How do you like to use cream eyeshadows? How do you use them most often?
I love using them as a wash of color for a really, really quick look, or two or three of them paired together. I used to use them as eyeshadow bases, but I tend to just use them together now!
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I’m totally hooked. Long-wearing, waterproof cream eyeshadows are the best things for my sensitive, watery eyes. Unlike powder eyeshadows, they don’t make my eyes water nearly as much, and they also don’t go patchy within 30 seconds of contact with tears. I don’t love them on the crease as much, though, because I prefer to apply them with fingertips because I’m lazy.
I still love my sparkly indie eyeshadows, but for the inner upper corners of my eyes and lower outer corners (seemingly the most sensitive/prone to patchiness area) I can hardly use anything but long-wearing cream formulas now. I still need a primer underneath usually, since creasing and fading still occur otherwise.
It depends on what type of cream it is, the type by ColourPop or MAC Electric Cool or Maybelline Color Tattoos I use as regular eyeshadow. But ones that stay somewhat creamy like jumbo pencils, I use as a base.
I always have difficulty using more than one cream eyeshadow! What brushes do you use to apply them?
Most times I use them as a wash of colour on the lids (MAC Groundwork is so great for an easy neutral eye) or as a base, and then I apply powder eyeshadows on top.
I love MAC Groundwork for a “done/ undone” neutral eye! It’s a go-to with a black flick liner & big lashes 🙂
I have used cream eye shadows as my every day eye shadow for years. I always use an eyelid primer first. My favorite is Clinique Nude Rose. I have been using it for over 20 years. It is beautiful as an all over color and as a base. It is the most beautiful cream eye shadow I have every used, and I have used dozens. It continues to be my go-to eye color. With a primer it lasts all day. I love cream shadows and prefer them to powders.
They are a lazy girl’s shortcut to eye makeup! I use them for a wash of color too or sometimes as bases for powders!
Good point. 😉
I rarely use cream eyeshadows, the only times I really use them is as a base for when I really want to intensify colours
Since I have oily lids, I use them as a base, but I have to put powder shadow on top, as even the most “crease proof” ones will crease on me if I don’t. They intensify my powder shadows and make them last longer.
I always want to answer these questions with the first thing that comes to mind… I never do. But now I will…
On toast.
There you go 🙂
I like to use shimmery shades as highlighters for the inner corners and the browbone, as I find those are the first colors to fade throughout the day 🙂
I use them on their own, usually as a wash of colour but the more pigmented ones I’ll also use as liner. On the odd occasion I’ll put I similar coloured eyeshadow on top to make it more intense and the only one I tend to use as a base is MAC Painterly Paint Pot. My new cream eyeshadow obsession is the Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Color range. I’m loving the one called Fog (I forget the code) and Caviar (shimmery black) is so versatile for smokey eyes and liner. 🙂
I just googled Fog — it’s such a pretty taupe, not too warm! I might put this on my buy list for the Sephora sale
With a synthethic brush. I don’t like using my fingers.
I do not suit complex eye looks so cream eyeshadows are an easy quick eye look for me. Many times a single cream eyeshadow blending into a just above the crease is the extent of my look for the day with a bit of mascara; especially when I am wearing a bold lip. I also use cream eyeshadow as a base for shadow. I find they liven up powder shadows which can be too dry and dull looking on a more mature eyelid. I like pairing different textures so I wear a shimmery cream base under a matte shadow or a matte base under a shimmery shadow.
I’m the same, they are perfect for a quick wash of colour when your limited on time!
I tend to use them on their own as quick, easy “one and done” looks or as bases for other shadows. It’s odd but I’m never quite sure how to blend them and yet blending powder shadows isn’t a challenge at all. Christine, do you start with a lighter shade and then work in the darker one(s)? Would you put the lighter shade all over your lid and then start layering the darker ones over it, placing where you want them? See what I mean?
Yes and no! I’ll usually start with the lighter shade and end with the darker shade, but sometimes I’ll take my brush that I used with the lighter shade and go over top the darker shade if it isn’t blending as well as I want 🙂
i mostly use them as bases 🙂
Mostly as eyeshadow bases or on the lids for a little color. I don’t create complete looks with them. Though I’m not sure why lol. Guess that gives me something to play with on my off day
I don’t! With my oily eyelids I’m afraid they will crease like there is no tomorrow. But if creamy eyeshadowpencils count, the Jordana ones are great both as a base or worn alone.
I like to put them on, then cross my fingers and pray they’ll stay!
My basic workhorse neutrals I use as a base. My more colorful or unique cream eyeshadows I wear alone with a dusting of translucent powder to minimize creasing. My current favorites are Giorgio Armani Maestro #3, a burnt orange beauty and Dior’s Fusion Mono Matte in Mirage, a murky gray/taupe color.
What brush do you use, Christne?
Any flat, synthetic brush – MAC 242, Sephora Concealer brush (it’s really old, has no name on it), IT Cosmetics has one (it’s a bit fluffy), MAC 252
I like the Real Techniques base eye shadow brush 🙂
Same! Usually as a quick wash of colour, or sometimes as a shadow base. There are some really great cream shadows out there!
I use them as a base to intensify my eyeshadow colour.
I don’t use cream eyeshadows, aside from ColourPop and Hard Candy Eye Def. Most cream shadows crease on me, even with primer. ColourPop doesn’t, though, so I love it for it’s bright and unusual shades. Cricket is my favorite lavender-taupe for a 1 or 2 color look. I use the Hard Candy Eye Def for a pop of super-sparkly, intense, unusual color on the lids. It doesn’t work so well in the crease for me, but with primer, the lids do fine for the day. Both are inexpensive, so double win.
As a quick one product look or as a base.
Love them, the formulas have improved the last three/four years.
I like to use my cream eye shadow along with my matte eye shadow as a play of texture that complements my skin tone. I also like to be dramatic while playing with texture. If I do a neutral eye, I use Nars Cream eye shadow in Paper Tiger all over my eyelids with either my fingers or a cream shadow brush to blend all over the lid. Then I apply Nars matte eye shadow in Sophia from the top of the lid to the crease and blend into the cream with a rounded crease brush. The brown shadows begin to blend and mimic my skin. It looks like I’m not wearing makeup but I am. As for the dramatic side, I do the same on the lids, but with the crease I use Make Up For Ever Matte in Black to add more drama. The black shadow pops the eyes out. Don’t forget to do a beautiful cat eye liner with black liquid liner, and 2 coats of Diorshow Mascara and you’re ready to go!
I use them for a single color, quick out the door look. Maybelline Color Tattoo in Nude Pink is a perfect eyeshadow base for me, especially if I’m doing a look involving minimal color. I have some discoloration on my eyelids and it covers them up better than any other primer/base I’ve tried.
As a base, if I’m wearing it alone, it’s on a lazy day. Having oily lids Laura mercier is the only brand that lasts without creasing
I am not into cream eyeshadows, mainly because I have so many beautiful satiny powder shadows from great palettes that have been reviewed here and given an A – bareMinerals The Playlist, Guerlain’s Les Gris, Charlotte Tilbury’s the Rebel etc.
I think that the cream shadows go too hard after awhile – I am not sure if this is really the case or not.
I love using cream shadows, I just find them a little more difficult to work with than powder shadows. It just takes practice. For instance, I have SO many ColourPop shadows, and they’re all beautiful, but it takes some talent to use them. I typically just use my ring finger tip to apply them. Using a brush is useless.
I own creme eyeshadow but seldom use them because of a lack of skill. All the suggestions below will certainly help!
My new favorites! Fast and easy, budge proof. Can apply with brush or finger.
I especially like the cream stick eyeshadow’s.
Some days just one color. Night 2 or 3 colors.
I use the cream eyeshadow as my primary lid color and use powder shadows for transition and crease colors.
i tend to use them for bases and not usually on its own but it really depends on the formula. the loreal infallible i use along because it had a dryer formula so easier to blend. the Maybelline ones are a bit creamier so i tend to use them more for bases. I have two tom ford cream shadows which i use for bases mainly because for some reason the color doesn’t build up? unless im doing it wrong!