Laura Mercier in Eyeshadows & Eyeliners

Laura Mercier is known for elegant, complexion-focused makeup and skincare, especially its tinted moisturizer, translucent loose setting powder, and the ‘flawless face’ aesthetic.

Laura Mercier is known for elegant, complexion-focused makeup and the "flawless face" look—especially tinted moisturizer, setting powder, and natural, polished beauty products.

Laura Mercier is known for its sophisticated makeup and complexion products, especially the Translucent Loose Setting Powder, tinted moisturizers, and natural-looking, polished beauty looks.

Laura Mercier is known for its polished, natural-looking makeup and complexion products, especially its setting powder, tinted moisturizer, foundations, blushes, and elegant everyday beauty aesthetic.

Laura Mercier is known for its luxe, natural-looking makeup and complexion products, especially tinted moisturizer, setting powder, and products that create a polished "flawless face" look.

Laura Mercier’s main strengths are its polished, elegant brand image; strong reputation for complexion products, especially tinted moisturizers, setting powders, and makeup that creates a natural, refined finish; and broad appeal across ages and skin tones. It’s also known for a more luxurious, artist-driven feel than many mid-market brands.

Main weaknesses: it can feel expensive for the amount of product, some items are less trend-driven than newer prestige brands, and the shade ranges or formulas in certain categories have not always felt as inclusive or innovative as competitors. Some products are loved for a classic look, but the brand may seem less exciting to shoppers looking for bold color or cutting-edge launches.

Laura Mercier’s main strengths are its polished, elegant brand image; strong reputation for complexion products, primers, setting powders, and “flawless but natural” makeup; and its appeal to consumers who want a refined, professional look. It’s also well known for reliable quality and classic, easy-to-use products.

Main weaknesses: it can feel less trend-driven and less exciting than newer prestige brands; some products are seen as pricey for the value; and its shade ranges and innovation in certain categories have sometimes lagged behind more inclusive or more experimental competitors.

Laura Mercier’s main strengths are its elegant, makeup-artist-driven positioning, especially in complexion products like tinted moisturizer, setting powder, and base makeup that are known for a natural, polished finish. The brand is also strong in subtle, wearable color cosmetics and has a reputation for refined, understated luxury.

Main weaknesses: it can feel less innovative or trend-driven than some newer prestige brands, its shade range on some products has historically been less inclusive than competitors, and the brand’s style may seem too classic or muted for shoppers who want bold, high-impact looks. It can also be priced at a premium without always feeling distinctly differentiated outside its hero products.

Laura Mercier’s main strengths are its polished, elegant makeup aesthetic, strong complexion products, and reputation for creating a naturally flawless look. The brand is especially known for foundation, tinted moisturizer, setting powder, and easy-to-wear neutral tones. It’s also seen as professional and reliable, with a sophisticated, luxury feel.

Its weaknesses are that it can feel less trend-driven or innovative than some newer prestige brands, and some products are expensive for the performance. Shade ranges and formulas have also been criticized at times, depending on the product category. Overall, it’s strong in classic, refined makeup, but not always the most exciting or inclusive option.

Laura Mercier’s main strengths are its polished, elegant brand image; high-performing complexion products (especially setting powder, tinted moisturizers, concealers); and a reputation for makeup that looks refined and natural. It also tends to appeal to people who want a more understated, luxury feel.

Main weaknesses: it can feel expensive for the size/value, the shade range on some products has historically been less inclusive than top competitors, and some consumers see the line as a bit less trend-driven or innovative than newer prestige brands. Some products are also more about subtle finish than bold payoff, which may not suit everyone.

Laura Mercier is a good fit for people who want polished, sophisticated makeup with a natural-to-medium coverage look, especially if they like classic complexion products, setting powders, and elegant everyday formulas. It’s also a strong choice for those with normal, combination, or slightly dry skin who want a refined finish.

People should avoid or be cautious if they are very sensitive to fragrance or certain cosmetic ingredients, prefer ultra-clean or minimal-ingredient beauty, or need very long-wear, high-performance products for extreme heat, humidity, or heavy oiliness. Also, if you want bold, trend-driven, highly pigmented makeup at a lower price point, there may be better options.

Laura Mercier is generally best for people who want polished, natural-looking makeup and are willing to pay for a premium brand. It tends to suit users who like lightweight base products, classic neutral shades, and a refined finish.

Who should use it: people with normal to dry skin, makeup users who want elegant everyday looks, and anyone who likes higher-end, refined formulas.

Who should avoid it: people on a tight budget, those who prefer bold/trendy color payoff, and anyone with very sensitive or fragrance-reactive skin should check ingredients first because some products may not suit them.

Laura Mercier is generally a good fit for people who want polished, natural-looking makeup and luxury skincare/makeup with a refined finish. It’s often best for users who like lightweight, elegant products, foundation and complexion products that look skin-like, and a more classic, sophisticated aesthetic.

People may want to avoid it if they prefer very budget-friendly brands, bold/trendy color stories, very full-coverage or ultra-matte formulas, or if they have known sensitivities to certain cosmetics ingredients and need to patch-test carefully. If you’re looking for vegan/cruelty-free-only products, you should also check each item individually, since brand policies can vary by product and region.

Laura Mercier is best for people who want polished, elegant makeup and skincare with a natural-to-medium coverage, skin-finish look. It often suits mature skin, professional wear, and anyone who likes luxe, classic products and soft, refined finishes.

People who may avoid it: those on a tight budget, those who prefer very bold/trendy makeup, or anyone with very sensitive skin who needs to check ingredients carefully. If you want the longest-wear, most high-performance full-glam formulas, you may prefer a more makeup-artist-heavy brand.

Laura Mercier is best for people who like polished, natural-looking makeup and a more refined, classic beauty style. It’s often a good fit for dry to normal skin, mature skin, and anyone who wants lightweight, elegant complexion products or subtle color.

People may want to avoid it if they prefer very bold, trend-driven makeup, extremely long-wear/full-coverage formulas at the lowest price point, or if they have very sensitive skin and need to check ingredients carefully first. Also, some products may not suit very oily skin unless paired with the right primer or setting products.

Laura Mercier is generally seen as a polished, complexion-first prestige makeup brand with a more classic, refined feel than trend-driven rivals. Compared with NARS, it is usually softer and more natural in aesthetic; compared with Bobbi Brown, it is similarly elegant but often a bit more makeup-focused and glam; compared with Charlotte Tilbury, it feels less theatrical and less trend-led; and compared with MAC, it is more luxury/lifestyle-oriented and less pro-artistry. Its strengths are base products, setting powders, and easy everyday glamour. Where it can lag is in excitement and buzz versus faster-moving competitors.

Laura Mercier is generally positioned as a premium, makeup-first prestige brand known for polished, natural-looking complexion products, especially foundation, tinted moisturizer, setting powder, and primers. Compared with its main competitors:

• NARS: More editorial, bolder color, trend-driven; Laura Mercier is softer, more classic, and complexion-focused.
• Bobbi Brown: Very similar in natural, understated makeup; Laura Mercier is often seen as slightly more luxury-glam and known for pro artistry and finish-focused products.
• Charlotte Tilbury: More glamorous, glow-heavy, and marketing-driven; Laura Mercier is more subtle and neutral in aesthetic.
• Smashbox: More performance/pro-photo makeup; Laura Mercier has a more refined luxury positioning and stronger everyday elegance.
• MAC: Broader shade and trend range, more artist/pro and less “quiet luxury”; Laura Mercier is narrower but more polished and premium-feeling.
• Estée Lauder / Dior / Lancôme: These are larger global beauty houses with broader skincare and fragrance businesses; Laura Mercier is more focused on makeup and base products.

Overall, Laura Mercier stands out for effortless, skin-like makeup and understated luxury rather than bold color or trend-led looks.

Laura Mercier sits in the prestige makeup/skin care space, positioned as polished, complexion-focused, and “effortless French beauty.” Compared with main competitors like Bobbi Brown, Charlotte Tilbury, NARS, Tarte, Estée Lauder, and Chanel, it’s usually seen as:

• Strongest in complexion and setting products: its tinted moisturizers, primers, powders, and setting products are core strengths.
• More understated than Charlotte Tilbury: less glam/dramatic, more natural and refined.
• Similar to Bobbi Brown: both emphasize wearable, polished looks, though Laura Mercier leans a bit more luxe and makeup-artist oriented.
• Less trend-driven than NARS: NARS is often bolder, more editorial, and color-forward.
• Less skin-care heavy than newer prestige brands: it’s primarily known for makeup first.
• Strong in professional credibility: makeup artist heritage gives it authority, especially for base products.

Overall: Laura Mercier is best viewed as a premium, dependable, complexion-centric brand for people who want natural-looking, elegant makeup rather than highly trend-led or highly glam products.

Laura Mercier sits in the prestige makeup/skincare space and is best known for a polished, natural, complexion-focused look—especially base products, setting powder, primer, and tinted items. Compared with main competitors:

• NARS: more trend-forward and bolder color payoff; Laura Mercier is usually softer and more “flawless skin” oriented.
• Bobbi Brown: similar natural, refined aesthetic, but Laura Mercier is often stronger in complexion products and finishing products.
• Charlotte Tilbury: more glamorous and glow-driven; Laura Mercier is more understated and classic.
• MAC: broader pro-oriented range and stronger on high-impact color; Laura Mercier feels more elevated and skin-first.
• Estée Lauder / Lancôme: Laura Mercier is more makeup-centric and artist-led, while those brands are broader beauty houses with heavier skincare presence.

Overall, Laura Mercier competes best on sophisticated, easy-to-wear makeup and premium complexion performance, but it is less buzzy and less color-heavy than some rivals.

Laura Mercier sits in the prestige makeup/skin-care space and is best known for polished, natural-looking “your skin but better” makeup—especially complexion products, setting powder, and tinted formulas.

Compared with main competitors:

• NARS: more trend-forward, bolder color and edgier branding; Laura Mercier is softer, more understated, and complexion-focused.
• Bobbi Brown: very similar in natural, elegant makeup philosophy; Laura Mercier is often seen as a bit more luxurious and better known for setting/complexion staples.
• Charlotte Tilbury: more glamour and glow, with stronger social/media buzz; Laura Mercier is less flashy but often more minimal and classic.
• MAC: broader pro-artistry range and more color variety; Laura Mercier is more refined and everyday-wear oriented.
• Estée Lauder / Lancôme: larger legacy beauty houses with stronger skin care and broader global reach; Laura Mercier is more niche and makeup-led.

Overall, Laura Mercier is strongest for subtle, polished makeup and complexion perfection, but it has less hype, fewer viral launches, and a narrower product identity than some rivals.

People most often complain about Laura Mercier being pricey, some products having a strong fragrance, and a few formulas not working well for all skin types—especially foundations/powders that can feel drying, cakey, or oxidize. Some also mention inconsistent shade ranges and reformulations.

People commonly complain that Laura Mercier is pricey for the amount of product, and that some products can feel hit-or-miss in performance (for example, not as long-wearing or flattering on certain skin types as expected). Some also mention limited shade ranges in older launches, occasional reformulations, and packaging that feels basic for the price.

People most often complain that Laura Mercier is overpriced for the quality, that some products are hit-or-miss in performance, and that certain shades/formulas don’t work well across all skin types. Common gripes also include packaging issues, scent in some items, and the fact that a few cult favorites can feel overhyped or reformulated in ways customers dislike.

People often complain that Laura Mercier products are expensive for the amount you get, and that some formulas feel too fragranced or heavy for sensitive skin. Common complaints also include shades that don’t suit everyone, mixed performance across products, and occasional packaging issues like product wastage or pump problems.

People often complain that Laura Mercier products can be pricey, some formulas feel inconsistent, certain items have fragrance or can irritate sensitive skin, and a few products don’t last as long or perform as expected for the cost. Some also mention shade ranges or undertone matches not always being ideal depending on the product.

A typical eyeshadow or eyeliner is known for adding color, definition, and emphasis to the eyes. Eyeshadow is used to create depth, shimmer, or a matte look on the eyelids, while eyeliner is used to define the lash line and make the eyes appear more distinct or dramatic.

A typical eyeshadow is known for adding color, depth, and dimension to the eyelids, while eyeliner is known for defining the eyes and making them look more dramatic or shaped.

Eyeshadow and eyeliner are typically known for enhancing the eyes—adding color, definition, depth, or drama to the eye area.

Eyeshadow is typically known for adding color, depth, and dimension to the eyelids, while eyeliner is known for defining the eyes and making the lash line look sharper or more dramatic.

An eyeshadow or eyeliner is typically known for adding color, definition, and depth to the eyes. Eyeshadow is used on the eyelids to create different looks, while eyeliner defines the lash line and can make the eyes appear more shaped or dramatic.

For hooded eyes, the best brands are usually the ones with smudge-proof, long-wear, quick-dry formulas.

Best eyeliner brands

• Stila – Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
• KVD Beauty – Tattoo Liner
• NYX – Epic Ink Liner
• Huda Beauty – Life Liner
• Urban Decay – 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil

Best eyeshadow brands

• Makeup by Mario – very blendable, great for soft definition
• Natasha Denona – long-wearing, smooth mattes
• Viseart – excellent for hooded eyes because the mattes are easy to control
• Huda Beauty – strong pigment and good staying power
• Melt Cosmetics – bold colors, good if you want a more dramatic look

Best types for hooded eyes

• Tightline/waterproof pencils
• Gel liners
• Matte eyeshadows
• Cream shadows that set down (good, but must be truly long-wear)

If you want, I can also give you the best specific products for a lifted hooded-eye look by budget.

For hooded eyes, the best brands are the ones with easy blending, long wear, and low smudge:

Eyeshadow brands

• Makeup by Mario — especially matte palettes; Allure calls it a top pick for seamless, buildable mattes. (allure.com)
• MAC — a classic for hooded lids because it blends well and has strong matte/neutral options. (allure.com)
• Urban Decay — good if you want primer + shadow that stays put and doesn’t crease easily. (allure.com)
• Danessa Myricks Beauty — great for cream-to-powder or color-base products that lock in place. (allure.com)

Eyeliner brands

• Victoria Beckham Beauty — top pick for soft, smudgeable definition that works well on hooded eyes. (allure.com)
• Urban Decay — the 24/7 pencil is creamy, easy to blend, and made for staying power. (allure.com)
• Stila — one of the best liquid liner brands if you want a clean wing. (allure.com)
• NYX — best budget-friendly option for precise liquid liner. (allure.com)
• Half Magic — good for graphic or cat-eye looks with a flexible tip. (allure.com)

Quick rule for hooded eyes: matte shadows + a fluffy but small blending brush work best, and winged liner should be drawn with eyes open so the shape doesn’t disappear into the fold. (allure.com)

If you want, I can also give you:

1. a drugstore-only list, or
2. a best products by eye look (natural, smoky, or winged).

For mature skin, look for creamy, non-drying, blendable formulas that don’t settle into lines.

Great brands/products:

• Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Sticks — easy to blend, very forgiving
• Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour — smooth, soft-focus finish
• MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot — great as a base or one-shadow look
• Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise — creamy, flattering shimmer
• Tarte Tartelette In Bloom palette — softer matte shades, good for subtle looks

For eyeliner:

• Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner
• Clinique Quickliner for Eyes
• Stila Stay All Day Smudge Stick
• Lancôme Le Stylo Waterproof
• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil

Best tips for mature eyes:

• Choose satins, soft mattes, or subtle shimmer
• Avoid very dry, ultra-matte powders
• Brown, bronze, taupe, and plum often look softer than harsh black

If you want, I can also give you a best drugstore or best luxury list.

Yes—these are the brands I’d start with for mature skin:

• Armani Beauty — great for soft, blendable eyeshadows; its Eye Tint is repeatedly picked as a top option for mature skin. (marieclaire.com)
• Dior — especially good if you want polished palettes with wearable neutrals and smoother blending. (marieclaire.com)
• Ilia — solid for cream formulas and shadow sticks that are easier on textured lids. (allure.com)
• Victoria Beckham Beauty — a strong eyeliner choice because its Satin Kajal is praised for a creamy, soft glide that suits mature eyes. (allure.com)
• Clinique — a good pick for sensitive or mature eyes; its High Impact Gel Tech Eyeliner is noted for being creamy and precise. (allure.com)
• Almay — budget-friendly and often recommended for mature or sensitive eyes because of its hypoallergenic, ophthalmologist-tested eye products. (whowhatwear.com)

Quick rule of thumb: for mature skin, creamy, blendable, matte or soft-satin formulas tend to work best, while very dry or chunky glitter textures can emphasize texture. (allure.com)

If you want, I can also give you:

1. the best budget options,
2. the best luxury options, or
3. a simple eyeshadow + eyeliner routine for mature eyes.

For oily eyelids, the best bets are long-wear, waterproof, and smudge-proof formulas.

Best eyeliner brands/products

• Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
• KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner
• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil
• Maybelline TattooStudio Gel Pencil Liner
• Charlotte Tilbury Rock ‘N’ Kohl

Best eyeshadow brands/products

• Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion + any Urban Decay shadows
• NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
• MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot
• Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick
• e.l.f. Putty Primer for a budget option

Best overall combo

If your lids are very oily, try: NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base + Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner or MAC Paint Pot + Stila Stay All Day liner

If you want, I can also give you a budget, mid-range, and high-end shortlist.

For oily eyelids, the safest bets are long-wear, waterproof, and oil-controlling formulas—especially eye primers plus crease-resistant shadows/liners. (allure.com)

Best brands/products to try:

• Urban Decay — Eyeshadow Primer Potion; a classic for crease-free, long-lasting wear, and Urban Decay says it helps control lid oil. (urbandecay.com)
• Too Faced — Shadow Insurance 24-Hour Eyeshadow Primer; Allure highlights it as a strong pick for oily lids and notes oil-absorbing silica plus waterproof wear. (allure.com)
• NYX Professional Makeup — Ultimate Shadow & Liner Primer; a good budget option that boosts shadow/liner wear and vibrancy, with a blurring, vitamin E–infused formula. (nyxcosmetics.com)
• Maybelline — Tattoo Studio Gel Pot Eyeliner or Lasting Drama Waterproof Gel Pencil; both are waterproof, smudge-resistant, and made for long wear. (maybelline.com)
• Urban Decay — 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Eye Pencil or 24/7 Inks Liquid Eyeliner; both are designed for long wear, with the liquid liner described as water- and smudge-resistant. (urbandecay.com)

If you want the shortest answer:

• Best eyeshadow base: Urban Decay or Too Faced. (urbandecay.com)
• Best affordable option: NYX. (nyxcosmetics.com)
• Best eyeliner for oily lids: Maybelline Tattoo Studio or Urban Decay 24/7. (maybelline.com)

If you want, I can narrow this down to drugstore only or best for sensitive eyes.

For dry eyelids, look for cream, gel, or pencil formulas that glide on without tugging.

Best brands/products:

• Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick – very smooth, low-drag, great for dry lids
• Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour – creamy and comfortable
• Clinique High Impact Shadow Play – easy, non-drying pencil shadow
• Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize – soft cream shadow
• Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner – creamy eyeliner pencil
• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil – classic for dry or sensitive lids
• KVD Beauty Tattoo Pencil Liner – very smooth, long-wearing
• Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner – if you want liquid, this is relatively gentle

Avoid: very dry matte powders and hard pencil liners that pull.

If you want, I can also give you the best drugstore options for dry eyelids.

For dry eyelids, I’d prioritize cream, stick, or kohl formulas over loose powders/glitter, since creamy textures are less likely to flake or tug. Also look for fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, ophthalmologist-tested products. (healthline.com)

Good brands/products to try:

• Nudestix — Magnetic Matte Eye Color Pencil (can work as eyeshadow + liner; creamy and blendable). (allure.com)
• Merit — Solo Shadow (cream-to-powder shadow; soft matte). (allure.com)
• Bobbi Brown — Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick (classic pick for quick, non-creasing cream shadow). (bobbibrowncosmetics.com)
• Laura Mercier — Caviar Tightline Eyeliner (very creamy, good if your lids get irritated easily). (allure.com)
• Clinique — Quickliner for Eyes Intense or High Impact Gel Tech Eyeliner (gentle, creamy liner options). (allure.com)
• Tower 28 — OneLiner (fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, hydrating). (allure.com)
• Jane Iredale — Eye Pencil (conditioning, buttery-smooth). (allure.com)
• Stila — Smudge Pot (blendable cream option). (allure.com)

Best rule of thumb:

• Eyeshadow: cream sticks / cream-to-powder
• Eyeliner: pencil, kohl, or gel-cream
• Avoid: loose powder, chunky glitter, and lining the inner rim if you’re very dry/sensitive. (healthline.com)

If you want, I can narrow this to drugstore, high-end, or best for sensitive eyes.

For soft, natural makeup, these are some of the best eyeshadow and eyeliner brands/products:

Eyeshadow

• Charlotte Tilbury — Pillow Talk Eye Quad

Very soft, flattering nude tones.

• Tom Ford — Eye Color Quad

Smooth, luxe, and natural-looking finishes.

• Clinique — All About Shadow

Easy everyday shades, subtle and blendable.

• Laura Mercier — Caviar Stick Eye Colour

Great for quick, soft definition.

• Bobbi Brown — Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick

Excellent for muted, natural eye looks.

Eyeliner

• MAC — Eye Kohl

Soft and easy to smudge for a gentle look.

• Stila — Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner

Great for subtle definition without harsh lines.

• Clinique — Quickliner for Eyes

Smooth, natural, and beginner-friendly.

• Urban Decay — 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil

Creamy and long-lasting.

• Victoria Beckham Beauty — Satin Kajal Liner

Very refined, soft-focus finish.

Best overall for soft natural makeup

• Bobbi Brown
• Clinique
• Charlotte Tilbury
• Laura Mercier

If you want, I can also give you:

1. the best drugstore options, or
2. a minimal 5-product soft makeup routine.

For soft natural makeup, these are great picks:

• Urban Decay — Naked2 Basics for matte nude/taupe looks. It’s built around 6 matte neutral shades and is specifically described as good for “natural no-makeup makeup looks.” (urbandecay.com)
• Bobbi Brown — Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick for quick, blended-out everyday eye looks; it’s made to prime, define, or highlight and comes in buildable shades. (bobbibrowncosmetics.com)
• MAKEUP BY MARIO — Master Mattes if you want soft, skin-tone-inspired matte neutrals with easy blending. (makeupbymario.com)
• Charlotte Tilbury — Eyes to Mesmerise (especially shades like Pillow Talk or Flawless Beige) for a soft wash of color that’s easy to blend and gives a polished natural look. (charlottetilbury.com)
• For eyeliner: go with a brown pencil rather than black. Makeup By Mario’s Master Pigment Pro Eyeliner Pencil in The Perfect Brown and Sephora’s brown eyeliner picks are both aimed at softer definition. (sephora.com)

If you want, I can narrow this to:

1. best budget,
2. best for beginners, or
3. best for hooded eyes / mature eyes.

For bold, colorful looks, these brands are top picks:

Eyeshadow

• Danessa Myricks Beauty — especially Colorfix and Lightwork palettes
• Pat McGrath Labs — ultra-pigmented, luxe bright shades
• Viseart — excellent matte color palettes
• Natasha Denona — strong color payoff, easy blending
• Juvia’s Place — vibrant, affordable, very pigmented
• Sugarpill — iconic for bold brights and matte shades
• Blend Bunny Cosmetics — amazing colorful palettes
• Melt Cosmetics — great for edgy, saturated looks

Eyeliner

• NYX Professional Makeup — Epic Wear Liner Sticks and Vivid Rich Liners
• KVD Beauty — Tattoo Liner for precise colorful or dark looks
• Melt Cosmetics — colorful gels and liners
• Danessa Myricks Beauty — Colorfix works great as liner too
• Ardency Inn — Modster Eyeliner (if you can find it, great color)
• ColourPop — colorful, budget-friendly liners and gels

If you want, I can also give you:

1. best drugstore options,
2. best luxury options, or
3. best brands for neon/metallic/shimmer looks.

For bold, colorful looks, these brands are standouts:

• Juvia’s Place — super pigmented, vivid palettes made for loud color. (allure.com)
• NYX Professional Makeup — great budget pick for bright shadow palettes and colorful liners. (refinery29.com)
• Urban Decay — strong for colorful eyeliners and high-impact shadows. (allure.com)
• About-Face — especially good for colorful eyeliner and graphic looks. (refinery29.com)
• Danessa Myricks Beauty — excellent for metallic/chromatic liner looks. (allure.com)
• Huda Beauty — good if you want bright, saturated palettes with a polished finish. (allure.com)

If you want, I can also give you:

1. best drugstore options,
2. best high-end options, or
3. best picks by color (blue, green, pink, neon, etc.).

For travel makeup, the best eyeshadow/eyeliner brands are usually the ones with compact packaging, strong wear, and low mess.

Best eyeshadow brands for travel

• Urban Decay — Naked Mini palettes are classic travel picks; small, versatile, reliable.
• Natasha Denona — Mini Nude, Mini Glam, etc. very high quality in tiny palettes.
• ColourPop — affordable 5-pan palettes and Super Shock Shadows; easy to pack.
• Fenty Beauty — Snap Shadows are designed to be mix-and-match and travel-friendly.
• e.l.f. — budget-friendly bite-size palettes; simple and lightweight.

Best eyeliner brands for travel

• Stila — Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner is a top pick for long wear and no smudging.
• Urban Decay — 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil is easy to apply and great for flights/long days.
• Lancôme — Idôle Waterproof Eyeliner is very reliable and travel-safe.
• Maybelline — TattooStudio Gel Pencil is affordable and long-lasting.
• KVD Beauty — Tattoo Liner if you want a precise liquid liner.

Best overall travel picks

• Urban Decay Naked Mini + 24/7 Pencil
• Natasha Denona Mini Palette + Stila Stay All Day Liner
• ColourPop 5-pan palette + Maybelline TattooStudio liner

If you want, I can also give you the best travel makeup for carry-on only, budget options, or best waterproof picks.

For travel makeup, I’d shortlist these brands/products:

• Best overall eyeshadow for travel: Makeup by Mario — especially the Master Mattes: The Neutrals for a compact, easy neutral edit. (allure.com)
• Best truly travel-friendly palette: Victoria Beckham Beauty — Eye Wardrobe is specifically labeled travel-friendly. (allure.com)
• Best budget eyeshadow: ColourPop — good if you want small, inexpensive palettes. (allure.com)
• Best versatile eyeliner pencil: Urban Decay — 24/7 Glide-On Eyeliner Pencil has a big shade range and long-wear formula. (allure.com)
• Best luxury eyeliner pencil: Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Liner — creamy, blendable, and very travel-friendly for quick smoky or tightline looks. (whowhatwear.com)
• Best waterproof gel liner: Hourglass Voyeur Waterproof Gel Liner — a good pick if you want easy, low-fuss application on trips. (whowhatwear.com)
• Best multi-use eye product: Violette_FR Yeux Paint — works as both eyeshadow and eyeliner, which is ideal for packing light. (whowhatwear.com)

If you want, I can also give you:

1. best drugstore travel picks, or
2. best mini neutral palette + eyeliner combo.

For all-day wear, these are some of the best brands/products:

Eyeshadow

• Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion + Naked palettes — very long-lasting, low crease
• Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise — creamy, stays put well
• MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot — excellent as a base or solo
• NARS Single Eyeshadows — strong pigment, good wear
• Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour — long-wearing cream shadow

Eyeliner

• Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner — classic for all-day wear
• KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner — very long-lasting, precise
• Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner — budget-friendly and durable
• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil — stays on well, smooth
• Browns/neutral option: Sephora Collection Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner

Best combo for max wear

• MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot + Stila Stay All Day Liner
• Urban Decay Primer Potion + KVD Tattoo Liner

If you want, I can also recommend best picks by budget or for oily eyelids/sensitive eyes.

If you want all-day wear, these are strong picks:

Eyeshadow

• Bobbi Brown — especially the Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick, which the brand says has 24-hour staying power. (bobbibrowncosmetics.com)
• Urban Decay — the brand’s eye products are built for longevity; its 24/7 eye line is specifically marketed for long wear. (urbandecay.com)
• Kulfi — Allure has highlighted Kulfi Zari Eyes for being long-wearing and crease-proof. (allure.com)
• Charlotte Tilbury and Armani Beauty are also frequently recommended in beauty-editor roundups for long-wear shadow formulas. (allure.com)

Eyeliner

• Stila — the classic Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner is explicitly waterproof, smudge-proof, transfer-proof, and designed to stay put all day. (stilacosmetics.com)
• Clinique — High Impact Gel Tech Eyeliner claims 24-hour wear on lids and 12-hour wear on the waterline. (clinique.com)
• Urban Decay — its 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil and 24/7 Liquid Stick are made for long wear. (urbandecay.com)
• NYX — Epic Wear Liquid Liner is positioned as a long-wear liquid liner. (nyxcosmetics.com)

Best simple picks:

• Shadow: Bobbi Brown
• Liquid liner: Stila
• Pencil liner: Urban Decay or Clinique

If you want, I can narrow this to drugstore, sensitive eyes, or best for oily lids.

Top waterproof eye makeup brands/products:

• Urban Decay — 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Eyeliner, Moondust Shadow (long-wear shimmer)
• Stila — Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner (very popular)
• KVD Beauty — Tattoo Liner (smudge-resistant, long-lasting)
• Maybelline — TattooStudio Waterproof Eyeliner and Color Tattoo Cream Eyeshadows
• Heroine Make — Smooth Liquid Eyeliner (excellent for humidity/oily lids)
• Lancôme — Idôle Waterproof Liner
• Make Up For Ever — Aqua Resist Color Pencil and Aqua Cream Eyeshadow
• MAC — Pro Longwear Paint Pot (great as a waterproof base)
• Bobbi Brown — Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick
• Ardell — Waterproof Liquid Liner (budget-friendly)

Best picks by type:

• Eyeliner: Stila, Urban Decay, Heroine Make
• Eyeshadow: Make Up For Ever, Bobbi Brown, MAC Paint Pot

If you want, I can also give you the best waterproof options for oily lids, hooded eyes, or sensitive eyes.

For waterproof eyeliner, the most consistently recommended brands are Stila, Urban Decay, Sisley Paris, Chanel, Kosas, Make Up For Ever, Too Faced, Kulfi Beauty, and NYX. Standout picks include Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner (best overall in Allure), Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On / Waterline pencils, Sisley Paris Ligne Noire, and Kosas Soulgazer. (allure.com)

For waterproof eyeshadow, look for brands with strong cream shadow sticks and long-wear bases: Victoria Beckham Beauty, Ilia, MAC, RMS Beauty, Tower 28, and Urban Decay. For powder shadows, a good primer matters a lot; top eye-base brands commonly recommended are Urban Decay Primer Potion, MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot, and NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base. (allure.com)

If you want the short list, I’d start with:

• Stila for liquid liner
• Urban Decay for pencil liner + shadow prep
• Make Up For Ever for sensitive eyes/waterline liner
• MAC for cream-shadow bases
• Victoria Beckham Beauty or Ilia for waterproof shadow sticks (allure.com)

If you want, I can narrow this to drugstore, best for oily lids, or best for sensitive eyes.

For monolids, the best brands are usually smudge-resistant, long-wearing, and easy to control.

Best eyeliner brands/products

• Kiss Me Heroine Make – Smooth Liquid Eyeliner / Long & Curl Mascara (excellent for oily lids and hooded/monolid eyes)
• Canmake – Creamy Touch Liner (smooth, affordable, good staying power)
• K-Palette – 1 Day Tattoo Liquid Eyeliner (very reliable, precise)
• Stila – Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner (classic, strong wear)
• MAYBELLINE – Hyper Easy Liquid Liner or TattooStudio Gel Pencil (easy to use, good for beginners)
• Clio – Sharp So Simple Waterproof Pencil Liner (great K-beauty option)

Best eyeshadow brands/products

• Charlotte Tilbury – Eyes to Mesmerise cream shadows (great for quick, crease-resistant looks)
• Bobbi Brown – Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick (one-and-done, very monolid-friendly)
• Kaja – Beauty Bento Bouncy Shimmer Eyeshadow Trio (good for dimension without fallout)
• Canmake – Perfect Multi Eyes palettes (soft, everyday, easy to blend)
• Etude – Play Color Eyes palettes (good for subtle contouring)
• ColourPop – powder shadows and palettes (strong pigment, lots of shades)

Best formula tip for monolids

• Use cream shadows, thin liquid liners, and tightlining
• Avoid very thick liner wings and super powdery shadows that can transfer

If you want, I can also give you:

1. best picks for oily lids,
2. best drugstore options, or
3. a simple monolid makeup routine.

For monolids, the safest bets are brands that make fine-tip, fast-drying, smudge-proof eyeliners and matte/cream shadows that set well. (allure.com)

Eyeliner brands to try

• Clio
• Stila
• KVD Beauty
• Em Cosmetics
• r.e.m. beauty
• ILIA
• Charlotte Tilbury
• Benefit
• Lancôme (harpersbazaar.com)

Eyeshadow brands to try

• Makeup by Mario
• Victoria Beckham Beauty
• Too Faced (allure.com)

If you want the shortest “buy first” list: Clio or Stila for eyeliner; Makeup by Mario or Victoria Beckham Beauty for eyeshadow. (harpersbazaar.com)

If you want, I can also give you:

1. best drugstore options, or
2. best Japanese/K-beauty brands for monolids.

For beginners, the easiest winged-liner options are:

Best eyeliner brands/products

• NYX Epic Ink Liner — very beginner-friendly felt tip, dark, affordable.
• Maybelline Hyper Easy Liquid Liner — smooth control, good for steady wings.
• KVD Tattoo Liner — pricier, but one of the easiest fine-tip liners to use.
• Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner — classic for precise wings.
• e.l.f. H2O Proof Eyeliner Pen — budget-friendly and easy to handle.

Best eyeshadow brands/products for winged liner practice

If you want to start softer, use shadow first:

• NYX Ultimate Shadow Palette
• ColourPop singles or palettes
• e.l.f. Bite-Size Eyeshadow
• Morphe palettes

Easiest method for beginners

• Use a small angled brush
• Dip into a dark brown or black eyeshadow
• Sketch the wing first, then go over it with liner

If you want, I can also give you the easiest winged liner products for hooded eyes or a step-by-step beginner wing tutorial.

For learning winged liner, I’d start with these brands:

• Lisa Eldridge — easiest beginner-friendly liquid liner; Allure specifically calls Kitten Flick a best pick for beginners. (allure.com)
• Stila — classic felt-tip liquid liner that’s very reliable for sharp wings. (allure.com)
• NYX — good drugstore option if you want to practice without spending much. (allure.com)
• MAC — great if you prefer gel liner; Allure says Fluidline is good for novices. (allure.com)
• Urban Decay — best if you want a brown pencil to sketch your wing first; their 24/7 Glide-On is creamy and blends well. (allure.com)

For eyeshadow practice, look for matte neutral palettes from brands like Makeup by Mario or Sephora Collection; matte browns are easiest for mapping out a wing before you commit to liquid liner. (sephora.com)

If you want, I can also give you a best budget / midrange / luxury shortlist.

For sensitive skin and eyes, these brands are usually the safest bets:

• Clinique — especially Clinique Quickliner for Eyes and All About Shadow
  • Fragrance-free, often allergy-tested, very gentle.
• Almay — Almay All-Day Intense Gel Eyeliner and Almay Eyeshadow
  • Known for sensitive-skin formulas and less irritation.
• Physicians Formula — Eye Booster eyeliner
  • Often a good pick for sensitive eyes.
• La Roche-Posay — Respectissime Eyeliner
  • Made with sensitive eyes in mind.
• Avène — Soothing Eye Makeup Remover plus their eye makeup lines in some markets
  • Great if you’re prone to irritation.
• Burt’s Bees — 100% Natural Origin Shadow / eye products
  • Simple formulas, though natural doesn’t always mean less irritating.
• Kosas — 10-Second Eyeshadow and Wet Liners
  • Popular with sensitive users, but patch-test first.

A few tips:

• Look for fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and ophthalmologist-tested.
• Avoid glitter, heavy essential oils, and very long-wear formulas if your eyes sting easily.
• Patch test on the inner arm first, then try near the eye for a short wear.

If you want, I can also give you a drugstore-only list or best cream eyeshadows for sensitive eyes.

For sensitive skin/eyes, I’d start with these brands:

• Clinique — very consistent on ophthalmologist tested, allergy tested, and 100% fragrance free eye makeup. (clinique.com)
• Almay — probably the most straightforward “sensitive eyes” brand; several eyeliners and eyeshadows are hypoallergenic, ophthalmologist tested, and fragrance free. (almay.com)
• bareMinerals — many eye palettes are ophthalmologist tested and suitable for sensitive eyes/contact lens wearers. (bareminerals.com)
• Laura Mercier — their Caviar eyeliner is marketed as safe for sensitive eyes and ophthalmologist tested. (lauramercier.com)
• Sarah Creal Beauty — its eyeliner is ophthalmologist tested and clinically tested on sensitive eyes. (sarahcrealbeauty.com)

If you want the safest starting picks:

• Eyeliner: Clinique or Almay. (almay.com)
• Eyeshadow: Almay or bareMinerals. (almay.com)

Quick tip: for very reactive eyes, choose fragrance-free, ophthalmologist-tested formulas and avoid applying liner on the inner waterline at first.

If you want, I can narrow this to drugstore, clean beauty, or best for contact lens wearers.

For mature eyes, the best brands are usually the ones with creamy, blendable formulas that don’t tug or settle into lines.

Best eyeshadow brands

• Bobbi Brown — great neutral palettes and single shadows
  • Best picks: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Sticks, Essential Eye Shadow Palette
• Laura Mercier — very soft, flattering mattes and subtle shimmer
  • Best picks: Caviar Stick Eye Colour, Matte Eye Colour
• Charlotte Tilbury — easy-to-use, smoothing formulas
  • Best picks: Eyes to Mesmerise, Luxury Palette
• MAC — wide shade range, good for classic looks
  • Best picks: Pro Longwear Paint Pot, Satin or Matte shadows
• Clinique — gentle, simple, wearable
  • Best picks: All About Shadow Quads, Chubby Stick Shadow Tint

Best eyeliner brands

• Clinique — very good for sensitive eyes
  • Best picks: Quickliner for Eyes, High Impact Gel Tech Eyeliner
• Bobbi Brown — smooth and rich but not harsh
  • Best picks: Long-Wear Eye Pencil, Gel Eyeliner
• Urban Decay — strong staying power
  • Best picks: 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil
• Stila — great for easy application
  • Best picks: Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
• Tarte — good for long wear and softer definition
  • Best picks: Double Take Eyeliner

Best formula tips for older skin

• Choose matte, satin, or soft shimmer over chunky glitter.
• Go for pencils, cream shadows, and gel liners instead of dry powders if lids are crepey.
• Brown, taupe, plum, and soft gray are usually more flattering than harsh black.

If you want, I can also give you a best drugstore list or a best luxury list.

For older women, the best eye-makeup brands tend to be the ones with creamy, blendable, non-drying formulas and softer shades (taupe, brown, plum, gray) rather than harsh black or glitter-heavy finishes. Experts also often prefer waterproof/hypoallergenic eyeliners and subtle luminosity in eyeshadow. (vogue.com)

Best brands to try:

• Urban Decay — great eyeliners; their 24/7 Glide-On Pencil is a frequent expert pick. (allure.com)
• Thrive Causemetics — very strong for mature eyes; known for creamy, comfortable liners. (whowhatwear.com)
• Almay — good if you want gentle, ophthalmologist-tested options. (whowhatwear.com)
• Armani Beauty — excellent for eyeshadow that blends well and doesn’t look heavy. (allure.com)
• Trinny London — especially good for cream shadows and quick, easy application. (vogue.com)
• Makeup by Mario — a good pick for wearable neutral palettes. (glamour.com)
• Dior — strong for polished, blendable palettes. (marieclaire.com)

If you want the safest bets:

• Eyeshadow: Armani Beauty, Trinny London, Dior. (vogue.com)
• Eyeliner: Thrive Causemetics, Urban Decay, Almay. (allure.com)

If you want, I can also give you a drugstore-only list or a best picks by eye concern (hooded lids, dry lids, watery eyes, sensitive eyes).

For subtle eye makeup, the best brands are usually natural-finish, easy-blend, and not too shimmery. Good picks:

Best eyeshadow brands

• Bobbi Brown – very natural neutrals; try Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Taupe or Stone
• MAC – great muted shades; try Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Painterly or Groundwork
• Clinique – simple, understated, easy to wear; try All About Shadow in neutral browns/greys
• Charlotte Tilbury – polished but subtle; try Eyes to Mesmerise in Oyster Pearl or Bette
• Makeup by Mario – modern neutral tones; good for soft definition

Best eyeliner brands

• Stila – soft and precise; try Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner or a brown shade if available
• Urban Decay – strong but blendable; try 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Whiskey or Demolition
• MUFE (Make Up For Ever) – good for natural definition; try a dark brown pencil
• KVD Beauty – very long-wearing; best if you want a cleaner, more defined line
• Lancôme – smooth and subtle; good brown pencil liners

Best colors for subtle looks

• Taupe
• Soft brown
• Grey-brown
• Charcoal
• Mauve-brown

Easiest subtle combo

• Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow Stick in Taupe
• Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil in Whiskey
• Lightly smudge both for a natural “better eyes” look

If you want, I can also recommend the best subtle eye makeup picks by skin tone.

For subtle eye makeup, I’d start with brown-toned pencils and neutral cream sticks.

Best brand picks:

• Victoria Beckham Beauty — great for a soft, polished look; the Satin Kajal Liner in Cocoa is a matte brown and can be used tight to the lash line or smudged lightly. (victoriabeckhambeauty.com)
• Bobbi Brown — especially the Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow Stick for quick, natural definition; the brand’s neutrals and taupe shades are made for buildable, understated looks. (bobbibrowncosmetics.com)
• MAC — good if you want subtle shadow more than obvious makeup; shades like Satin Taupe and Taupe It Off read soft and neutral. (maccosmetics.com)
• NYX — best budget option; the brand explicitly recommends brown or black pencil liner for a subtle, no-makeup look, and shades like Deepest Brown and Smokin Topaz fit that vibe. (nyxcosmetics.com)

If you want the safest everyday choice:

• Brown eyeliner pencil = most natural
• Taupe eyeshadow stick = softest wash of color

If you want, I can also give you a drugstore-only list or a 2-product starter kit.

For stage makeup, look for high-pigment, long-wear, sweat-resistant formulas that read well under bright lights.

Best eyeshadow brands

• Kryolan — TV Paint Stick (as shadow base), Supracolor; very stage-friendly and intense.
• Ben Nye — Theatrical Creme Colors and Magicake Aqua Paints; great for bold looks.
• Mehron — Paradise Makeup AQ and CreamBlend Stick; excellent for performance and durability.
• MAC — Pro Longwear Paint Pots and Eyeshadow X 9 / Connect in Color palettes; reliable, vivid, easy to blend.
• Make Up For Ever — Artist Color Shadows; super pigmented and professional-grade.
• Inglot — Freedom System Eyeshadows; strong color payoff and easy to build custom palettes.
• Danessa Myricks Beauty — Colorfix; fantastic for highly saturated stage color.

Best eyeliner brands

• Kryolan — Cake Eye Liner; classic stage liner, very black and long-lasting.
• Ben Nye — LiquiSet + cake liner or Fresh Scenery Pencils; excellent for performance use.
• Mehron — Pro Pencil and Cake Eyeliner; dependable and budget-friendly.
• Inglot — AMC Eyeliner Gel 77; one of the best for sharp, dramatic lines.
• Make Up For Ever — Aqua Resist Color Pencil / Aqua Resist graphic pen; strong staying power.
• Urban Decay — 24/7 Glide-On Pencil; good if you want easier application.
• Stila — Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner; great for clean cat eyes.

Best overall picks for stage

If you want the safest bets:

• Eyeshadow: Kryolan, Ben Nye, Mehron
• Eyeliner: Inglot Gel Liner 77, Kryolan Cake Eyeliner, Make Up For Ever Aqua Resist

If you want, I can also give you:

1. best budget stage makeup brands, or
2. best products for dance vs. theater vs. drag.

For stage makeup, the most trusted eyeshadow/eyeliner brands are usually:

• Kryolan — very strong pigments and high durability; their eye shadows are explicitly aimed at professional/stage use, and their eye liners are a pro staple. (us.kryolan.com)
• Ben Nye — a classic theatrical brand; their theatrical eye shadow palette is made for dramatic looks under stage lighting, and their liquid eye liners are marketed for theatrical artists. (bennye.com)
• Mehron — widely used in theater and performance; their eye liner pencil is described as widely used in theater/stage/TV, and their eye products are built for performers. (mehron.com)
• M·A·C Pro — good if you want a pro beauty line that still performs on stage; their Pro Longwear Paint Pot is a long-wearing cream shadow/base, and their liner range includes waterproof pro formulas. (maccosmetics.com)

Best picks by need:

• Most stage-proof eyeshadow: Kryolan or Ben Nye. (us.kryolan.com)
• Best classic black liner: Mehron pencil liner or Ben Nye liquid liner. (mehron.com)
• Best long-wear cream shadow/base: MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot. (maccosmetics.com)

If you want, I can also narrow it down for dance, musical theater, drag, or school productions.

For wedding makeup, the best eyeshadow/eyeliner brands are the ones that are long-wear, waterproof, and don’t crease or smudge.

Best eyeshadow brands

• Urban Decay — especially Naked palettes; great for long wear
• Natasha Denona — very pigmented and smooth; great for luxe bridal looks
• Charlotte Tilbury — easy, flattering shades; great for soft glam
• Huda Beauty — strong color payoff and good staying power
• Makeup by Mario — beautiful neutral tones for elegant bridal makeup

Best eyeliner brands

• Stila — Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner is a wedding favorite
• MAC — reliable pencils and gels with good wear
• Bobbi Brown — great for soft, classic liner looks
• KVD Beauty — very long-wearing liquid liners
• Urban Decay — 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil is excellent for smudge-proof definition

Best choices for bridal wear

• Soft glam eyeshadow: Charlotte Tilbury or Makeup by Mario
• Bold/pigmented shadow: Natasha Denona or Huda Beauty
• Best liquid liner: Stila Stay All Day
• Best pencil liner: Urban Decay 24/7 or Bobbi Brown

If you want, I can also recommend the best wedding eye makeup products for oily eyelids, sensitive eyes, or a specific bridal look.

For wedding makeup, the safest bets are long-wear, blendable neutrals for eyeshadow and waterproof, precise liners. Good brands to look at: Makeup by Mario, Urban Decay, Charlotte Tilbury, NARS, Stila, KVD Beauty, NYX, Clinique, and L’Oréal Paris. (allure.com)

Best eyeshadow brands for weddings

• Makeup by Mario — great for soft, polished neutrals and easy blending. (allure.com)
• Urban Decay — especially good if you want neutral palettes that last and don’t crease easily. (allure.com)
• Charlotte Tilbury — strong for cream shadows that stay put. (allure.com)
• NARS — good for primer/base products that help shadow last through a long day. (allure.com)

Best eyeliner brands for weddings

• NYX — Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner is a strong budget pick. (allure.com)
• KVD Beauty — Tattoo Liner is well known for precise, clean lines. (cosmopolitan.com)
• L’Oréal Paris — Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner is a good long-wear gel option. (allure.com)
• Clinique — High Impact Gel Tech Eyeliner is a solid newer gel option. (allure.com)

If you want, I can give you:

1. best drugstore picks,
2. best luxury picks, or
3. a full wedding-eye makeup kit.

For dark skin tones, the best eyeshadow and eyeliner brands are the ones with high pigment, rich depth, and minimal chalkiness.

Best eyeshadow brands

• Pat McGrath Labs — ultra-pigmented, especially metallics and deep mattes
  • Try: Mothership palettes
• Juvia’s Place — excellent for deep, vibrant color payoff
  • Try: The Berries, The Nubian, The Saharan
• MAC Cosmetics — reliable matte and satin shades for deeper skin
  • Try: Singles like Embark, Swiss Chocolate, Carbon
• Fenty Beauty — flattering neutrals and bold shades
  • Try: Snap Shadows
• Anastasia Beverly Hills — strong pigment and blendability
  • Try: Soft Glam or Modern Renaissance

Best eyeliner brands

• Stila — one of the best for precise liquid liner
  • Try: Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
• NYX Professional Makeup — affordable and very pigmented
  • Try: Epic Ink Liner
• Melt Cosmetics — intense black and bold colors
  • Try: Ultra Matte Gel Liner
• MAC — great for pencil and gel liner
  • Try: Fluidline
• KVD Beauty — strong, long-wear liner
  • Try: Tattoo Liner

Best shades for dark skin

• Gold, bronze, copper, berry, plum, emerald, cobalt, bright orange
• For liner: true black, deep brown, eggplant, navy, forest green

If you want, I can also give you:

1. best budget picks,
2. best luxury picks, or
3. best shades for your undertone.

For dark skin tones, the brands that most consistently get recommended are:

Eyeshadow

• Juvia’s Place — very pigmented, bold color payoff. (allure.com)
• Pat McGrath Labs — luxe, intense metallics and deep, rich shades. (today.com)
• Danessa Myricks Beauty — great for vivid color and cream pigments. (today.com)
• Viseart — especially the Neutral Mattes / Dark Mattes palettes. (today.com)
• Make Up For Ever — strong pigment and vivid shades. (marieclaire.com)
• Urban Decay — good for deeper shimmer/neutral looks. (whowhatwear.com)

Eyeliner

• Urban Decay 24/7 — creamy, long-wear, lots of shades. (allure.com)
• Stila Stay All Day — a reliable liquid liner pick. (allure.com)
• Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil — especially the deep browns and black shades. (allure.com)
• Pat McGrath Labs — especially for rich black and dramatic looks. (vogue.com)
• NYX Epic Ink — strong budget option. (allure.com)

Best shade families for dark skin: burgundy, plum, cranberry, chocolate brown, espresso, gold, bronze, copper, and bright jewel tones. (vogue.com)

If you want, I can also give you:

1. best drugstore picks,
2. best luxury picks, or
3. best shades for your undertone.

For fair skin, the best eyeshadow/eyeliner brands are the ones with softer pigment, cool/neutral shades, and buildable formulas so they don’t look too harsh.

Great eyeshadow brands

• Charlotte Tilbury – especially Pillow Talk and Exaggereyes palettes
• NARS – good neutral shades, like Afterglow palettes
• Urban Decay – Naked2 Basics is especially good for fair skin
• Laura Mercier – great soft neutrals and taupes
• ColourPop – affordable, lots of light nude and pastel options
• Natasha Denona – excellent quality; try mini palettes like Mini Nude or Mini Retro

Great eyeliner brands

• Stila – Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Brown or Dark Brown
• Tarte – Tattoo Liner in Brown
• Urban Decay – 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in shades like Whiskey or Demolition
• KVD Beauty – if you want a sharper black, but brown is usually more flattering on fair skin
• M.A.C – Technakohl Liner in Earthline or Costa Riche

Best shades for fair skin

• Taupe
• Soft brown
• Mauve
• Champagne
• Cool pink
• Plum
• Soft gray

If you want, I can also give you a best drugstore picks list or best shades for blue/green/brown eyes.

For fair skin, the most flattering eye-makeup brands are usually the ones with soft neutrals, cool taupes, champagne shimmers, and lighter brown liners rather than harsh jet black. Allure’s picks repeatedly point to Urban Decay, Kulfi, Victoria Beckham Beauty, Makeup by Mario, Hung Vanngo Beauty, and NARS as strong options for wearable, well-pigmented eye colors. (allure.com)

Best brands to try:

• Urban Decay — great for eyeliners and shadows; especially good if you want lots of shade options, including softer browns and fun colors. (allure.com)
• Victoria Beckham Beauty — excellent for a polished, subtle liner look on fair skin. (allure.com)
• Kulfi — good for creamy, smudge-proof liner in wearable shades. (allure.com)
• Makeup by Mario — strong neutral eyeshadow palettes for everyday fair-skin looks. (allure.com)
• Hung Vanngo Beauty — balanced neutrals and soft definition without looking muddy. (allure.com)
• NARS — especially good for soft brown, taupe, and shimmery eye shades. (allure.com)

Best shades for fair skin: vanilla, taupe, mushroom, soft brown, rose, lilac/silver, and deep blue or plum liner instead of heavy black for a softer effect. (allure.com)

If you want, I can narrow this to drugstore only, luxury only, or best for blue/green/brown eyes.

For glitter looks, these brands are consistently great:

• Urban Decay — Moondust Eyeshadows

Super sparkly, easy to apply, very popular for high-shine looks.

• Stila — Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow

Best for intense glitter with minimal effort.

• Danessa Myricks Beauty — Colorfix Foils / Sparks

Very bold, multi-use, and long-wearing.

• Fenty Beauty — Diamond Bomb All-Over Diamond Veil

More shimmer than chunky glitter, but gorgeous for a wet-sparkle finish.

• Pat McGrath Labs — Mothership palettes

Luxury-level shimmer/glitter shades with amazing payoff.

• ColourPop — Super Shock Shadows and glittery shadow formulas

Great if you want affordable sparkle.

• KVD Beauty — Tattoo Liner

Not glittery itself, but excellent as a base/precision liner with glitter shadow.

• NYX Professional Makeup — Epic Ink Liner and glitter products

Good budget-friendly option for glitter eye looks.

If you want the easiest glitter eyeliner, go with Stila Magnificent Metals or Danessa Myricks Beauty Colorfix. If you want sparkly eyeshadow, Urban Decay Moondust is a top pick.

If you want, I can also give you:

1. best drugstore glitter brands, or
2. best glitter products for sensitive eyes.

For glitter eyeshadow, my top brand picks are:

• Urban Decay — especially the 24/7 Moondust Glitter Eyeshadow and Moondust Liquid Glitter Eyeliner for that classic sparkly, wet-look finish. (urbandecay.com)
• stila — the Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow is a longtime favorite for strong sparkle with easy application. (sephora.com)
• Hourglass — Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow is great if you want a softer, luxe shimmer. (allure.com)
• Danessa Myricks Beauty — great for bold, multidimensional glitter and chrome effects. (allure.com)
• Kulfi Beauty — Zari Eyes is a nice pick if you want glitter that’s crease-friendly and flattering. (allure.com)

For glitter eyeliner, I’d start with:

• Urban Decay Moondust Liquid Glitter Eyeliner — precise, sparkly, and made to wear alone or over liner. (urbandecay.com)
• MAKE UP FOR EVER — strong option if you want a waterproof, reflective liner finish. (sephora.com)
• KVD Beauty — good if you want a long-wear liner base and intense eye definition. (sephora.com)

If you want, I can also narrow this down to best drugstore, best for sensitive eyes, or best for max glitter.

For matte looks, these brands are consistently strong:

Eyeshadow

• MAC – especially the Matte and Pro Longwear Paint Pot formulas
• Natasha Denona – very smooth matte shadows
• Viseart – top-tier matte palettes
• Urban Decay – good matte options, especially in Naked palettes
• KVD Beauty – strong pigment, good for bold matte looks

Eyeliner

• Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner – crisp matte black finish
• NYX Epic Ink Liner – affordable, matte, long-wearing
• Clinique Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen – cleaner, softer matte look
• KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner – precise and matte
• Maybelline Master Precise All Day Liquid Eyeliner – good budget pick

Best picks by use

• Everyday matte shadows: MAC, Urban Decay
• Best matte formulas overall: Viseart, Natasha Denona
• Best budget eyeliner: NYX Epic Ink
• Best long-wear liner: Stila Stay All Day

If you want, I can also suggest the best matte nude palettes or matte eyeliners by price range.

For matte eyeshadow looks, the safest bets are:

• Makeup by Mario — especially the Master Mattes palettes; editors call them highly pigmented, blendable, and very matte. (allure.com)
• Tarte — the Tartelette Amazonian Clay Matte palette is a long-running matte favorite. (cosmopolitan.com)
• Urban Decay — the Naked2 Basics / Naked3 line is strong for matte-neutral looks. (cosmopolitan.com)
• Lorac — Pro Matte palettes are popular for soft, easy blending. (cosmopolitan.com)
• e.l.f. — great budget option; their matte bite-size palettes get consistent praise. (cosmopolitan.com)
• Juvia’s Place — good if you want richer matte color payoff. (cosmopolitan.com)

For matte eyeliner looks, I’d look at:

• NYX — Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner is a standout, precise, and long-wearing. (allure.com)
• Urban Decay — 24/7 Glide-On pencils are a reliable option for a more smudged matte liner look. (allure.com)
• Clinique — High Impact Gel Tech Eyeliner is a strong gel-pencil style choice. (allure.com)

If you want, I can also give you:

1. best drugstore matte brands, or
2. best matte shades for brown/blue/green eyes.

Here are some of the best non-luxury alternatives to pricey eyeshadow and eyeliner brands, with standout products:

Best eyeshadow alternatives

• ColourPop — great for colorful, blendable shadows
  • Pretty Much My Type / Going Coconuts palettes
• e.l.f. Cosmetics — super affordable, surprisingly good quality
  • Bite-Size Eyeshadow quads
• Morphe — good if you want larger palettes and deeper pigment
  • 35XO Natural Flirt / 24A Artist Pass
• NYX Professional Makeup — reliable everyday options
  • Ultimate Shadow Palette
• L.A. Girl — budget-friendly with solid color payoff
  • Keep It Playful Eyeshadow Palette

Best eyeliner alternatives

• NYX Professional Makeup — one of the best affordable eyeliner brands
  • Epic Ink Liner (liquid)
  • Epic Wear Liner Sticks (pencil/gel)
• e.l.f. Cosmetics
  • No Budge Matte Shadow Stick (great for quick liner-like looks)
  • Expert Liquid Liner
• L’Oréal Paris
  • Infallible Grip Precision Felt Eyeliner
• Maybelline
  • Hyper Easy Liquid Liner
  • TattooStudio Gel Pencil Liner
• ColourPop
  • BFF Liquid Liner
  • Crème Gel Liner

If you want the closest “luxury-like” feel

• Natasha Denona dupes? Try ColourPop or Morphe
• Urban Decay-style liners? Try NYX Epic Ink or Maybelline Hyper Easy
• High-end shadow palette alternatives? Try e.l.f., ColourPop, or Morphe

If you want, I can also give you:

1. dupes for specific luxury brands like Chanel, Dior, Pat McGrath, or Charlotte Tilbury, or
2. a list by budget level (drugstore, mid-range, best value).

If you want luxury-level performance without luxury pricing, these are the standouts:

Eyeshadow

• ColourPop Super Shock Shadow — probably the best overall affordable shadow pick; vibrant, easy to blend, and long-lasting. (allure.com)
• e.l.f. Perfect 10 Eye Shadow Palette — great if you want a versatile neutral palette with good pigment and blendability. (allure.com)
• Maybelline City Mini Palette — a solid drugstore option, especially for mature lids / easy everyday looks. (allure.com)
• NYX Ultimate Shadow Palette — best if you want lots of color options. (allure.com)
• Juvia’s Place palettes — especially good if you want richer pigment and easier blending. (allure.com)

Eyeliner

• NYX Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner — the best budget liquid liner pick and a strong luxury dupe-style alternative. (allure.com)
• L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner Pencil — great drugstore gel pencil with smooth glide and a smudger. (allure.com)
• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil — pricier than drugstore, but still a strong “non-luxury-luxury” option with lots of shades/finishes. (allure.com)

If you want the shortest answer:

• Best eyeshadow alternative: ColourPop
• Best eyeliner alternative: NYX Epic Ink (allure.com)

If you want, I can also give you:

1. the best dupes for specific luxury brands like Pat McGrath, Tom Ford, Dior, or Charlotte Tilbury, or
2. a list by finish: matte, shimmer, glitter, or waterproof.

If you want high-end-quality eye makeup without the luxury price, these are some of the best alternatives:

Best affordable eyeshadow alternatives

• ColourPop — great pigment, huge shade range, very close to premium quality.
  • Try: Cloud Spun palettes, Super Shock Shadows
• Makeup Revolution — good for trendy palettes and dupe-style formulas.
  • Try: Re-Loaded palettes
• e.l.f. Cosmetics — solid basics and surprisingly good shimmer shades.
  • Try: No Budge Shadow Stick, Mad for Matte palettes
• Morphe — very blendable, especially if you like larger palettes.
  • Try: Morphe 35 palettes
• NYX Professional Makeup — dependable and easy to wear daily.
  • Try: Ultimate Shadow Palette

Best affordable eyeliner alternatives

• NYX — one of the best overall drugstore eyeliner brands.
  • Try: Epic Ink Liner, Vivid Rich Mechanical Liner
• e.l.f. — excellent for everyday liner and tight budgets.
  • Try: No Budge Retractable Liner
• Maybelline — strong, long-wearing, easy to find.
  • Try: Lasting Drama Gel Pencil, Hyper Easy Liquid Liner
• L’Oréal Paris — good if you want a more polished formula.
  • Try: Infallible Grip Precision Felt Eyeliner
• Stila — not super cheap, but a strong “luxury alternative.”
  • Try: Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

Best “high-end feel” picks

If you want the closest vibe to luxury formulas:

• ColourPop for eyeshadow
• NYX Epic Ink Liner for liquid liner
• Maybelline Lasting Drama for pencil/gel liner

If you want, I can also give you specific dupes for brands like MAC, Urban Decay, Pat McGrath, or Charlotte Tilbury.

If you want high-end-looking eye makeup without the luxury price, these are the strongest alternatives right now:

Eyeshadow

• ColourPop Super Shock Shadow — great for sparkly one-and-done lids; often the easiest “luxury vibe” swap. (allure.com)
• e.l.f. Perfect 10 Eyeshadow Palette — best all-around affordable palette for mattes + shimmer. (allure.com)
• Juvia’s Place The Coffee Shop Palette — strong pigmentation and easy blending. (allure.com)
• NYX Ultimate Shadow Palette — best if you want lots of shade variety for less. (allure.com)
• Maybelline City Mini Palette — a solid everyday option, especially for softer looks. (allure.com)

Eyeliner

• NYX Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner — the best drugstore liquid liner pick in Allure’s roundup. (allure.com)
• Revlon ColorStay Liquid Liner — a precise, budget-friendly liquid liner. (allure.com)
• Kulfi Beauty Underlined Kajal Eyeliner — a great affordable gel/kajal-style option with rich pigment. (allure.com)
• Half Magic Magic Flik Liquid Eyeliner — good for cat-eye wings and graphic liner looks. (allure.com)

If you want, I can also give you:

1. exact dupes by luxury brand (e.g., Charlotte Tilbury, Urban Decay, Pat McGrath), or
2. a best-by-budget list under $10 / $20 / $30.

Yes—there are several mid-to-high-end brands that usually outperform drugstore for pigment, blendability, wear time, and less fallout.

Eyeshadow brands worth the upgrade

• Natasha Denona — especially her mini palettes and Glam/Biba palettes
• Pat McGrath Labs — very rich, luxe shadows; pricey but excellent
• Viseart — pro-quality mattes, great blending
• Anastasia Beverly Hills — strong pigment; great if you like bold looks
• Makeup by Mario — easy-to-use, polished neutral palettes
• Dior — smoother, more refined formulas
• Charlotte Tilbury — good for easy, flattering everyday looks

Eyeliner brands worth the upgrade

• Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner — one of the most reliable
• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil — smooth, long-wearing
• KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner — precise liquid liner, very popular
• Lancôme Idôle Liquid Eyeliner — excellent brush-tip formula
• Make Up For Ever Aqua Resist — strong waterproof performance
• MAC — especially for pencil and gel-style liners

Best “worth it” picks

If you want the biggest upgrade for the money:

• Eyeshadow: Natasha Denona or Viseart
• Eyeliner: Stila Stay All Day or Urban Decay 24/7

If you want, I can also give you:

1. best budget-luxury picks,
2. best for hooded eyes, or
3. best for oily lids.

Yes—if you want a noticeable upgrade from drugstore, I’d start with Makeup by Mario, Pat McGrath Labs, Urban Decay, Chanel, Bobbi Brown, Charlotte Tilbury, Danessa Myricks, Hung Vanngo Beauty, Kulfi, and Ilia. These brands repeatedly show up in editor-tested “best of” prestige picks for eyeshadow and eyeliner, especially for pigment, blendability, and long wear. (allure.com)

Best prestige eyeliner brands

• Urban Decay — especially the 24/7 liners. (allure.com)
• Stila — very reliable liquid liner. (allure.com)
• Chanel — polished, precise liquid liner. (allure.com)
• Pat McGrath Labs — excellent gel pencil. (allure.com)
• Bobbi Brown / Kosas / Ilia — strong for gel and sensitive-eye options. (allure.com)

Best prestige eyeshadow brands

• Makeup by Mario — one of the safest “upgrade” buys for mattes. (allure.com)
• Pat McGrath Labs — if you want luxe shimmer/metallics. (allure.com)
• Urban Decay — great for glitter and classic palettes. (allure.com)
• Charlotte Tilbury — strong cream shadows. (allure.com)
• Danessa Myricks — more editorial, multi-texture color. (allure.com)
• Hung Vanngo Beauty — newer but very well reviewed for palettes. (allure.com)

If you want, I can narrow this to:

1. best for beginners,
2. best for oily eyelids, or
3. best at Sephora/Ulta only.

Here are strong budget-friendly alternatives to premium eyeshadow and eyeliner brands:

Eyeshadow

• ColourPop — great for rich pigment and trendy shades; often compared to mid/high-end formulas.
• e.l.f. Bite-Size Eyeshadows — very affordable, surprisingly good color payoff.
• Milani Most Loved Mattes — solid matte quality, nice for everyday looks.
• NYX Ultimate Shadow Palette — good variety and decent blendability.
• Morphe 9-pan palettes — lots of shades for the price, especially if you like bold looks.
• Revolution / Makeup Revolution palettes — very close in vibe to pricier trend palettes.

Eyeliner

• NYX Epic Ink Liner — one of the best budget liquid liners; strong rival to high-end pen liners.
• e.l.f. H2O Proof Eyeliner Pen — good if you want a more affordable precision pen.
• Maybelline Tattoo Studio Gel Pencil — long-lasting and great for waterline or smoky looks.
• L’Oréal Infallible Grip Precision Felt Eyeliner — reliable, dark, and easy to use.
• Wet n Wild Breakup Proof Liquid Eyeliner — very cheap, very strong performance.

Best overall picks

• Best eyeshadow value: ColourPop
• Best eyeliner value: NYX Epic Ink Liner

If you want, I can also give you dupes for specific premium brands like Urban Decay, Huda Beauty, or Charlotte Tilbury.

If you want budget-friendly alternatives to premium eye makeup, these are the safest bets:

Eyeshadow

• ColourPop Super Shock Shadow — great if you like shimmery, high-payoff luxe single shadows. (allure.com)
• e.l.f. Perfect 10 Eyeshadow Palette — solid all-around neutral palette with mattes + metallics. (allure.com)
• Juvia’s Place palettes — strong pigment and blendability for the price. (allure.com)
• NYX Ultimate Shadow Palettes — good if you want lots of shade options without spending premium money. (allure.com)
• Maybelline City Mini Palette — especially good for easy, wearable looks. (allure.com)
• L’Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick — a good swipe-and-go cream option. (allure.com)

Eyeliner

• NYX Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner — one of the best drugstore liquid liners and a strong stand-in for pricier felt-tip liners. (allure.com)
• NYX Epic Ink Liquid Wear Liner — another budget pick Allure highlights for good wear. (allure.com)

Quick picks by vibe

• Best overall budget brand: ColourPop. (allure.com)
• Best for easy everyday palettes: e.l.f. or Maybelline. (allure.com)
• Best for bold pigment: Juvia’s Place or NYX. (allure.com)
• Best eyeliner bargain: NYX Epic Ink. (allure.com)

If you want, I can also make a “premium brand → cheaper dupe” list for brands like Urban Decay, Huda Beauty, Natasha Denona, or MAC.

Indie brands often win on uniqueness, while mainstream brands usually win on consistency and convenience.

Indie eyeshadow/eyeliner brands

• Pros: more unusual shades/finishes, stronger “special effect” formulas, more creative releases.
• Cons: more variation between batches, shorter shelf life, less easy to swatch in-store, shipping can take longer.
• Good examples:
  • Clionadh Cosmetics (duochrome/shimmer eyeshadows)
  • Glaminatrix (rich multichromes)
  • Terra Moons (sparkly topper-type shadows)
  • Sydney Grace (very good matte shadows; indie but more “everyday”)

Mainstream brands

• Pros: easier to buy, better shade matching in stores, more reliable formulas, frequent sales, usually simpler returns.
• Cons: less adventurous color stories, more “safe” finishes.
• Good examples:
  • MAC (especially classic mattes and liners)
  • Urban Decay (eyeliners, especially 24/7 pencils)
  • ColourPop (more affordable, lots of variety, though quality can be hit-or-miss)
  • NARS / Pat McGrath (high-end mainstream/luxury, strong performance)

Quick rule of thumb

• Want everyday, dependable, easy-to-find? Go mainstream.
• Want bold shimmer, multichrome, or niche colors? Go indie.

If you want, I can recommend the best indie vs mainstream picks specifically for matte eyeshadow, shimmer, or eyeliner.

Indie brands often differ from mainstream ones in a few big ways:

Indie

• More unusual shades/colors: duochromes, multichromes, sparkly toppers, weird undertones.
• More niche formulas: very pigmented, very glittery, or very specific finishes.
• Smaller runs: limited editions, faster turnover, sometimes harder to restock.
• More “art makeup” focus: great for creative looks, less always-for-everyday.
• Quality can be amazing, but consistency varies more brand to brand.

Mainstream

• Easier to buy: found at Sephora, Ulta, drugstores, Amazon, etc.
• More consistent formulas and packaging.
• Better for everyday basics: neutral mattes, brown/black liners, reliable wear.
• Often cheaper per item, especially with sales.
• Usually more backed by large-scale testing, shade matching, and customer support.

For eyeshadow

• Indie is usually better if you want: unique special shades, intense shimmer, “one-swipe wow.”
• Mainstream is usually better if you want: easy blending, neutral palettes, predictable performance.

For eyeliner

• Indie can shine if you want colorful liquid liners, graphic looks, or unusual finishes.
• Mainstream is usually better for: black/brown pencil and liquid liners that are dependable, long-wearing, and easy to replace.

Tradeoff in one line:

• Indie = more exciting, more experimental.
• Mainstream = more practical, more consistent.

If you want, I can also give:

1. best indie brands for eyeshadow,
2. best indie eyeliner brands, or
3. indie vs mainstream by budget.

Here are some of the best non-professional / affordable alternatives to pro eyeshadow and eyeliner brands:

Eyeshadow

• ColourPop — great pigment, huge shade range, very “pro” quality for the price
  • Try: Super Shock Shadows, Pretty Fresh palettes
• e.l.f. Cosmetics — solid everyday formulas, very budget-friendly
  • Try: Bite-Size Eyeshadows, No Budge Cream Eyeshadow
• Milani — smooth, blendable shadows with good payoff
  • Try: Gilded Mini palettes
• Maybelline — reliable, easy to find, good for beginners
  • Try: The Nudes palette
• L’Oréal — better-quality drugstore formulas, especially shimmers
  • Try: La Palette Nude

Eyeliner

• NYX Professional Makeup — one of the best affordable eyeliner brands
  • Try: Epic Ink Liner, Matte Liquid Liner
• e.l.f. Cosmetics — cheap and effective
  • Try: Liquid Eyeliner, No Budge Retractable Liner
• Maybelline — very dependable, especially for liquid liner
  • Try: Hyper Easy Liquid Liner
• L’Oréal — good long-wear options
  • Try: Flash Cat Eye
• KVD Beauty — not cheap, but often considered a strong alternative to pro-level liners
  • Try: Tattoo Liner

Best overall picks

• Best eyeshadow: ColourPop
• Best eyeliner: NYX Epic Ink Liner
• Best budget: e.l.f.

If you want, I can also give you the best alternatives by matte, shimmer, long-wear, waterproof, or beginner-friendly.

If you want pro-level eye makeup without pro-brand prices, these are strong alternatives editors keep recommending: ColourPop, e.l.f., Maybelline, L’Oréal Paris, NYX, Stila, and Clinique. Allure’s recent roundups say these formulas can rival prestige brands for pigment, blendability, and wear. (allure.com)

Best eyeshadow alternatives

• ColourPop Super Shock Shadow — best overall budget pick. (allure.com)
• e.l.f. Perfect 10 Eyeshadow Palette — versatile everyday palette. (allure.com)
• Maybelline City Mini Palette — good for soft, blendable looks. (allure.com)
• L’Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick — easy swipe-and-go option. (allure.com)
• NYX Ultimate Shadow Palettes — lots of shade options. (allure.com)

Best eyeliner alternatives

• NYX Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner — top drugstore liquid liner pick. (allure.com)
• Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner — classic high-performing liquid liner. (allure.com)
• Clinique High Impact Gel Tech Eyeliner — creamy gel-style option. (allure.com)
• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eyeliner Pencil — reliable pencil liner. (allure.com)

If you want, I can narrow this down to:

1. best for oily lids,
2. best for beginners, or
3. best for sensitive eyes.

Usually, yes—pencil eyeliners are often better for everyday use.

Why pencil is better for daily wear:

• Easier and faster to apply
• More forgiving if your hand isn’t steady
• Softer, more natural look
• Easier to smudge for a subtle style
• Good for tightlining and waterline use

When liquid is better:

• You want a sharp wing or very defined line
• You need a more dramatic, longer-lasting look
• You don’t mind a bit more effort and precision

Good everyday pencil options:

• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil
• Maybelline TattooStudio Gel Pencil
• Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal
• Charlotte Tilbury Rock ’N’ Kohl

Good everyday liquid options:

• Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner
• KVD Tattoo Liner
• NYX Epic Ink Liner

If you want the simplest daily option, I’d pick a pencil. If you want a crisp wing every day, go liquid.

Usually, yes—pencil eyeliners are better for everyday use for most people.

Why pencil is often better:

• Easier and faster to apply
• More forgiving if you make mistakes
• Softer, more natural look
• Better for tightlining or a subtle lash-line definition

Why liquid can be better:

• Sharper, more dramatic lines
• Better for winged looks
• Often lasts longer and looks bolder

Simple rule:

• Everyday/natural: pencil
• Defined/dramatic: liquid

If you want, I can also recommend the best type for oily lids, sensitive eyes, or long wear.

For most beginners, powder eyeshadow is easier.

Why powder is better for beginners:

• Easier to blend
• More forgiving if you make a mistake
• Usually gives you more time before it sets
• Better if you want simple everyday looks

When cream eyeshadow is better:

• You want one-and-done color
• You like a quick, no-brush application
• You have dry eyelids and want a more dewy finish

Beginner-friendly picks:

• Powder:
  • Maybelline The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette
  • e.l.f. Bite-Size Eyeshadow
  • ColourPop Shadow Palettes
• Cream:
  • Stila Suede Shade Liquid Eyeshadow
  • Laura Mercier Caviar Stick
  • e.l.f. No Budge Shadow Stick

Best choice: If you’re just starting out, go with powder eyeshadow first. If you want the easiest possible application, try a shadow stick like Laura Mercier Caviar Stick or e.l.f. No Budge Shadow Stick.

For most beginners: powder eyeshadow.

Why powder is easier:

• More forgiving to blend
• Easier to build color slowly
• Less likely to crease or move around
• Easier to fix mistakes

Cream eyeshadow can be great if you want:

• One-and-done color
• Faster application
• A more dewy or shiny finish

Beginner recommendation: Start with a neutral powder palette and maybe a shimmer cream later for quick looks.

If you want, I can also suggest the easiest beginner eyeshadow formulas and brands.

If you want long-lasting alternatives to popular long-wear eyeshadow/eyeliner brands, these are some of the best:

Eyeshadow

• Urban Decay 24/7 Moondust Shadow – long-wear, sparkly, very reliable.
• MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot – great as an eye base or cream shadow.
• Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour – creamy, easy, and stays put.
• Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick – one of the best for all-day wear.
• Stila Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow – strong staying power for shimmer looks.

Eyeliner

• Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner – classic, doesn’t smudge easily.
• KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner – precise and very long-wearing.
• Sephora Collection 12H Contour Eye Pencil – budget-friendly and good performance.
• NYX Epic Ink Liner – great drugstore liquid liner alternative.
• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil – smooth, intense, and durable.

Best budget picks

• e.l.f. No Budge Shadow Stick
• NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil
• Maybelline TattooStudio Gel Pencil
• L’Oréal Infallible Grip Precision Felt Eyeliner

If you want, I can also give you:

1. best waterproof options,
2. best drugstore dupes, or
3. best for oily eyelids.

Here are strong alternatives to long-wear eye makeup brands, grouped by what you want:

Eyeliners

• Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner — best all-around liquid liner. (allure.com)
• Make Up For Ever Aqua Resist Color Pencil Eyeliner — great if you want a pencil that really stays put. (allure.com)
• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil — a reliable long-wear pencil with lots of shades. (allure.com)
• NYX Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner — a good budget pick. (allure.com)
• Kulfi Underlined Kajal Eyeliner — nice if you want a softer, more colorful long-wear look. (allure.com)

Eyeshadow

• Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Shadow — one of the best cream shadow sticks overall. (allure.com)
• Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick — excellent if you want serious staying power. (allure.com)
• NARS Total Seduction Eyeshadow Stick — a good matte option. (allure.com)
• Half Magic Sparklestik Eye Crayon — good for long-lasting shimmer. (allure.com)
• Juvia’s Place Nubian Shadow Sticks — best budget alternative. (allure.com)

If you want, I can also give you:

1. drugstore-only alternatives, or
2. the best alternatives by finish (matte, shimmer, waterproof, sensitive eyes).

Short version:

• Waterproof = resists water/tears/humidity best.
• Smudge-proof = resists rubbing and transfer better, but may not hold up as well in heavy water exposure.
• Many formulas are both, but not all.

For eyeliner

• Waterproof eyeliners: best for wet conditions, oily lids, long wear.
  • Examples: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner, L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Precision Felt Liner
• Smudge-proof eyeliners: better if your main issue is liner moving through the day, especially on the upper lash line.
  • Examples: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, Morphe Color Pencil, Clinique Quickliner for Eyes

For eyeshadow

• Waterproof eyeshadow often comes in cream or liquid form and is more resistant to sweat/water.
  • Examples: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour, Smashbox Always On Cream Shadow, Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick
• Smudge-proof eyeshadow usually means it stays put and doesn’t crease or transfer, but may not be fully water-resistant.
  • Examples: Maybelline Color Tattoo, NARS Total Seduction Eyeshadow Stick

Which to choose?

• For swimming, rain, or crying: go waterproof
• For oily lids or general all-day wear: smudge-proof can be enough
• Best of both: look for labels like “waterproof + long-wear + smudge-proof”

If you want, I can recommend the best waterproof/smudge-proof options by price (drugstore, mid-range, luxury).

Waterproof and smudge-proof aren’t the same:

• Waterproof = resists water, sweat, tears, humidity.
• Smudge-proof = resists rubbing, transferring, and oilier eyelids.

How they compare

• Waterproof products are usually better for:
  • rain, tears, workouts, humid weather
  • eyeliner that needs to stay put all day
• Smudge-proof products are usually better for:
  • oily lids
  • preventing raccoon eyes
  • daily wear when you want clean edges

In practice

• A product can be waterproof but still smudge a little if your eyelids are oily.
• A product can be smudge-proof but not fully waterproof if you sweat or cry a lot.
• The strongest formulas are often labeled waterproof + long-wear + smudge-proof.

For eyeshadow

• Waterproof eyeshadow is less common; it’s usually a cream, stick, or liquid formula.
• Smudge-proof eyeshadow often means better crease resistance and less transfer, but not necessarily tear-proof.

For eyeliner

• Waterproof eyeliner is best if you want maximum staying power.
• Smudge-proof eyeliner is often easier to remove and can be more comfortable for everyday use.

Quick rule

• Oily lids? prioritize smudge-proof.
• Tears/sweat/water exposure? prioritize waterproof.
• Want both? look for waterproof + smudge-proof.

If you want, I can also compare specific brands like Stila, Urban Decay, Maybelline, KVD, or Heroine Make.

To stop eyeshadow from creasing on oily lids:

• Use an eyelid primer: Best fix. Try Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, or e.l.f. Putty Eye Primer.
• Set the primer: Dust a tiny bit of translucent powder over the primer before shadow.
• Choose long-wear formulas: Cream-to-powder or matte shadows tend to last longer. Good options: Makeup by Mario Master Mattes, MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot (as a base), Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette.
• Apply thin layers: Too much product = creasing.
• Avoid very emollient creams near the crease: They slide more on oily lids.
• Blot excess oil first: Use blotting paper or a bit of powder on the lids before makeup.

Quick routine:

1. Clean lids
2. Primer
3. Set lightly with powder
4. Eyeshadow
5. Optional: light setting spray

If you want, I can recommend a drugstore or high-end routine specifically for oily eyelids.

Try this:

1. Start with bare, dry lids

Clean off oil first.

1. Use an eye primer made for oily lids

Look for one that says long-wear, crease-proof, or matte.

1. Set the primer with powder

A light dusting of translucent powder or a skin-tone eyeshadow helps.

1. Use thin layers of eyeshadow

Build color gradually instead of applying a thick layer.

1. Choose matte formulas

Creamy/shimmery shadows often crease more on oily lids.

1. Avoid too much concealer on the lid

Concealer can slide and cause creasing if it isn’t set well.

1. Blot midday if needed

Use blotting paper or a tissue, then tap on a little powder.

Good primers to try:

• Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
• NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
• Milani Eyeshadow Primer
• e.l.f. Putty Eye Primer

If you want, I can also give you a full oily-lid eyeshadow routine or recommend the best drugstore primer.

To keep eyeliner from smudging under your eyes:

• Use a long-wear/waterproof liner: Try Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, or Maybelline TattooStudio Gel Pencil.
• Set your under-eye area first: Lightly dust with a setting powder like Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder or e.l.f. Halo Glow Setting Powder.
• Avoid applying liner too close to the lower waterline if it tends to migrate. Keep it closer to the lash roots.
• Prime your lids: Use an eye primer such as Urban Decay Primer Potion or Milani Eyeshadow Primer.
• Seal pencil liner: Tap a matching eyeshadow over it with a small brush.
• Use a setting spray: Urban Decay All Nighter helps lock makeup in place.
• Watch oil/moisture: Blot under-eyes during the day if you get oily; avoid heavy eye creams right before makeup.

If you want, I can recommend the best smudge-proof liner for oily skin, watery eyes, or sensitive eyes.

Try this combo:

• Set the under-eye area first: light dusting of translucent powder.
• Use a long-wear / waterproof eyeliner: pencil or gel, not soft kohl.
• Apply thinly: less product = less transfer.
• Avoid the waterline if you’re prone to smudging.
• Set the liner with matching eyeshadow.
• Use primer on lids and under-eyes if you’re oily.
• Blot oil during the day instead of reapplying.
• Choose a different formula if your eyes water a lot.

Good options:

• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil
• Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
• Maybelline TattooStudio Gel Pencil
• Tarte Fake Awake for brightening without heavy smudge

If you want, I can suggest the best one for oily skin, hooded eyes, or sensitive eyes.

To make eyeshadow look more vibrant:

• Use an eyeshadow primer first. A good one is Urban Decay Primer Potion or e.l.f. Shadow Lock Primer.
• Apply a cream base in a similar shade underneath powder shadow. Try MAC Paint Pot or NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil.
• Pack on the color with a flat brush instead of sweeping it on.
• Use a damp brush for shimmer or metallic shadows to intensify the pigment.
• Choose high-pigment formulas. Great options: ColourPop Super Shock Shadows, Natasha Denona mini palettes, or Pat McGrath mothership palettes.
• Build in layers rather than applying one heavy coat.
• Set your eyelid oils with a little translucent powder before applying shadow if needed.

If you want, I can also suggest the best vibrant shadows for your skin tone or budget.

Use these tricks:

• Start with an eyeshadow primer or a little concealer on the lid.
• Pack on color with a flat brush or fingertip instead of sweeping it on.
• Use a cream base in a similar shade underneath.
• Wet your brush for shimmer shades.
• Choose brighter, more pigmented formulas and avoid overly dusty shadows.
• Layer slowly: apply, blend lightly, then add more.
• Set the lid with a tiny bit of translucent powder only if it’s getting patchy.

For extra pop, put a white or nude pencil on the lid first, then apply the shadow.

If you want, I can also give you a drugstore or high-end product list for vibrant eyeshadow.

A simple way to get both eyes even:

1. Use small dots or dashes first

Mark the shape lightly along the lash line on both eyes before connecting it.

1. Start with the eye that’s harder

Usually your non-dominant side. Then match the easier side to it.

1. Keep your elbow anchored

Rest your elbow on a table for steadier lines.

1. Use short strokes, not one long swipe

Tiny strokes are much easier to control.

1. Check from a distance

Step back after each eye—one may look even up close but not from normal viewing distance.

1. Use tape or a guide if needed

Try a small piece of tape angled from the outer corner toward the tail of your brow.

1. Fix with a cotton swab and makeup remover

Clean up both sides to make the shape match.

Helpful products:

• Maybelline Master Precise All Day Liquid Eyeliner — easy for thin, controlled lines
• NYX Epic Ink Liner — good if you want a sharper wing
• Kohl pencil like Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil — easier to correct if you’re practicing

If you want, I can also give you a step-by-step winged eyeliner method or a smudge-free pencil eyeliner method.

Try this:

1. Map both eyes first

Use small dots or a light guide line on each eye before connecting them.

1. Use short strokes

Don’t draw one long line. Build it in tiny sections for better control.

1. Start with the thinner eye

Match the other eye to it instead of going thicker on the first one.

1. Keep your mirror straight ahead

Look forward with your eyes open so both lines look even in the normal position.

1. Check symmetry from a distance

Step back and compare the shape, angle, and thickness.

1. Clean up with a cotton swab

Dip in micellar water or makeup remover to sharpen edges.

1. Use tape or a card for wings

If you do winged liner, use the same angle on both sides.

Best tip: aim for sister, not twins—eyelids are slightly different, so perfect symmetry isn’t always possible.

If you want, I can give you a beginner eyeliner technique or a winged liner step-by-step.

For a sharper wing, the biggest trick is stability + cleanup.

How to get a crisp wing

1. Use tape or a guide
   • Place a small piece of Micropore tape or a makeup guide from the lower lash line toward the tail of your brow.
   • This gives you a clean edge instantly.
2. Draw the wing in small strokes
   • Don’t try one long line.
   • Start with the outer flick, then connect it to your lash line.
3. Use a felt-tip pen liner
   • Best for precision:
     • Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
     • KVD Tattoo Liner
     • NYX Epic Ink Liner
4. Clean the edge with concealer
   • Use a tiny angled brush and a bit of concealer to carve the wing.
   • Good concealers:
     • NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer
     • Maybelline Instant Age Rewind
5. Set and sharpen with powder
   • If you smudge easily, set the area lightly with translucent powder first.
   • Try:
     • Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
     • e.l.f. Halo Glow Setting Powder

Extra tip

If your hands shake, rest your elbow on a table and look slightly downward into a mirror.

If you want, I can also give you a step-by-step wing tutorial for hooded eyes, almond eyes, or downturned eyes.

Use a small angled brush or fine-tip liner, and draw the wing in short, tiny strokes instead of one swipe.

Quick trick:

1. Map it first with a light line from the outer lash line toward the tail of your brow.
2. Make the top edge crisp.
3. Fill in the wing.
4. Clean the bottom edge with a cotton swab + micellar water/concealer.
5. Set nearby skin with a little powder so it doesn’t smudge.

For extra sharpness, try:

• Tape or a business card as a guide
• Gel liner for control
• Felt-tip liquid liner for a very pointed finish

If you want, I can give you a step-by-step wing shape for your eye type.

To prevent eyeshadow fallout:

• Do eyes first, base second: Apply shadow before foundation/concealer so you can clean up mess easily.
• Use an eye primer: It grips pigment and reduces dust.
  • Good picks: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof, e.l.f. Putty Eye Primer
• Tap off excess: Before applying, tap your brush so loose powder falls off first.
• Pack, don’t sweep: Press shadow onto the lid with a flat brush, then blend lightly.
• Use cream or wet formulas: Cream shadows and shimmer toppers usually fallout less.
  • Good picks: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick, Stila Shimmer & Glow, Maybelline Color Tattoo
• Use a sticky base for glitter: If using glitter, apply a glitter glue.
  • Good pick: NYX Glitter Primer
• Set with translucent powder: Lightly powder under the eyes before shadow to catch fallout.
  • Good pick: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
• Clean up strategically: Hold a tissue under the eye or use a fluffy brush to sweep away residue before foundation.

If you want, I can also give you a best brush + primer combo for either drugstore or high-end.

Try these:

• Do eyes first, base later

Apply eyeshadow before foundation/concealer, then clean up fallout.

• Use an eye primer

Helps shadow grip better and reduces dustiness.

• Tap off excess powder

Especially with fluffy brushes.

• Build slowly

Use light layers instead of packing on a lot at once.

• Press, don’t swipe

Pressing shadow onto the lid creates less fallout.

• Use a sticky base for shimmer/metallics

A tacky primer or setting spray on the brush can help.

• Put loose powder under the eyes

Catch fallout, then brush it away after.

• Use a damp brush carefully

Great for shimmer, but test first to avoid patchiness.

• Clean up with tape or a brush

A small fluffy brush or micellar-water swab works well.

If you want, I can also give you the best products/tools for minimizing fallout.

To make eye makeup last all day, focus on oil control + layering + setting:

1. Start with clean, dry lids

Remove oils with micellar water or a gentle cleanser, then let lids dry fully.

1. Use an eye primer

Good options:

• Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
• NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
• e.l.f. Shadow Lock Eyelid Primer (budget)

1. Set the primer with a little powder

Dust a tiny amount of matte eyeshadow or translucent powder over the lid.

1. Choose long-wear formulas
   • Shadows: Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr, MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot
   • Eyeliner: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, KVD Tattoo Liner
   • Mascara: L’Oréal Telescopic Waterproof, Heroine Make Long & Curl Mascara
2. Layer strategically

Use a cream base first, then powder shadow on top to lock it in.

1. Avoid oily products near the eyes

Creamy concealers or heavy skincare can break down makeup fast.

1. Finish with setting spray

Try Urban Decay All Nighter or Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray.

If you want, I can also give you a full long-wear eye routine for oily lids, hooded eyes, or sensitive eyes.

To make eye makeup last all day:

• Start with clean, dry lids — no moisturizer/oily residue.
• Use an eye primer — this is the biggest difference.
• Set primer with a little powder or matching shadow before applying color.
• Choose long-wear formulas — waterproof mascara, gel/cream shadows labeled long-lasting.
• Apply in thin layers — thick makeup creases and smudges faster.
• Use cream products sparingly on oily lids.
• Finish with a setting spray if you use the rest of your face makeup too.
• Avoid touching your eyes during the day.

If you want, I can also give you a step-by-step routine for oily eyelids or recommend specific eye primers and mascaras.

For hooded eyes, the goal is to keep color visible when your eyes are open and avoid transfer.

Eyeshadow

• Use matte or satin shades for the main lid and crease; shimmers can vanish into the fold.
• Place your crease color slightly above your natural crease so it still shows when your eyes are open.
• Keep the darkest shade at the outer corner and upper lash line for lift.
• Use a light brightening shade on the mobile lid/inner corner if you want the eyes to look bigger.

Good eyeshadow palettes:

• Natasha Denona Mini Nude
• Urban Decay Naked3 Mini
• Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Beautifying Face Palette
• Budget: e.l.f. Mad for Matte Eyeshadow Palette

Eyeliner

For hooded eyes, the best liners are usually:

• Smudge-resistant
• Long-wearing
• Fine-tip or gel-pencil formulas for control

Best approaches:

• Draw the liner thin at the inner corner and slightly thicker toward the outer third.
• If doing a wing, angle it straight out from the lower lash line, not downward.
• Tightline the upper waterline to make lashes look fuller without taking up lid space.

Good eyeliners:

• Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
• KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner
• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil
• Maybelline TattooStudio Gel Pencil

Best formula choices

• Eyeshadow primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion or NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
• Setting spray: MAC Fix+ Stay Over or Milani Make It Last

If you want, I can suggest a simple hooded-eye routine for either a natural look or a dramatic wing.

For hooded eyes, the goal is to keep definition visible when your eyes are open.

Eyeshadow

• Use matte or softly satin shades for the crease; shimmers can disappear into the fold.
• Apply darker shadow slightly above your natural crease so it’s still visible.
• Keep the lid lighter and the outer corner a bit deeper for lift.
• Good shades: taupe, soft brown, plum, bronze, and neutral matte palettes.

Eyeliner

• Choose a smudge-proof gel, liquid, or pencil depending on your comfort.
• A thin line close to the lashes usually works best.
• Tightline the upper waterline to add definition without taking up lid space.
• If doing a wing, keep it short and angled upward so it doesn’t vanish into the hood.

Best formulas

• Long-wear / waterproof formulas help avoid transfer onto the upper lid.
• If your lids are oily, use an eyeshadow primer first.

Quick rule

• Small hood: you can do a thin wing and soft crease.
• Deep hood: go higher with the shadow and keep liner minimal and precise.

If you want, I can also give you a simple hooded-eye makeup routine or recommend specific product picks.

Use an oil-based eye makeup remover and go gently.

Good options:

• Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water (good for sensitive eyes)
• Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover
• Lancôme Bi-Facil
• CeraVe Makeup Removing Balm (for a less stingy, balm-style option)
• Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm (very gentle)

How to do it:

1. Soak a cotton pad with remover.
2. Hold it on your closed eye for 15–30 seconds to break down the eyeliner.
3. Wipe downward and outward—don’t scrub.
4. Use a clean pad/cotton swab for any leftover lines.
5. Rinse with lukewarm water or use a gentle face wash.

To avoid irritation:

• Don’t use hot water or harsh rubbing.
• Avoid products with lots of fragrance or alcohol.
• If you wear contacts, remove them first.
• If your eyes sting, switch to a product labeled for sensitive eyes.

If you want, I can recommend the best one for dry eyes, sensitive eyes, or heavy makeup.

Use a gentle oil-based remover and avoid rubbing.

Quick method:

1. Soak a cotton pad or reusable pad with:
   • micellar water for waterproof makeup, or
   • a biphase eye makeup remover, or
   • a little cleansing oil/balm.
2. Hold it over the closed eye for 10–20 seconds.
3. Wipe downward and outward gently.
4. Repeat with a fresh pad until it comes off.
5. Rinse with lukewarm water and use a fragrance-free moisturizer/eye cream if needed.

Tips to avoid irritation:

• Don’t scrub or stretch the skin.
• Keep product out of the eye.
• Avoid cotton swabs unless you’re cleaning tiny leftover bits.
• If your eyes are very sensitive, choose fragrance-free, ophthalmologist-tested removers.

Good product types:

• Bioderma Sensibio H2O (micellar)
• Garnier Waterproof Micellar Water
• Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover
• Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover

If you want, I can suggest the least irritating option for sensitive eyes or a drugstore-only routine.

Patchy eyeshadow usually comes from oiliness, insufficient primer, or poor blending. Try this:

• Prep the lid: Use a light eye cream, then let it fully absorb. Blot any excess.
• Use an eyeshadow primer:
  • Urban Decay Primer Potion
  • NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
  • Milani Eyeshadow Primer (budget-friendly)
• Set lightly with a neutral powder if your lids are very oily.
• Apply shadow in thin layers: Build color slowly instead of packing on a lot at once.
• Use the right brush: A fluffy blending brush for placement, then a denser brush for depth.
• Tap off excess product: Especially with highly pigmented or powdery shadows.
• Mix formulas carefully: Cream-to-powder shadows can patch if layered over wet skincare.
• If it’s a bad shadow formula: Some shadows just perform poorly. Good, reliable palettes include
  • ColourPop Pressed Powder Shadows
  • Melt Cosmetics palettes
  • Natasha Denona (more expensive, very blendable)

Quick fix for already-patchy spots: take a clean fluffy brush and blend the edges, then press a tiny bit of primer or concealer on the patch and reapply shadow lightly.

If you want, I can give you a step-by-step routine for oily lids or hooded eyes.

Patchy eyeshadow usually means the lid wasn’t prepped evenly or the product isn’t blending over the base well. Try this:

• Start with primer or concealer: Set it lightly with a thin layer of translucent powder.
• Use a fluffy brush: Pick up less product and build slowly.
• Tap off excess: Too much shadow causes blotches.
• Apply in thin layers: Don’t try to get full color in one pass.
• Blend with a clean brush: Especially around the edges.
• Check your formula: Some shadows work better with a denser brush or a damp brush.
• If the lid is oily: Use an oil-controlling primer or powder a bit more.

Quick fix mid-application:

1. Add a tiny bit of setting powder to the patchy area.
2. Reapply shadow in light layers.
3. Blend edges with a clean brush.

If you want, I can also give you a step-by-step routine for smooth eyeshadow every time.

Usually:

• Drugstore eyeshadow/eyeliner: $5–$15
  • Examples: e.l.f., NYX, Maybelline, L’Oréal, Wet n Wild
• Mid-range / prestige: $15–$35
  • Examples: Fenty Beauty, MAC, Urban Decay, Too Faced, Clinique
• High-end/luxury: $35–$70+
  • Examples: Dior, Charlotte Tilbury, Tom Ford, Pat McGrath

Typical product prices:

• Single eyeshadow: about $5–$25
• Eyeshadow palette: about $10–$60 (luxury can be $80+)
• Pencil eyeliner: about $5–$25
• Liquid/gel eyeliner: about $8–$30

If you want, I can also give you good cheap options or best-value brands.

Typical prices:

• Drugstore / mass-market: $5–$15
• Mid-range / prestige: $15–$35
• High-end / luxury: $35–$60+

By product:

• Single eyeshadow: about $5–$20
• Eyeshadow palette: about $10–$60+
• Eyeliner pencil / liquid: about $6–$25

If you want, I can also give you cheap vs. good-value brand examples.

A good eyeliner usually costs about $10–$25 USD.

Quick guide:

• Drugstore/good budget: $5–$12
  • Examples: Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner, NYX Epic Ink Liner
• Mid-range sweet spot: $12–$22
  • Examples: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil
• High-end: $25+
  • Examples: Dior On Stage Liner, Charlotte Tilbury Rock ‘N’ Kohl

If you want, I can also recommend the best eyeliner by type: liquid, pencil, gel, or waterproof.

A good eyeliner usually costs about $10–$25, with a simple sample average around $16. That’s based on current prices for popular options like L’Oréal at $10.99, Maybelline at $8.98–$16.12, Sephora Collection at $7–$15, and higher-end picks like Stila at $24 and Too Faced at $36. (target.com)

If you want, I can also give you:

• the best eyeliner under $10
• the best long-wear eyeliner
• the best budget vs. luxury picks

Yes — a few budget brands are genuinely good:

Eyeshadow

• e.l.f. Bite-Size Eyeshadow – tiny palettes, very affordable, good everyday colors.
• Wet n Wild Color Icon eyeshadow palettes – cheap and surprisingly pigmented.
• Milani Gilded palettes – a little pricier than e.l.f., but still budget and better quality.
• ColourPop pressed shadows/palettes – good value and lots of shades.

Eyeliner

• NYX Epic Ink Liner – great drugstore liquid liner, very popular.
• e.l.f. Liquid Eyeliner – inexpensive and solid.
• Wet n Wild Breakup Proof Liquid Eyeliner – cheap and long-wearing.
• Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer – good pencil liner.

If you want, I can also give you the best cheap options for sensitive eyes, waterproof picks, or drugstore dupe-style products.

Yes — some of the best cheap options are actually drugstore brands.

Good cheap eyeshadow brands:

• ColourPop
• e.l.f.
• Maybelline
• Juvia’s Place
• NYX (allure.com)

Good cheap eyeliner brands:

• NYX (especially Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner)
• CoverGirl (their Exhibitionist Lash Enhancing Liquid Liner is a budget pick) (allure.com)

If you want, I can also give you:

• the best under-$10 picks
• best for beginners
• best for oily lids / hooded eyes

Here are some of the best value brands for eyeshadow and eyeliner:

Eyeshadow

• ColourPop — best overall value; very pigmented, lots of shades, cheap palettes.
• e.l.f. — great budget option; their No Budge Shadow Stick and bite-size palettes are strong.
• Milani — reliable quality for the price; good everyday palettes.
• Revolution Beauty — huge variety, lots of affordable palettes.
• Juvia’s Place — a little pricier than e.l.f., but excellent pigmentation and blendability for the money.

Eyeliner

• NYX — probably the best value overall; especially Epic Ink Liner and Epic Wear Liner Sticks.
• e.l.f. — good cheap liquid and pencil liners.
• Maybelline — dependable drugstore classic; Hyper Easy Liner is a standout.
• L’Oréal — good for long-wear pencil and liquid liners.
• KVD Beauty — not the cheapest, but the Tattoo Liner is a strong performance/value pick if you want high-end.

Best picks if you want just 1-2

• Eyeshadow: ColourPop
• Eyeliner: NYX Epic Ink Liner

If you want, I can also give you the best value brands for oily lids, mature eyes, or sensitive eyes.

Best-value eye makeup brands right now:

• Eyeshadow: ColourPop (best overall value), e.l.f., Maybelline, NYX, Juvia’s Place, L’Oréal. Allure singled out ColourPop’s Super Shock Shadow as the best overall drugstore shadow, and also ranked e.l.f., Maybelline, Juvia’s Place, and NYX highly for value/performance. (allure.com)
• Eyeliner: NYX (especially Epic Ink), Maybelline, L’Oréal, Wet n Wild, Essence. Allure and Vogue both picked NYX Epic Ink as a top drugstore liner; Vogue also highlighted Maybelline’s Tattoo Studio gel pencil, while Allure called Wet n Wild’s Breakup-Proof liquid liner a top drugstore pick. (allure.com)

Quick pick:

• Best overall budget shadow: ColourPop
• Best overall budget liner: NYX Epic Ink (allure.com)

If you want, I can narrow this to best for oily lids, beginners, or deep skin tones.

Good affordable options online:

• Ulta — lots of budget brands: NYX, e.l.f., ColourPop, Wet n Wild
• Target — easy cheap picks: e.l.f. Cosmetics, NYX, Maybelline
• Amazon — good for deals on NYX Epic Ink Liner, e.l.f. No Budge Shadow Stick, Maybelline Hyper Easy Liner
• ColourPop.com — very affordable eyeshadow palettes and liners, often the best value
• Walmart — cheap staples from Wet n Wild, CoverGirl, Maybelline
• Sephora (sale section) — sometimes good markdowns on Sephora Collection

Budget products worth checking:

• e.l.f. Liquid Glitter Eyeshadow
• NYX Epic Wear Liner
• Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow
• ColourPop Super Shock Shadow
• Maybelline TattooStudio Gel Pencil

If you want, I can also give you the cheapest 5 best-rated options under a specific budget like $10 or $15.

Good places to buy affordable eye makeup online in the U.S.:

• Target — good for Wet n Wild picks like the Megalast Breakup-Proof Liquid Eyeliner ($5.49) and Color Icon 10-Pan Eyeshadow Palette. (target.com)
• Ulta — good for e.l.f. options like Smoky Kohl Eyeliner ($4) and Intense Ink Eyeliner ($6). (ulta.com)
• Walmart — good for Maybelline; examples include Master Precise All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner ($8.98) and Color Tattoo cream eyeshadow ($12.99). (walmart.com)

If you want the cheapest easy picks, I’d start with:

• Wet n Wild for eyeliner and palettes. (target.com)
• e.l.f. for budget liner. (ulta.com)
• Maybelline if you want a slightly more classic drugstore feel. (walmart.com)

If you want, I can give you a “best under $10” shortlist for eyeliner, eyeshadow, or both.

Yes — a few budget brands are genuinely good performers:

Eyeshadow

• e.l.f. Bite-Size Eyeshadows — great for the price, easy to blend.
• ColourPop — especially their single shadows and 9-pan palettes; usually very pigmented.
• Wet n Wild Color Icon palettes — some are surprisingly solid for everyday looks.
• Milani Gilded palettes — good formula, a bit more polished than most drugstore options.

Eyeliner

• NYX Epic Ink Liner — one of the best budget liquid liners.
• Maybelline Hyper Easy Liquid Liner — smooth, beginner-friendly.
• Essence Waterproof Eyeliner Pen — very affordable and decent.
• Rimmel Exaggerate Eyeliner — good pencil formula for the price.

If you want, I can also suggest the best picks for oily lids, hooded eyes, or sensitive eyes.

Yes — a few budget brands still perform really well:

• e.l.f.: good for eyeliner and cream shadow sticks; recent reviews call out its longevity and ease of use. (marieclaire.co.uk)
• NYX: especially strong for eyeliner; Epic Ink is still getting praise from reviewers. (cosmopolitan.com)
• ColourPop: one of the better cheap eyeshadow brands for pigment and shade range; Allure highlighted a drugstore palette at $14. (allure.com)
• Juvia’s Place: often still affordable and known for very pigmented shadows. (allure.com)
• Maybelline / Rimmel: solid budget eyeliner options in editor tests. (the-independent.com)

If you want the safest bet:

• Best budget eyeshadow: ColourPop or Juvia’s Place. (allure.com)
• Best budget eyeliner: NYX or e.l.f. (cosmopolitan.com)

If you want, I can also give you a “best under $10” shortlist by product type (powder shadow, cream shadow, pencil liner, liquid liner).

Here are some of the best inexpensive options that perform well:

Eyeliners

• NYX Epic Ink Liner — great waterproof liquid liner, very reliable.
• e.l.f. H2O Proof Eyeliner Pen — budget-friendly and easy to use.
• Maybelline TattooStudio Gel Pencil — smooth, long-wearing.
• ColourPop Crème Gel Liner — lots of colors, very affordable.

Eyeshadows

• ColourPop Super Shock Shadows — excellent cream-to-powder formula, very pigmented.
• e.l.f. Bite-Size Eyeshadow Palettes — probably the best cheap mini palettes overall.
• Wet n Wild Color Icon palettes — very inexpensive and surprisingly good.
• Milani Most Wanted Palettes — a step up in quality without a big price jump.
• Maybelline The Nudes / City Mini palettes — good basic everyday options.

Best value picks

• For eyeliner: NYX Epic Ink Liner
• For eyeshadow: e.l.f. Bite-Size Eyeshadow Palettes or ColourPop Super Shock Shadows

If you want, I can also give you the best picks for drugstore matte shadows, shimmery shadows, or watery/oily eyelids.

Here are solid inexpensive picks that are actually worth buying:

Eyeshadow

• ColourPop Super Shock Shadow — about $7; great for one-and-done shimmer and easy blending. (allure.com)
• e.l.f. Perfect 10 Eyeshadow Palette — about $11; a nice mix of mattes + metallics for everyday looks. (allure.com)
• ColourPop By The Rosé Pressed Powder Palette — about $14; a good drugstore-friendly neutral/pink palette. (allure.com)
• NYX Ultimate Shadow Palettes — about $20; good if you want more shade variety. (allure.com)

Eyeliner

• e.l.f. No Budge Retractable Eyeliner — about $6; one of the best cheap pencil options. (allure.com)
• Revlon ColorStay Pencil Waterproof Eyeliner — about $11; a good pick if you want a softer brown/bronze liner. (allure.com)
• Maybelline TattooStudio / drugstore liquid liner types are also strong budget options; Allure consistently lists drugstore liquid liners as long-wearing, smudge-proof choices. (allure.com)

If you want the best ultra-cheap starter combo, I’d pick:

1. e.l.f. Perfect 10 Palette
2. e.l.f. No Budge Eyeliner
3. ColourPop Super Shock Shadow for a quick shimmer topper. (allure.com)

If you want, I can narrow this down to best for beginners, best for oily lids, or best for brown/black eyeliner.

Yes — plenty of good ones under $20.

Eyeliners

• NYX Epic Ink Liner — great liquid liner, long-lasting, usually around $10–12.
• Maybelline TattooStudio Gel Pencil — smooth and very wearable, about $10–12.
• e.l.f. H2O Proof Eyeliner Pen — affordable and easy to use, about $8–10.

Eyeshadows

• e.l.f. Bite-Size Eyeshadow — super cheap, surprisingly good quality, about $3–5.
• ColourPop single shadows — good pigmentation, usually around $4–6 each.
• Maybelline The Nudes or Blushed Nudes palettes — solid drugstore palettes, often under $15.
• Milani Gilded Mini Eyeshadow Palette — nice color payoff, around $10–12.

If you want, I can also recommend:

• best for beginners
• best for oily lids
• best drugstore nude palette

Yes — plenty of good ones under $20.

Good eyeshadow picks

• e.l.f. Bite-Size Eyeshadow — $4; small palette, easy everyday shades. (elfcosmetics.com)
• e.l.f. Perfect 10 Eyeshadow Palette — 10 shades, good if you want more options; e.l.f.’s palette line is under $20. (elfcosmetics.com)
• NYX Ultimate Eyeshadow Palette — currently listed on Target at $13.99–$20.99. (target.com)

Good eyeliner picks

• e.l.f. Smoky Kohl Eyeliner — $4. (target.com)
• Maybelline Master Precise Skinny Gel Pencil Eyeliner — $10.99. (maybelline.com)
• Maybelline Tattoo Studio Dip-Ink Liquid Eyeliner — $9.99. (es.maybelline.com)
• wet n wild MegaLiner Liquid Eyeliner — under $20, with a long-wearing formula. (wetnwildbeauty.com)

If you want, I can narrow it down to best for beginners, best for oily lids, or best for brown eyes.

Yes—these brands offer good starter sets or beginner-friendly kits:

• e.l.f. Cosmetics — Bite-Size Eyeshadow palettes, Putty Eye Primer, and mini eyeliner sets
• NYX Professional Makeup — Ultimate Shadow Palette mini sets, Eyeliner Duo/kit bundles
• Wet n Wild — Color Icon eyeshadow palettes and value eye makeup sets
• Maybelline — starter-friendly combos like The Nudes palette + TattooStudio eyeliner
• Revolution Beauty — Revolution Reloaded palettes and eye makeup gift sets
• Sephora Collection — seasonal eye makeup sets with eyeliner + shadow minis
• Morphe — eye shadow palettes and brush + palette starter bundles
• Charlotte Tilbury — beginner-friendly eye sets like Super Nudes kits
• Clinique — simple eye duos and makeup sets, good for very natural looks
• Lancôme — curated eye sets with mascara/liner/shadow minis

Best budget picks: e.l.f., NYX, Wet n Wild. Best for easy “all-in-one” starter kits: Sephora Collection and Revolution Beauty.

If you want, I can also narrow this down to drugstore, clean beauty, or best for beginners with hooded eyes.

A few brands with eye-makeup starter sets/kit-style bundles:

• Beth Bender Beauty — Eye Candy Starter Pack and Eye Candy Starter Pack and Gel Eyeliner Frosting Set. (bethbenderbeauty.com)
• COSLINE Cosmetics — Starter Set for beginners; it includes a kajal/eyeliner shade. (cosline.de)
• Jillian Dempsey — The KH10L Kit (limited-edition eyeliner kit). (jilliandempsey.com)
• INGLOT — Eye Essentials Set. (inglotusa.com)

If you want, I can narrow these to:

1. eyeliner-only starter sets, or
2. eyeshadow palettes/kits for beginners.

Yes—but mostly through retailers, not the brand sites.

Best places to look:

• Sephora — free samples with online orders; sometimes mini eye products in promo bags.
• Ulta Beauty — free deluxe samples and GWP offers; eye minis show up often.
• MAC Cosmetics — some stores will give pressed eye shadow samples or small pot samples on request.
• Benefit Cosmetics — occasional free samples with promos/orders.
• NARS / Urban Decay / Too Faced — not regular free-sample programs, but they often have mini/travel sizes and promo bundles.

If you want, I can list the best free-sample-friendly eye products right now (eyeshadow + eyeliner) and where to get them.

Yes—though usually it’s free samples with purchase, not totally free standalone samples. For example, M·A·C says it offers “Free Samples At Checkout,” and Ulta currently has eye-makeup promos like a free Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eyeshadow sample with a qualifying purchase, plus other eye-related gifts with purchase from brands like Dior, Rare Beauty, and Rabanne. (maccosmetics.com)

If you want, I can pull together a short list of the best currently available eye-makeup sample offers.

For everyday wear, these are some of the best, most reliable brands:

Eyeshadow

• Urban Decay — especially the Naked palettes for easy neutrals
• Makeup by Mario — great soft, blendable everyday tones
• Clinique — good if you want simple, office-friendly looks and sensitive-eye options
• Charlotte Tilbury — luxe, flattering neutral shades like Pillow Talk-type tones
• ColourPop — affordable and strong everyday color selection

Eyeliner

• Stila — Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner is a classic
• Urban Decay — 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil is great for all-day wear
• Maybelline — TattooStudio liners are excellent and budget-friendly
• Clinique — good for sensitive eyes and smooth application
• Lancôme — very solid for creamy, long-lasting pencils

If you want, I can also narrow this down to:

• best drugstore
• best for sensitive eyes
• best for mature eyes
• best for a 5-minute everyday routine

For everyday wear, I’d look at brands that make smooth, long-wearing, easy-to-blend formulas:

Best eyeshadow brands

• Urban Decay — great everyday neutrals; try Naked3 Palette or Naked2 Basics
• Charlotte Tilbury — polished, soft, office-friendly shades; try Luxury Palette
• Natasha Denona — very blendable, high quality; try Mini Nude Palette
• Makeup by Mario — simple, wearable tones; try Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette
• ColourPop — affordable and reliable; try Going Coconuts or That’s Taupe

Best eyeliner brands

• Stila — easy, precise, long-wearing; try Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
• Maybelline — affordable and dependable; try Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner or Hyper Easy Eyeliner
• KVD Beauty — very bold and durable; try Tattoo Liner
• Fenty Beauty — smooth and modern formulas; try Flyliner
• Clinique — good for sensitive eyes; try Quickliner for Eyes

Best “easy everyday” picks

• Eyeshadow: Charlotte Tilbury or Urban Decay
• Eyeliner: Stila or Maybelline

If you want, I can also give you the best picks by budget or for hooded/sensitive eyes.

For everyday wear, I’d look at these:

• Urban Decay — 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil (smooth, long-wearing, easy for daily use)
• Stila — Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner (clean lines, very reliable)
• Tarte — Tartelette In Bloom Palette (easy neutral shades for simple everyday looks)
• MAC — Eye Shadow singles or Connect In Colour palettes (great quality, good neutrals)
• NARS — Single Eyeshadows and Quad Eyeshadow palettes (polished, wearable colors)
• Bobbi Brown — Long-Wear Cream Shadow Sticks (fast, low-effort, great for work/day)
• Maybelline — TattooStudio Gel Pencil Liner and The Nudes palettes (solid budget-friendly picks)
• e.l.f. — No Budge Retractable Eyeliner and Bite-Size Eyeshadow (cheap, everyday-friendly)

If you want the easiest “daily makeup” combo, I’d pick: Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow Stick + Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil.

If you want, I can also give you the best picks by budget or for sensitive eyes.

For everyday wear, I’d prioritize easy blending, long wear, and neutral shades. My top picks:

Best eyeshadow brands

• Urban Decay — especially the Naked Mini palettes for reliable neutrals
• MAC — great single shadows and palettes; Soft Brown, All That Glitters
• Charlotte Tilbury — Luxury Palette quads are very wearable
• Too Faced — Born This Way Natural Nudes palette
• ColourPop — affordable, good everyday shades; try Going Coconuts or That’s Taupe
• Laura Mercier — smooth, polished everyday tones

Best eyeliner brands

• Stila — Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
• Urban Decay — 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil
• MAC — Technakohl Liner
• Clinique — Quickliner for Eyes
• Maybelline — TattooStudio Gel Pencil for budget-friendly wear
• Bobbi Brown — Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner

Best simple everyday combo

• Eyeshadow: ColourPop Going Coconuts
• Eyeliner: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On
• For a clean wing: Stila Stay All Day

If you want, I can also give you the best picks by budget or for sensitive eyes.

For everyday wear, the best brands are usually the ones with smooth formulas, good staying power, and easy-to-blend neutral shades.

Best eyeshadow brands for everyday

• Charlotte Tilbury — very flattering neutrals; great for polished, office-friendly looks.
• Urban Decay — especially the Naked palettes; easy everyday matte/shimmer shades.
• Natasha Denona — excellent formula, especially if you want blendable neutrals.
• ColourPop — affordable and strong color payoff; good if you want simple singles or palettes.
• MAC — reliable basic shades and matte finishes for daily use.

Best eyeliner brands for everyday

• Stila — the Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner is a classic.
• Clinique — smooth, gentle formulas, good for sensitive eyes.
• KVD Beauty — very long-wearing, especially if you want a sharp line.
• Maybelline — affordable and dependable; the Hyper Easy or Tattoo Studio liners are good picks.
• MAC — strong, versatile liners with good wear.

Best easy “starter” picks

• Eyeshadow: Urban Decay Naked3 Mini or Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette
• Eyeliner: Stila Stay All Day or Maybelline Hyper Easy

If you want, I can also give you the best brands by budget: drugstore, mid-range, or luxury.

Absolutely — here are some of the best eyeshadow and eyeliner brands, with standout products:

Eyeshadow

• Urban Decay — Naked3 Palette (great neutrals, blends easily)
• Natasha Denona — Mini Glam Palette or Bronze Palette (very pigmented, luxury quality)
• Pat McGrath Labs — Mothership palettes (high-impact shimmer and blend)
• ColourPop — Going Coconuts / That’s Taupe (affordable, good quality)
• Huda Beauty — Rose Quartz Palette or Nude Obsessions (strong pigment, trendy shades)
• MAC — single shadows and palettes (classic, reliable formula)

Eyeliner

• Stila — Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner (super popular, precise)
• KVD Beauty — Tattoo Liner (sharp, long-wearing)
• NYX — Epic Ink Liner (budget-friendly liquid liner)
• Victoria Beckham Beauty — Satin Kajal Liner (smooth, luxe pencil)
• Bobbi Brown — Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner (great for a softer or smudged look)
• Maybelline — TattooStudio Gel Pencil (affordable and long-lasting)

If you want, I can also narrow these down by budget, best for beginners, or best for sensitive eyes.

Absolutely — here are some of the best eyeshadow and eyeliner brands by overall quality and reputation:

Top eyeshadow brands

• Pat McGrath Labs — luxury, ultra-pigmented, very blendable
• Natasha Denona — amazing shimmer/metallics and smooth mattes
• Anastasia Beverly Hills — great everyday palettes, strong color payoff
• Urban Decay — classic easy-to-use palettes, especially neutrals
• Huda Beauty — bold colors, rich formulas, lots of variety
• ColourPop — affordable, trendy, very good for the price

Top eyeliner brands

• Stila — one of the best for liquid eyeliner; the Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner is a staple
• Kat Von D Beauty / KVD Beauty — strong pigment, long-wear liners
• Urban Decay — the 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil is a favorite
• M·A·C — reliable pencils and gels, great for professional use
• NYX — affordable and surprisingly good; great for beginners
• Lancôme — smooth, elegant formulas, especially liquid liners

Best “go-to” picks

• Eyeshadow: Natasha Denona
• Eyeliner: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

If you want, I can also recommend the best brands by budget (drugstore, mid-range, luxury) or best for sensitive eyes / oily lids.

Absolutely — here are some of the best eyeshadow and eyeliner brands by performance:

Eyeshadow brands

• Natasha Denona — ultra-pigmented, blends beautifully; great palettes.
• Pat McGrath Labs — luxury formulas, especially shimmers and metallics.
• Melt Cosmetics — bold color payoff, creative palettes.
• Anastasia Beverly Hills — very popular for versatile, easy-to-use palettes.
• Charlotte Tilbury — softer, elegant everyday shades.
• ColourPop — excellent quality for the price.

Eyeliner brands

• Stila — famous for the Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner.
• KVD Beauty — strong, precise liquid liners; very pigmented.
• Urban Decay — good for pencils; smooth and long-wearing.
• Heroine Make — one of the best for waterproof, all-day wear.
• Maybelline — reliable and affordable, especially Tattoo Studio Gel Pencil.
• L’Oréal — great drugstore liquid and pencil options.

If you want, I can also give you:

1. best affordable brands,
2. best luxury brands, or
3. best brands for beginners.

Yes — here are some of the best, most reliable brands for eyeshadow and eyeliner, with standout products:

Eyeshadow

• Urban Decay — Naked Mini Palette / Naked3

Great blendability, long wear, easy everyday shades.

• Natasha Denona — Mini Glam Palette / Biba Palette

Very high pigment and buttery texture.

• Sephora Collection — Sephora Collection Colorful Eyeshadow

Good quality at a lower price.

• ColourPop — That’s Taupe / Going Coconuts

Affordable, trendy shades, strong payoff.

• MAC — Eye Shadow Singles / Connect in Color Palettes

Classic, dependable, lots of finishes.

Eyeliner

• Stila — Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

One of the best liquid liners for staying power.

• KVD Beauty — Tattoo Liner

Great for sharp winged looks.

• NYX — Epic Ink Liner

Affordable and very popular.

• Lancôme — Idôle Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner

Smooth and precise.

• Make Up For Ever — Aqua Resist Color Pencil

Excellent for waterproof pencil liner.

If you want, I can also narrow this down to:

• best drugstore
• best luxury
• best for sensitive eyes
• best for beginners

Yes — here are some of the best-known, high-performing brands:

Eyeshadow

• Natasha Denona — ultra-pigmented, blendable palettes
• Pat McGrath Labs — luxury shimmer and metallic formulas
• Urban Decay — especially the Naked palettes
• Huda Beauty — strong color payoff, great for bold looks
• Charlotte Tilbury — softer, everyday wearable shades

Eyeliner

• Stila — Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner is a classic
• KVD Beauty — very precise, long-wearing liners
• MAC — reliable pencils and liquids
• NYX — great budget-friendly option
• Too Faced — especially for easy-to-use felt-tip liners

If you want, I can also narrow this down by:

• best budget
• best for beginners
• best waterproof
• best for sensitive eyes

Some of the most popular eyeshadow and eyeliner brands right now are:

Eyeshadow brands

• Urban Decay — especially the Naked palettes
• Morphe — popular for big, affordable palettes
• Huda Beauty — strong pigment, trendy color stories
• Natasha Denona — high-end, very blendable palettes
• Too Faced — easy-to-use, popular everyday palettes
• ColourPop — affordable, huge shade range
• Anastasia Beverly Hills — well-known for both matte and shimmer palettes
• Makeup by Mario — very popular for neutral, polished looks
• Pat McGrath Labs — luxury, intense shimmer

Eyeliner brands

• Stila — especially the Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
• NYX Professional Makeup — very popular and affordable
• KVD Beauty — known for bold, long-wear liners
• Maybelline — classic drugstore favorite
• Sephora Collection — reliable and budget-friendly
• L’Oréal Paris — strong everyday options
• Rare Beauty — popular for softer liner looks
• MAC — a longtime pro favorite

If you want, I can also give you the best brands by category:

• best drugstore
• best luxury
• best for beginners
• best long-wear/waterproof

Some of the most popular eyeshadow and eyeliner brands right now are:

Eyeshadow brands

• Anastasia Beverly Hills — especially the Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette
• Natasha Denona — known for luxe formulas like the Mini Nude Palette
• Urban Decay — classic picks like the Naked Reloaded Palette
• Morphe — budget-friendly, lots of influencer-favorite palettes
• ColourPop — very popular for affordable, trendy shades
• Huda Beauty — rich pigment and glam palettes like Rose Quartz
• Patrick Ta — popular for soft, polished looks
• Makeup by Mario — very trendy for wearable neutrals

Eyeliner brands

• Stila — the Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner is a cult favorite
• NYX Professional Makeup — especially the Epic Ink Liner
• KVD Beauty — known for strong, long-lasting liners
• Maybelline — the Hyper Easy Liquid Liner is widely loved
• e.l.f. — affordable and popular, like H2O Proof Eyeliner Pen
• Fenty Beauty — sleek, bold liner options
• Rare Beauty — popular for easy-to-use formulas
• MAC — dependable classics, especially for pencil liners

If you want, I can also narrow it down to:

• best high-end brands
• best affordable brands
• best for beginners
• best for waterproof or sensitive eyes

Some of the most popular eyeshadow and eyeliner brands right now are:

Eyeshadow

• Natasha Denona — famous for high-performance palettes and rich mattes/shimmers
• Huda Beauty — very popular for bold, glam palettes
• Urban Decay — especially the Naked palettes
• ColourPop — affordable, trendy color stories
• Anastasia Beverly Hills — good neutrals and soft glam
• Pat McGrath Labs — luxury, super-pigmented sparkle
• Melt Cosmetics — edgy, colorful palettes
• Makeup by Mario — soft, polished everyday looks

Eyeliner

• Stila — the Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner is a classic bestseller
• NYX Professional Makeup — especially Epic Ink Liner
• KVD Beauty — popular for long-wear liquid liner
• Maybelline — reliable and widely loved, especially Hyper Easy
• INGLOT — known for gel liner
• e.l.f. — affordable and trendy
• Heroine Make — super popular for very long-lasting liners
• Lancôme — premium liquid liners

If you want, I can also give you:

1. best drugstore brands,
2. best luxury brands, or
3. best for beginners.

Some of the most popular eyeshadow and eyeliner brands right now are:

Eyeshadow

• ColourPop — very popular for affordable palettes and trend-driven shades
• Urban Decay — especially the Naked palettes
• Natasha Denona — high-end, highly rated for pigment and blendability
• Anastasia Beverly Hills — popular for neutral and glam palettes
• Morphe — known for big, budget-friendly palettes
• MAC — classic, reliable shadows
• Huda Beauty — bold, pigmented palettes
• Rare Beauty — growing fast for everyday, easy-to-use makeup

Eyeliner

• NYX Professional Makeup — especially Epic Ink Liner
• Maybelline — Hyper Easy and TattooStudio are big favorites
• Stila — Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner is a cult classic
• Urban Decay — 24/7 Glide-On Pencil
• KVD Beauty — known for long-wear, dramatic liner
• Sephora Collection — solid, affordable options
• e.l.f. — popular budget pick
• Fenty Beauty — well-liked for modern, polished eye looks

If you want, I can also list the best brands by budget or best for sensitive eyes / oily lids.

Some of the most popular eyeshadow/eyeliner brands right now are:

• Urban Decay — especially Naked palettes and 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil
• Stila — Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner
• e.l.f. Cosmetics — No Budge Retractable Eyeliner and affordable palettes
• Rare Beauty — All of the Above Weightless Eyeshadow Stick
• Fenty Beauty — Snap Shadows and Flypencil
• MAC — classic Eye Shadow singles and Brushstroke Liner
• ColourPop — very popular for eyeshadow palettes and BFF Liquid Liner
• NYX Professional Makeup — Epic Ink Liner and budget-friendly shadows
• Maybelline — TattooStudio Gel Pencil Liner
• KVD Beauty — known for tattoo-like liners and bold color payoff

If you want, I can also rank them by:

1. best overall,
2. best budget, or
3. best for sensitive eyes.

Makeup artists commonly recommend these:

Eyeshadow brands

• Viseart — especially for pro-grade matte palettes
• MAC — classic artist staple
• Make Up For Ever — great for performance and editorial looks
• Pat McGrath Labs — highly pigmented, luxe finishes
• Charlotte Tilbury — easy-to-use, polished everyday shades
• Danessa Myricks Beauty — loved for creative, high-impact color
• Natasha Denona — strong pigment and blendability
• LORAC — a longtime pro favorite for neutral palettes

Eyeliner brands

• Bobbi Brown — especially the Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner
• Inglot — their gel liner is a makeup-artist staple
• Stila — Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
• Urban Decay — 24/7 Glide-On Pencil
• KVD Beauty — Tattoo Liner
• Victoria Beckham Beauty — sleek, pro-loved liners
• Lancôme — smooth, reliable liquid liners

If you want, I can also narrow this down to the best for beginners, best for oily lids, or best luxury vs. drugstore.

Makeup artists most often recommend these:

Eyeshadow brands

• Viseart — pro favorite; great pigment and blendability.
• Natasha Denona — very creamy, high-impact shadows.
• Pat McGrath Labs — luxe, intense shimmer and metallics.
• Makeup By Mario — easy-to-use neutrals and soft glam.
• MAC — reliable classic singles and palettes.

Eyeliner brands

• Make Up For Ever — especially the Aqua Resist Color Pencil.
• Stila — Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner is a staple.
• KVD Beauty — Tattoo Liner is a longtime artist favorite.
• MAC — Fluidline gel liner and Eye Kohl pencils.
• Urban Decay — 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil.

If you want, I can also narrow this down to the best picks for drugstore, hooded eyes, or long wear.

Makeup artists most often recommend these:

Eyeshadow

• Natasha Denona — especially the Mini palettes and Biba style palettes
• Viseart — loved for professional-quality matte formulas
• Charlotte Tilbury — especially Luxury Palettes
• Melt Cosmetics — strong pigment, editorial looks
• Pat McGrath Labs — luxe, highly blendable shimmer and sparkle
• MAC — classic pro staple
• Urban Decay — especially Naked palettes for easy everyday wear

Eyeliner

• MAC — Fluidline gel liner is a pro favorite
• Stila — Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
• Ardell / Kiss — very popular for affordable lash-line liners and pencils
• Make Up For Ever — great long-wear waterproof liners
• Victoria Beckham Beauty — especially the Satin Kajal Liner
• Bobbi Brown — Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner
• Lancôme — Idôle liquid liner is widely liked

If you want, I can also give you the best picks by budget or best for beginners vs pro-level use.

Makeup artists most often recommend these:

Eyeshadow

• MAC — reliable pro staple; especially the MAC Eyeshadow Singles and Art Library palettes
• Anastasia Beverly Hills — strong pigment and blendability; Modern Renaissance is iconic
• Pat McGrath Labs — luxury-level shimmer and formula; Mothership palettes
• Natasha Denona — very blendable, high-performance matte/shimmer shades; Biba / Glam palettes
• Viseart — pro favorite for matte formulas and editorial work; Theory and Etendu palettes
• NARS — good everyday-to-pro range; Quad Eyeshadows
• Makeup by Mario — popular with artists for soft, wearable looks; Master Mattes and Master Metals
• Urban Decay — especially the Naked palettes for easy blending

Eyeliner

• MAC — Pro Longwear Fluidline and Brushstroke Liner
• Bobbi Brown — Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner is a classic pro pick
• Stila — Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
• NYX — great performance for the price; Epic Ink Liner
• KVD Beauty — known for intense liquid liner; Tattoo Liner
• Lancôme — Artliner is a favorite for precision
• M·A·C and Bobbi Brown are probably the most universally trusted among pros

If you want, I can also give you the best brands by budget, best for hooded eyes, or best for beginners.

Makeup artists often recommend these for eyeshadow and eyeliner:

Eyeshadow

• MAC — especially the Art Library and Pro Palette shades
• Natasha Denona — Mini Palettes and Glam/Biba palettes
• Pat McGrath Labs — Mothership palettes
• Viseart — Petit Pro and Theory palettes
• Anastasia Beverly Hills — Soft Glam and Modern Renaissance
• Charlotte Tilbury — Luxury Palette quads
• Makeup by Mario — Master Mattes palette

Eyeliner

• Stila — Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
• MAC — Liquidlast Liner and Technakohl
• Urban Decay — 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil
• NYX Professional Makeup — Epic Ink Liner
• KVD Beauty — Tattoo Liner
• Benefit — BADgal BANG!? (mascara is more famous; for liner, artists often prefer the above)
• Victoria Beckham Beauty — Satin Kajal Liner

If you want, I can also list the best drugstore vs luxury picks or the most beginner-friendly ones.

Some of the best drugstore eyeshadow/eyeliner brands:

Eyeshadow

• ColourPop – great pigment, trendy shades
  • Super Shock Shadow
  • Pressed Powder Shadow Palettes
• Maybelline – reliable and easy to blend
  • The Nudes Palette
  • Expert Wear Eyeshadow
• Milani – very good for the price
  • Most Loved Mattes
  • Gilded Eyeshadow Palettes
• Wet n Wild – cheap but surprisingly strong color payoff
  • Color Icon Palette
  • 10-Pan Palettes
• e.l.f. – solid everyday options
  • Melt With Me Eyeshadow Palette
  • No Budge Shadow Stick

Eyeliner

• NYX – one of the best drugstore eyeliner brands overall
  • Epic Ink Liner
  • Vivid Rich Mechanical Liner
• Maybelline – dependable and long-wearing
  • Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner
  • Master Precise All Day Liner
• L’Oréal – smooth and good for sensitive eyes
  • Infallible Grip Precision Felt Eyeliner
  • Age Perfect Satin Glide Eyeliner
• Physicians Formula – good if you want gentler formulas
  • Eye Booster Waterproof Eyeliner
• e.l.f. – affordable and easy to use
  • No Budge Retractable Liner
  • Liquid Eyeliner

If you want, I can also rank the best drugstore brands for beginners, oily lids, or the longest wear.

Here are some of the best drugstore eyeshadow and eyeliner brands:

Eyeshadow

• e.l.f. — great quality for the price
  • Best picks: e.l.f. Bite-Size Eyeshadow, No Budge Shadow Stick
• Milani — very reliable pigment and blendability
  • Best picks: Milani Gilded Eyeshadow Palettes, Milani Eyeshadow Primer
• L’Oréal — solid, easy-to-use formulas
  • Best picks: L’Oréal Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow, L’Oréal La Palette Nude
• Maybelline — good everyday shadows
  • Best picks: Maybelline The Nudes Palette, Expert Wear Eyeshadow
• Revolution / Makeup Revolution — lots of shade variety
  • Best picks: Revolution Reloaded Palettes