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No matter how attractive you think your eyes naturally are, there’s a limit to what you can achieve without makeup. Eyes without eyeshadow look two-dimensional, lacking depth, color, and luster. But with great eyeshadow pencils and powder products, you can make your eyes pop and look far more attractive than they were without them.
There are two types of eyeshadow products, eyeshadow pencils and powder eyeshadow, but we’ll be focusing on the former only. Eyeshadow pencils have the advantage of being easier to use and more portable, making them the better choice if you’re new to eyeshadow or makeup in general.
There are all sorts of eyeshadow pencil products out there, and it can be difficult to pick one that really speaks to you. Therefore, we’ve done most of the work for you and picked five great choices for you to make a final selection with.
Top Eyeshadow Pencils of 2024 Reviewed in Detail
Glo Skin Beauty Eye Shadow Stick — Best Overall
Key Features
- Lasts over 12 hours
- 12 shade options
- Cream-based
- Comes in a stick
Eyeshadow is one of the most obvious forms of makeup, for lack of a better word. It’s one of the first things we notice in regards to makeup when we look at a person. The reason behind this is that we as humans tend to focus on someone’s eyes first and foremost when looking at a face. As a result, makeup such as eyeliner, eyeshadow, and mascara tends to be more apparent than others, at least at first glance.
Because they’re one of the first parts of the face people notice, you want to make sure that the eyeshadow stays on for as long as possible. This particular line of eyeshadow sticks produced by Glo Skin Beauty lasts for 12 or more hours, making it great for all-day usage. The shades are relatively tame, too, so they’re great for going to the office, grocery shopping, or just simply going outside.
FOCALLURE 2-in-1 Eyeshadow Pen — Best Value
Key Features
- Comes in sets of two or three
- Different prices for two-piece and three-piece sets
- Different colors per set
- Crease-proof
Eyeshadow is interesting in the sense that you can mix and match multiple for a varied effect. The most common ones to mix are finisher eyeshadows, which apply either a shimmer or matte look. You can, however, mix different shades together if you want a unique blend that identifies you perfectly. This three-piece set is perfect for getting started with blending, and it comes in various sets that you can experiment with.
The sets vary in terms of color, with one set featuring all darker shades and others being very light. There are even two-piece sets if you prefer something simpler. A set of three will cost you $16, whereas a two-piece set will only set you back $13. So, if you want a set that’s more cost-efficient, getting a three-piece wouldn’t be a bad idea, especially if you can find a use for all three pens.
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Eye Pencil — Most Affordable
Key Features
- Can be used as eyeliner, eyeshadow, or highlighter
- Dozens of color options
- Easy to apply
- Creamy formula
If you’re looking for a budget eye pencil, then this is probably as good as it can get. The pencil is very large, and it costs a surprisingly cheap $4.50 per pencil. And it’s not just for eyeshadow, either. NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP, the brand that makes these pencils, describes this line of pencils as a “triple threat,” as you can use the pencils as eyeshadow, eyeliner, and even highlighter. This flexibility, combined with the extremely affordable price, makes the Jumbo Eye Pencil a must-buy for money-conscious women.
The pencils come in all sorts of colors, with milk-white, black bean, and dozens of colors in between. The products are all cruelty-free, so you needn’t worry about any sort of animal abuse that may have happened during the creation of these pencils. Overall, it’s a really solid product, as you’re getting a 3-in-1 makeup tool at a fraction of the price.
LUXAZA Eyeshadow Stick — Best for Blending
Key Features
- Set of 6
- Comes with brush
- Portable
- Two set options
Applying eyeshadow cream on your eyes is one thing, but blending and mixing it properly can be quite difficult to do without the proper tools. This set of eyeshadow sticks is designed to serve two purposes: to apply the eyeshadow cream on your eyes and to blend it evenly across your skin. The set of 6 each has a brush end and a cream stick end, with the cream stick end being waterproof, making it perfect for use in all sorts of scenarios.
The cream is soft and, well, creamy, making it ideal for blending with the accompanying brush. The brushes also have a neat little plastic cap to keep them safe as you put them in your bag. Since it has a brush pre-installed, you only need these sticks for the entire eyeshadow application process. It’s the perfect choice for women on the go.
Julep Eyeshadow Pencil — Widest Range of Shade Options
Key Features
- Comes with a pre-built smudger
- Waterproof and crease-proof
- Creme-to-powder formula
- Many shades to choose from
This set of eyeshadow sticks is great if you’re one with an eye for quality. The plastic stick itself is made of durable material, but what really makes this product special is that it uses a special creme-to-powder formula that’s easy to apply and long-lasting after it dries up. It’s even waterproof and crease-proof, so it’ll look as fresh as it was even hours after you applied the eyeshadow on your face.
Another great thing about this eyeshadow stick line is the number of color options that you’re able to work with. There are many neutral and subtle shades for everyday use, but there are also quite a few more extravagant colors, which are great if you want to stand out more than usual. With easy application and blending thanks to the built-in smudger, you’ll have everything you need to apply eyeshadow in one package. The sticks are quite expensive on their own but are definitely worth the price.
Buyer's Guide: Finding The Perfect Eyeshadow Pencil
A great eyeshadow can add depth and color to your eyes, making them pop out even more. This guide will help you learn everything you need to know about eyeshadow pencils.
What Is an Eyeshadow Pencil?
Eyeshadow pencils, sticks, and pens are a type of eyeshadow that’s applied directly onto your skin through the use of a stick. The formula is often made out of cream or cream-to-powder substance that is subsequently blended and mixed with brushes or smudgers.
Why Should You Use Eyeshadow Pencils?
It makes your eyes pop
No, not literally. If you’ve ever watched someone put on makeup from start to finish online, you’ll notice that their eyes begin to pop out the moment they apply their eyeshadow. This isn’t any sort of coincidence, as eyeshadow really does make your eyes look more apparent when used properly. This phenomenon has to do with our perception of depth.
You see, without makeup, our eyes look like they’re just pasted directly on our faces. Unless the structure of your face makes your eyebrows larger or your eyes more inwardly positioned, the skin on your forehead and the skin just around the eyes will look the same. Eyeshadow gives the illusion of depth to the area around your eyes. Instead of having to rely on lighting to convey depth, you recreate the illusion of it by darkening the area where the shadow would usually be present, hence the term “eyeshadow”.
It adds color to your eyes
While eyeshadow is often used to convey a sense of depth with your eyes, it also has another purpose: to add color. Now, colors such as blue, green, or purple are obviously unnatural, at least to human skin, and this may not exactly mimic a shadowing effect of more neutral and natural colors. But if you want your eyes to pop and stand out more, these are still a great option, as instead of relying on natural depth, you use extravagant colors to draw people in.
There is beauty in vibrant colors, and when colored eyeshadow surrounds your eyes, it draws even more attention to the white of your sclera (white part of the eye) and your pupil. Pair this with some contacts and you’ve got a pair of eyes that look larger than life and almost supernatural.
It’s easier to apply than powder eyeshadow
Many people use powder eyeshadow to add depth and color to their eyes. The main problem with powder-based eyeshadow, however, is that it can be difficult to apply properly, especially if you’re new to makeup and eyeshadow. On the other hand, eyeshadow sticks and pencils make the application of eyeshadow very easy, as you’re simply using a stick to apply the formula. What’s more, the formula is almost always made out of cream or a cream-to-powder formula, so blending and mixing are a breeze.
Types of Eyeshadow Pencils
Eyeshadow can be categorized based on the shade of the formula. As with many color-based makeup products, shade is arguably the first thing you should consider when picking an eyeshadow pencil. There are two types of shades that you should look out for: neutral and colored.
Neutral
Neutral eyeshadow is your everyday eyeshadow product. It’s got simple and subtle colors that blend in with your skin well. The goal of neutral eyeshadow is to make your eyes pop without drawing too much attention to itself, like with colored eyeshadow.
People mostly use neutral eyeshadow for everyday activities, such as work. It can also be used when running errands, meeting friends during the day, and so on. The benefit of neutral eyeshadow is that it’s so simple.
Colored
Colored eyeshadow is what you want if you’re looking to stand out. These types of eyeshadow offer colors that you wouldn’t normally see on a face, such as blue, green, and the like. The colors are meant to draw attention to your eyes and are great if you want to look wild, fierce, or even extreme.
Colored eyeshadow is best used during parties, events, and other occasions. You can technically use them at work (if you’re allowed to, that is), though expect some people to look at you for a slightly different reason.
Eyeshadow Pencil Price Range
Eyeshadow pencils are fairly standardized in terms of price. Most of the products we showcased were around $10 to $20, with the exception being the $4.50 eye pencil that could also be used in other ways. In general, though, you shouldn’t really be spending over $20 on a single eyeshadow stick, unless you’re buying one from an expensive designer brand.
