Cream Eyeshadows | 2017 Editor's Favorites
Best of 2017
Cream Eyeshadows
As 2017 comes to a close, it’s time to reflect back on the products I’ve reviewed during the past year and share with you my personal favorites. I felt like this past year focused on eyeshadow palettes over singles, whether powder or cream, though there seemed to be an uptick in liquid eyeshadows, so this year’s list seemed light and was very easy to pick favorites for. ColourPop Super Shock Shadows continue to impress me overall, but this year definitely seemed lighter on new shades. It was cool to see MAC release Paints again (though they were limited edition), which used to be a go-to eyeshadow base a decade ago!
Did you have any favorite cream eyeshadows this year? Let me know in the comments!
P.S. — View swatches of my favorites here!
ColourPop Off the Grid
Off the Grid is a medium-dark, reddish plum with warm undertones and flecks of gold sparkle. It had opaque color payoff in a single layer with a... Read full review.
ColourPop Come Clean
Come Clean is a bright, medium gold with subtle, warm undertones and a sparkling, metallic finish. The consistency was smooth, sponge-like, and "wet"... Read full review.
ColourPop Summer Side
Summer Side is a medium-dark, coppery brown with warm, red-orange undertones and a pearly sheen. It had excellent color payoff in a single layer. ... Read full review.
ColourPop As You Wave
ColourPop As You Wave Super Shock Shadow ($5.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a vibrant, deep coral-red with warm, fiery copper shimmer that gave it a more... Read full review.
Chanel Scintillance (804)
Chanel Scintillance (804) Ombre Premiere Longwear Cream Eyeshadow ($36.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a soft, peachy beige with warm undertones and a metallic... Read full review.
Milk Makeup Hotel Lobby
Milk Makeup Hotel Lobby Eye Pigment ($24.00 for 0.34 oz.) is a light, champagne gold with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. The texture was... Read full review.
Milk Makeup Gig
Milk Makeup Gig Eye Pigment ($24.00 for 0.34 oz.) is a rich, coppery brown with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It was intensely pigmented... Read full review.
Tom Ford Beauty Paradiso (Cream)
Paradiso (Cream) is a medium, rose gold with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It leaned pinker than the average "rose gold" eyeshadow. I... Read full review.
ColourPop Reversible
ColourPop Reversible Super Shock Shadow ($5.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a medium, bronzy brown with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had nearly... Read full review.
MAC Overnight Sensation
MAC Overnight Sensation Paint ($22.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark purple with a cooler tone to it overall (although sheered out, it... Read full review.
Chanel Memory
Chanel Memory Ombre Premiere Longwear Cream Eyeshadow ($36.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a golden bronze with warm, brown undertones and a pearly sheen. When... Read full review.
ColourPop Noontide
Noontide is a dark, chocolaty brown with subtle, warm undertones and a pearly sheen. The color payoff was opaque in a single layer, while the texture... Read full review.
I only got one cream eyeshadow this year and it was ColourPop As You Wave. IT IS BEAUTIFUL.
ColourPop DGAF is my favorite. After all the CP frenzy came and went (for me at least) it’s the one eyeshadow I came out still loving. Definitely wearing it for New Year’s.
On the more wearable side I tried MAC Paint Pots for the first time this October. Groundwork and Quite Natural. Love them both though QN is now discontinued. Groundwork I would definitely go back for. They just pull an eye together very nicely with a little bit of eyeliner.
Colour Pop certainly have produced the goods here – love Noontide and I think the Milk makeup ones are of excellent value and universal shades.
Colour Pop super shocks are a new favorite of mine. I really like the formulation. I hope they don’t dry out but for the price point, I won’t be heartbroken if they do. I’m glad to see Mac paints are back, too. I used to use one called Canvas as a primer. I might have to re-up on that. It lasts forever. Overnight Sensation is gorgeous!
Tom Ford Cream and Powder Eye Color is Naked Bronze. It took forever for me to purchase because I just could not get my mind spending that amount for an eyeshadow but it was well worth it since it is my absolute favorite. I don’t think I’ve EVER worn it without getting compliments on it and people asking what it is. It is STUNNING. Also, it’s great if you’re in a hurry, too…great all over lid color and for smudging under the eye. Perfect for all kinds of looks, as complicated and dramatic or as simple as you like (or have time for).
Something about the ColourPop SSS formula and also the MAC Electric Cool shadows is downright addictive! I’m dead serious! So easy to use, they play well with standard powder eyeshadows and all sorts of liners, and just seem to be very lid smoothing, too. Add to that, that the CP SSS’s are only $5 a pop,and you could rapidly have them taking over an enormous bit of makeup storage space. They multiply, I tell you!
Yikes! I went to look at MAC’s site because I hadn’t realized that the Paints had been brought back and wanted to see if there were any left (there aren’t) just out of curiosity. But then I looked through the Paint Pots and was dismayed big time to see they’d got rid of quite a few shades, including CONSTRUCTIVIST, which is one of my favourite brown cream shadows (I like it so much better than Chanel’s DC Ebloui, which I bought when the Illusion d’ombre shadows first appeared). I can’t believe they’d get rid of such a good colour but then again, this IS the company that seems to like getting rid of its best stuff (Matte2, the original Pro Longwear shadows, Mega Metals, Starflash….the list goes on!)
I have been very happy with the Butter London Eye Glasens this past year. They feel great going on, have a smoothing effect on my lids, come in a nice variety of shades, and have frequently been a sale item at Ulta. I do use a primer on my normal to dry lids but they last until I take them off-I also just use them alone and do not use as a base,
I like them too, as well as their Serum Shadows for a very light, finished look. Charlotte Tilbury’s cream shadows are favorites, as are GA Eye Tints, BB pot shadows, NARS sticks (didn’t care for the Eye Paints), LM sticks, MAC Paint Pots, Wander Beauty liquid shadows, and others. I don’t use powder shadows much because I’m finding that they irritate my eyes, and cream/liquid formulations are so much easier–apply with fingers, powder in crease (I usually just set with a tiny bit of face powder), add liner and mascara, and you’re set for the day. It saves so much time–fast application, no brushes to wash, no muss, no fuss. Just an elegant, simple look that lasts all day.
I love all of my Super Shock Shadows! Bouncy, Ignition, Revolution, and Birthday Cake are so gorgeous.
I also adore the one Supernova that I got! Firecracker is a gorgeous shade. I’d definitely choose these over the Stila Glitter + Glow shadows… Similar effect, but easier to remove and not obnoxiously overpriced.
I didn’t buy any this year! (gasp!) ColourPop SSS are always my favorites, though.