Holographic eyeshadow hues shimmer and dance in reflective light, showcasing a dazzling array of iridescent colours. They burst onto the late Nineties/ early Noughties club scene with a bang and became the go-to makeup look of the Los Angeles party girl and pop princess – we’re talking Nicole Ritchie, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and Devon Aoki among many others
The trend eventually made its way across the pond, with the likes of Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and more spotted sporting the subtly sparkly and attention-grabbing eyeshadow look which soon became the face of London nightlife. Where the iridescent shimmers of LA and London differed, however, was in the undertones.
Icey blue and bright white shimmers adorned the eyelids of the tanned, blonde and hands-free-microphone-adorned over in the States, whereas sultry midnight blues became quite the staple for the Boho Grunge queen Ms Moss and other residents of our dreary, rain-swept isle. Perhaps the sole exception to this general rule was the Spice Girls, who embodied a mixture of the two alongside other playful pinks, purples and even greens in their iconic looks.
Naturally, alongside the resurgence of all things Nineties and Noughties, glittering holographic eyeshadow has made a comeback. It’s been spotted on runways by the likes of Emporio Armani, Chet Lo and Van Der Kemp in both fall/winter and spring/summer 2024 collections.
Shades have gotten even more shimmery thanks to innovations in beauty tech and appear almost like TV static atop miraculously shimmery eyelids. We spoke to Faith Hobson, Buyer Director at LOOKFANTASTIC for some insight into the wonderful world of kaleidoscopic eyeshadow.
How does holographic eyeshadow work?
“Holographic and duo-chrome eyeshadows show different colours from different angles depending on how the light hits the face.”
What's the best way to apply holographic eyeshadow?
“We recommend applying it with your fingers instead of a brush, as this deposits the pigment in a more compact way to get the best impact.”
Why do you think we've seen a resurgence in holographic and glittery eyeshadow?
“After a couple of years of seeing a lot of 'clean girl' makeup, we're all ready to bring a bit of fun and colour back into our makeup bags. Holographic and glittery eyeshadow is a sophisticated way for us to do this without bringing back the rainbow cut creases from 2016, and without investing hours of precious time.
“Our customer is always on the hunt for ways to have great makeup with little time to play with and holographic/glitter shadows deliver this because you can swiftly apply them all over the lid and still look polished - it's also the reason we've seen a rise in use of eyeshadow sticks.”
What's the difference between holographic eyeshadow, glitter pigment and a wet eyeshadow look?
“Holographic eyeshadows are best described as duochromes given their ability to show different colours with the same product depending on the angle you view the product from - Pat McGrath is the queen of this format and you'll very often find them within her palettes.
“Glitter pigments are exactly as the name as the name suggests, our favourites are the Natasha Denona shadows. Wet eyeshadow look can either be SO shiny they look wet (think of the Urban Decay space cowboy we've seen everywhere the last 12 months) or quite literally wet - we've seen the rise of gloss on the lids to deliver true 'wet' eye look.”
Without further ado, keep scrolling for the best holographic eyeshadows on the market.
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Pat McGrath Luminous Legends: Mega Eye Shadow Palette
The undefeated queen of bejewelled eyelids, Pat McGrath has finally put all her brand’s best and brightest holographic shades in one mega palette.
Featuring versatile, buildable, creamy and blendable textures, the inspiration behind these glorious shades was precious gemstones and dazzling jewels. McGrath herself describes it as her “most decadent palette yet”, making it a perfect addition to any statement makeup lover’s arsenal.
The palette is split into four sections: Sublime Mattes for sculpting and shaping, Gleaming Metallics for chromatics, Sparkle Metallics for angelic creativity and Metallic Shimmers for sophisticated luminosity and drama.
Buy now £69.00, Pat McGrath
Patrick Ta Beauty Major Dimension Eye Illusion Eyeshadow Duo
This shimmering duo by Patrick Ta, acclaimed makeup artist to Gigi Hadid and Camilla Cabello, has been the subject of rather unnecessary controversy on TikTok. Unbeatably shimmery and wonderfully high quality, we love how these duos by Patrick Ta don’t bulk up your makeup kit and can be popped in your purse for top-ups throughout long nights out on the town.
Vegan, cruelty and parabens-free, our personal favourite for recreating a true 00s-inspired holographic look is the We Need Better Lighting option.
Buy now £34.00, Patrick Ta Beauty
TooFaced Disco Crush High Shine Glitter Eyeshadow + Face Sparkle
Thanks to its sheer virality, Disco Crush by TooFaced has sold out in the so-bright-it-hurts-your-eyes-shade, ‘Show Off’. Nevertheless, the marvellously shimmery multi-use chrome eyeshadow and face sparkle is available in an array of equally gorgeous hues.
The lightweight and comfortable formula can be applied in one swipe to achieve multi-dimensional, light-shifting and saturated wet-look effects. We’re big fans of the opalescent and oh-so Noughties ‘Fairy Dust’ shade, as well as ‘Magic Sprinkles’ which offers a glorious rose-tinted champagne sparkle.
Buy now £22.00, TooFaced
Urban Decay 24/7 Mono Moondust Eyeshadow
Yet another viral beauty sensation, Urban Decay’s Moondust Eyeshadow has been all over social media as of late – and for good reason. Offered in three unmistakably shimmery shades, the vegan formula features dazzling, show-stopping pigments which – despite being dry-pressed – offer a wondrous wet look which lasts for up to 16 hours.
Buy now £15.00, Urban Decay
ICONIC Glaze Crayon in Quartz and Sugar Pink
We’re all about multi-purpose makeup here at ES Best, and these brilliant Glaze Crayons by ICONIC London are just the ticket. Featuring a super silky and subtly understated metallic crayon on one end, and a high-octane liquid shimmer glaze on the other – you’ll be able to instantly elevate your makeup look with effortless ease and zero fallout.
Buy now £24.00, ICONIC
Natasha Denona I Need A Warm Eyeshadow Palette
It’s incredibly frustrating when you come across a remarkable eyeshadow palette but are only interested in trying one shade. While the ultimate, creamy holographic wonder that is Phenomena is indeed worth purchasing an entire Natasha Denona palette for, you’ll soon become equally addicted to complimentary shimmer shades like Elm, Fancy, Snug and Push as well as the deeper matte base shades.
Buy now £64.00, lookfantastic
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 £25.00, 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 £29.00, 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 £22.00, lookfantastic
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 £119.00, Pat McGrath
