Powder Eyeshadows (Over $10) | 2017 Editor's Favorites
Best of 2017
Powder Eyeshadows (Over $10)
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 was surprised by just how few eyeshadow singles I reviewed last year, and when it comes to the more mid-to-high-end side of products, there’s usually not a lack of options, which just goes to show how many brands released eyeshadow palettes instead of singles this year. I hope we’ll see more singles from Anastasia and Urban Decay in 2018, though!
What were your favorite eyeshadow singles this year? Share your favorites in the comments below!
P.S. — View swatches of my favorites here!
Bobbi Brown Poison Ivy
Bobbi Brown Poison Ivy Luxe Eye Shadow ($38.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a dark green with warm, olive undertones and a metallic sheen. It had rich color... Read full review.
Bobbi Brown Melting Point
Bobbi Brown Melting Point Luxe Eye Shadow ($38.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a bright, light-medium peachy copper with warm undertones and a metallic finish. ... Read full review.
MAC It's Snowing
MAC It's Snowing Extra Dimension Eyeshadow ($20.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium, plummy pink with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had... Read full review.
Anastasia Rose Gold
Anastasia Rose Gold Eyeshadow ($12.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a medium-dark copper with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. The pigmentation was fully... Read full review.
Anastasia Golden Copper
Anastasia Golden Copper Eyeshadow ($12.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a bright, medium coppery brown with warm undertones and a sparkling, metallic sheen. It... Read full review.
Anastasia Venice
Anastasia Venice Eyeshadow ($12.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a medium, bluish aqua with a greenish-gold shift paired with a metallic finish. It had a very... Read full review.
Anastasia Enchanted
Anastasia Enchanted Eyeshadow ($12.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a deep, violet purple with cooler undertones and a frosted finish. The consistency was rather... Read full review.
Anastasia Gemstone
Anastasia Gemstone Eyeshadow ($12.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a medium, pinky plum with warmer undertones and a frosted finish. The pigmentation was opaque,... Read full review.
Anastasia Brick
Anastasia Brick Eyeshadow ($12.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark brown with warm, orange undertones and a matte finish. It had intense... Read full review.
Tarte Jaded
Tarte Jaded Metallic Shadow ($14.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a medium-dark, olive green with strong, warm undertones and a golden sheen. It was richly... Read full review.
Tarte Vintage
Tarte Vintage Metallic Shadow ($14.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a molten, golden copper with warm undertones and a metallic finish. It was incredibly... Read full review.
Tarte Revel
Tarte Revel Metallic Shadow ($14.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark red with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had good color... Read full review.
Urban Decay Relish
Relish is a deep red with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation that applied fairly evenly and blended out... Read full review.
Urban Decay Spike
Urban Decay Spike Eyeshadow ($19.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a dark orange with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had intense pigmentation with a very... Read full review.
Urban Decay Thunderbird
Urban Decay Thunderbird Eyeshadow ($19.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a deep brown with a smoldering, black base and a metallic finish. It was intensely... Read full review.
MAC Malibu Bronze
MAC Malibu Bronze Eyeshadow ($16.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark brown with warm, copper undertones and a pearly sheen. It had intense... Read full review.
While at first glance, I was kicking myself for not getting a bunch of the above shown ABH singles, it dawned on me that having ND Lila, I have similar purples to those 2 you picked.
My own personal picks for 2017 were all MAC? Yeah, that’s weird! So, in no particular order: Stylishly Merry, Oh My Mocha!, No Me Queda Más, Missing My Baby, Selena, Fotos Y Recuerdos (even though it didn’t review well, it works great over primer!). Plus a few that while not technically “new”, were new to me: Twinks, Copperplate, Sweet Heat and Fathoms Deep EDES’s!
Oh! Wait a minute, 2 by UD that I forgot; Gash and Snow!
I bought the Tarte metallic in Dark Seas and UD in Psychedelic Sister, a dark purple shimmer, both to add some interest to my basic palettes. I also dug out a Lancôme Color Design in Designer, a metallic greenish gold, that I have had for at least five years. I need to use these more.
I love love LOVE the NARS Hardwired Shadows. Were those 2017? Maybe not. I hope NARS releases more singles.
I also liked the UD single extension, although I kept myself to just one, Smokeout. A great one.
I wish more brands would do singles releases. It’s easier to grab a “treat” when it’s a single at $15 or $20 or whatever. I can’t plunk down $50 every month for a palette, nor do I want to accumulate that much eyeshadow!
I bought UD Relish, and that’s the only $10+ single shadow I bought this year that also came out this year. Gorgeous shade for us red-lovers, and it’s nice to see a matte red perform so well.
I haven’t purchased any singles this year myself, but I do love the ones you’ve suggested here Christine.
I particularly like the BB ones, but not the price.
The Tarte metallics are equally as beautiful, plus UD’s Thunderbird.
I didn’t buy many high end singles this year. Favorites that were new to me this year: UD Relish and Gash, and Sugarpill Poison Plum, Kiss Kiss, Tako, Kim Chi, Buttercupcake, Dollipop, and Midori.
I adore UD Thunderbird as well as ABH Venice (though it isn’t a colour I wear often, I still really wanted to have it in my collection) and Tiger’s Eye. Revel is nice but I prefer Scarlet as it’s a bit less full on red and more subdued. I recently got Grind and Shakedown – not sure if they’re from 2017 or earlier but I really like them both.
ABH Brick and UD Spike are now two mainstays for me. Love them, and will buy back ups in coming weeks. I did buy ABH Rose Gold and appreciate the quality, it’s just a little metallic for routine use for me; I have had my eye on UD Relish but am making myself use up ABH Modern Renaissance reds first. I can’t think of any other favorite singles issues in 2017 that I picked up.