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.

  1. 1
    Caviar Stick Eyeshadow

    Laura Mercier

    1,426 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
    Cashmere Matte Eyelights

    RMS Beauty

    657 REVIEWS
    Creaseproof, matte cream eyeshadow in 8 new nourishing shades.
  3. 3
    PurePressed Eye Shadow Triple
    656 REVIEWS
    A carefully curated trio of complementary shadows that add depth and dimension with easy-to-create, nuanced looks. Gentle and safe for sensitive eyes. 
  4. 4
    PurePressed Eye Shadow

    Jane Iredale

    412 REVIEWS
    A balanced selection of gorgeous neutral matte & shimmer shadows for all skin tones. Gentle & safe for sensitive eyes.
  5. 5
    Matte Eye Colour

    Laura Mercier

    330 REVIEWS
    BestSeller
    An eyeshadow that defines the eyes with a single stroke of pure, intense matte color.
  6. 6
    PurePressed Eye Shadow Palette

    Jane Iredale

    235 REVIEWS
    BestSeller
    Six expertly coordinated shadows for limitless looks.
  7. 7
    Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow
    227 REVIEWS
    A weightless micro-glitter eyeshadow infused with light-reflecting pearls to create high impact, sparkling eyes.
  8. 8
    Sateen Eye Colour

    Laura Mercier

    113 REVIEWS
    Layer the eyelids with a single stroke of distinct, luminous color.
  9. 9
    Les Phyto-Ombres Eyeshadow

    Sisley Paris

    69 REVIEWS
    An eye shadow with a half-powder, half-cream hybrid texture that embellishes the eyes with a veil of colour and radiance.
  10. 10
    Luster Eye Colour

    Laura Mercier

    53 REVIEWS
    Lustrous eyeshadow that provides a sophisticated frosted look 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.