What to Look for in Eye Shadow

Choosing the best eye shadow can elevate your makeup look and enhance your eyes—here’s what to keep in mind.

1. Pigmentation

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Highly pigmented eye shadows deliver vibrant color payoff with less product. Look for formulas that provide rich, true-to-pan shades for striking results.

2. Blendability

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A quality eye shadow should blend easily without patchiness or harsh lines. Creamy, finely-milled powders or smooth creams make application effortless and allow seamless transitions between colors.

3. Longevity

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Long-wearing formulas help your look last throughout the day or night. Consider eye shadows that are crease-resistant and offer extended wear, particularly if you have oily lids or need all-day performance.

4. Finish and Shade Range

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Eye shadows come in a variety of finishes, including matte, shimmer, satin, and metallic. Choose a palette or single shade that suits your style and complements your skin tone, whether you prefer subtle neutrals or bold statement colors.

  1. 1
    Caviar Stick Eyeshadow

    Laura Mercier

    1,364 REVIEWS
    BestSeller
    A 24HR long-wear eyeshadow stick with creamy, rich color that effortlessly glides, blends and builds without tugging, flaking, smudging or creasing.
  2. 2
    PurePressed Eye Shadow Palette
    222 REVIEWS
    Six expertly coordinated shadows for limitless looks.
  3. 3
    Phyto-Eye Twist

    Sisley Paris

    95 REVIEWS
    An ultra-easy, fun, luminous, waterproof and no-transfer eye make-up.
  4. 4
    Les Phyto-Ombres Eyeshadow

    Sisley Paris

    65 REVIEWS
    An eye shadow with a half-powder, half-cream hybrid texture that embellishes the eyes with a veil of colour and radiance.
  5. 5
    24 Hour Eye Shadow And Liner
    40 REVIEWS
    BestSeller
    A creamy, richly pigmented, and crease-proof shadow pen and liner.
  6. 6
    Ombre Éclat Liquide Eyeshadow
    34 REVIEWS
    Long-lasting liquid eyeshadow.
  7. 7
    Lid Lustre

    Victoria Beckham Beauty

    27 REVIEWS
    BestSeller
    Creamy, buildable application for a shimmering wash of pigment that demands attention.
  8. 8
    Prismatique Eyes

    Surratt

    21 REVIEWS
    A unique double-decker eyeshadow that houses a water-resistant, matte cream shadow on top and a complementary duo-chrome powder shadow on the bottom to add a celestial twinkle to your eyes.
  9. 9
    Souffle Eyeshadow

    Surratt

    16 REVIEWS
    Long-wearing color and dynamic shimmer combine in this rich, bouncy formula.
  10. 10
    EyeWear

    Victoria Beckham Beauty

    EyeWear

    $34
    1 REVIEWS
    BestSeller
    Discerningly fashion-forward shades in a matte or shimmer finish.

What to Look for in Eye Shadow

Choosing the best eye shadow can elevate your makeup look and enhance your eyes—here’s what to keep in mind.

1. Pigmentation

Citrus catapult arrow

Highly pigmented eye shadows deliver vibrant color payoff with less product. Look for formulas that provide rich, true-to-pan shades for striking results.

2. Blendability

Citrus catapult arrow

A quality eye shadow should blend easily without patchiness or harsh lines. Creamy, finely-milled powders or smooth creams make application effortless and allow seamless transitions between colors.

3. Longevity

Citrus catapult arrow

Long-wearing formulas help your look last throughout the day or night. Consider eye shadows that are crease-resistant and offer extended wear, particularly if you have oily lids or need all-day performance.

4. Finish and Shade Range

Citrus catapult arrow

Eye shadows come in a variety of finishes, including matte, shimmer, satin, and metallic. Choose a palette or single shade that suits your style and complements your skin tone, whether you prefer subtle neutrals or bold statement colors.