My Eye Shadow Stick Obsession Runs Deep, But Nothing Compares to This Crease-Resistant Fave
The first time I fell in love with makeup was when I got a chance to play with eye shadow. Whether I was learning how to craft a cut crease from a budding beauty YouTuber in the mid-2010s or swiping on pigmented shadow for my dance competitions, nothing made me feel more creative than when I got to dip my brush in a vat of glittery goodness and get to sparkling up my lids.
But as I’ve aged and evolved, so has my beauty routine, and I want it to feel more streamlined as my schedule gets busier. In the past, I’ve tried dabbing different cream bronzers on my lids and adding pops of color to my orbs with cream blush, but nothing has imparted long-lasting, crease-free wear as effortlessly as a good eye shadow stick.
I fell in love with this kind of shadow medium years ago and quickly learned that I had an affinity for it. The best are ultra-smooth, easy-to-blend, and buildable stick formulas that can craft a cool eye in .5 seconds. Have you seen the stick shadow magic of celebrity makeup artist (and The White Lotus actress Aimee Lou Wood’s sister) Emily Wood, courtesy of her outdoor GRWM videos? If these clips don’t make you want to scribble on your eyelids, I don’t know what will.
Curious about what I could find in the unchartered (by me) eye shadow stick waters, I set out on a years-long journey to try as many options from as many brands as possible. After more than 1500 days of testing different formulas, I truly believe I’ve found the best.
Best Eye Shadow Stick
Nars
Total Seduction Smudge-Proof Eye Shadow Stick
Size: 0.05 oz. | Shades: 15 | Finishes: Matte, shimmer | Key benefits: Free from alcohol and parabens, long-wearing
Introducing the Nars Total Seduction Eyeshadow Stick: named one of the best by a fellow editor in the UK and the cream of the crop by yours truly. There’s so much to adore about these dreamy, buildable formulas—from their easy-to-blend textures to their potent pigmentation. These sticks have become a staple in my daily routine. One light scribble over my lashline will leave a deep dose of color on my skin and can be diffused into a feathered, smokey look with the swirl of a brush or dab of a fingertip. (Perfect for beginners, if you ask me.)
Whether I’m creating a monochromatic mocha smokey eye with my shade of choice, Mambo, or accentuating my hazel eyes with my favorite “special occasion” hue, Fated, each tube leaves a stain of immovable color that won’t budge until I wash my face at night (and eventually go back in with an eye makeup remover—that’s how long-wearing this stuff is).
Pro makeup artists rely on these flexible formulas for their buildable pigments, which makes it easy to create impactful eye looks on the go. These sticks also double as impeccable bases for bold eye shadow looks.
