Notable ingredients: vitamin E, chamomile, and aloe vera | Number of shades: 7
Best Glitter: Urban Decay 24/7 Moondust Eye Shadow
Why it’s worth it: When the occasion calls for glitter, Urban Decay’s 24/7 Moondust eye shadow—dusted with microfine hints of sparkle—delivers. Available in 10 space-inspired shades, from sheer white to red with green sparkles, Moondust’s disco-level finish also gets bonus points from our team for its glossy finish and opaque pigment that only needs a quick swipe to shine. As the name implies, this shimmery eye shadow is here for a long time as well as a good time, lasting for hours without smudging or fading.
Tester feedback: “I’m the ultimate sucker for a shimmery eye shadow topper,” commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann says. “You’re telling me I can add bit of sparkle to my eye makeup in literally five seconds and it looks flawless every time? Yes, I will be doing that every chance I get. And as a staunch supporter of mixing metals, the combo of silver glitter and champagne gold in the shade Space Cowboy is to die for.”
Notable ingredients: caffeine | Number of shades: 10
Best Duochrome Eye Shadows: Half Magic Eye Shadow Single
Why it’s worth it: Half Magic’s brilliant Eye Shadow Singles come in four different finishes: mattes, metallics, shimmers, and dazzling duo-chrome colors with a base color and contrasting reflective details. Whichever of the nine shades you swipe on, expect the cushiony feel of a velvety, powder-to-cream formula a long-wearing finish. Sunflower seed oil conditions your lids for a crease- and flake-free finish. The packaging is made from a foamy compostable chartreuse material and uses a magnetic base that allows you to swap out shadow pans.
Tester feedback: “Half Magic’s powder eye shadows feel buttery-smooth, but what really keeps me coming back to them are their stunning shades,” says commerce writer Jennifer Hussein. “My favorite is Electric Butterlfy, a holographic lavender that shifts to baby blue in certain lighting.”
Notable ingredients: mica, sunflower seed oil | Number of shades: 9
Best Liquid Eye Shadow: Violette_FR Yeux Paint
Why it’s worth it: For a long-wearing, easily spreadable formula that you can swipe on with your fingers, try a liquid formula. For a super pigmented wash of color, Nam loves the Allure Best of Beauty Award-winning Violette FR Yeux Paints (as does our Han). The doe foot applicator is helpful for dotting just a hint of color on your eyes before you blend out with your fingers. In terms of color payoff, a little goes a long way. The shades, from matte Yves Klein blues (Dieu Blue pictured above) to sparkly purples and pinks, can also be applied with a thin angled brush as an eyeliner.
Tester feedback: “I don’t know how many times I’ve gushed about Violette_FR’s Yeux Paint—on allure.com, social media, and IRL, but reporting for duty once more,” says Han. “So many editors on our team agree that Violette has one of the most thoughtful color curations on the market. I hold Nuage de Lilas (a matte lilac) and Violette Sauvage (a pearlescent violet) dearest to my heart but there’s a beautiful mix of neutral-leaning shades as well. All hues look fabulous in photos and the long-wearing, crease-proof claims are true, too—these beauts simply do not budge.”