13 Best Cream Eyeshadows Of 2023
Stephanie Patterson
When I was young, I used to experiment with eyeshadow all the time. I would wake up nice and early to slap some bright blue tint on my lids before a riveting day at middle school. I would also feel pain when my compact fell to the floor, leaving a powdery plume all over the bathroom floor.
You know what product won’t spray a dusty mess everywhere when dropped? Cream eyeshadow. Cream eyeshadow is a lifesaver for several reasons: it’s versatile, it’s moisturizing, buildable, and it goes on way easier than pressed powder.
Of course, there is a time and place for every kind of formula, but if we’re looking at overall benefits, cream eyeshadow wins the award for Most Convenient Makeup Product. That’s why we put together a list of the best cream eyeshadow for you.
Choosing the Best Cream Eyeshadow for You: A Guide
Before you throw out all of your powder eyeshadows and run to secure yourself some cream, make sure you’ve considered the following:
Brand
When shopping for cream shadow, look to the companies that are well-known for their version of it. For instance, the MAC Cosmetics Pro Long-Wear Paint Pot and the Hourglass Cosmetics Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow are two of the best-selling cream eyeshadows on the market. It also doesn’t hurt to ask your social circle for their top picks.
Price
The price of the product will be influenced by many different factors: the ingredients used, the size of the pot, and the brand. Typically, eyeshadow pots do not vary too widely in size, so the more influential factors are usually the ingredients and the brand.
Companies that produce luxury cosmetics – i.e Tom Ford – will sell shadows at much higher prices than drugstore brands will. So, it is good to set your budget before you start browsing.
Colour
There are several eye looks that are trending now, such as midnight eyes (dark blues, blacks, dark glitter), sunset eyes (warm tones that melt into each other), all-over metallic eyes, smokey eyes, and highlighter eyes (bright, dewy, ultra-light tones).
Luckily, there are plenty of cream shadows to help you recreate those trends. When stepping out at night, think about deeper colours with more drama and intensity. The nighttime is for sultry looks, experimentation with smudging, and sharp lines, so go crazy in the darker shade section.
For everyday wear, opt for softer colours and nudes with a hint of warmth. The point of day makeup is to enhance your natural beauty and give you a little lift. Some colours to consider are rosy blush tones, sandy beige tones, subtle bronzes, and peachy pinks.
Skin Concerns
Arguably, one of the most important things to consider is your eyelid skin. Are you looking for products that will nourish aging eyes? If so, you might be drawn to the items on our list that claim anti-aging benefits.
Do you have oily skin? Perhaps you want a mattifying product to help stave off sheen. Are you a health queen that wants only the most pure, organic ingredients on your skin? Not to worry – we have suggestions for you.
- MAC Cosmetics Pro Long-Wear Paint Pot (Beige Range), $26
- Byredo Colour Sticks, $34
- Tom Ford Cream Colour for Eyes, $58
- Stila Smudge Pots, $26
- RMS Eye Polish, $28
- L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect Creamy Eyeshadow, $10
- Supergoop! Shimmershade SPF 30, $24
- Hourglass Cosmetics Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow, $38
- NARS Velvet Cream Eyeshadow Stick, $26
- Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eyeshadow, $38
- Jillian Dempsey Lid Tint, $28
- Rituel de Fille Ash and Ember Eye Soot, $38
- Nudestix Magnetic Matte Eye Colour, $26
The Best Cream Eyeshadow: Our Top 13 Picks
Here are our top 13 picks for the best cream eyeshadows. Some of these items are ones you may not have heard of, while others are best-sellers featured everywhere in the makeup world. Each description gives you information about the brand, the formula, and the price, among other tidbits that might be useful to you.
#1 – Best Nude Cream Eyeshadow: MAC Cosmetics Pro Long-Wear Paint Pot (Beige Range)
MAC Cosmetics, an acronym for ‘Make-up Art Cosmetics’, is a Canadian cosmetics manufacturer that was founded in Toronto. The brand is known for its bold, creative, and vibrant products, as well as its collaborations with celebrities.
RuPaul, Selena, Niki Minaj, and Patrick Starrr are just a few names to note, and given the brand’s popularity, it’s unsurprising that many of their products are on bestseller lists everywhere, including the Pro Longwear Paint Pot.
This longwear cream eyeshadow promises 24-hour pigmentation with flexibility, buildability, and smoothness. It is non-flaking, non-caking, non-creasing, water-resistant, and non-acnegenic.
Plus, it’s offered in over 23 shades, each costing $26 per pot.
#2 – Best for Beginners/Ease of Use: Byredo Color Sticks
Byredo is a European luxury brand founded in Stockholm in 2006 by Ben Gorham. Byredo’s high-end products promise quality ingredients and unforgettable, timeless experiences for every individual. One such product is the Byredo Color Stick.
This multi-use color stick can be applied all over the face, providing buildable pigment that is extremely easy to blend with other products. It’s available in intriguing colors, including Cleopatra (brown with turquoise glitter), solar flare (a nude hue with gold glitter), and sick pink (a hot pink magenta fusion).
Purchase yours on Byredo for $34.
#3 – Best for Oily Lids: Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes
Tom Ford has been in all of the high-fashion luxury seats of power as a former creative director for both Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. If that wasn’t enough, he has also written and directed a couple of Academy Award nominated films. His dedication to art is seen in his sleek and modern products, like this cream shadow.
Cream Colour for Eyes is a little black pot of buildable pigment with a lustrous metallic finish. The smooth, no-crease, no-smudge cream eyeshadow is free of sulfates and super easy to apply.
You can purchase the three available colors – platinum (cool taupe), opale (champagne), and sphinx (molten golden pink) – for $58.
#4 – Best for Creating Smokey Eyes: Stila Smudge Pots
Stila Cosmetics is an American company founded in 1994 by Jeanine Lobell. Allegedly the name ‘Stila’ is inspired by the Swedish word ‘stil’, which translates to ‘style’. This brand delivers on performance and cost-effectiveness, offering staple products at a more accessible price point.
Speaking of staples, nothing really prepares you for a night out like a good smokey eye, which is exactly what Stila’s Smudge Pots are for. This is an incredibly versatile product, as it can be slicked on as a gel eyeliner to complete your cat eye, or it can be smudged with a finger or a brush to create a grungy vibe.
The Smudge Pot, which comes in one colour (black), can be bought for $26.
#5 – Best Organic Formula: RMS Eye Polish
The pilot of this cosmetic company, Rose-Marie Swift, was inspired to begin her creative journey after her battle with severe health issues. She was discouraged to find that many chemicals and toxins that had plagued her body were contained in many beauty products.
Thus, a health-conscious, truly organic makeup line was created. There are a ton of organic ingredients in RMS’s Eye Polish, including organic coconut oil, jojoba oil, and vitamin E.
With natural pigments that reflect the light, the nutrients in this formula are beneficial for those with sensitive or aging eyes. RMS Beauty offers this product in 7 different shades, each priced at $28.
#6 – Best for Mature Eyes: L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect Creamy Eyeshadow
L’oreal is a staple in the cosmetics industry, regardless of whether we are talking makeup, skincare, haircare, or anything in between. Yet another product that lands itself on the bestseller list for aging beauties is the Age Perfect Creamy Eyeshadow.
This non-comedogenic, clinically tested, gentle cream shadow is formulated with serums and mineral pigments, making it the perfect nourishing cocktail for delicate eyes. It is available in 8 shades, including dazzling white, celestial blue, and grey fever.
Right now, you can find it at a discounted price of $10 – just hurry before it’s all gone.
#7 – Best SPF Formula: Supergoop! Shimmershade SPF 30
Founded in 2007 by Holly Thaggard, Supergoop is most known for its SPF products. Unsurprisingly, their beauty line does not stray from their core foundations, offering products that will protect from the harsh rays of the sun.
Supergoop is also an environmentally conscious brand for being reef-free, cruelty-free, and clean. Plus, everything is packaged in 100% recyclable materials.
The Shimmershade SPF 30 eyeshadow is available in four super reflective, summery shades: first light, golden hour, daydream, and sunset, which are all variations of golden tans and nudes. They’re anti-crease, anti-flake, and anti-fade creams that promise pigmented, buildable finishes.
Get yourself protected from Mr. Sun for $24.
#8 – Best Glitter Shadow: Hourglass Cosmetics Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow
Hourglass is dedicated to reinventing luxury cosmetics as cruelty-free and vegan products. Each item is crafted to be transformative and easy to apply, setting the bar high for how cosmetics ought to perform.
This lightweight, shimmery glitter bomb is infused with light-reflecting pearls to create bold, luminescent looks. The hybrid cream formula glides on seamlessly and is perfect for people with sensitive eyes, as it is paraben, fragrance, gluten, sulfate, GMO, and talc-free.
Hourglass sells this product for $38.
#9 – Best Matte Finish: Nars Velvet Cream Eyeshadow Stick
François Nars founded her brand, which is a subsidiary to Shiseido, in 1994. The appeal behind this label is that it brings all the luxury vibes, but with an unmistakable edge. It’s the perfect fusion of classy and provocation.
To see what we mean, just take a look at the Orgasm Collection. The products, shades, and even the names of the products are testaments to the label’s audacious personality.
Intense pigment and hyper-saturated color are what you can expect from the Velvet Cream Eyeshadow Stick. It provides a smooth, matte, crease-free and smudge-free look that lasts all day.
It is also incredibly nourishing, containing a complex of ingredients that slows aging and fights loss of firmness in the eye area. You can get this stick in one of seven colours for the discounted price of $26 on Nars’ site (was $37).
#10 – Best Shimmer Finish: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eyeshadow
Celebrity makeup artist Laura Mercier is at the helm of this French/American company, which aims to keep up with the changing needs and desires of a modern clientele. The brand, known for its iconic products and luxe artistry, has produced some of the most well-known and trusted products, such as the Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Foundation.
The Caviar Stick is yet another best-selling item in the repertoire, promising paraben and phthalate-free cream pigmentation. The multi-use shadow can be applied as a liner or highlighter.
The shimmer finishes are among the most popular, so it is relieving to see that there are 19 of them (!). Get yours for $38 on Sephora.
#11 – Best Sheer Shadow: Jillian Dempsey Lid Tint
Jillian Dempsey is a renowned makeup artist, sculptor, painter, entrepreneur, and animal activist. Known for her mastery with colour, Dempsey’s brand embodies her appreciation for pigment and texture, while upholding her organic and cruelty-free principles.
The Lid Tint is a nutritious cream shadow that contains skin-healthy ingredients such as sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, and shea butter. This cruelty-free and vegan find is a foolproof product that can also be applied all over the face.
Purchase one of ten colours for just $28.
#12 – Best High-Impact Shadow: Rituel de Fille Ash and Ember Eye Soot
Rituel de Fille is a cosmetics brand founded by three sisters who were fascinated by and drawn to the magical side of natural and organic ingredients, as well as the ritualistic feel of makeup artistry. Their products are 100% cruelty-free and handcrafted without parabens, phthalates, synthetic dyes or synthetic fragrances.
The Ash and Ember Eye Soot is a powder/cream hybrid that delivers intense, smoldering, long-lasting color in 12 different shades, all named after something dark and edgy. Take, for example, cultist (a slate grey shimmer).
This multi-functional product acts as a shadow, a base, or a liner, covering all of your cosmetic needs in one go. It can be yours for $38 a pot.
#13 – Best Cream Shadow Stick: Nudestix Magnetic Matte Eye Color
Sometimes, you don’t want to dip your fingers into a pot. Sometimes, you don’t have a brush handy, or yours is looking a little more crusty than it should be. That is why cream shadow sticks come in handy.
Nude Makeup Company designed Nudestix, one of many products that represents the brand’s dedication to creating easy-to-use products for glam on the go. The Magnetic Matte Eye Color can be used as a shadow, primer, or liner. It is a waterproof, long-wearing formula that comes in 11 different shades.
Plus, it comes packaged with a sharpener so that you can create as sharp a line as you want. Get this preservative-free, vegan colorstick for $26.
Final Thoughts
So, we got through all of the pre-requisites. We gave you the list of the best cream eye shadows, but there is one thing that remains to be said: whichever kind of cream eyeshadow you opt for, make sure that your application method is safe and clean. It is way too easy to transfer bacteria onto your eyes with a dirty brush or an unclean hand, so follow these tips for easy and safe application:
- If you are using a brush, make sure it is free from visible debris. If it is, then that doesn’t mean it can’t house harmful bacteria, so make sure you clean it regularly.
- If you are using your finger, make sure you wash your hands first in warm water and lather well with soap for 15 to 20 seconds.
- Never, and I mean never, share your eye products with other people. Harmful bacteria doesn’t care if your friend forgot her makeup bag.
- Always know your sensitivities and allergies. You can have the most vibrant and beautiful shade on your lid, but if it is swelling from an allergic reaction, none of that will matter.
Once all is said and done, we urge you to use this list as a guide to finding the best cream eyeshadow. After all, powders have had their time. It’s a new era.
