Don’t get me wrong: the best eyeshadow palettes are great. Really, truly. But buffing powder formulas to perfection takes a tad of skill and a bit of time. The best cream eyeshadows, on the other hand? They’re easy and breezy. All you need is a finger swipe, a little tapping to blend, and a five-star formula that won’t crease, budge, or smudge.
From sparkly options that are quite literally one-and-done to luxe quads that can be layered for a more intense eye, there’s a wide world of beautiful cream eyeshadows to choose from. “You can create an entire eye look and then add a cream shimmer on top as the final step,” says makeup artist Dani Parkes. “You can even set the shimmer you add with a powder shadow afterward.”
Want to join the cream eyeshadow train but are unsure where to start or what to buy? Scroll ahead. Top makeup artists share the cream shadows they always keep in their kits. We also took the liberty of throwing in some of our faves. From easy-to-apply sticks to eye and cheek multipurpose duos, here are the best cream eyeshadows in the game.
The Best Cream Eyeshadows
- The Best Cream Eyeshadow Overall: Laura Mercier Caviar Eyeshadow Stick
- The Best Glitter Cream Eyeshadow: Bodyography Glitter Pigment
- The Best Buildable Cream Eyeshadow: Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize
- The Best Luxury Cream Eyeshadow: Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes
- The Best Cream Eyeshadow Stick: Rare Beauty All of the Above Weightless Eyeshadow Stick
“This has been my favorite for a while. They’re pen-like and smudge effortlessly onto the lid, which makes them so easy to use,” says celebrity makeup artist Priscilla DiStasio. “They’re amazing for a quick and non-messy smoky eye. They also come in endless shades, both with matte and glowy finishes.” Use them solo, combine a few shades for a more sculpted look, or even let one double as a smudged eyeliner across your lower lash line. Oh, and one last pro tip: Toss some in your bag for midday touch-ups.
Finish: Shimmer and Matte
Shades: 30
What We Love: Easy to use; great for lower lash line; multiple finishes
What We Don't: Not long-lasting
Review for MC: "I find myself doing my makeup in the back of a cab more often than I care to admit. When I need to look glam, but don't have time to sit in front of my vanity, I always reach for this Laura Mercier stick. It's quite literally the easiest eyeshadow to apply. I just draw on my lid and blend out the product with my pointer finger. My go-to is Starlight, a shimmering light pink (I'm wearing it in the photo below), but I'll reach for darker shades before a dinner or night out." — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor
This is so easy to apply, you can do it in the back of a car.
“This creamy, long-wearing, and waterproof formula is so versatile, travel-friendly, and applies like a marker. It’s also cruelty-free and sets within 30 seconds,” says makeup artist Dominique Lerma. “I love layering this as an eyeshadow base to secure the longevity of an eyeshadow look," says makeup artist Dominique Lerma." It has a high-shine, metallic finish and is available in 22 various shades.” Lerma's go-to application tip? “Swipe them on your eyelid from your lash line up into your crease and buff and blend it out in a windshield-wiper motion on your crease using my go-to Omnia Crease brush.
Finish: Glitter
Shades: 22
What We Love: Easy to apply; long-lasting
What We Don't: Sometimes the pigments are packed too loosely
Review for MC: "Six years ago—my first week as a beauty editor—I was introduced to these Bodyography glitter pigments. Since then, I've worn one of the 22 shades every week. Nothing beats them. The formula blends out with just my fingers and leaves the prettiest reflective quality on my lid. I swear I can't leave the house without someone stopping me to ask what's on my eyes. Off the Hook is my favorite shade (it's a taupe hue that goes with everything), but all of the colors are gorgeous." — Samantha Hoelnder, Beauty Editor
Excuse my squinting eyes (the sun was strong), but I needed to show off this sparkle in the sunlight.
These pots have a reflective, silk-esque finish that’s incomparable to other products. The shades themself are metallic by and large, but work across a range of undertones. They’re buildable to the max, can be layered with other products, or used solo as a statement eye. But the most impressive feature is the formula’s blendability. You have time to work with the product and perfect your shape without having to worry about it drying down in five seconds. "I love this in Pillow Talk," says makeup artist Natalie Dresher. "This cream shadow shade is unique and has the perfect pinky bronze tone. Its amazing for bridal makeup, or just a night on the town. I love to use this on its own for a quick look, or as an eye base to a more long-wear event makeup."
Finish: Shimmer
Shades: Four
What We Love: Blendable; high shine
What We Don't: Fades throughout the day; wish there were more shades
Review for MC: "I'm a Charlotte Tilbury girl to my core. Pretty much every product that lands on my face is from the brand. Eyes to Mesmerize in Pillow Talk is my favorite when I want a monochromatic look. It's a soft and subtle shimmer that's great for daytime wear, but a few layers can boost the reflective factor for nighttime. The shade is simply the most flattering one I own." — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor
Match Eyes to Mesmerize with the rest of Charlotte Tilbury's PillowTalk line.
The biggest eyeshadow pain point? Creasing—and you can’t fight me on that. By the time dinner rolls around, chunks of shadow pool in the little lines of your lid. This cream-to-powder quad, however, manages to be the exception to the rule. Once it sets, it’s not going to budge. The luxe, metallic-finish formula gives any makeup look a long-lasting fleck of shimmer and shine. It's easily one of the best Tom Ford makeup products.
Finish: Shimmer and matte
Shades: Four
What We Love: Smudge- and crease-free; long lasting
What We Don't: Expensive; a bit of fall out
Review for MC: "My go-to shade is Rose Topaz. I use a fluffy blending blush to swipe the upper left shade across my lid as a base. Then, I put the dark brown in my crease and under my lower lash line. To add a pop, I apply the bottom left sparkly shade with a domed brush in the center of my lid. The finish is pretty high-impact, which I love and the reflective quality looks luxe. My only note: apply this before foundation; there is a bit of fallout." — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor
The Rose Quartz shade surprisingly looks a bit green on my skin tone.
I've tried all 37 of Rare Beauty's products. If we're being honest, it's probably one of my favorite celebrity beauty brands. While I deeply admire the brow gel, this eyeshadow stick is my most used. The colors are all very light (great for everyday wear!), and the finish is the perfect balance between a shimmer and a matte. The genius packaging is what truly gets me though. It has a sharpener, so I can keep the eyeshadow tip sharp—a must for dragging shadow along the lower lash line.
Finish: Radiant
Shades: Six
What We Love: Stick packaging makes this so easy to apply; great for the lower lash line; comes with a convenient sharpener
What We Don't: Not very buildable—has an exclusively light finish
Review for MC: "Eyeshadow sticks are genuinely hit or miss for me. They all look great at the get-go and are easy to apply, but many lose my interest over time. Their cream formulas either end up creasing on my lid, which forces me to toss ‘em to the wayside. Not this one: It glides on like a dream, does not crease (like, ever), and is the perfect size to drag color along the lower lash line. The formulas are shimmery instead of sparkly, making them a great daytime option." — Samantha Holender, Beauty Editor
I’m partial to shades Well-Being, Compassion, and Adventure, but you really can’t go wrong with any of them.
Other Cream Eyeshadows We Love
While most glitter eyeshadows will have substantial fall out, these glitter-specked, densely-packed cream pots don’t move—like, at all. “You can apply these with just your fingertips, which gives the best results for this type of cream shadow,” adds DiStasio. Just a little bit of product gives a gorgeous, reflective wash of color that catches the light at every turn. Place a dot in your inner corner, on the center of your lid, or do a full-fledged glitter eye if you feel a little fancy.
Finish: Glitter
Shades: Six
What We Love: Doesn’t crease or smudge; Intense payoff
What We Don't: Limited color selection
"Merit Solo Shadows have become a makeup kit and personal must-have," Lerma tells Marie Claire. "The shade ranges are beautiful, and a little goes a long way. They are blendable, buildable, long-wearing, and user-friendly. Vachetta is a soft rust/terracotta shade. It is universally flattering and will take you from summer bronze straight into a pumpkin spice vibe for fall."
Finish: Matte
Shades: Eight
What We Love: Makeup artist approved; flattering shades; lasts long; affordable
What We Don't: I'd like some shimmer shades in the range
MAC Cosmetics paint pots are my holy grail. I can't do a makeup application without them. It is no wonder why they have been on the market for so long. They are a cream product that dries to powdery finish, is highly pigmented, longwearing, does not crease throughout the day and is recommended for all skin types. I often reach for shades Painterly (rose flesh tone undertone) and Soft Ochre (golden undertone). These paint pots can be worn alone or used as an eyeshadow base for your favorite eyeshadow look.
Finish: Vibrant yet shine-free
Shades: 14
What We Love:
What We Don't:
Dose of Colors It’s Literally Magic Multi Use Shimmer Stick- This on the eyes is magical, think of a glittery fairy look. When the glitter specks hit the light, it’s so dazzling! I love using this on top of a powder shadow look for a hit of sparkle or as a base for a glitter powder shadow! I also love that its in a stick and can be used on other areas of the face.
Revlon Colorstay Creme EyeShadow- There’s a reason makeup artists have these in their kit! They are under 10$ and work just as good as some of the higher end brands. Cherry Blossom and Praline are my favorite shades!
“I’m in love with these amazing, versatile cream colors from Danessa Myricks,” says DiStasio. “They are great for everyone, come in all shades and finishes, and can literally be used anywhere on the face.” The matte and high shine options are stunning on the eyes, lips, and cheeks, while the metallic options look gorgeous as a highlighter or pop on the lid. The biggest plus with these little guys however is their incredible staying power. They’re waterproof (aka sweat- and humidity-proof), do not crease in the slightest, and will look just as pigmented at night as they did during the a.m. Just be warned: They dry down quickly, so work fast.
Pros: Long-lasting; Intense payoff
Cons: Dries down very quickly
“When looking for a cream eyeshadow, I am looking for a formula that is long-lasting with no creasing and buildable coverage. I love the Jones Road Just a Sec Clean Cream Eyeshadow because it has a beautiful shimmer and is super easy to apply. This formula is great for people who want a wash of color because it can be built up to a beautiful and dense shade,” says makeup artist Nydia Figueroa. “You can use your fingers or, one of my favorite brushes, the Anisa Beauty Eye Fan All-Over Brush. This brush has an incredible shape and swipes on the cream eyeshadow with ease.”
Pros: Buildable; Doesn’t crease
Cons: Small shade collection; Glitter fallout
“This is the perfect cream shadow for a minimalist makeup look. It adds a shimmer and elevates your eyes in a beautiful way, and is super easy to use,” says Parkes. There’s no need for a brush—just swipe the applicator across your lid in your color of choice (there’s eight total) and diffuse any harsh lines with your finger. You’ll be left with a sheer, very subtle wash of color that provides just a little extra oomph. Pro tip: “You can even use this product as a highlighter to create a chic monochromatic look!”
Pros: Easy to use; Multi-purpose
Cons: Not super pigmented
“This is my holy grail product for the perfect ‘going out look,’” says Parkes. “It is highly pigmented and creates a stunning eye look on its own.” The crease-proof, 16-hour wear formula comes in a mix of matte and shimmer shades that give a dense, bold wash across the lid. The pointed applicator can be dragged along the lash line for extra drama. Want to take your pigment to another level? Parkes recommends layering this on top of a powder formula.
Pros: Highly pigmented; Long lasting
Cons: Dries down quickly; Difficult to get product out of the jar
Anyone who gravitates towards more satin, soft looks should 100 percent have a stockpile of these Chanel singles. With three total shades in the line, including a barely-there nude, shimmer-flecked champagne, and smoky-eye optimal brown, these creamy colors can create looks that run the gamut from subtle to intense. While finger application is typically the way to go, I have to say that the corresponding brush is a game changer. It picks up the perfect amount of product and gives an even and consistent wash. If you want to soften out the line along your crease, just gently tap with the warmth of your fingertips.
Pros: Blendable
Cons: Expensive; Small shade selection
Leave it to Jillian Dempsey to create one of the most versatile cream shadows in the game. Not only do these creamy pigments look gorgeous when swiped across the lid, but depending on the shade you choose, they can also double as a lip tint, a blush, a bronzer, or a highlighter. They’re entirely buildable, which makes them ideal for creating a monochromatic look. An added bonus? Each pot is infused with hydrating ingredients like sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, and shea butter.
Pros: Multi-purpose; Buildable
Cons: Might cause breakouts for sensitive skin types
Most cream eyeshadows are going to come in individual pots—that’s just how the story goes. If you’re a creamy girl through and through though, having a handful of shades in one, convenient location is ideal. Enter Roén. This quad is designed with four shades that work beautifully together. While one per quad may feel more powder-y, the majority have a bouncy, soft, blendable texture.
Pros: Convenient shade selection; Blendable
Cons: Might crease on oily eyelids
What to Look For in a Cream Eyeshadow
- I look for a cream shadow that is creamy and that will dry down to a powdery finish. Something that is crease-proof, water resistant. A product that is not too grainy or dry as it will have a short shelf life and oftentimes dry out too quickly. I also take note of the packaging that the product comes in and although not the most friendly for the added weight in my kit. I love when a cream product comes in glass, it helps that the formulation is not easily altered over time.
What Are the Benefits of a Cream Eyeshadow?
The benefits to a cream texture eyeshadow is that the cream dries down to a powdery finish and is a versatile product where you can wear the shadow alone, it aids in evening out skin tone on the eyelid. It also stays put throughout the day and is longwearing. You can use it as a base to pack on powder eyeshadow over, will act as an eyeshadow base and intensifies color while securing the product.
This is different from a liquid shadow, they tend to dry down very quickly and are not the most recommended if you are attempting to use it as a versatile product for layering with powder.
A powder product requires a base to adhere to prior to application of the powder products. It is the number one recommendation from makeup artists on how to ensure your eyeshadow is going to look clean, even and stay out for longwear.
The benefit of a cream texture eyeshadow is that they are usually moisturizing, and easy to blend. It is different than a powder yet similar to a liquid because it does have to be set with a powder in order to last a long time on the lid and not crease. A cream eyeshadow is a great base for a powder shadow.
How to Apply a Cream Eyeshadow
I always recommend using a synthetic brush to apply cream shadow. The filaments are made to be used both wet and dry and helps buff the product in for a seamless finish.
My on repeat go-to brushes that blend cream shadows quick and easy are Omnia Pro Brush in BOM-415, the eyelid brush is perfect for blending cream shadows from the eyelid to the brow bone. The BOM-417 is flat and lays product and is also great for packing on powder shadows as well. I appreciate when brushes are versatile for application purposes.
like to apply cream eyeshadow with my finger and then take a fluffy blending brush to blend the edges for a seamless application.
Meet the Experts
Priscilla DiStasio is a professional and celebrity makeup artist with over 10 years of experience in the beauty and makeup industry. First starting her professional career years ago as a MAC certified makeup artist, Priscilla has climbed her way to the top, and since then has built a reputation that holds up a well known name to many of todays top celebrities. She is best known for her consistent work as the main makeup artist for The Real Housewives of New Jersey’s, Teresa Giudice, as well as RHONJ’s Dina Manzo; RHOBH’s Lisa Vanderpump, Kim Richards and Kyle Richards; RHOOC’s Vicki Gunvalson, Shannon Beador, Tamra Judge, Kelly Dodd, Meghan King Edmonds; RHOD’s Stephanie Hollman, Brandi Redmond, Cary Deuber; RHOM’s Jackie Gillies; Vanderpump Rules’; Stassi Schroeder, Scheana Marie Shay, Kristen Doute, Katie Maloney, Brittany Cartwright, Ariana Madix; VH1's Mob Wive's Carla Facciolo; Randi Zuckerberg, Alexander Flores, Jenny McCarthy, Dee Snider, Traci Lords, Cloris Leachman, & Raquel Castro from Jersey Girl and NBC’s the Voice, just to name a few. Priscilla has also worked, as well as appeared on, multiple TV shows such as Real Housewives of New Jersey, VH1's My Big Friggin' Wedding, VH1's Mob Wives, FYI's Mikey Saves The Date, ABC's Forever, HBO's Homeland, Maze Runner, Millionaire Matchmaker, Million Dollar Listing, Quit Your Day Job, NBC Network, MTV Network, Oxygen Network, and Sirius Radio. Priscilla and her work have been featured in top publishing icons such as OK Magazine, Life & Style, US Weekly, People Magazine, OMJ.com, Realitytea, NJ Bergen Magazine, and 201 Magazine. A native born New Yorker, Priscilla is eternally honored with annual invitations for her participation in New York's Fashion Week. In 2015, Priscilla was awarded the "Celebrity Makeup Artist Achievement Award” from the state of New York’s beauty chamber of commerce, along with a certificate of recognition from the comptroller of New York, Scott M. Stringer. This award not only acknowledges Priscilla's exceptional role in the makeup industry, but her passion and drive she has put towards this career as well. Through this passion of makeup, Priscilla has broadened her devotion by giving numerous mentoring opportunities to young aspiring makeup artists in the tristate area, showing others where her heart truly lies. Although Priscilla has made herself a recognized name in the celebrity industry, she also contributes much of her time to her freelance work as well. Specializing in Bridal makeup to Special FX; and everything in between; Ms. Priscilla has done it all.
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.
With over 15 years of experience, Nydia has made a name for herself starting off at the age of 18 as an artist for one of the biggest company names in the world, MAC Cosmetics. She followed her dream, working for 5 time Emmy award winning makeup artist (The Today show, The View) EVE PEARL who was the reason she pursued the career of makeup over a decade ago. Nydia is also a Celebrity & Published makeup artist whose work has been featured on television, The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, NYFW, The Miss Universe Organization and more. Nydia's experience spans across a broad scope of field within the makeup industry and is also an educator in beauty. She has taught her signature makeup techniques to hundreds of students all over the country. Nydia is the Owner of Faces By Nydia Makeup Studio and Bridal Suite in Cedar Grove, NJ
Dani Parkes, aka @facesbydanii is a makeup artist based in New York City. She's worked with a range of celebrities, including Lea Michele, influencers, and on editorial campaigns.
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