Eyeshadows (Under $10) | 2018 Editor's Favorites
In a sea of palettes, there were still plenty of excellent, single eyeshadows to reflect on from the last year’s worth of reviews. Notably, ColourPop had at least two major single releases (one in late spring, one in winter), I first tried NABLA Eyeshadows and Sydney Grace Eyeshadows (which won’t make a strong appearance on the list, as I’m just starting to review the singles; likely more appearances next year!), and I reviewed some of the NYX Prismatic Shadow extensions.
Best of 2018
Eyeshadows (Under $10)
Long-time readers will know I love a good shimmery pop of color, so a lot of my list tends to get dominated by shimmers and more vibrant/less neutral hues, though I still have a few taupe-y favorites that found their way onto my list!
What more budget-friendly eyeshadows did you reach for this year?
P.S. — You can view swatches of my favorites here.
P.P.S. — If you enjoy reading/viewing my favorites, make sure you check out my all-time favorites here, products I’m thankful for (2018 series), and all of my editor’s recommended products here.
Top Eyeshadows (Under $10) of 2018
ColourPop Paradiso Pressed Powder Shadow ($5.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark berry with subtle, cool undertones and a pearly sheen. It had...
ColourPop Paradiso Pressed Powder Shadow ($5.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark berry with subtle, cool undertones and a pearly sheen. It had...
Sydney Grace Gold Earth Pressed Pigment Shadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark olive green with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It...
Sydney Grace Gold Earth Pressed Pigment Shadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark olive green with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It...
ColourPop Karat Cake Pressed Powder Shadow ($5.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a rich, medium gold with warm undertones and a metallic finish. It was richly...
ColourPop Karat Cake Pressed Powder Shadow ($5.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a rich, medium gold with warm undertones and a metallic finish. It was richly...
ColourPop Slay-farer Pressed Powder Shadow ($5.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium-dark, bluish-teal with a metallic sheen. The eyeshadow was richly...
ColourPop Slay-farer Pressed Powder Shadow ($5.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium-dark, bluish-teal with a metallic sheen. The eyeshadow was richly...
NYX Gilded Prismatic Shadow ($6.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark yellow with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. The eyeshadow had fantastic...
NYX Gilded Prismatic Shadow ($6.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark yellow with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. The eyeshadow had fantastic...
NYX Rose Dust Prismatic Shadow ($6.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark copper with warm, rosy undertones and a metallic finish. The eyeshadow was...
NYX Rose Dust Prismatic Shadow ($6.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark copper with warm, rosy undertones and a metallic finish. The eyeshadow was...
NABLA Cosmetics Radikal Super Matte Eyeshadow ($8.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a deep, olive green with warm undertones and a matte finish. It was richly...
NABLA Cosmetics Radikal Super Matte Eyeshadow ($8.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a deep, olive green with warm undertones and a matte finish. It was richly...
NABLA Cosmetics Unrestricted Just Pearl Eyeshadow ($8.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a deep, reddish-plum base with a green-to-gold shifting pearl. It was one...
NABLA Cosmetics Unrestricted Just Pearl Eyeshadow ($8.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a deep, reddish-plum base with a green-to-gold shifting pearl. It was one...
Sydney Grace Thrilled Matte Shadow ($5.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a deep, green-leaning teal with subtle, cool undertones and a mostly matte finish. The...
Sydney Grace Thrilled Matte Shadow ($5.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a deep, green-leaning teal with subtle, cool undertones and a mostly matte finish. The...
ColourPop Lay Low Pressed Powder Shadow ($5.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium coral with strong, warm undertones and a semi-matte finish. There was very...
ColourPop Lay Low Pressed Powder Shadow ($5.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium coral with strong, warm undertones and a semi-matte finish. There was very...
Sydney Grace Mythical Pressed Pigment Shadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a light-medium purple with subtle, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had...
Sydney Grace Mythical Pressed Pigment Shadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a light-medium purple with subtle, warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had...
Sydney Grace Midnight Gold Pressed Pigment Shadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a deep gold with subtle, warm undertones and a pearly sheen. The eyeshadow...
Sydney Grace Midnight Gold Pressed Pigment Shadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a deep gold with subtle, warm undertones and a pearly sheen. The eyeshadow...
ColourPop Earthshine Pressed Powder Shadow ($5.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a bright, pinky-lavender with warmer, orange undertones and blue-to-lavender...
ColourPop Earthshine Pressed Powder Shadow ($5.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a bright, pinky-lavender with warmer, orange undertones and blue-to-lavender...
ColourPop Formation Pressed Powder Shadow ($5.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium, blue-teal with cool undertones and a matte finish. The pigmentation was...
ColourPop Formation Pressed Powder Shadow ($5.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium, blue-teal with cool undertones and a matte finish. The pigmentation was...
ColourPop Martian Pressed Powder Shadow ($5.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark copper with strong, warmer orange undertones and a matte finish. ...
ColourPop Martian Pressed Powder Shadow ($5.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark copper with strong, warmer orange undertones and a matte finish. ...
ColourPop Bratty Pressed Powder Shadow ($5.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a bright, tangerine orange with warm, orange and yellow undertones and a mostly matte...
ColourPop Bratty Pressed Powder Shadow ($5.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a bright, tangerine orange with warm, orange and yellow undertones and a mostly matte...
NABLA Cosmetics Lotus Super Matte Eyeshadow ($8.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a slightly bright, medium lavender with warm, pink undertones and a matte finish. ...
NABLA Cosmetics Lotus Super Matte Eyeshadow ($8.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a slightly bright, medium lavender with warm, pink undertones and a matte finish. ...
NABLA Cosmetics Calypso Just Pearl Eyeshadow ($8.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a medium, warm-toned purple with a sparkling, metallic sheen. The texture was...
NABLA Cosmetics Calypso Just Pearl Eyeshadow ($8.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a medium, warm-toned purple with a sparkling, metallic sheen. The texture was...
Sydney Grace Fierce Pressed Pigment Shadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a bright, medium purple with subtle, cool undertones and a metallic sheen. There's...
Sydney Grace Fierce Pressed Pigment Shadow ($6.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a bright, medium purple with subtle, cool undertones and a metallic sheen. There's...
ColourPop Antimatter Pressed Powder Shadow ($5.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a deep, navy blue with subtle, cool undertones--almost a "warmer" blue but it was...
ColourPop Antimatter Pressed Powder Shadow ($5.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a deep, navy blue with subtle, cool undertones--almost a "warmer" blue but it was...
NYX Volatile Prismatic Shadow ($6.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a bright, medium purple with warm, pink undertones and a metallic sheen. It had nearly opaque...
NYX Volatile Prismatic Shadow ($6.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a bright, medium purple with warm, pink undertones and a metallic sheen. It had nearly opaque...
NABLA Cosmetics Entropy Just Pearl Eyeshadow ($8.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a medium taupe with warmer undertones and a metallic sheen. It had good color...
NABLA Cosmetics Entropy Just Pearl Eyeshadow ($8.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a medium taupe with warmer undertones and a metallic sheen. It had good color...
ColourPop Conjure Up Pressed Powder Shadow ($5.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a muted, medium green with cool undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque...
ColourPop Conjure Up Pressed Powder Shadow ($5.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a muted, medium green with cool undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque...
ColourPop Mr. Sandman Pressed Powder Shadow ($5.00 for 0.05 oz.) has a warmer, plummy-brown base with pink-to-blue shifting shimmer that gave it a...
ColourPop Mr. Sandman Pressed Powder Shadow ($5.00 for 0.05 oz.) has a warmer, plummy-brown base with pink-to-blue shifting shimmer that gave it a...
I think the only “under $10” shadows I’ve purchased in the last year are the old Sephora ones that were discontinued and so were market down to $6 (CDN) which was pretty amazing. In general, I don’t often buy lower priced shadows simply because the selection here isn’t very good and companies keep discontinuing the good ones like the “old” NYX quilted-surface ones. Also, because I won’t order online, beautiful and affordable shadows like those Sydney Grace ones and Colour Pop are just not available to me.
I have ordered online from ColourPop and was surprised to find that their shipping rates to Aus were really inexpensive and the products arrived, intact, and well packed. No breakages.
So if you ever feel like ordering from them Mariella, I think you may find that they are very good to deal with.
The new NYX Prismatics were wonderful, especially Gilded, Savage, and Glass Slipper. ColourPop’s pressed formulation continued to impress me: I loved Chauffeur, Bratty, Formation, and Hop On.
My favorites were Coloured Raine’s Vivid Pigments. Super-impressive quality and pigmentation, regardless of price point.
Also Igneous Cosmetics’ (etsy): Fantastic purples (African Amethyst; Periwinkle Sapphire) and greens; the new mattes they put out this year are just as good as their shimmers (and they’re vegan, for those looking). Looxi Beauty Auroras in the new shades from earlier in the year (spring, I think). Pretty much any Coastal Scents Hot Pot with a 4-5 star rating (seriously, they’re underrated). Loose shadows — Black Beauty Cosmetics (etsy) Lizzie Borden and Children of the Corn. Anything from Notoriously Morbid and Apocalyptic Beauty.
I was really sad to see that CR made all the Vivids palette only 🙁
Did they change offering singles, then? I got mine as singles because the palette sold out so fast. If so, that’s a shame.
Yep, they switched to selling them as a palette only now! I thought the non-pigment ones were going to still be sold individually but it doesn’t look like it!
Thanks for the info. I’m glad they’ll still be around in some form, at least.
🙁 I only needed three of them, I shouldn’t have waited.
So many gorgeous shades up above! Several of which are currently sitting in my CP cart to be purchased tomorrow. Plus, I may just need to indulge in a few Sydney Grace e/s’s while I’m at it. We’ll see!
Sydney Gace’s Gold Earth and Midnight Gold were most appealing to me. Sensational shades.
And ColourPop’s Antimatter is one of the best teal shades I have ever seen.
This year I had the opportunity to purchase some City Colour singles, reviewed here a couple of years ago.
I purchased Cleo (copper/gold), All Eyes on Me and Sandstorm – the best rated shades. And I haven’t been disappointed in them. They are stunning.
Just picked up a couple on here before seeing. 😉 And then Paradiso make me want to place another order from Colour Pop! I can’t dupe it either, argh. Will have to wait it out before paying foe shipping just for one or two singles just isn’t worth it.