Eyeshadow Made Easy with Eyeshadow Sticks, Tested and Approved by InStyle Editors (2024)

Our Top Picks

Why We Love It: Beautifully blendable, with tons of color payoff and nary a crease in sight, this wowed us in every category. Our tester could easily blend it using the stick itself, but a brush worked equally well. She loved that it packed a punch of color even with just one swipe—no need for layering. (That said, if you want to up the dramatic ante, it’s very buildable.) And despite its creamy texture, it still dried down quickly without creasing or settling into lines.

Who It’s For: This is truly a universal crowd pleaser, checking all boxes for the most important eyeshadow stick criteria. If you love blending with your fingers, this dries very quickly, so you’ll have to work fast. Still, it’s a perfect swipe-on-and-go that comes in a vast array of colors and finishes.

Finishes: Shimmer, matte, metallic | Shades: 30 | Size: 0.05 oz

Joanna, tester with almond-shaped brown eyes: “I love cream eyeshadows but find that blending can sometimes be tricky. That problem is solved with this beautiful eyeshadow stick that gives the look of a cream but blends so much easier.”

Why We Love It: To be fair, eyeshadow sticks are, by definition, very user-friendly, but this one really took the cake. Our tester loved the pencil-style design, which made application a total breeze. It does dry quickly (in about 30 seconds), so make sure to blend as soon as you apply. Bonus points for the smooth and creamy texture that helped make the application seamless.

Who It’s For: Makeup novices or eyeshadow stick beginners should try this one; it’s so easy to use. It’s also perfect for anyone who likes a shimmery look; it comes in eight hues, all of which feature a gorgeously shimmery finish. Fun fact: The colors work nicely when layered or blended together, a technique we tried during our testing.

Finishes: Shimmer | Shades: 8 | Size: 0.06 oz

Mandy, tester with hooded lids and brown eyes: “What I liked most was the pencil design. I wear glasses so when I applied this product, I mostly did it by feel and this pencil design lets me have better control.”

Why We Love It: We love the layerability of this creamy pick. In our tester’s experience, both the lighter and darker hues could easily be built up to achieve her desired pigment level. Also nice: This didn’t dry that quickly, allowing for plenty of playtime. The stick is super creamy and glided smoothly across our testers lids without any pulling or tugging. The colors came across as natural and wearable.

Who It’s For: This is a great choice for those who like to build up or sheer out their shadow color. It doesn’t hurt that it’s also incredibly affordable, at less than $10, and comes in a nice lineup of light and dark shades with either matte or metallic finishes.

Finishes: Matte, metallic | Shades: 22 | Size: 0.048 oz

Lor, tester with almond-shaped, blue eyes: “Both shades I tried were easy to build. Since you’re able to layer more, it feels like you can make more mistakes without having to start your makeup routine completely over.”

Why We Love It: One swipe was all it took to achieve our tester’s desired color with this standout stick. (That said, you can totally layer on more if you choose.) The dry time was another pro: long enough that she could apply and blend to her heart’s content but fast enough to avoid any smudges. It also lived up to its name, never creasing. Her favorite part was the unique shape of the stick, a tapered tip that allows for more widespread swiping and coverage and more detailed application.

Who It’s For: Anyone who wants their shadow to pack a serious pigment punch will appreciate this formula's intensity. The shimmer shades in particular were super intense, almost foil-like. And, thanks to the applicator's tapered tip, this also works nicely on a variety of different eye shapes as well.

Finishes: Shimmer, matte | Shades: 16 | Size: 0.056 oz

Alexandra, tester with round, brown eyes: “This stick's pigmentation was strong; just one swipe in each area was enough to achieve a solid look.”

Why We Love It: Eyeshadow sticks tend to have impressive staying power, but this one really excels in that department. Our tester couldn’t get over how well it lasted, and, as the superlative indicates, it’s also totally waterproof. She also noted its creamy consistency and that the stick's shape made it easy to create precise lines.

Who It’s For: Reach for this for special occasions or anytime you need to ensure your eyeshadow stays put. It’s also a great pick for anyone who doesn’t want a totally flat shade but doesn’t want full-on shimmer either; the pearl finish is the perfect middle ground. The formula’s skin-loving ingredients, including peptides and caffeine, would be great on mature skin, too. Just keep in mind that it does set pretty quickly, and as such was easier to blend out with a brush (rather than fingertips) in our experience.

Finishes: Matte, pearl | Shades: 14 | Size: 0.05 oz

Lor, tester with almond-shaped, blue eyes: “I think this product has the best staying power of any stick I’ve ever used…it won’t budge at all!”

Why We Love It: There are not 20, not 30, not 40, but over 50 shades available for this winner. The shades are in a wide array of shimmer, matte, and metallic finishes, meaning there’s a little something for everyone. Our tester decided to mix and match; she loved how nicely the colors and finishes could be layered and blended together, making for a totally customized experience. (Although FYI, she did find the matte shades tended to be slightly drier and didn’t go on quite as smoothly as the shimmers.) Another plus: it never creased or created fallout. There’s also a built-in sponge applicator on one end of the stick for easy smudging and blending.

Who It’s For: Versatility is the name of the game with this one. Consider this stick if you want to experiment with a laundry list of different colors and/or finishes, or even just pick up a few to mix and match. Case in point: Our tester created both subtle and dramatic looks using this stick and even used it as aneyeliner.

Finishes: Shimmer, matte, metallic | Shades: 54 | Size: n/a

Jill, tester with hooded brown eyes: “This has beautiful, opaque pigment that builds well. I was able to layer it a few times and the color deposited and didn't move the layers underneath.”

Why We Love It: Matte finishes often go hand-in-hand with dryness when it comes to eyeshadow and lipstick. But that’s not the case here. The creamy consistency has a plush, powder-like quality to it. But once it set, it did look more like a powder shadow. The colors, while perfectly matte, never looked flat, and the stick itself went on smoothly without any patchy streaks or creasing after the fact. All that being said, it’s worth mentioning that this dries and sets really quickly, making blending a bit challenging.

Who It’s For: At the risk of sounding obvious, matte shadow fans will love this choice. It’s a good pick for those more used to powder eyeshadow as well, given both the initial consistency and how it dries down to more of a powder-esque finish. We love the versatile color range, which our tester found could seamlessly transition between more natural and more dramatic looks. Finally, this is a smart option for anyone with sensitive eyes, as it’s ophthalmologist-tested.

Finishes: Matte | Shades: 12 | Size: 0.05 oz

Stephanie, tester with round, brown eyes: “The texture of the eyeshadow stick was smooth and soft, yet very matte. I love the matte colors and soft, powdery finish.”

Why We Love It: Intense pigment payoff and a super shimmery finish (although there is one matte hue) made this our choice for bolder eye looks. It definitely makes a statement, but once our tester created said look, she felt confident that the color would absolutely stay put; the formula is waterproof and lasts for 24 hours. In fact, she said it had the best staying power of any type of eye shadow she’d ever tried. That said, that made it more challenging to apply and blend, and not quite as creamy as many of the others on this list.

Who It’s For: Try this if you want full-on drama and/or are creating a bold eye look that you don’t want budging (like, at all). The precise, pointed tip means you can also use it as a colored liner—again, dramatic—though it’s best for those who are pretty well-versed in stick shadow application and can apply it quickly before it sets and dries.

Finishes: Shimmer, matte | Shades: 11 | Size: 0.49 oz

Lee, tester with almond-shaped, brown eyes: “This isn’t for everyday, natural looks, but is fun for a more bold and graphic eye.”

Why We Love It: Smooth, creamy, and with plenty of color payoff, this is truly a top-notch cream shadow. We noted that it worked equally well when blended with either a brush or fingers, which is always a plus in our book. The gorgeous colors have a perfectly balanced, shimmery finish and come in shades that are just a slight step up from totally natural.

Who It’s For: This stick's versatility makes it great for anyone at any time of day. Apply and leave it to create more intense, graphic shapes, or blend it out for a more diffuse and subtle wash of color; it works great either way. It’s a definite winner for anyone who wants to go brush-free, since it worked especially well when applied with fingertips. However, due to its creamy nature, we suspected that it might be a little too ‘slippery’ and slide off on those with more oily lids.

Finishes: Shimmer | Shades: 12 | Size: 0.05 oz

Alexandra, tester with round, brown eyes: “I don’t typically use cream shadow, but I’m a big fan of the smooth texture and color payoff.”

Why We Love It: This pick from Nyx was so easy to apply. The texture struck the perfect balance between being neither too creamy nor too chalky, and the buildable color could easily be sheer, opaque, or somewhere in between. And when we saw the wallet-friendly price, we couldn’t believe the quality you get for it. The staying power isn’t the best; it tended to fade and settle into fine lines a bit. But for $6, a little settling isn’t a deal-breaker.

Who It’s For: Don’t want to shell out the big bucks for a shadow stick that performs well? This is the pick for you. It’s also great if you want to buy a whole bunch of shades to play and experiment with.

Finishes: Shimmer, matte | Shades: 16 | Size: 0.18 oz

Talya, tester with almond-shaped, brown eyes: “It's not overly creamy, but it's not dry or chalky either, so I found it easy to blend. The colors mesh well together, so it was easy to create a gradient between the main lid color and the highlight.”

Why We Love It: This went on beautifully creamy and maintained that texture even as it dried down. Coupled with an array of subdued hues, it’s what made this our tester’s go-to for day-to-day wear, enhancing her eyes in a beautifully natural way. The shades are more neutral but still super pigmented, and the formula delivers even and crease-proof coverage.

Who It’s For: No-makeup makeup girls, this one is for sure for you. Anyone who loves a good multitasking product should also consider this; there’s a built-in eyeliner on the other side. Those who tend to consistently opt for more natural shadow colors will also appreciate the range of subtle shades, which, while not super extensive, were still very flattering and wearable.

Finishes: Matte, luster | Shades: 5 | Size: 0.028 oz

Stephanie, tester with round, brown eyes: “While this is pigmented, the effect is soft and subtle, creating a color palette that brightens my eyes and opens them up without being too bold.”

Why We Love It: This formula's creamy texture worked beautifully to smooth the skin on our tester’s eyelids, never accentuating any fine lines. She could blend it in just as well with a brush as her fingertips (although she did lament how quickly it dried down, so make sure to work fast). Also nice: The matte hues worked perfectly as a base color to layer other shadows over.

Who It’s For: If you’re trying to camouflage unwanted texture on your eyelids, this is a surefire selection. It’s good for anyone who tends to pick matte finishes as well, and those who like lighter shades; in our experiences, the darker color sometimes ended up looking a bit patchy and worked better smudged into the lash line like a liner.

Finishes: Matte | Shades: 10 | Size: 0.05 oz

Sunita, tester with hooded, brown eyes: “The product didn’t accentuate any fine lines or texture on my eyelids and gave them a smooth finish.”