The 14 Best Eyeshadow Sticks, According to Editors and Makeup Pros

Rich, lasting color with a single swipe.

product collage of laura mercier, nudestix, and nyx eyeshadow stix with image of model looking up and swatch of brown cream eyeshadow overlaid on a purple and peach gradient background
(Image credit: Future)

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 also consulted the pros for expert tips on how exactly what to look for in these handy tubes. Get ready for the easiest eyeshadow application of your life.

Best Eyeshadow Sticks

Brooke Knappenberger, Marie Claire associate commerce editor tests the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Shadow

The Caviar Sticks will forever be one of my makeup bag staples.

(Image credit: Brooke Knappenberger)

Brooke Knappenberger, Marie Claire associate commerce editor tests the e.l.f. No Budge Shadow Stick

It was easier than I thought to play with green eyeshadow thanks to E.l.f.s No Budge Shadow Stick.

(Image credit: Brooke Knappenberger)

Brooke Knappenberger, Marie Claire associate commerce editor tests the Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color eyeshadow stick

I was pleasantly surprised by how creamy the matte Nudestix shades are.

(Image credit: Brooke Knappenberger)

Brooke Knappenberger marie claire associate commerce editor tests the NYX Professional Makeup Jumbo Eye Pencil eyeshadow sticks

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.

(Image credit: Brooke Knappenberger)

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What to Look For in a Eyeshadow Stick

  • 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. Lerma 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. While you should be able to blend a stick shadow with your finger, she 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.”

Meet the Makeup Experts

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Dominique Lerma

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.

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Brooke Knappenberger
Associate Commerce Editor

Brooke Knappenberger is the Associate Commerce Editor at Marie Claire, where she specializes in crafting shopping stories—from sales content to buying guides that span every vertical on the site. She also oversees holiday coverage with an emphasis on gifting guides as well as Power Pick, our monthly column on the items that power the lives of MC’s editors. She also tackled shopping content as Marie Claire's Editorial Fellow prior to her role as Associate Commerce Editor.

She has over three years of experience writing on fashion, beauty, and entertainment and her work has appeared on Looper, NickiSwift, The Sun US, and Vox Magazine of Columbia, Missouri. Brooke obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism with an emphasis on Magazine Editing and has a minor in Textile and Apparel Management.