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Eyeshadows (Cream & Powder) | 2013 Editor's Favorites
When it comes to eyeshadows, by and large, most of the ones covered these days are found in palettes! There are definitely plenty of reviews of singles, but palettes outnumber them easily. To compile this list, though, I only think it’s fair to focus on the singles (that’s why there’s a whole top ten for palettes, so they’re not left out!) that made my heart pitter-patter and go all aflutter. As always, I tried to go across formulas and colors, picking the best of the best, though I couldn’t help myself from choosing two from Dior’s new cream formula.
- Tom Ford Escapade Cream Color for Eyes — it’s a golden peach with a metallic sheen; but this (paired with Pink Haze) is my go-to combination for a bright, warm eye–I’ve reached for this nearly every time I have a “no-testing” day
- Sugarpill @#$%! Eyeshadow — a bold, warm-toned red with silver sparkle
- NARS Persia Eyeshadow — a superbly pigmented, burnt orange with a matte finish
- Dior Millenium (381) Diorshow Fusion Mono Eyeshadow — a glorious blackened brown with bronze and pewter shimmer
- MAC Brazenly Eyeshadow — a richly pigmented purple-berry with a frosted sheen (if every collection by MAC was as high quality as Nudes & Metallics, we’d all be in big trouble)
- Illamasqua Sadist Eyeshadow — a bold, vibrant cornflower blue with a matte finish
- Urban Decay Peace Eyeshadow — reformulated, it was so soft, smooth, and intensely pigmented
- Dior Aventure (081) Diorshow Fusion Mono Eyeshadow — a gray and bronze-shimmered black-brown (it says something when I buy every single shade available in a formula, as I did with this one)
- MAC Tailor Grey Pro Longwear Paint Pot — a deliciously creamy, satin-matte taupe with subtle warm undertones
- Sephora My Boyfriend’s Jeans (19) Eyeshadow — a cool-toned, bluish-purple with intense pigmentation (almost never happens!)
MUFE Aqua Cream, MUFE powder shadow, Inglot, and Sugarpill in general.
What are your must-have eyeshadows from MUFE? (Powder)
“I’ve reached for this nearly every time I have a “no-testing” day”
How often do you have “no-testing” days? 😉 hahahaha
Probably once a month or less 😉 But sometimes I wear it at the end of the day if we’re doing something special – so I’ve tested something the first eight hours of the day and then put those two on to go out (and get to wear them for about two or three hours)!
I’ve really been loving your top ten lists! Gorgeous all of them, excellent choices!! My favorite singles that I’ve discovered this year are, Sugarpill @#$%!, Urban Decay Omen (not available in Canada, but found it in the states, yay!) Benefit skinny jeans, Mac pressed pigment in Sweet Acting (beautiful for layering on top of shadows!) Mostly been a year of palettes for me this year.
That’s great that you were able to snag Omen when you were in the states, Karen! 🙂
I liked the new Sephora shadows, I filled a 3-pan, but I was especially impressed with the mirror finish. So sparkly, hardly any fallout!
I was quite impressed with them, too – not every single one was a winner – but a lot of them were nice!
It’s not new this year, but I bought MUFE #92 at the F&F sale and it’s probably the best single eyeshadow I bought this year. It’s such a deep rich color, I can’t imagine it not capturing everyone’s attention!
YAYYY! #92 is a classic purple!
The ones that come to mind for me this year are Urban Decay Snare (it may have come out last year but I was only able to get it this fall, at one of the Sephora’s inside JC Penney) and L’Oreal’s Infallible in Tender Caramel (I think it’s a newer shade) as well as the Sephora Jumbo shadow pencils – I’ve got a few of them and love them. Oh, and speaking of Sephora…I think these were introduced in 2013 or else late 2012 but they were phased out in 2013 and that’s a shame but it’s the Prisma Chrome eye shadow in the colour Taupe. So beautiful but these shadows (there were maybe 6 shades) weren’t around very long and it’s a real shame.
Snare was REALLY close to making this list actually 🙂
I picked up some of the Prisma Chromes but I think Sephora discontinued about a week after I received them, lol!
Does Naked 3 count? If I have to say a single eye shadow, I have been loving Urban Decay Easy Baked and more recently MAC Sweet Heat this year.
Naked3 would work for a top palette 🙂 Easy Baked is pretty!
The blues are so pretty!! I wish the Sephora one was matte though!
I wouldn’t be surprised if they had something matte and similar!
Persia looks so good! I’m definitely going to indulge one of those days.
It’s not a new formula, but I’ve discovered Chanel cream eyeshadows this year (I own Mirifique), and hopefully my collection will expand), and I really like them.
Mirifique is one of the best ones!
Agree, Christine. The biggest highlights this year for me with respect to eyeshadow were definitely the amazing MAC Paint Pots added to the permanent collection and the Dior Fusion Mono eyeshadow line. I don’t think a day goes by where I am not wearing MAC paint pot in stormy pink, tailor gray, camel coat or utterly becoming (this one came out a bit later in the year and might be LE..not sure). These serve as the backbone to most of my eye looks. I’m not sure I can describe why I love these so, but it has a lot to do with how interesting and yet muted these shadows are and they create the most lovely even canvas without primer as it acts double duty for me. Typically I will wear a paint pot shadow and a bit of smudged liner or even just push in a bit of darker shadow along the lashline and I’m good to go. Dior Fusion eyeshadows are subtle enough for day use, but pack a punch in evening lighting. Again a product that can be worn as a simple wash to great effect. Budgeproof too. Just really really love both these products.
I was so excited to see MAC add new shades to their PP range! It was in need of a revamp! And I think they picked really lovely neutral shades for bases and the like.
Mac woodwinked, UD chase & blunt, shiseido GD 803 cream have been my go to eyeshadow’s for 2013!
Nice choices, Bre! super pigmented shades there!
NARS Yamal is probably one of the most “boring” shadows, EVER, but it’s a perfect transition shade for me. It’s also great in the crease, as well as the lid, so it’s a complete workhorse.
The Maybelline Summer Color Tattoos were winners, as were the matte Winter ones. I also love Tough As Taupe & Barely Branded, which have been around a while, but I’m late to the game!
I’m not at all surprised you’d say that, Amy 😉 I knew Yamal would be a favorite for you.
I really want to try some of Sugarpill’s stuff! Perhaps that will be my beauty quest for 2014…! 🙂
Yes, you need to try!!
Mac is a standby and Urban Decay is awesome, but for 2013 definitely Burberry midnight brown and mulberry!
Love Burberry’s eyeshadows 😉
Mine are:
1) Chanel Soft Touch Eyeshadow in Vert Khaki
2) MAC Powder Eyeshadows in Aztec Brick, Banafsaji, Brazenly, Divine Decadence, and Deep Fixation
3) Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes in Pink Haze
4) Urban Decay EyeshadowS in Bender, Roach, and Snare
Pink Haze <3
I think because their shades are a little bit out of my comfort zone, it took me until this year to get into Sugarpill. But I recently bought Poison Plum and their Chromalust Trio in Zillionaire, and I feel in love instantly. I have @#$%! on its way now because why not? It makes me feel better that you liked it!
Another standout eyeshadow single for me was Lunatick Cosmetics Labs’ “Reindeer Fuel.” Very buttery, nice pigmentation and blends well despite a little dust up. I will get some of their palettes in the future.
I also fell in love with UD’s Laced, Desperation, Omen, Loaded, Snare, X and Chase this year.
Sephora’s eyeshadow looks really impressive.
Oh! I forgot UD’s Blunt and Stray Dog! Lol.
…I also forgot Makeup Geek singles. I am a mess. Wish you could edit your comments.
It’s hard for me to say no to a red eyeshadow, even though it’s not exactly a shade I’d wear every day myself!
I LOVE Cream Eyeshadows. That is all. LOL.
okay maybe not. I like single powder eyeshadows, but it is very hard to buy just one and I end up buying 4738473843 shades, so I’d rather go for palettes now as they are more cost effective. I’ve only hit pan on maybe 2 eye shadows in my life and I even if I did a full face of makeup 2x a day, I’d still not finish my collection. I wish cosmetic companies would cut down the size and PRICE in half so I buy more singles, cause really, who really ends up using up a whole eye shadow (especially the big sized ones)?
I’d love smaller sizes WITH smaller prices!
Mally evercolor shadow sticks in champagne,
Twilight, rosey taupe, graphite and purplr rain.
Bare minerals glimpse several color’s.
IT cosmetics palette in Pretty. Tarte Pallette’s.
Urban Decay Nudes 1. Too Faced palette in
Smokey eyes and nude natural palette.
Estee Lauder wink in pink.
Will have to check out Wink in Pink!