Eyeshadow application can sometimes feel like an Olympic sport. There’s a race to buff and blend before your product dries down and it seems like fall-out is enemy number one. Practice makes perfect with cream eyeshadows and powder pigments, but if you’re looking for an easy, efficient, and stunning alternative, the best liquid eyeshadows should be your go-to.
“Generally, the appeal of liquid eyeshadows is very user-friendly,” says celebrity makeup artist Ehlie Luna. “This means you can use it straight from the applicator onto the lid and use your finger to blend out any edges or seams.” Professional makeup artist Jenny Patinkin adds that liquid eyeshadows are typically formulated to be and marketed as long wear, which adds to their appeal.
There’s no shortage of options—you’ll find matte finishes, shimmers, and glitter eyeshadows on the market in almost every shade imaginable. Some offer more play time than others, and a handful will deliver a crazy intense pigment with all-day wear. To determine which swipe-and-go shadows are the best, we tapped a handful of professional makeup artists to share their favorites—and did extensive testing of our own.
The Best Liquid Eyeshadows
- The Best Liquid Eyeshadow Overall: Armani Beauty Eye Tint Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeshadow
- The Best Liquid Eyeshadow for Long-Wear: Violette_FR Yeux Paint
- The Best Liquid Eyeshadow for Pigment: About Face Matte Fluid Eye Paint
- The Best Luxury Liquid Eyeshadow: Chanel Ombre Première Laque
- The Best Drugstore Liquid Eyeshadow: e.l.f. Cosmetics Liquid Glitter Eyeshadow
I promise: You’ll find this liquid eyeshadow in every single makeup artist’s kit. It’s a classic, and for a very good reason. The formula is thin yet pigmented and has 16-hour, crease-free staying power. There are matte, shimmer, and metallic finishes to choose from, but all the formulas play well together, so feel free to mix and match, even on oily eyelids.
Pros: Longwear; Crease-free; Good for oily eyelids
Cons: Can be a bit patchy
“I’m a huge fan of the Violette_FR Yeux Paints. They offer beautiful tones that have a sophistication about them,” says Luna. “There are everyday options and some fun ones for a night out.” Each shade is truly buildable, so you can create either a diffused, light wash of color or go all-out with a bold, bright lid. I’m personally partial to the twinkling shades, which have a little sparkle, but there’s also a handful of matte finishes to choose from.
Pros: Makeup artist-recommended; Buildable; Long-lasting
Cons: Fast-drying, so not much time to blend
If you’re in the market for an intense pigment, are looking to create a dramatic cut crease, or want a graphic design, Halsey’s makeup brand, about-face, is for you. “These are beginner-friendly, have fun, colorful packaging, and bold payoff,” explains Luna. “They pack a punch.” If a full wash of color feels a bit too intimidating, try using the pigment as a bright liner. Just grab a precision brush.
Pros: Makeup artist-recommended; Intense color payoff
Cons: Certain shades aren’t as opaque as advertised (read: yellow and orange)
A happy medium between a statement eye and a barely-there look, these neutral-hued eyeshadows with a metallic finish deserve to be a staple in your makeup routine. I find a single swipe to be daytime-appropriate, but love to layer an extra bit of product on my lid for a night out, or a more dramatic look. The applicator is extremely user-friendly—and when held at a 45-degree angle, is perfect for dragging color along the lower lash line.
Pros: Gorgeous texture; Buildable
Cons: Dries down very quickly
As an extremely affordable alternative to other options on this list, E.l.f.’s drugstore eyeshadow formula is actually one of the most high-performing formulas out there. It has a gel-based texture that locks in—and doesn’t budge—for hours on end. The glitter pigments aren’t for the more low-key eyeshadow user; they are intensely sparkly with large glitter chunks. That said, you can tone things down by shearing out the formula with a fluffy brush.
Pros: Affordable; Can double as eyeliner
Cons: Might look a little patchy
Also Recommended
If you're a liquid eyeshadow beginner, you'll want to opt for an easy-to-use, blendable formula like this one. The award-winning formula boasts five different finishes in mattes, nudes, creams, foils, and liquid metals. Each formula is waterproof, crease-proof, fallout-free, and gives you 24 hour+ wear. What I love most is that they are super easy to apply with a finger or a brush and all of the textures can be worn alone or layered together.
Pros: Makeup-artist recommended; Easy to use
Cons: Feels a little heavy
Liquid eyeshadow is beginner-friendly to begin with, but this Kosas formula is extra foolproof. Every color in the range falls into neutral territory and has ample playtime, so you can blend and sheer until you’re content with the final look. "These have a lot of dimension because they've got shimmer that's metallic, but also opalescent, and there's a really beautiful multidimensionality to the way that they look on the skin," adds Patinkin. "They're kind of complex colors and they look just very dimensional and beautiful."
Pros: Easy to work with; Buildable; Recommended by both an editor and a makeup artist
Cons: Not highly pigmented
Pat McGrath knows how to do glitter right. With five, neutral-toned, radiant metallic shades in the range, these longwear pigments don’t skimp out on impact; a little goes a long way. One small dot is enough to have your lid looking reflective and opalescent. The star of this formula comes from a popular skincare ingredient: Squalane. Hydrating in nature, it’s able to prevent patchy sections from forming over the course of the day.
Pros: Gorgeous finish; All shades work across skin tones
Cons: Dries down quickly
This is another product beloved by both makeup artists and Marie Claire editors. E-Commerce Editor Julia Marzovilla says, "This product is perfectly named, right down to the shade name. I have green eyes, and I found that "Aster," the slightly purple hue, really makes them pop. It blends perfectly with my finger, so it’s a makeup bag must-have for when I want to make my makeup look feel special."
Pros: Oil-free; Multiple finishes; Approved by both editors and makeup artists
Cons: Fades throughout the course of the day
Beauty Writer Gabrielle Ulubay loves this luxuriously creamy liquid eyeshadow, calling it her travel staple. "Creasing isn’t entirely avoidable—but this airy liquid eyeshadow is your best bet for avoiding them altogether. With an incredibly lightweight formula, this shadow manages to smooth over creases. Most of the shades of Sisley-Paris' Ombre Eclat liquid eyeshadow fall into pink and copper families, but there are also some out-of-the-box shades in the mix, such as deep gray. Every formula is truly buildable (don’t worry, it won’t get patchy), but make sure to let each layer dry before adding one on top."
Pros: Doesn’t sink into creases; Great for more mature skin types; Editor-approved
Cons: Expensive
Don't sleep on drugstore brands: Just because they're affordable, doesn't mean they're low-quality. Ulubay says this is especially applicable to NYX. "These are some of the first liquid eyeshadows I ever tried, and I still stick with them," she says. "They come in various colors, from matte neutrals to bright, shimmery hues, and after a whole day of wear, they remain vibrant and in place—no smudging, fading, or creasing."
Pros: Editor-approved; affordable; readily available online and at drugstores
Cons: Some customers say the tubes are too small
Selena Gomez's makeup brand, Rare Beauty, is popular for its subtle, flattering products, like this liquid eyeshadow. It has a satiny finish and comes in three shades of peach and pink, all of which result in a natural yet elevated look. Plus, the formula is completely clean, vegan, cruelty-free, and paraben-free, making it perfect for those with sensitive skin or sensitive eyes.
Pros: Cruelty-free; paraben-free; great for sensitive skin and eyes; vegan
Cos: Only comes in three colors, all of which are shades of pink and peach
What to Look For
- Formulation
"There's a bunch of different types of liquid or creamy eyeshadows, and they're all formulated differently," says Patinkin. Glosses, for instance, are shinier with "more of a slick consistency and texture." The downside of this formulation is that you're more likely to end the day with a crease.
Very opaque options on the other hand can wind up looking dry and pucker on the eyelid. "If your skin is starting to thin or getting a bit looser, this texture can accentuate some of those issues," she shares.
- Play Time
By nature, liquid eyeshadows start out with some flexibility. How fast it transforms from a wet liquid to a dry finish however varies greatly. “For liquid shadows with a faster drying time, it's best to do one eye at a time,” explains celebrity makeup artist and brand founder Danessa Myricks. “For more opaque coverage with your liquid shadows, choose to build up the color in layers letting one layer dry before applying the next or tap on color with your finger or a brush to build coverage.”
- Payoff
Liquid eyeshadows are versatile at their core. On the one hand, they can be used as a quick wash of pale color that primes your lid for additional powder shadows or more intense liquid pigments. However, they can also be a one-and-done product that provides a pop of color or shimmer lid. A pro tip from Myricks? Use a “flat, more dense brush for more color pay off.” Finger application will inherently give a more sheered out finish.
- Longevity
Perhaps the trickiest criteria to nail with a liquid eyeshadow is staying power. By nature of liquid formula, the product is more prone to creasing and fading. Every item on this list however is guaranteed to provide at least 12-hour wear.
How to Apply Liquid Eyeshadow
Of course you can apply liquid eyeshadow with the doe-foot applicator it comes with. However, Patinkin recommends using a brush for optimal precision, blending, and product distribution. "I think applying anything with a brush is going to be better than applying with a doe foot," she says. "When you're using a brush you can get a much more even, smooth distribution of the product. You can sheer it out and get a softer look than you might be able to with a doe foot, because the product can cling to the doe foot and it might not spread as evenly on your lid."
But how do you transfer the product to the brush? Patinkin explains, "I like to either put a dot from the doe foot on the lid and then use a brush to blend, or I put it on the back of my hand and then put the brush into that and then apply."
Meet the Experts
Starting out as a self-taught makeup artist, Danessa Myricks learned how to use products in unconventional ways to create stunning looks. Ignoring industry norms, she began to teach other artists about her techniques and product selections, and created a name for herself in the beauty world.
After turning heads at some of the largest brands, Danessa led product development for some of the most successful launches in history at brands like KISS and Benefit Cosmetics. But she knew the world of makeup still felt exclusive, so she launched her own brand, Danessa Myricks Beauty.
Danessa has created looks for celebrities, worked with entertainers in music and film, and collaborates with other brands and artists to push the beauty industry forward. She trains makeup artists and enthusiasts worldwide and continues to create some of the most innovative and inclusive beauty products on the market.
Ehlie Luna is a celebrity makeup artist and creator.
Jenny Patinkin is a professional makeup artist and beauty entrepreneur. Products from her line have been featured on Oprah's Favorite Things, and she is revered for her sustainable approach to beauty. She is currently based in Chicago.
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