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15 Best Eyeshadow Sticks That Make Application a Dream

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Looking for a way to simplify your makeup routine? Meet the easy-to-use eyeshadow stick. It's intended to make eyeshadow application a breeze with its swipe-and-go application and stay-all-day creamy formula. "I often use eyeshadow sticks because they are so quick and convenient," says makeup artist Suzy Gerstein. "I love that you can sketch on the color without worrying about perfection, and you don't have to worry about fallout or creasing." You can swipe on an eyeshadow stick all over the lid for a wash of color or layer it with other hues to create a multidimensional look. While you can apply it with a brush, eyeshadow sticks tend to be effortlessly creamy, so "you can blend it with your fingers as they melt into the skin," says Tayaba Jafri, Laura Mercier global beauty director.

Our Top Picks

  • 1
    Color Tattoo Longwear Multi-Use Eye Shadow Stix

    Best Long-Lasting Eyeshadow Stick

    MAYBELLINE Color Tattoo Longwear Multi-Use Eye Shadow Stix

    $8 at Amazon
    Read more
  • 2
    Superhero No-Tug Longwear Eyeshadow Stick

    Best for Mature Skin

    It Cosmetics Superhero No-Tug Longwear Eyeshadow Stick

    Read more
  • 3
    Dual-Ended Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow Stick

    Best Overall

    Bobbi Brown Dual-Ended Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow Stick

    Read more
  • 4
    No Budge Shadow Stick

    Best Drugstore Eyeshadow Stick

    e.l.f. Cosmetics No Budge Shadow Stick

    Read more
  • 5
    Make It A Double Dual-Ended Eyeshadow

    LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Make It A Double Dual-Ended Eyeshadow

    Read more

What to look for in eyeshadow sticks

Eyeshadow sticks are available in many colors and finishes, so choosing a formula is up to personal preference. You'll want to go for a crayon with beautiful pigmentation and a smooth texture for the easiest application. Some formulas also have skincare benefits, like hydrating ingredients for dry eyes or mattifying options for oily lids, says Jafri. Ahead, shop the best eyeshadow sticks—they might make you forgo your palettes for good.

1
Best Long-Lasting Eyeshadow Stick

MAYBELLINE Color Tattoo Longwear Multi-Use Eye Shadow Stix

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale
Color Tattoo Longwear Multi-Use Eye Shadow Stix
1
Best Long-Lasting Eyeshadow Stick

MAYBELLINE Color Tattoo Longwear Multi-Use Eye Shadow Stix

Now 20% Off
$8 at Amazon$9 at Walmart$10 at Ulta Beauty
Credit: Maybelline
Pros
  • Long-lasting formula
  • Budget-friendly
  • Available in multiple colors and finishes
Cons
  • Nothing

Want intense pigment that doesn't budge? This shadow stick gets the job done. "I swiped this formula on the back of my hand and was excited by how smooth and creamy it felt," says Oprah Daily beauty editor Genesis Rivas. "Even more impressive: its ability to stay in place even when I tried to rub and smudge it. It only came off after I used a makeup wipe." It comes in 16 matte and shimmer shades, from wearable neutrals to vibrant hues.

2
Best for Mature Skin

It Cosmetics Superhero No-Tug Longwear Eyeshadow Stick

Superhero No-Tug Longwear Eyeshadow Stick
2
Best for Mature Skin

It Cosmetics Superhero No-Tug Longwear Eyeshadow Stick

Credit: IT Cosmetics
Pros
  • Great for sensitive skin
  • Helps smooth uneven texture
  • Available in matte and pearl finishes
Cons
  • Nothing

Available in 12 pearl and matte shades, this formula glides onto lids without tugging or pulling. It's a great option for those worried about fine lines or other signs of aging because the formula contains peptides, hydrolyzed collagen, and caffeine to brighten eyes and smooth texture.

3
Best Overall

Bobbi Brown Dual-Ended Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow Stick

Dual-Ended Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow Stick
3
Best Overall

Bobbi Brown Dual-Ended Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow Stick

Credit: Bobbi Brown
Pros
  • Dual-ended matte and shimmer shades
  • Easy to use
Cons
  • It's more expensive than other options on this list

This dual-ended eyeshadow stick won a 2023 beauty award because it's a wand that does it all. One end offers a matte shade that you can draw along your lash line and lids. The other side has a complementary shimmer shade you can apply on the inner corners or center of the lid to highlight and make your eyes pop.

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4
Best Drugstore Eyeshadow Stick

e.l.f. Cosmetics No Budge Shadow Stick

No Budge Shadow Stick
4
Best Drugstore Eyeshadow Stick

e.l.f. Cosmetics No Budge Shadow Stick

Credit: Elf Cosmetics
Pros
  • Crease-proof
  • Creamy formula
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Available in only four shades

This eyeshadow stick is so good and budget-friendly that you won't feel bad about stocking up on two or three of them. The formula is creamy, blendable, and stays put, so no need to worry about creasing, smudging, or fading. It comes in four metallic shades.

5

LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Make It A Double Dual-Ended Eyeshadow

Make It A Double Dual-Ended Eyeshadow
5

LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Make It A Double Dual-Ended Eyeshadow

Now 50% Off
Credit: Laura Geller

One of beauty director Kate Sandoval Box's go-tos, this two-in-one pencil offers a creamy, sweeps-right-on shadow on one end and a matching shimmery powder shadow on the other. "I like to blend the cream shadow all over my lid, and then tap the shimmer powder in the inner corners of my eyes, blending it up to the crease," Box says.

6
Best Matte Eyeshadow Stick

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Matte Eyeshadow

Caviar Stick Matte Eyeshadow
6
Best Matte Eyeshadow Stick

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Matte Eyeshadow

Credit: Laura Mercier
Pros
  • Provides hydration
  • Long-lasting
Cons
  • Nothing

Jafri loves this eyeshadow stick because hyaluronic acid and raspberry stem cells help provide hydration. So, while it has a matte finish, it isn't overly drying or uncomfortable to wear. "It's also crease-proof, waterproof, and transfer-proof, offering all-day wear," she says. It comes in 13 wearable shades.

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7
Best Brightening Eyeshadow Stick

Thrive Causemetics Brilliant Eye Brightener

Brilliant Eye Brightener
7
Best Brightening Eyeshadow Stick

Thrive Causemetics Brilliant Eye Brightener

Credit: Thrive
Pros
  • Shimmery finish brightens eyes
  • Hydrating formula
  • Smooths look of fine lines
Cons
  • Only available in shimmers

Get that "I got eight hours of sleep" glow with this eyeshadow stick. Its ring light technology contains light-reflecting pigments that help diffuse the look of imperfections and offer a shimmery veil of color that boosts radiance. Macadamia and meadowfoam seed oil hydrate and smooth the look of fine lines. It comes in 16 gleaming shades.

8
Best Neutral Shades

CHANEL Stylo Ombre Et Contour Eyeshadow

Stylo Ombre Et Contour Eyeshadow
8
Best Neutral Shades

CHANEL Stylo Ombre Et Contour Eyeshadow

Credit: Chanel
Pros
  • Can use as eyeliner and shadow
  • Blendable texture
  • Great for layering
Cons
  • Available in limited colors.

Gerstein loves to use these sticks as both eyeshadow and eyeliner. They're also great for "creating depth underneath powder shadows," she says. "Layering a cream stick with a powder shadow is a red carpet trick that makes eyes pop and increases the longevity of makeup." The shadows are available in four neutral shades: a light beige, cool-toned taupe, chocolate brown, and a black/brown shade.

9
Best Lightweight Eyeshadow Stick

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez All of the Above Weightless Eyeshadow Stick

All of the Above Weightless Eyeshadow Stick
9
Best Lightweight Eyeshadow Stick

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez All of the Above Weightless Eyeshadow Stick

Credit: Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez
Pros
  • Lightweight
  • Has a built-in sharpener
  • Easy to blend
Cons
  • Some reviewers say it tends to crease

You'll barely notice you have makeup on when using this formula. It's very lightweight and seamless in application. The pointed tip and smooth consistency allows you to line, fill, smoke out, and highlight the eyes with a single stroke.

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10
Best for Oily Skin

NUDESTIX Magnetic Matte Eye Color

Magnetic Matte Eye Color
10
Best for Oily Skin

NUDESTIX Magnetic Matte Eye Color

Credit: Nudestix
Pros
  • Waterproof
  • Doesn't smudge or crease
Cons
  • Dries quickly, so you need to blend fast

If oily eyelids tend to wreak havoc on your eyeshadow looks, you'll love this long-wear waterproof, tear-proof, and smudge-proof formula. It swipes on creamy and smooth but dries quickly to stay put for hours. Shop it in nine neutral shades, from black to cream and gray.

11
Best for Precise Application

FENTY BEAUTY by Rihanna Shadowstix Longwear Eyeshadow Stick

Shadowstix Longwear Eyeshadow Stick
11
Best for Precise Application

FENTY BEAUTY by Rihanna Shadowstix Longwear Eyeshadow Stick

Credit: FENTY BEAUTY by Rihanna
Pros
  • Blendable formula
  • Great pigmentation
  • Available in matte and shimmer shades
Cons
  • Some reviewers say it can fade quickly

The slim tip of this eyeshadow stick makes precise application effortless, whether you're using it as an eyeliner or concentrating color in one specific area. It comes in 16 shades with matte and shimmer finishes. The formula is incredibly pigmented but easy to blend, making it difficult to mess up.

12
Best Shimmer Eyeshadow Stick

Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon Eye Shadow Pencil

Colour Chameleon Eye Shadow Pencil
12
Best Shimmer Eyeshadow Stick

Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon Eye Shadow Pencil

Credit: Charlotte Tilbury
Pros
  • Smooth texture
  • Water-repellent finish
Cons
  • Dries down quickly, so you need to blend quickly

Shine bright with these dazzling eyeshadow sticks. They're only available in shimmery shades, from sparkling purple to metallic bronze. The formula infused with caranuba wax glides onto lids effortlessly, regardless of skin type and texture.

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13
Best Buildable Eyeshadow Stick

Victoria Beckham EyeWear

EyeWear
13
Best Buildable Eyeshadow Stick

Victoria Beckham EyeWear

Credit: Victoria Beckham
Pros
  • Buildable formula
  • Creamy texture
Cons
  • It's more expensive than other options on this list

Create bold and pigmented looks or sheer no-makeup makeup with these eyeshadow sticks. The creamy formula is pigmented but buildable so you can customize your makeup to your liking. It's available in seven shades, from a bright pink and yellow to a warm matte caramel and brown.

14
Best Vibrant Shades

about-face Shadowstick

Shadowstick
14
Best Vibrant Shades

about-face Shadowstick

Credit: about-face
Pros
  • Available in bold hues
  • Pigmented
Cons
  • Some reviewers say it can fade quickly

For the ones who aren't afraid of color, you'll love these intensely pigmented sticks. They come in fun hues, like chartreuse, teal, pink, and pastel blue, and are available in matte and pearl finishes.

15

Iconic London Glaze Crayon Dual-Ended Glitter Eyeshadow

Glaze Crayon Dual-Ended Glitter Eyeshadow
15

Iconic London Glaze Crayon Dual-Ended Glitter Eyeshadow

Credit: Iconic London

To level up your night-out look, glide this shimmery crayon across your lower and upper lashes then tap the glittery liquid in the center of your lid and blend. Choose from seven glam metallics.

Headshot of Genesis Rivas
Genesis Rivas

Genesis Rivas is the Beauty Editor at Oprah Daily, where she covers hair, makeup, skin, nails, and more. Before joining the Oprah Daily team, she wrote for several publications, including InStyle, Real Simple, and Shape. When she’s not testing, researching, and writing fun and educational beauty content, you can find her dancing and eating her way through New York City. Follow her on Instagram or TikTok

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