Eyeshadows Under $10 | 2019 Editor's Favorites

With over 2,000 powder eyeshadows (loose and pressed) tested and reviewed (that includes shades found only in palettes) in 2019, there’s a lot to go through! In the under $10 category, the two heavy players are ColourPop and Sydney Grace, both of which have fairly consistent, better-performing formulas and in volume. Sydney Grace in particular as I did the majority of my reviews for the brand in 2019 (only 28 in 2018). These include eyeshadow singles only, whether permanent or limited edition, but they had to be available individually to count toward this list!

If you’re unfamiliar with how I like to do my year-end favorites, here’s the low down: I pull from the products I reviewed in 2019, regardless of whether they were new, limited edition, or an established range I’ve only just gotten around to reviewing. These are personal favorites, so they may or may not be the highest rated products reviewed during the year (though they will tend to be better rated, naturally!). (You can check out best of 2018 if you missed it.)

Temptalia’s Favorite Eyeshadows Under $10 | 2019

Your Year in Review: Eyeshadow Edition — Part 1

I thought it would be interesting to read through how readers used products throughout the year, what favorites emerged, what products fell by the wayside… so, if you want to join in, copy and paste the questions below and add your answers via a comment!

  • What were your must used single eyeshadows this year?
  • Was there a custom palette you used often this year? What’s in it?
  • Do you expect to focus more or less on single eyeshadows in 2020?

7 Comments

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Seraphine Avatar

What were your most used single eyeshadows this year? MAC Grain was definitely my most used eyeshadow because I used it with palettes, too. Other MAC singles I used a lot were Shale, Omega, Quarry, and Twinks.

Was there a custom palette you used often this year? Nope.

Do you expect to focus more or less on single eyeshadows in 2020? About the same.

Nancy T Avatar

What were your must used single eyeshadows this year? MAC Kid, Orb, Haux, Soft Brown, Folie, Arena, ColourPop Facet, Now & Zen, Mr. Sandman, UD “X”, Tonic, Dive Bar.

Was there a custom palette you used often this year? Yes.
What’s in it? MAC Kid, Goldbit, Uninterrupted, and Orb.

Do you expect to focus more or less on single eyeshadows in 2020? About the same…with my only problem being that my 2-3 year palette-palooza has me feeling that I MUST use those up somehow.

Rachel R. Avatar

What were your most used single eyeshadows this year? The #1 most used was ABH Love Letter, because I use the single for my eyebrows. Notoriously Morbid Autumn Flower, MPZ Everything Looks Better on a Meat Hook, MAC Shiny Pretty Shadow in P for Pink, NYX Prismatic Shadow in Mermaid.

Was there a custom palette you used often this year? What’s in it? 1) SugarPill Pro Palette, which has almost all my favorite SP shades. It’s mostly brights. 2) Coastal Scents 28-pan palette, which is mostly colored mattes. 3) ColourPop. Mixed colors and finishes. 4) NYX Prismatic Shadows. I have all of them. 5) Looxi Beauty. It has mostly Aurora Shadows, but there is also 1 or 2 mattes and a couple shimmers.

Do you expect to focus more or less on single eyeshadows in 2020? I hope to focus more. I adore palettes, but I tried using more of my singles in 2019. I especially have a lot of neglected loose powder shadows that are gorgeous and need more attention.

Celesta Avatar

What were your must used single eyeshadows this year? I didn’t use single shadows a whole lot, but there are a few from Fyrinnae cosmetics that were really lovely: the Exquisite Pressed Eyeshadow in Fantasy Creatures being on. The exquisite pressed eyeshadows were probably my favorite formula I discovered this year.

Was there a custom palette you used often this year? What’s in it? I have a larger singles palette of rosy tones that I love to use. It’s a mix of ABH, Colourpop, and Makeup Geek Shadows and a few others.

Do you expect to focus more or less on single eyeshadows in 2020? Probably more as I plan on focusing more on what is in my collection as opposed to buying new things.

Mariella Avatar

What were your must used single eyeshadows this year? Pro Pan refills of MAC All That Glitters, Typographic and Sumptuous Olive, along with Cork and Soba (I read that Soba has now been d/c’d too!). I still use WnW Nutty (not sure if that is even still available)
Was there a custom palette you used often this year? What’s in it? It’s a larger, empty MAC palette with the divider removed and I’ve put my most used MAC singles in there – the ones listed above along with Charcoal Brown, Wedge, Phloof, Omega, Patina, Era, Grain, Goldbit – not really any rhyme or reason to what’s in there except that they’re all neutrals (except one or two) that I reach for often, so they’re all in one place
Do you expect to focus more or less on single eyeshadows in 2020? Probably less – it’s still easier for me to reach for quads, smaller palettes (the Smashbox ones) or even somewhat larger ones like UD’s Naked.

Genevieve Avatar

What were your must used single eyeshadows this year?
Definitely my City Color singles – Cleo, Sandstorm and All Eyes on Me.

Was there a custom palette you used often this year? What’s in it?
No, I don’t have a custom palette, but I am going to have to get one as when I ordered from SG recently, they arrived in just the pan – not a cover or anything. I was a bit annoyed actually.

Do you expect to focus more or less on single eyeshadows in 2020?
Once I get my z palette going, I will probably order some more shades from SG – I will see how I go with the ones I have – Tiara, Cadet, Recruit, Troops and Herky Bird.

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