Eyeshadow can be tough to master. It can take me hours just to pick shades from my favorite eyeshadow palettes and don’t even get me started on blending and pesky fallout. No matter how much time I spend swiping the brush back and forth, it’s nearly impossible for me to get a seamless, clean eyeshadow look. That is until I discovered the magic of eyeshadow sticks.
Think of eyeshadow sticks as a makeup beginner’s best friend. These little tubes contain silky smooth shadows that are incredibly user-friendly: just swipe your favorite shade across your lid for a one-and-done look. And if you really want an amped-up look, combine a few glittery shadows and blend with your finger—no makeup brush required. Eyeshadow sticks are especially great for when you’re feeling lazy with your makeup, says celebrity makeup artist Dominique Lerma. “One swipe of a beautiful stick shadow on my eyelid paired with a matte neutral brown on my crease can fake that I spent more time on my eyes than I actually did.”
If you, too, are in your lazy girl era, you’re going to want to add these eyeshadow sticks to your cart ASAP. Below, we’ve curated a list of our favorite tried-and-true creamy eyeshadows that are easy to use, long-wearing, and can be used for a range of makeup looks, no matter your skill level. To make your shopping trip easier, we consulted Lerma and fellow celeb makeup artist Zara Kaplan for expert tips on how exactly what to look for in these handy tubes. Get ready for the easiest eyeshadow application of your life.
Eyeshadow Sticks at a Glance
- Best Eyeshadow Sticks
- What to Look For in Eyeshadow Sticks
- How to Apply Eyeshadow Sticks
- Meet the Experts
Best Eyeshadow Sticks
- Best Overall Eyeshadow Stick: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Shadow
- Best Budget Eyeshadow Stick: e.l.f. No Budge Shadow Stick
- Best Matte Eyeshadow Stick: Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color
- Best Waterproof Eyeshadow Stick: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow Stick
- Best Multi-Use Eyeshadow Stick: NYX Professional Makeup Jumbo Eye Pencil
Laura Mercier's award-winning, cult-favorite Caviar Stick Eye Shadow is everything you could want in an eyeshadow stick. Available in a whopping 31 shades in a mix of finishes, there's a stick for any kind of eye makeup look. The ultra-creamy formula is what makes these sticks a real winner. They glide like a dream against the lids without any tuggy or skipping and can easily blend out with just your finger. If that wasn't enough, they last all day long without any creasing in sight.
Shades: 31 (19 shimmer, 12 matte)
What We Love: Long-wearing; highly pigmented; glides on easily; non-creasing; blendable; waterproof.
What We Don't: Reviewers note some colors don't match the website's description.
Review for MC: "I've never quite mastered the art of blending eyeshadows, so most of the time, I only reach for one color so they have to wow me. Every one of Laura Mercier's sticks do just that and for someone who's inept in the eyeshadow department, they couldn't be easier to apply. I'm especially a fan of the shade Rose Gold—it's a great eyeshadow to make green eyes pop from a mile away." — Brooke Knappenberger, Associate Commerce Editor
The Caviar Sticks will forever be one of my makeup bag staples.
A great pick that won't hurt your wallet is the e.l.f. No Budge Shadow Stick. At just $5 each, these sticks are perfect for those wanting to get creative with their eyeshadow. From shimmery copper to a bright matte pink, you can have fun with the mix of tones and finishes these sticks offer. The built-in sharpener gives it major bonus points as it allows you to get an extra sharp tip, allowing for more versatility with your looks.
Shades: Eight (Four shimmer, four matte)
What We Love: Comes with a built-in sharpener; long-wearing; smudge-proof; highly pigmented; vegan.
What We Don't: Dries quickly so there's less time for blending.
Review for MC: "I tend to stick to neutral eye makeup but when I saw E.l.f.'s color range, I knew I had to go outside my comfort zone. I opted for the trendy Brat green shade, Lava Lamp, and boy did it pack a punch of pigment. It only took a few swipes to achieve a mega-watt bright eye look and the effect lasted all day, staying true to its 'no budge' name. My only issue with this stick is that it does dry quickly, so you have to work fast while blending." — Brooke Knappenberger, Associate Commerce Editor
It was easier than I thought to play with green eyeshadow thanks to E.l.f.s No Budge Shadow Stick.
No list of the best eyeshadow sticks wouldn't be complete without the OG, a.k.a. Nudestix's Magnetic Eye Color. Some matte formulas can be drying and difficult to apply, but you won't run into that issue with Nudestix. These sticks have a silky smooth glide and a creamy formula you wouldn't expect to find in matte shades. Once you apply them, you have some time to blend, but once it sets, it's not budging. They have a pointed tip that makes them ideal to use as an eyeliner, too.
Shades: 21 (Nine matte, 12 satin)
What We Love: Comes with travel tin and sharpener; long-wearing; waterproof; glides on easily; smudge-proof.
What We Don't: Dries quickly.
Review for MC: "Heading on a night out, I needed an amped-up makeup look and one I could achieve fast. I grabbed the reddish brown shade Fig, blended it across my lids, and then used the dark greyish brown shade Slate to line my upper lash lines. The whole look took about a minute for each eye and the final result left me impressed, to say the least. They glide impressively well for matte shades and the colors lasted through a night of sweaty dancing without budging." — Brooke Knappenberger, Associate Commerce Editor
I was pleasantly surprised by how creamy the matte Nudestix shades are.
A very close runner-up to Laura Mercier's eyeshadow sticks would have to be Bobbi Brown's. The formula is just as buttery smooth and easy to blend out. In fact, you can similarly use your finger to blend it out if you're short on brushes. They also come with a stamp of approval from both Lerma and Kaplan. The former says, "I especially love the matte color Cashew, it's a medium-red tone and looks beautiful worn alone," while the latter calls these sticks "an absolute must-have."
Shades: 30 (18 matte, 16 shimmer)
What We Love: Glides on easily; highly pigmented; long-wearing; waterproof; crease-proof; blendable.
What We Don't: None found.
Review for MC: "I keep a few of these sticks in my desk drawers at the office for quick touchups throughout the day. I use the shade Golden Pink in. my inner corners for the prettiest sparkle and Bark on my outer corners before an evening event. I can count on the color to stay put, even with my watery eyes and constantly touching my face. I've noticed the formula is just as creamy whether it's a shimmery finish or a matte." — Brooke Knappenberger, Associate Commerce Editor
My shimmery lids stayed flawless from the time I applied the shade Moonstone at 8 a.m. to when I got home from work in the evening.
For those who love to experiment with color, might we suggest this under $10 pick? This eyeshadow-eyeliner hybrid comes in 16 distinct shades including fun colors like Macaroon Mint and Cupcake Pink, as well as must-have neutrals. With its extra-thick design, you can create your eyeshadow look in seconds with just a swipe across the lid. It also works as an eyeliner or eyeshadow base for an even more intense color. At just $6 a pop, these are worth checking out on your next Ulta run.
Shades: 16 (eight shimmer and eight matte)
What We Love: Multi-use; under $10; glides on easily; blendable.
What We Don't: Difficult to sharpen; not waterproof.
Review for MC: "NYX's Jumbo Eye Pencil is marketed as multi-use, so that's exactly what I planned to do with them. One day, I used the black stick as eyeliner, which was made easy thanks to it already being shaped in a point. Another time I used the white shade in my waterline to fake eight hours of sleep, and then the next day I wore Iced Latte as a base for a neutral matte look. Each use did not disappoint and was easy to do with this stick's creamy formula, so I'm glad to now have them in my arsenal." — Brooke Knappenberger, Associate Commerce Editor
A sweep of the NYX's white shadow stick in my waterline and the sparkling white stick in my inner corners instantly made me look more awake.
Also Recommended
You may know Charlotte Tilbury for her viral Flawless Filter or Contour Wand, but she also makes a viral-worthy eyeshadow stick. Her Colour Chameleon Eye Shadow Pencils come in some of the prettiest shades I've ever seen. Each shade is formulated with specific eye colors in mind: for example, Amethyst Aphrodisiac makes my green eyes pop from a mile away. For Kaplan, these eyeshadow pencils "tick all the boxes" for what she looks for in an eyeshadow stick. They're creamy, blendable, and pigmented, but just be sure to work quickly when blending as they dry down into a long-lasting finish.
Shades: Nine (all shimmer)
What We Love: Long-wearing; waterproof; blendable; highly-pigmented; glides on easily.
What We Don't: May smear with oily eyelids.
Can Rare Beauty do no wrong? According to Marie Claire's Beauty Editor, Samantha Holender, who's tested all 37 Rare Beauty products, apparently not—at least when it concerns eyeshadow sticks. Holender says, "It glides on like a dream, does not crease (like, ever), and is the perfect size to drag color along the lower lash line." All six of the available shades have a shimmery sheen so they work for day-to-night looks. Thanks to the built-in sharpener, it works just as well as an eyeliner.
Shades: Six
What We Love: Comes with built-in sharpener; glides on easily; non-creasing; long-wearing; vegan.
What We Don't: Limited shade range.
We love a hard-working beauty product. This eyeshadow stick from IT Cosmetics is formulated with skin-loving ingredients like peptides, collagen, ceramides, and caffeine so that your eyelids become smoother over time. Those ingredients also allow for a super smooth glide, so no tugging here! Shades range from a shimmery amethyst to a matte deep brown and true gold. Reviewers especially love how easily these sticks apply and how great they work for oily eyes.
Shades: 14 (seven shimmer, seven matte)
What We Love: Glides on easily; waterproof; formulated with skin-smoothing ingredients; long-wearing.
What We Don't: Dries quickly.
When I'm rushing to get out the door in the morning, there's nothing better than a multi-tasking product like this one. I'm not ashamed to admit I've used this 2-in-1 stick on the subway during a busy morning. The eyeshadow end is creamy and easy to blend out, so I don't even need a mirror to apply, and if I have an extra minute, I'll use the eyeliner end for some definition. Both formulas last the entire day and never have to be sharpened thanks to this pencil's twist-up design.
Shades: Six (five shimmer, one matte)
What We Love: Twist-up, dual-ended design; waterproof; vegan; dermatologist- and ophthalmologist-tested; glides on easily.
What We Don't: Limited shade range.
"I'm not great at makeup, so this taupe-colored shadow stick from Halsey's makeup brand About-Face is perfect for me," admits MC's Fashion E-Commerce Editor, Julia Marzovilla. She'll either use it across her entire upper lashline for a dramatic look, or just in the inner corners for a brightening touch. "It makes my green eyes pop, and really does last for hours. The formula is also blendable for a few seconds after you apply, so it's also great for an all-over look on the lid," she says. True to brand, this stick comes in fun colors to play
Shades: 13 (seven shimmer, six matte)
What We Love: Highly pigmented; long-wearing; blendable; vegan formula.
What We Don't: Some reviewers note creasing with hooded eyes.
Shimmer lovers absolutely have to try this 2-in-1 eyeshadow stick. One side is a creamy, pearlescent shade that delivers high-impact color and glides on like a dream. The other side is a liquid glitter glaze that complements the crayon shade. Each can be worn on their own—for intense metallic color, opt for the crayon side, or for a sheer wash of glitter, go with the glaze side. But worn together, these two formulas combine to create an ultra-glam, long-lasting "wet" effect. I can't forget to mention my eyeshadow stayed flawless through a whole night of dancing after using these sticks.
Shades: 11 (all shimmer)
What We Love: 2-in-1 formula; glides on easily; multi-use; highly pigmented; long-wearing.
What We Don't: Only available in shimmery finish.
Sephora's in-house beauty collection should not be slept on, especially because its incredible shade range is hard to beat. From terracotta red to khaki green, this Sephora stick is offered in just about every color you could want. While these work as eyeliner, they are especially great for eyeshadow thanks to their thick size. One sweep is all you need for intense color, but you can also layer your favorite shades to add some depth. Just work fast while blending as these pencils do dry down quickly.
Shades: 25 (13 shimmer, 12 matte)
What We Love: Waterproof; long-wearing; highly pigmented; multi-use.
What We Don't: Difficult to sharpen; dries quickly.
Mature skin—especially around the eyes—needs a little extra TLC. The worst thing you could use is a dry eyeshadow stick that tugs and irritates your eyelids. Jane Iredale's shadow sticks was specially made with mature skin's needs in mind. With nourishing ingredients like ceramides, vitamin C, and jojoba seed oil, these eyeshadow sticks support skin hydration and improve the look of fine lines while delivering a heavy dose of color—what's not to love?
Shades: 10 (five shimmer, five matte)
What We Love: Glides on easily; formulated with hydrating ingredients; comes with built-in sharpener; blendable; highly pigmented.
What We Don't: Not waterproof.
Eyeshadow sticks are already a lazy girl's best makeup hack, but Sheglam takes it a step further by incorporating two shades in one. On one side of the stick, you have a lighter shade for highlighting and on the other side, you have a darker shade to add contrast. Because the stick has a square-cut design, you can easily control which shade you're applying by the angle of your hand, meaning you'll get a ton of versatility out of this $5 stick.
Shades: 3 (all shimmer)
What We Love: Glides on easily; blendable; multi-use; vegan.
What We Don't: Limited shade range; not waterproof.
What to Look For in Eyeshadow Sticks
- Pigmentation
Unless you’re going for a sheer wash of color, there’s nothing worse than having to apply multiple layers of eyeshadow to get high-impact color. "You don’t want an eyeshadow stick that will just disappear on your eyelids after blending," says Kaplan. The makeup artist recommends looking for a pigmented eyeshadow stick—just swatch the stick on the back of your hand to test its color payoff.
- Texture
Texture is another big factor when on the hunt for an eyeshadow stick. Lerma explains that a great eyeshadow stick won’t be drying or won’t dry too quickly: “The best way I test it is to apply it like a chunky marker from my lash line up into the crease of my eyes. If it cannot apply gently with one swipe and begins to skip in one forward motion, then the formula is too dry and will not be easily blendable.”
- Blendability
This brings us to the next area of consideration—blendability. “An amazing eyeshadow stick should blend seamlessly,” Lerma advises. Kaplan seconds this. "Whether I want it matte or shimmery depends on the occasion but it needs to blend quickly and dry down nicely," she says." While you should be able to blend a stick shadow with your finger, Lerma recommends using a synthetic brush, adding that she often reaches for the Omnia Pro Brush 430, a “perfectly-sized eye brush to blend colors seamlessly together.”
How to Apply Eyeshadow Sticks
What makes eyeshadow sticks so great is that they're one of the most user-friendly makeup products available, so rest assured there is no right or wrong way to apply them. But if you do want to have a pro-level application, Kaplan has a few tips up her sleeve. While you can absolutely use your finger to blend, she recommends applying the pigment over the eyelid and then using a fluffy eyeshadow brush to blend upwards and outwards. "I think using a brush allows for a more seamlessly blended look," she adds.
Another pro tip? "Apply most of the pigment on the lower half of your eyelid closer to the lash line and blend upwards," Kaplan explains. "That way you don’t over-apply product making it incredibly hard to blend away the pigment." When you've finished, you should have a beautifully diffused look outside your eye crease.
Meet the Makeup Experts
Dominique Lerma a Hollywood bred Internationally published Makeup Artist and Beauty Educator, known for her ability to create flawless complexions and innovative beauty looks. She grew her love for makeup artistry at a very ripe age and began beautifying faces for her fellow classmates at her all girl parochial high school. Her self taught passion flourished while she was given the opportunity of working with the world reknowned Mac Cosmetics and soon became a Viva Glam Ambassador. Her 9 years in the beauty industry has landed her on the pages of Instyle, Nylon, Runway, and Photo Vogue Italia. Dominique’s vast resume includes Beauty, editorial, celebrity, advertising, rebranding and bridal. She serves as a Beauty Educator for Frankie Rose Cosmetics and is a bilingual traveling sales representative for both Enzo Milano Professional Hair Styling Tools and Royal Langnickel Brush. Her creative expertise consists of Makeup artistry, hairstyling and men’s grooming.
Zara Kaplan is a British celebrity Makeup Artist currently living in Los Angeles. Having started her career in 2012, Kaplan has since gone on to work with globally renowned brands such as Chanel, La Mer, Louis Vuitton, Kosas Cosmetics, and many more.
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