Eyeshadows (Over $10) | 2018 Editor's Favorites
There were two major single releases this year: NARS Eyeshadows were completely revamped, and I reviewed every single single and duo. When it came to some neutral favorites, I actually found that NARS won me over, particularly with the duos (which don’t qualify for this list, as they’re duos), but there were a few of the singles that caught my eye. Make Up For Ever Artist Color Shadows also debuted earlier this year, which was effectively a redo of the Artist Shadow range that changed the pan size, shape, and reformulated a lot of the finishes. Both ranges weren’t as consistent as I would have liked, though, especially for a permanent, core offering.
Best of 2018
Eyeshadows (Over $10)
The formulas that were new and really impressed me as a whole were Marc Jacobs Beauty See-quins Glam Glitter Eyeshadows (loved just about every shade) and Dose of Colors Block Party Eyeshadows (enjoyed a good number of shades). I really hope MJB will consider adding the See-quins range to the permanent line-up… it’s so good!
What mid-end/high-end 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 (Over $10) of 2018
Make Up For Ever D326 Black Bronze Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a blackened brown with soft, warmer undertones and a sparkling sheen. ...
Make Up For Ever D326 Black Bronze Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a blackened brown with soft, warmer undertones and a sparkling sheen. ...
Make Up For Ever ME930 Black Purple Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a deep purple with subtle, warm brown undertones and a pearly sheen. ...
Make Up For Ever ME930 Black Purple Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a deep purple with subtle, warm brown undertones and a pearly sheen. ...
Dose of Colors Teal Me More Block Party Eyeshadow ($20.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a bright, medium blue with subtle, cool undertones and a sparkling,...
Dose of Colors Teal Me More Block Party Eyeshadow ($20.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a bright, medium blue with subtle, cool undertones and a sparkling,...
NARS Guayaquil Eyeshadow (2018) ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a deep, coppery brown with warm undertones and a satin sheen. It had opaque color payoff...
NARS Guayaquil Eyeshadow (2018) ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a deep, coppery brown with warm undertones and a satin sheen. It had opaque color payoff...
NARS Persia Eyeshadow (2018) ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a deep orange with warm, red undertones and a matte finish. It was intensely pigmented with a...
NARS Persia Eyeshadow (2018) ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a deep orange with warm, red undertones and a matte finish. It was intensely pigmented with a...
NARS Fez Eyeshadow (2018) ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium bronze-shimmered brown with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It was richly pigmented...
NARS Fez Eyeshadow (2018) ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a medium bronze-shimmered brown with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It was richly pigmented...
Dose of Colors Olive You Block Party Eyeshadow ($20.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark olive green with warm undertones and a sparkling,...
Dose of Colors Olive You Block Party Eyeshadow ($20.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark olive green with warm undertones and a sparkling,...
Chanel Cuivre Lame (907) Ombre Premiere Longwear Powder Eyeshadow ($30.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a rich brown with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It...
Chanel Cuivre Lame (907) Ombre Premiere Longwear Powder Eyeshadow ($30.00 for 0.05 oz.) is a rich brown with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It...
Make Up For Ever I328 Bronze Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a medium, olive green with warm, golden undertones and a pearly sheen. It...
Make Up For Ever I328 Bronze Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a medium, olive green with warm, golden undertones and a pearly sheen. It...
Make Up For Ever ME624 Black Gold Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a deep, black-brown with warm, olive undertones and a pearly sheen. It...
Make Up For Ever ME624 Black Gold Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a deep, black-brown with warm, olive undertones and a pearly sheen. It...
Dose of Colors Slinky Block Party Eyeshadow ($20.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a medium-dark pewter with subtle, warm undertones and a sparkling, metallic...
Dose of Colors Slinky Block Party Eyeshadow ($20.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a medium-dark pewter with subtle, warm undertones and a sparkling, metallic...
NARS Ishta Eyeshadow (2018) ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a deep, reddish-berry with subtle, cool undertones and a mostly matte finish. I could see very,...
NARS Ishta Eyeshadow (2018) ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a deep, reddish-berry with subtle, cool undertones and a mostly matte finish. I could see very,...
MAC PatrickStarrr Pigment ($21.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a medium copper with warm, rusty undertones and a sparkling sheen. It had medium, buildable...
MAC PatrickStarrr Pigment ($21.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a medium copper with warm, rusty undertones and a sparkling sheen. It had medium, buildable...
Make Up For Ever D562 Taupe Platinum Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a dark taupe-brown with subtle, warm undertones and a sparkling,...
Make Up For Ever D562 Taupe Platinum Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a dark taupe-brown with subtle, warm undertones and a sparkling,...
Marc Jacobs Beauty Gleam Girl See-quins Glam Glitter Eyeshadow ($28.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a peachy brown base with finer gold sparkle and larger, gold...
Marc Jacobs Beauty Gleam Girl See-quins Glam Glitter Eyeshadow ($28.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a peachy brown base with finer gold sparkle and larger, gold...
Marc Jacobs Beauty Copperazi See-quins Glam Glitter Eyeshadow ($28.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a rich copper with warm, red undertones and a sparkling, gold...
Marc Jacobs Beauty Copperazi See-quins Glam Glitter Eyeshadow ($28.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a rich copper with warm, red undertones and a sparkling, gold...
Marc Jacobs Beauty Glam Noir See-quins Glam Glitter Eyeshadow ($28.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark black with neutral undertones and mostly silver...
Marc Jacobs Beauty Glam Noir See-quins Glam Glitter Eyeshadow ($28.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark black with neutral undertones and mostly silver...
Make Up For Ever ME310 Fir Tree Green Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a dark, forest green with subtle, warm undertones and a pearly...
Make Up For Ever ME310 Fir Tree Green Artist Color Shadow ($17.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a dark, forest green with subtle, warm undertones and a pearly...
Marc Jacobs Beauty Topaz Flash See-quins Glam Glitter Eyeshadow ($28.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a smoldering, medium-dark taupe with subtle, war, reddish...
Marc Jacobs Beauty Topaz Flash See-quins Glam Glitter Eyeshadow ($28.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a smoldering, medium-dark taupe with subtle, war, reddish...
I love your best-of year-end summary reviews!
I really wanted to try some Dose of Color shadows, especially based on your swatches and thorough reviews. But when I went to Ulta website to purchase it, I was scared off by so many reviews that brought up receiving the shadow all broken. A few said that their store-bought version was also broken. Since I had issue with my (only) highlighter shipment purchase of the year also breaking (different company–Sephora–and different brand–Pretty Vulgar), I decided to forego purchasing any Dose of Color shadow.
This packaging issue though, with Sephora (especially its new southern warehouse, I believe) and Ulta, both of which negligently pack their items, really irritates me. I just don’t understand why they can’t correct this. I would have definitely bought a lot more from both of them had they shown any degree of improvement or concern with this issue.
I think I bought all of mine direct… I want to say they sold it as a bundle of all shades so that’s what I did, which seemed to be OK for me. But buying from Ulta is a total crapshoot on whether powder-anything will arrive intact so yeah, I could see being hesitant!
It’s nice to see the MUFE still has some great ones. I’ve been so angry they reformulated; I need to just look at good ones and get over it.
I rarely buy mid-/high-end singles. I loved MAC Shiny Pretty Things in Joy To and got that. I think that was the only high-end shadow that came out this year that I bought.
My most used was my ABH e/s single in Love Letter, because it turned out to be the perfect shade for my eyebrows. I bought it during that big sale earlier in the year just to use on my brows, and save the one in the MR palette for my eyes.
I’m so glad ABH released at least some of the MR shades as singles! Wish they’d do that more often!
Agreed!
I’ve purchased VERY few singles this year. The only ones that come to mind are Mink Magnet from Buxom (I actually thought I’d already bought it but hadn’t) and 2 of the “old” MUFE shadows (round pans) before they were pulled entirely from Sephora.
A ton of these are on my pathetically long WL. Now won’t that be fun going into a low-buy year, lol?
Only purchased MAC PatrickStarrr pigment (LOVE) and MJ Topaz Flash See-Quins e/s (which got knocked off my dresser 2 days ago, and I cannot find it ?).
I just love these reviews!
I am most impressed with Dose of Colours brand – heavenly shades of teal, pewter and olive.
This year I’ve bought seven singles from ABH (chosen from the highest rated by you Christine and which are not included in her e/s palettes).
Currently, on Sephora Canada, you can buy four of her e/s and create your custom 4-pan palette for C$42 (normally a single is C$16). During the last Sephora sale (beginning of December), I combined this promo with the 20% sale and I could get the e/s I wanted at a good price point.
So wanting the See-quins Gleam Girl, argh soooo pretty!