These Shadow Sticks Make for Stunning Looks in One Swipe (2025)

Eye shadow looks don’t have to be complicated, especially if you have one of the best eye shadow sticks in your makeup bag. These versatile sticks are an effortless medium for beginners to master their eye makeup routine with ease, whether they're being used as eyeliner or for a smudged-out finish.. The creamy formulas slide and glide without pesky powder fallout, meaning you get a punch of eye shadow pigment without risking your foundation base. Best of all: You don't need a brush to apply or blend these. Your fingers are your artistic tools. Below, our editors are sharing their all-time favorite eye shadow sticks after weeks (or, for most of us, years) of testing.

Our Top Picks:

• Best Eye Shadow Stick Overall: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Shadow, $33
• Best Shade Range: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick, $34
• Best Splurge: Victoria Beckham Beauty EyeWear Eye Shadow Stick, $34
• Best for Beginners: Nars Total Seduction Eyeshadow Stick, $32
• Best Shimmer: Charlotte Tilbury Color Chameleon, $29
• Best Matte Finish: Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color, $27
• Best Neutral Shades: Chanel Stylo Ombre Et Contour, $36

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I apply an eye shadow stick?
• Meet the experts
• How we test and review products
• Our staff and testers

Best Eye Shadow Stick Overall: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Shadow

Why it's worth it: Laura Mercier's Best of Beauty-winning Caviar Stick Eye Shadows are a makeup artist and Allure editor staple for their rich, smudge-proof pigments that evenly diffuse with a few taps of your finger. "I'm a die-hard fan of the Laura Mercier shadow stick in Cocoa (a rich chocolate with bronze pearl pictured above)," New York City-based makeup artist Kirin Bhatty tells Allure. "I always have them in my kit as they are super versatile, and you can create something very natural to something very smokey in a few swipes." And with almost 40 shades in shimmer, matte, and metallic finishes, you can unleash your inner artist. By the way, you can also use this shadow stick as an eyeliner.

Tester feedback: “I don't have the time or patience to mess around with an eyeshadow palette most mornings, which is why I love the utility of these shadow sticks,” says interim commerce director Deanna Pai. “This one is easy to blend out with my fingers, and the pigment accentuates my eyes without looking too over-the-top.”

Who it's for: people looking for a transfer-proof shadow stick | Available shades: 27 (15 original, 12 matte)

Best Shade Range: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick

Why it's worth it: Though Bobbi Brown’s Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick collection features a large, 29-count shade range, each color in its lineup has a place in just about anyone’s makeup routine. No matter which shade you add to your vanity, every swipe stays put for a full 24 hours—even if you have watery eyes, thanks to its waterproof formulation. The matte formulas are velvety, resist creasing, and play well with other shadows, but our editors love the pearlescent shimmers so much that we gave the lineup an Allure Best of Beauty Award in 2023.

Tester feedback: “Wearing eyeshadow doesn't always mean a full cut-crease beat. These shadow sticks are user-friendly and practically mistake-free,” says Allure tester Talia Gutierrez. “The only tool you'll need is one fingertip! My favorite shade is taupe, but when I want to amp up some dimension and shadow, I'll pat in the shade bark for a quick and easy matte, smokey eye.”

Who it's for: anyone who wants an extensive range of wearable, everyday colors | Available shades: 29 (17 matte, 15 shimmer)

Best Splurge: Victoria Beckham Beauty EyeWear Eye Shadow Stick

Why it's worth it: If we had to describe Victoria Beckham Beauty's EyeWear Eye Shadow Stick in two words: creamy perfection. Each of the 10 shades is ideal for sheered-out, low-key looks and bold, smokey eye makeup alike. The key to this luxurious pick’s long-lasting formula, according to cosmetic chemist Marisal Mou, is the formulation’s inclusion of methyl trimethicone and trimethylsiloxysilicate, two "film formers" that help lock the cream shadow in place. "They enhance adhesion and substantivity of color to the skin and more importantly, improve water and rub resistance and stability of deposition of product on the skin," she says. She also shouts out diisostearyl fumarate, an ingredient that helps with diffusing color pigments and reducing feathering, bleeding, and creasing. "It also gives a rich, smooth feel to the skin," she says. Try channeling sun-soaked, warm weather vibes (even in the dead of winter) with Sunflower, a matte mustard yellow, or Macaron, a matte lilac (pictured above).

Tester feedback: Commerce writer Jennifer Hussein is a fan of these versatile, easy-to-use formulas and can attest that they last up to eight hours—even when you're out and about on an 85-degree day. “An eye shadow stick may not sound revolutionary at first, but believe me when I say this one tremendously moves the needle,” she said. “Like Victoria Beckham's fashion line, each shade was intentionally added to the shadow stick lineup to match your everyday wardrobe, kind of like a capsule collection for makeup.”

Who it's for: people going out in humid weather | Available shades: 10

Best for Beginners: Nars Total Seduction Eyeshadow Stick

Why it's worth it: Just one swatch of the Nars Total Seduction Eyeshadow Stick proves how easy it is to work with. Its buttery formula never skips, so you can swipe and glide without fear of a patchy, uneven finish. Each of its neutral shades come in a velvety matte finish that stays opaque and crease-free without drying your skin. Just swipe and go for a pigmented finish, but if you want to diffuse its color, a few pats with your finger will do the trick.

Tester feedback: “I’ll be honest, I suck at applying eye shadow, but I love the look of it,” says shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis. “I’m all about products that make my life easier, and the NARS Total Seduction Eyeshadow Stick is my new secret weapon. The creamy formula glides on like silk, blends effortlessly, and doesn’t budge. It’s fool-proof too, you literally can’t mess up the application.”

Who it's for: anyone who wants a forgiving, blendable eye shadow stick | Available shades: 6

More eye shadow sticks we love:

Best Shimmer: Charlotte Tilbury Color Chameleon Eyeshadow Pencil

Why it's worth it: New York City-based makeup artist Tobi Henney adores Charlotte Tilbury's Golden Quartz shade (pictured above) for its versatility, and says the entire Color Chameleon range "is beautiful for a super-fast smokey eye." New York City-based makeup artist Vincent Oquendo agrees, explaining that the creamy shadow sticks are highly blendable and don't create creasing. While certain shades are suggested for certain eye colors (like Amethyst Aphrodisiac for green eyes), don't let that stop you from experimenting with whatever you're tempted to try.FYI: For the best results and maximum precision, sharpen the pencil before you use it.

Who it's for: people looking for a long-lasting shimmer shadow | Available shades: 9

Best Matte Finish: Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color

Why it's worth it: The matte shade range of theWe couldn't preach our favorite eye shadow sticks without mentioning Magnetic Eye Color from Nudestix is filled with neutral tones that cna be simply worn on their own or layered with your favorite sparkles for a more dramatic look. As one of the first brands to fully embrace the shadow stick trend, it has since expanded its options to You can shop close to 30 shades in totalmatte and luminous finishes that suit casual and glam looks alike, but our eyes always go to the versatile 12-shade collection of muted mattes. Better yet, this stick (shown above in Taupe) comes with a makeup tin, mirror, and sharpener. Yes, please. Some of the lighter, glittery shades (like Angel and Nudity) can moonlight as highlighter, too.

Who it's for: p People looking for versatility | Available shades: 28 (13 matte, 15 luminous)

Best Neutral Shades: Chanel Stylo Ombre Et Contour

Why it's worth it: "Chanel has the most beautiful, matte-brown eye shadow stick in the shade Contour Clair," Henney says of the pictured shade. "It's a fabulous, go-to shade for day-to-day looks." This shadow stick blends easily, and the medium-thick tip gives you the ultimate freedom of application. Plus, Sofia Richie Grainge wore it at her wedding. Enough said.

Who it's for: people looking for daytime options | Available shades: 4

Best Bright Shades: About-Face Shadowstick

Why it's worth it: Halsey knew exactly what she was doing when she went to the lab and whipped up the About-Face Shadowsticks. The shade selection is top-tier, with vibrant shades you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. Each pencil has a perfectly slippery glide, but the mattes are slightly more pigmented, while the pearly shades are sheerer but impressively buildable. Swipe on a few layers of pearly Acidic (the neon yellow-green pictured above) for a bold look in seconds—and tons of DMs asking what you're wearing.

Tester feedback: “...I tried the entire [About-Face] range and found that the product quality lived up to the hype, too (other Allure editors will back me up on this; we've been Slacking about it for weeks now),” says senior news editor Nicola Dall’Asen. “It's hard to pick a standout product among my many favorites, but the one I can tell I'll be using the most is undoubtedly the Shadowstick. You only really need one shade at a time to make a statement, but you can pair basically any of these shades at random and they'll play well off of each other.”

Who it's for: people who don't shy away from bold colors | Available shades: 16

Best Dual-Ended: Tarte Quick Stick Shadow & Liner

Why it's worth it: Every great cat eye requires two things: A precise liner and a shimmery shadow to highlight your artistry. The good news is you'll find both in Tarte's two-sided Quick Stick Shadow & Liner, a dual-ended pen that features a waterproof shadow and gel-based liner to pair together. The thin, charcoal-black eyeliner is one of the smoothest pencils out there. Its creamy texture glides like butter along your lash line, creating a perfect wing. The Rose Gold Luster/Brown shadow stick pictured above is easy to smudge for a soft finish. In the words of one Allure tester, it's "the perfect cat eye tool."

Who it's for: anyone who wants a two-in-one eye shadow and liner. | Available shades: 5

Best Longwear: Rare Beauty All of the Above Weightless Eyeshadow Stick

Why it's worth it: The Rare Beauty All of the Above Weightless Eyeshadow Stick is a subtly shimmery pick that won’t crease in fine lines and lasts all day—rain, shine, or something else entirely. The shades bridge the gap between earth and jewel tones and result in a collection of super-wearable hues—like Well-Being, a soft pink pictured above—that can take you from day to night repeatedly. Here’s a quick tip: Swipe on a lighter shade like Integrity along your brow bone for a gentle highlight.

Who it's for: people who want a weightless, long-lasting shadow| Available shades: 6

Best Budget: Colourpop Shadow Stix

Why it's worth it: The Colourpop Shadow Stix is an under-$10 pick that gives most options with double-digit price tags a run for their money. New York City-based makeup artist Amrita Mehta loves this budget-friendly shadow stick for its "great color payoff." These creamy sticks offer a unique shade range across metallic and matte finishes, including Surf Sesh (a metallic teal), Cold Girl (an icy white), and Friday Feels (a holographic peach).

Who it's for: people who want a budget-friendly eyeshadow stick with a high-quality formula | Available shades: 22

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply an eye shadow stick?

Like any individual eye shadow, you have your options in terms of application. Most eye shadow sticks have creamy formulas that take a few seconds (a minute, tops, usually) to settle, which makes your clean(!) fingers an ideal applicator. When using any single eye shadow like a stick, Fiona Stiles, a Los Angeles-based makeup artist, previously told Allure that she often opts for her digits. "I use my fingers for shadows all the time, at work and on myself," she said. "At work, I use [her fingers] to lay on color in a more concentrated way, and on myself, I use them to create a wash of shadow on the lid," she says.

To apply, New York City-based makeup artist Yuui Vision has recommends using your ring finger to apply along your lid, then blending with your middle finger. For a more concentrated finish, Vision suggests dabbing color with your ring finger on the area of your lid where you want to increase opacity, then alternate blending with both fingers until you create your desired finish.

Meet the experts

• Kirin Bhatty, a New York City-based makeup artist.
• Tobi Henney, a New York City-based makeup artist.
• Vincent Oquendo, a New York City-based makeup artist.
• Amrita Mehta, a New York City-based makeup artist.
• Fiona Stiles, a Los Angeles-based makeup artist
• Yuui Vision, a New York City-based makeup artist

How we test and review products

Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?

For our review of the best eye shadow sticks, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and professional makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: wear, longevity, color variety, and ease of use. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

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