeshadow in 2022, check out our eyeshadow buyer's guide to determine which eyeshadow is best for your eye color, skin type, and personal preferences.
Comparing the Best Eyeshadows for 2022
Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Gel Eye Shadow - Best Eyeshadow Overall
This is the best cream shadow you can get in a drugstore. Besides delivering bold color, it doesn't crease and lasts up to 24 hours without fading. It blends easily for a smooth, streak free finish with no makeup brushes required. Your fingertip works just fine, saving you time and energy. You can use this cream eyeshadow alone as a highlighter or layer it under your regular shadow for a deeper color. It’s also safe for women with sensitive eyes and contact wearers so there’s no risk of eye irritation.
Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee Eye Shadow - Runner Up
Give your eyelids a smoother, more youthful appearance with Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Eyeshadow. This biodegradable, cruelty-free eyeshadow is infused with 50 percent coconut water to instantly hydrate your eyelids, while the pigments contain Argan Oil for smoothing benefits.
Just a little dab of this liquid eyeshadow is all you need, and then simply blend it into your eyelids using your fingertips. Users love the way this eyeshadow glides on, stays put, and doesn't crease. Choose from six gorgeous shades ranging from pale pink to rainforest green.
Half Baked by Urban Decay Eye Shadow - Consider
This warm, neutral shade by Urban Decay features a silky-smooth texture that glides onto your eyelids. You can expect this quality eyeshadow to last all day, without shimmer fallout. You don’t need to worry about creasing either because Urban Decay's Pigment Infusion System ensures the pigments stay put. Users claim this eyeshadow blends extremely well and can be applied wet or dry. Priced just under $25, this eyeshadow shade is worth every penny.
Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow - Best Eyeshadow for Blue Eyes
"Peach Cloud" by Bobbi Brown really enhances blue eyes because it creates contrast without being extremely bold or obvious either. This soft, low-shimmer shade by Bobbi Brown can be layered for added intensity and works great for lining eyes and defining your eyelids. It sweeps effortlessly across lids and blends smoothly for beautiful, long-lasting eye color. Since Bobbie Brown eyeshadows are some of the best available, you can't really go wrong with this pick.
Amber Lights Eyeshadow by MAC - Best Eyeshadow for Blue Eyes
Flatter your blue eyes with Amber Lights by MAC. This perfect combination of gold and bronze creates strong contrast, causing blue eyes to stand out more than usual. Expect this highly-pigmented eyeshadow to blend effortlessly and resist creasing for bold, long-lasting wear. Users are impressed with this eyeshadow, claiming it looks great on both light and dark skin tones. This powder eyeshadow also feels very light on your eyelids and won’t weigh them down.
L'Oreal Paris Infallible Eyeshadow - Best Waterproof Eyeshadow
No matter where your day takes you, this waterproof eyeshadow is made to stay put for 24 hours. You can expect an assortment of bold, shimmery pigments that won’t crease, fade, or streak. This revolutionary formula also combines powder and cream together, allowing the pigments to glide smoothly onto your eyelids.
Users praise the vibrant pigments and claim this eyeshadow holds up well, even when swimming in the ocean. Individuals with oily skin recommend applying a primer to your eyelids prior to eyeshadow application.
Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Gel Eye Shadow - Best Eyeshadow Overall
This is the best cream shadow you can get in a drugstore. Besides delivering bold color, it doesn't crease and lasts up to 24 hours without fading. It blends easily for a smooth, streak free finish with no makeup brushes required. Your fingertip works just fine, saving you time and energy. You can use this cream eyeshadow alone as a highlighter or layer it under your regular shadow for a deeper color. It’s also safe for women with sensitive eyes and contact wearers so there’s no risk of eye irritation.
Mineral Fusion Natural Brands Eye Shadow Trio - Best Mineral Eye Shadow
Experience richly-pigmented eye color that improves the appearance of your skin. This paraben-free formula comes in color-coordinated trios to complement all eye colors. It’s also enriched with age-defying ingredients like pomegranate, sea kelp, white tea, and red tea to help soothe your skin and protect against free radical damage. The long-lasting shades resist creasing and the hypo-allergenic formula contains no added fragrances, talc, artificial colors, or other irritating ingredients.
Eyeshadow pictured is "Fragile"
Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color - Best Mineral Eye Shadow
Nourish your eyelids with enriching mineral eye color from Mary Kay. These shimmer and matte eyeshadow shades contain vitamins A, C, and E to guard against free radicals which cause wrinkles and other signs of aging. Choose from a variety of high quality, long-wearing shades that won’t crease, fade, or weigh down on your eyelids. Users love how versatile, pigmented, and smooth this product is while the minerals in this eye color absorb oils, making primer unnecessary.
Eyeshadow pictured is "Chocolate Kiss"
L'Oreal Paris Infallible Eyeshadow - Best Waterproof Eyeshadow
No matter where your day takes you, this waterproof eyeshadow is made to stay put for 24 hours. You can expect an assortment of bold, shimmery pigments that won’t crease, fade, or streak. This revolutionary formula also combines powder and cream together, allowing the pigments to glide smoothly onto your eyelids.
Users praise the vibrant pigments and claim this eyeshadow holds up well, even when swimming in the ocean. Individuals with oily skin recommend applying a primer to your eyelids prior to eyeshadow application.
Buyer's Guide
Wearing eyeshadow is a simple, yet effective way to enhance any eye shape and color. Eyeshadows come in a variety of shades and palettes ranging from light creams and pastels to vibrant hues and metallic colors. They can contain shimmery or matte finishes and also come in different forms including creams, powders, minerals, and liquids. No particular eyeshadow is perfect for every individual so naturally certain o are best for particular eye colors, skin types, and personal preferences.
Smooth Application
Regardless of its type, the application of any eyeshadow can determine how it appears on your skin. An eyeshadow should spread easily across your eyelids and brow bones for a smooth, even appearance. Blending is another important aspect of eyeshadow application; an eyeshadow should blend effortlessly and seamlessly. The best eyeshadow offerings will go on smoothly in a uniform manner to assure easy blending.
Crease Resistance
Creasing is a common problem with many low quality eyeshadow products. An eyeshadow may look great a few hours after application, but then it can begin to settle into the creases of your eyelids, where it appears darker. This creasing effect distracts from whatever look you are trying to achieve whether it’s a smoky eye for evening outings or a simple daytime look. Quality eyeshadow will not settle into creases and maintain a smooth, uniform appearance.
Staying Power
There’s no point in wasting your money on an eyeshadow which doesn’t stay on your eyelids or brow bones. Many low quality eyeshadow start out with beautiful and vivid shades, but their colors soon fade after a couple hours later with just a meager hint of shimmer on your skin. A quality eyeshadow should not smear or smudge easily, but stay in place for at least eight hours. Expect even better staying power from waterproof eyeshadow.
Eyeshadow Types
Cream Eyeshadow
Cream eyeshadows have a soft, cream-like texture which provides a velvety-smooth finish. This type of eyeshadow makes a great base but more prone to creasing. However, cream eyeshadow is ideal for individuals with dry eyelids. The colors are also usually very vibrant and really stand out.
Liquid Eyeshadow
Liquid eyeshadow is another great option for hydrating dry eyelids. This type of eyeshadow is typically packed with bold pigments and delivers a shimmery finish for an intense look. The best liquid eyeshadow will not crease, smudge, or fade easily.
Drugstore Eyeshadow
Drugstore eyeshadow allows you to experiment with multiple types and shades of eyeshadow without spending too much. You can choose from cream, powder, mineral, and liquid eyeshadow and choose from a large variety of shades and palettes. Quality brand names such as L’Oreal and Revlon provide the same crease-resistance and staying power as higher priced eyeshadow brands.
Waterproof Eyeshadow
The great thing about waterproof eyeshadow is it resists all types of moisture for up to 24 hours. It’s ideal for sporty individuals, late-night partiers, and those who live in wet, humid environments. Waterproof eyeshadow comes in many shades and provides extra resistance to creasing, smudging, and fading. Because of these properties, this type of eyeshadow can also work well as an eyeliner.
Mineral Eyeshadow
Ideal for individuals with sensitive skin, mineral eyeshadows are made of finely ground, loose mineral particles containing natural minerals. They’re available in vibrant palettes and feel very lightweight and natural on your skin. Depending on the cosmetic product, mineral eyeshadow can provide you with either a matte or shimmery finish,
Matte Eyeshadow
Matte eyeshadow is ideal for both professional and casual settings, particularly occasions when shimmery eyeshadow is either unnecessary or inappropriate. A matte eyeshadow is designed to provide basic pigmentation and a smooth texture to suit any look. Matte eyeshadow comes in a wide variety of shades to complement all eye colors.
Shimmer Eyeshadow
Shimmery eyeshadow is ideal for nights out and other special occasions when you want to add a hint of glamour to your appearance. They contain tiny, light-reflecting particles embedded within the pigments to add dimension, depth, and enhancement to your eyes. Shimmer eyeshadow comes in many shades and types including liquid, cream, mineral, and powder.
Eyeshadow for Brown Eyes
Brown is a neutral color that works great with metallic and vibrant shades. The goal is to use shades that add warmth and depth, bringing out the gold or green flecks in your eyes. Gold, teal, copper, olive, and navy are all fantastic shades to wear if you have brown eyes.
Eyeshadow for Green Eyes
Green eyes are already very vibrant on their own, but certain eyeshadow can enhance them even more. Neutral shades such as beige and taupe have warm undertones which complement green eyes. Lavender, plum, and shades with red undertones can provide a bolder look while shimmery gold is perfect for highlighting green eyes.
Eyeshadow for Blue Eyes
Warm and cool shades are best at enhancing blue eyes which can become camouflaged by blue eyeshadow. Shades that create strong contrast such as peach and coral, work well along with cool shades like violet. Gold shades are also perfect for bringing out any gold flecks in blue eyes.
