13 Liquid Eye Shadows That Will Make You Want to Ditch Powder for Good

Best Overall: Stila Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow

4.6

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Who else recommends it? Refinery 29 and Insider both picked Stila Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow. 

What do buyers say? 87% of 500+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.

Espinoza is a big fan of this classic formula, which he says is rich in shimmer without any glitter. The water-infused, lightweight formula also never feels heavy on lids, he adds, and it’s long-wearing, too. Take your pick from any of the six wearable shades, all of which come housed in a tiny tube that won’t take up too much real estate in your makeup bag or bathroom drawer.

Size: 0.153 oz. | Shades: 6 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Budget: e.l.f. Liquid Glitter Eyeshadow

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For basically the same price as your morning matcha, you can nab this liquid formula, which touts a full-on glitter finish. The gel base is quick-drying and long-lasting, while the glitter effect is achieved in just one swipe (though you can add more if you want to up the effect.) It comes in nine colors, many of which also pull double-duty as a glitter topper that can be used over other shadows.

Size: 0.1 oz. | Shades: 9 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Drugstore: NYX Glitter Goals Liquid Eyeshadow

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This is ideal for achieving stunning glittery and sparkly eye makeup in one easy swipe, says Espinoza of another one of his favorites. “It’s infused with highly-pigmented sparkles and can be worn alone or layered and built up with powder eyeshadow,” he adds. The wallet-friendly price is just a bonus.

Size: 0.1 oz. | Shades: 8 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Sheer: Glossier Lidstar

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The tagline for this product is ‘glistening eye glow,’ and indeed, that is the effect it delivers. The super sheer formula imparts a veil of color (which, although it’s subtle, is still crease-proof). The eight colors all have just a touch of shimmer, but in a creamy base that’s almost more akin to a cream formula; it glides beautifully onto lids without ever tugging or pulling. Bonus points for the angled doe-foot applicator, which makes application easier than ever.

Size: 0.15 oz. | Shades: 8 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Pigmented: Kosas 10-Second Eye

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On the other hand, if you want more high-impact color, try the Kosas 10-Second Eye. It glides on like a gel and has a refreshing and cooling feel that’s extremely pleasing. Even just one swipe of color goes on super pigmented and opaque, though if you want to build it up further you can add another layer or tap it on with a makeup brush instead of the included sponge-tip applicator. (FYI, let it sit for five to 10 seconds after applying before blending.) We also appreciate that there are skincare ingredients infused into the formula, think things such as moisturizing shea butter and jojoba oil. Plus, all of the six shades are wearable and look great on any skin tone.

Size: 0.06 oz. | Shades: 6 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best Splurge: Armani Beauty Eye Tint Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeshadow

4.6

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This tube may be pricey, but it’s worth it. It comes in an impressive line-up of 18 shades, across a range of shimmer, matte, glitter, and metallic finishes, offering a little something for everyone. It’s also super long-lasting, with up to 16 hours of wear time, and is easily buildable depending on how much of a pigmented effect you’re looking for.

Size: 0.13 oz. | Shades: 18 | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Multi-Dimensional: Natasha Denona Chromium Liquid Eyeshadow in Infra Nude

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Yes, this is just one color, but the multi-dimensional hue changes when you look at it from different angles, making for a unique, layered eye look, says Espinoza. It also touts a jelly-like texture that feels fresh and hydrating, even though the chromatic finish packs a serious punch of drama.

Size: 0.084 oz. | Shades: 2 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Shade Range: SeneGence ShadowSense

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There are, wait for it, a whopping 51 shades of this long-wear liquid eyeshadow to choose from, making it easy to find any and every color you want. (Not to mention that they can all be worn individually or blended.) Espinoza also lauds the formula for the inclusion of ingredients such as vitamin E and antioxidants that help protect the delicate skin around the eye area.

Size: 0.2 oz. | Shades: 51 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Matte: About Face Matte Fluid Eye Paint

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Liquid eyeshadows may most often be associated with shimmery or sparkly finishes, but there are great matte options out there, too, like this one. Along with the velvety matte finish, the color (there are 15 shades) is also extremely pigmented, offering opaque coverage right off the bat. It goes on as a liquid but dries down to an almost powder-like texture, one that stays put, without any budging or smudging.

Size: 0.15 oz. | Shades: 15 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Matte, Runner-Up: Too Faced Melted Chocolate Eyeshadow

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Don’t want to part with your beloved powder shadow? Consider layering it with this pick, which works very nicely as a primer to help build and amp up powder formulas, says Espinoza. Still, it can be used on its own, thanks to the richly pigmented formula that has an intense matte finish, he says. And yes, as the name suggests, it does have a chocolatey scent.

Size: 0.16 oz. | Shades: 8 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Metallic: ONE/SIZE by Patrick Star Eye Popper Sparkle Vision Liquid Eyeshadow

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On the other hand, if you’re after a high-impact, full-on metallic finish, this is the way to go. Credit multi-size glitter particles that ensure an almost foil-like effect… one that stays extremely opaque and shiny all day long. Also nice: While the five colors work great on their own, they can also be used as a ‘topper’ over other eyeshadow.

Size: 0.14 oz. | Shades: 5 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Multi-Tasking: Exa Light Show Color Melt Multi-Use Pigment

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This shimmery pigment looks gorgeous swiped across lids, but it also works equally well dabbed pretty much anywhere on the face or body, for that matter. There are four foil colors and four iridescent shimmery ones to play with (all of which are super blendable, too). They all tout completely clean formulas, never crease, smudge, or budge, and contain skin-loving ingredients such as amino acids and vitamin E.

Size: 0.34 oz. | Shades: 8 | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes