Jess Beech
The best cream eyeshadows make wearing eyeshadow a thoroughly fuss-free experience, with a flattering finish that’s a doddle to apply.
There’s something very luxurious about sitting down with one of the best eyeshadow palettes and carefully buffing and blending. But if you’re in a hurry, or picking up an eyeshadow feels like a needlessly tedious task, that’s when cream eyeshadow comes into its own. Cream shadows are designed to be applied with just your fingertips and are incredibly forgiving if you’re not a makeup pro. You don’t get harsh lines, even with darker shades, and they won’t fall onto your cheeks like powder shadows.
If you have dry skin and find that powder shadows cling in patches or amplify creases along the socket, cream eyeshadows are very beneficial. For all of these reasons, cream shadows have been growing in popularity for a few years now and there has been a peak in cream shadows hitting the market. MAC Director of Makeup Artistry, Terry Barber, describes this new generation of shadows as “Finer and skin-like, beautifying rather than theatrical. This allows makeup wearers to be more adventurous with colour because they are so flattering and easy to apply."
The best cream eyeshadows, reviewed by our beauty team
We tested dozens of cream eyeshadows to create this all-time best-of list. The ones that made the cut delivered on what we deemed to be the most important criteria for a cream eyeshadow – including how easy they were to apply, the choice of shades available and how well they fared throughout the day.
RRP: £26 Shades: 10 Finish: Sheen
Everything Charlotte Tilbury does feels opulent and these shadows are no exception. The super shimmery, ultra-pigmented, creamy, mousse-like shadows give incredible colour payoff. Despite the intensity of the pigment, they're still easy to apply with your fingers, while the impressive staying power means they don't crumble or settle into fine lines. They're not cheap, but these petite pots are pretty deep and a little shadow goes a long way, so they'll last you a long time – especially if you go for one of the more party-ready shades. We've had one of these for months and can confirm that it doesn't dry out, staying just as creamy as when you first opened it, so there's no rush to finish it.
Buy if: You want a blendable eyeshadow with a sheeny finish.
Avoid if: You prefer to shop a wide range of eyeshadow shades.
RRP: £26 Shades: 8 Finish: Soft matte
US brand Merit arrived in the UK in 2023 and quickly became a hit amongst beauty editors and makeup artists. The Solo Shadow is one of the brand's stand-out products because of its incredible formula and gorgeous shade range. If you hate the mess of a powder but love the finish, this one is for you. It applies as a cream (you can use a brush or finger) and dries down into a super lightweight powder. The four neutral shades are lovely for everyday use, while the four statement shades are bolder but still really wearable. Our favourites are the soft mauve for blue eyes and the green for brown. Good news for anyone with easily irritated eyes too, these shadows are formulated with chamomile and calendula to soothe. Follow with the best mascara for sensitive eyes and you're good to go.
Buy if: You like a soft matte powder finish that lasts all day.
Avoid if: You're looking for a creamy, luminous finish.
RRP: £18 Shades: 25 Finish: Matte and shimmer
These hydrating pots of pigment are supremely easy to apply and go on with a swipe of a finger (all nodding towards Trinny's love of no-nonsense, anyone-can-do-it beauty.) They blend out incredibly well and last well. With medium-strong pigment, a single layer is enough to give a sheer wash of colour. You probably won't ever create a fully opaque look with these, but you can build up a few different shades to add definition. We love the vast range of colours, which means you can play around with natural makeup looks or try something a bit more dramatic, depending on your mood. Want to try more than one? Try one of the brand's T-Tones, a split pot of two best-selling shadows in complementary colours in one pot. They make creating a gorgeous makeup look even more straightforward.
Buy if: You like to experiment with different colours and shades.
Avoid if: You prefer a high-pigment rather than sheer formula.
RRP: £24 Shades: 12 Finish: Shimmer glaze
This cream eyeshadow may be super quick and easy to use, but that doesn't mean it lacks shine. In fact, out of all the cream eyeshadows we tested, this one had the most sparkle. At the crayon end, you'll find the creamy formula, which you can use like a pen to cover the eyelid with a wash of metallic shimmer. We love how silky smooth this felt on the lids, with no dragging. If you want to go all out, top with the glitter gel at the other end. It's got a gloss-like consistency that we expected to feel sticky but were pleased to find that it didn't at all. Instead, it just stuck nicely to our lids like velcro, delivering a super shiny, long-lasting shimmer with no fallout. It comes in a range of shades from nudes to coppers and even a glittery blue.
Buy if: You like to add shimmer to every eye look.
Avoid if: You only like a matte finish. This is all about shine.
RRP: £32 Shades: 10 Finish: Shimmer and matte
Yet again, Victoria Beckham has outdone herself. We find it hard to fault anything we've tried from VB Beauty, from her velvety eyeliners to chic fragrances. This cream eyeshadow comes in the brand's signature sleek and sophisticated packaging, and the product on the inside is just as impressive as it looks on the outside. It's waterproof, highly pigmented, and lasts up to eight hours. The application is seamless, with a buttery texture, no tugging on the skin and zero creasing throughout the day. The neutral shades are inspired by VB's wardrobe and her love of colour-blocking, with matte and shimmery finishes to choose from – plus a bold cornflower blue, mustard yellow and bold lilac. The low-maintenance among you will be pleased to know there's no need for touch-ups – just one swipe delivers enough pigment to last all day long.
Buy if: You want a smudge-proof eyeshadow that lasts all day.
Avoid if: You prefer your cream eyeshadow in a pot or a pan.
RRP: £29 Shades: 10 Finish: Luminous
If you've avoided cream eyeshadow until now because you're worried it will feel tacky on your lids or won't last as long as powder, this is the shadow to win you over. It dries almost instantly (so you do have to work fast to blend it out) and when tested it looked just as fresh and crease-proof at the end of the day as it did at the start. Unlike the rest of the formulas on this list, this cream eyeshadow comes in a tube, so when applying you want to start with just a smidge of product first to avoid getting in a mess – you can always build it up. If you're keen to give your eye area some TLC this delivers there too, infused with green tea and peptides, to nourish and plump. The luminous shade range has something for everyone, including a bronze plum, a silvery mauve and a rich brown.
Buy if: You want a nourishing formula that dries quickly.
Avoid if: You're worried about making too much of a mess.
RRP: £25 Shades: 8 Finish: Shimmer
Founded by makeup artist Bobbi Brown, Jones Road is one of W&H's favourite beauty brands. All the products are designed to be intuitive to use, and this eyeshadow is no different. You'll love this if you usually find a shimmery eyeshadow too much of a faff to apply with lots of fallout. This delivers everything we would expect from one of the best cream eyeshadows; it's lightweight and feels like cashmere on your lid. When testing, we loved the buildable shimmer. The finish was so light and fresh that you could even it as a highlighter on the brow bone and the inner corners of the eyes. Which shade will work best for this will depend on the depth of your skin tone. We found one swipe gave just the right amount of shimmer for an everyday look. Plus, it was easy to build up and layer for a more dramatic shine for the evening. A true multitasker.
Buy if: You're looking for a shimmery formula that's easy to apply.
Avoid if: You don't like a sparkly look on your lids.
RRP: £33 Shades: 22 Finish: Metallic, shimmer and chrome
Of all the cream eyeshadows out there, sticks are undoubtedly the easiest to apply. Simply swipe it across lids straight from the bullet, and then use your fingers to blend out the lines. Et voila! A perfect eyeshadow look in seconds. Not only does this formula beat the rest in terms of simplicity of application, but it also comes in a great shade range. In keeping with this brand's natural French-girl aesthetic, the softer shades are the most flattering options here, but there are bolder hues available too. We also love the transfer-resistant formula, which doesn't fade, won't smudge all over the place, and, on the whole, doesn't settle into lines or creases (although our oily-skinned tester did find they slipped a little as the day went on). Overall, these last well and feel very creamy, making them a lovely option for mature eyes.
Buy if: You're looking for a fool-proof eyeshadow that blends well.
Avoid if: You have very oily lids that might make them slip.
RRP: £26 Shades: 8 Finish: Radiant
Technically speaking, this one is a liquid shadow as opposed to a cream. Why is it on this list then? Because the texture, although liquid, is still closer to butter than water. The thinner consistency versus an eyeshadow stick means the finish is sheerer than the other shadows we have tested, but it still delivers plenty of pigment and gloss with a vibrant, high-shine finish and subtle shimmer. You can dot the does foot applicator directly onto your lid, or take a little onto your fingers first. As you’d expect from a Japanese makeup brand, this cream eyeshadow is a real over-achiever. It contains jojoba seed oil and squalane to ensure it slips onto the skin seamlessly and doesn’t crease, as well as nourishing and moisturising the delicate eye area. A gorgeous choice for anyone, but especially for those with drier lids. There's not a huge range of shades, but each of the eight is incredibly versatile, with molten silvers, bronzes and golds as well as three shimmering pinks.
Buy if: You want a formula that contains skincare ingredients.
Avoid if: You're looking for shades other than metallics and pink.
How to choose the best cream eyeshadows for you
There are a few things to look for when picking the best cream eyeshadows:
- Texture: Formulas vary greatly when it comes to cream eyeshadows, from dip-in pots to the best eyeshadow sticks in creamy formulas. Look for smooth, mousse-like textures as these will apply and blend more easily. If possible, avoid cream eyeshadows that feel dry to the touch (test in-store if you can) as these will accentuate fine lines and be trickier to apply on lined lids.
- Pigment: If you're a fan of bright eyeshadow looks, choose a highly pigmented cream eyeshadow as these will mean you use less product over time and it's generally a lot more cost-effective. Strong pigment means your cream eyeshadow can also double up as an eyeliner.
- Blending power: If you like a smoky eye, go for cream eyeshadows that don't immediately set as this gives you more time to play with it and blend out harsh lines. The best cream eyeshadows should be easy to blend with just your finger.
- Longevity: A long-lasting formula is your best option as these won't need touching up throughout the day. When prepped correctly, cream eyeshadows can last longer than powders and don't settle into fine lines or creases. Using an eyeshadow primer can help if your eyelids are less firm, or particularly lined.
How we tested the best cream eyeshadows
Every product in this guide has been personally tested by the woman&home beauty team, and worn for at least a day - usually several - to assess how it measured up on:
- Packaging: Cream eyeshadows come in lots of different forms from crayons and pots to tubes and pans. Each type of packaging has different pros and cons when it comes to how easy it makes the products to apply, how bulky and practical they are to carry around in your makeup bag and also how eco-friendly it is.
- Ease of application: One of the biggest selling points of cream eyeshadow is that it can be applied either with your fingers or straight from the stick. If a shadow required a brush or a lot of blending, then it didn't make the list.
- Pigment and finish: Eyeshadows can range from a light wash of colour to a pigment-packed opaque finish and be matte, shiny or shimmery.
- Fade and crease-proof powers: From blinking to rubbing, the odds are stacked against eye makeup staying put. The best cream eyeshadows will have been formulated not to budge from your lids or crease throughout the day.
- Value for money: Expensive doesn't necessarily mean better. You might want to pay more to get a particular trend shade that you can't find on the high street, or for added benefits like skincare ingredients.
- Shade range: For some people, one lovely champagne shadow is all the eyeshadow shades they need, but the more adventurous will want more colours to choose from.
Emma is a beauty editor and former member of the woman&home team. She tested a huge range of eyeshadows when compiling this guide, from high-street to high end options.