Once the reserve of Christmas parties and festivals, glitter eyeshadow has been brought into the realms of the everyday for a way to bring a sparkle touch to your monochrome wardrobe.
There’s just something about a shimmering foil finish that can transform a dull day - and it’s easier to wear than you may think. With pigmented colour pay off, creamy textures and buildable, long-wearing formulas, these are not the glitter eyeshadows of our childhood that you’d find clumped in one corner of the eye by the end of the night.
New densely-packed formulations have resulted in metallic and high shine reflecting pigments that are simple to swipe over the lids - you don’t even need a brush in most cases - and stay firmly affixed where they belong instead of falling onto your face with every blink.
Milk Makeup’s Director of Artistry Sara Wren explains “Eye and face primers are a MUST for glittery products for locking on any and all eye products, especially those more separated glitter formulas”.
Whether you opt for liquid, powder or cream, these products will dial up your eye look with party-ready creations, just be sure to pay close attention to coverage and creases. Wren says, ”Figuring out what type of sparkle effect you are looking for is super important. Depending on if you want a full disco moment or a light wet looking glitter shine, there are myriad of finishes in glitter to work with”. Liquid formulas will have the glitter specs spaced out but glide onto any other hue for a touch of bling, while glitter infused creams and powders create a wash of the hue without much skill required.
Wren adds, “We are seeing a lot of subtle, almost wet looking glitter finishes across eyes, lips and cheeks right now. Sometimes a cream-based product that has small flecks of glitter that when it hits the light is all you need to to give a dewy sparkle effect”.
Shop the best glitter eyeshadows below
Glossier Monochromes essential eyeshadow trio
The pigmented Glossier palettes have something for every texture preference. The three-pan tray includes a matte, satin and metallic hue that can be mixed and matched or worn solo to leave a wash of colour with just one swipe. It’s buildable too so you can go as dramatic as you like but due to the payoff, go light with your brush or finger if you’re only looking for a subtle hue. There are 10 shade combinations and the case is refillable. Honourable mention goes to the shimmery shade for its ability to transform a day look in an instant.
Buy now £19.00, Glossier
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour
The Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks have been a cult purchase for many years and that is a testament to the sheer foolproof nature of their application. The creamy texture glides onto the lids as a liner or can be buffed out with an eyeshadow brush to cover the entire lid. There are 27 colours and in a range of finishes with shimmer shades too. Once the look is created, the formula stays firmly in place and is crease and transfer resistant.
Buy now £26.00, Space NK
Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow
Nineties babies will never forget layering up the Stila eyeshadow but, will pleased to learn that the infamously clumping formula is no longer. What remains is the high shine colourways that are easily applied with the accompanying brush and it’s as long-lasting as you remember it with all day wear. It’s quick drying so act fast on any mistakes.
Buy now £24.00, Boots
ICONIC London Desk to Dance Eyeshadow Palette
You will spot this palette in the arsenal of professional makeup artists - and from first look, it is clear why. The brand houses 20 shades for a seemingly infinite quantity of combinations that will allow you to layer shimmer and satin with creamy, smokey and matte textures. As the name suggests, it’s a palette that will take you from work to the weekend and boardroom to bar where you can add a glittering finish with the high shine bling shades.
Buy now £45.00, Boots
Hourglass Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow 3.5g
If you’re not the most proficient at the latest eyeshadow trends, you’ll want to keep this product from Hourglass on hand. The scattered shimmer finish transforms your look in an instant, camouflaging any mistakes with a wash of glittery goodness that is a statement all its own - no additional skill needed. The payoff is created with crushed pearls and a specialised light-reflection that are to thank for the metallic finish. It’s buildable so you can create a day look with a subtle shimmer and layer up when it comes to a night on the tiles.
Buy now £28.00, Cult Beauty
MAC Dazzleshadow Liquid
This is another product that will take you back to your first experimentations with makeup - and there’s a reason that it has stood the test of time. The liquid eyeshadow from MAC has a chrome look that will dazzle on the dancefoor and impart a crystal-light glow. Apply directly on the lids with the brush provided then use a flatter iteration to even out the coverage. The beauty of this shade is the glimmer that it provides whether you wear it alone or layer on top of pigmented bold hues to give them extra shine power.
Buy now £18.50, lookfantastic
Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette
No eyeshadow round-up is complete without a Naked palette from Urban Decay. The brand’s iconic combinations have become stalwarts in our cosmetics collections with a versatile 12 shades adhering to a colour theme in each.
For the Naked 3 Palette, it’s tonal rose hues that take a starring role across different textures, including high wattage metallic finishes. The brand is renowned for hues that can build and build, adding depth when needed and leaving it light and bright when not. It’s ideal for slipping into your hand-luggage with its narrow design.
Buy now £46.00, lookfantastic
Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette Pillow Talk 4-shade eyeshadow palette
Pillow Talk is Charlotte Tilbury’s signature shade - and further to the lipstick, liner and gloss are eyeshadows in the same universally flattering nude pink. Start with the lightest across your lid and create a dramatic look with the darker shade at the corner of the eye. Finish with the shimmer glow hue and you’ll have mimicked the legendary flawless dewy aesthetic that the eponymous make-up artist’s brand is known for.
There are a range of colour combinations as well as the ultra-pigmented sparkle of the Hypnotising Pop Shots that provide a glitter layer with a dab of the finger.
Buy now £45.00, Charlotte Tilbury
Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 5
While Anastasia Beverly Hills is known for her game-changing Golden Ratio brow shaping technique, don’t sleep on the easily applied eyeshadow palettes that are some of the best on the market. Whether you’re a novice or an expert, the hues combine with ease and you need not go OTT with the amount of powder on the brush as the payoff is immediate. With this Vol. 5 palette, you will be encouraged to step out of your colour comfort zone, especially when it gones to the shimmering shades in which the icy gold and sparkling hues give dimension to any look.
Buy now £62.00, Anastasia Beverly Hills
Pat McGrath Mothership V: Bronze Seduction
If you can choose just one of the Pat McGrath palettes, you’ll be in for a treat as the makeup artist hasn’t held back when it came to formulation. No matter which colour combination that you go for, the palettes have a combination of multidimensions shades that each play their part in curating a pro-level eye look. The metallic bronze will bring sophistication, while the red shimmer is on hand for upping the drama. Keep the Shinshow Divine Glow and Astral Luna Gold on hand for a foil finish.
Buy now £115.00, Pat McGrath
Milk Color Chalk
With the ease of our childhood writing instruments comes this chalk texture from Milk. If you have a signature colour and want to stick to it, instead of going for a combination of shades where there are some that you’ll never use, the brand spotlights one hue that is incredibly versatile. The diamond inspired level of shine can be applied using your finger or a brush but if you wet either of the aforementioned, it heightens the shine. As you use the playful product, you’ll need to unwrap it to reveal the powder within.
Buy now £16.00, Space NK
