I usually apply with a flat, synthetic brush like MAC 242 or 249! If I want a softer look, I might use fingers to apply the color all over the lid.
We're here to help you make better beauty purchases that you'll enjoy and love! We recommend signing up to take advantage of personalized features like tracking products you own, viewing dupes that you already have, and more!
Here are some useful resources for you:
Curious how two shades compare to each other? Type in the shades below to get instant side-by-side swatches!
Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!
Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).
We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!
We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!
I start with A LOT of shadow primer (something like UD Primer Potion) and apply the shadow with a brush. Slippery primers do a great job of grabbing cream shadows off of brushes.
I find a fairly tacky base works perfectly with creams as well.
I wish I had a simple answer to this question but there are a couple of factors that I take into account, is the cream shadow a matte or a shimmer, where am I placing it on the lid, how precise of an application am I looking for and finally and probably most importantly to me, have I used the shadow before and know how it performs. If I am not looking for a precise placement then I usually opt for my fingers for application and blending. If I am only placing on the mobile lid and it is a shimmer then I usually use my finger also. For mattes in and above the crease I like a small, loose blending brush, especially if they are super pigmented because I pick up less product that way. I would rather add more than try and take it off or blend it out forever. For very precise placement I will always use a flat synthetic brush and will go easy on picking up product if I have not used it before. It is also difficult to tell how much play time you have with some cream products if they dry down to a powder or set and don’t budge so the first few times can be tricky. Great question. I can’t wait to come back in the light of day and see what everyone uses. I would like to pick up some pointers!
Oooh, that depends on what type of cream I’m dealing with! If it’s a glitter-bomb by say, Colourpop, I will use a flat synthetic concealer brush to lay it down, so that I pack on enough of the glitter particles. If it’s very creamy, like Nyx Milk or a Maybelline Color Tattoo, I just use my clean fingertips. Some come with a doe-foot applicator, with those, I will put some on my lid and smooth it out with my finger.
I use a stiff domed brush ( like the kind included in the Urban Decay palettes) to apply a wash off color at first, then I go back in with a flat shader brush or even my finger for more specific placement.
I use my fingers. To be honest, I never even thought about using a brush for them
With my fingers. I usually stick to cream products when I don’t feel like dirtying a brush, so…
Never with my fingers, always with a synthetic brush. Though recently I tried a natural brush and it worked quite well.
I apply it with my ring finger and use my middle finger to blend out the edges. I like the idea of a “fuss free” application. Sometimes I’ll use a flat concealor brush to lay it down and buff with a synthetic blending brush. Depends on the color of the cream shadow.
It depends on the product. Typically I start with my finger and then blend with a synthetic brush, if needed.
I don’t ? Powder for the win!
My finger or with a small fluffy brush
Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow Brush
With a flat synthetic eyeshadow brush from the body shop or with an applicator, that works really well!
The only cream eyeshadows that don’t dry out my kids are the ones by Tom Ford and a few by Chanel. I use to TF blending brushes: one to stiple on the cream eyeshadow and the other to blend it out. I have deep set eyes with a large moveable lid so that particular brush size and shape works perfectly for me.
The only ones I wear are ColourPop and sometime Maybelline Color Tattoos (as a base). I use primer, then a flat, synthetic brush. If I just want a little shine or glitter in the center of my lid, I use my ring finger and a ColourPop shadow. Then I spray with setting spray.
I can actually count how many cream shadows I have on about a hand and a half. I basically use the same method as you do, Christine. I either use my finger or a small brush. I apply primer first then will go in with my creme shadow.
Usually use a fingertip but sometimes I use those sponge applicator things that come with eye shadows. Depends on the texture of the cream, whether it’s smooth and easy to apply (fingers) or if it’s stiff and takes a little more oomph (applicator).
If I’m rushed, just a clean finger tip. Otherwise, I use a flat synthetic brush. I usually use a Bobbi Brown brush made for cream shadows.
I always use my fingers. Sometimes I will apply a primer if it is really hot out & I plan on spending time outdoors.
I use Mally cream pencil type cream. It’s like coloring in my eyes. One or two sweeps of each color and I’m done. Love it.
I don’t use cream eye shadows. On my hooded eyelids it would look terrible.
Tacky base, Synthetic brush, MAC 217 is my most oft used.
I’ve decided I do not like colour pop eyeshadows. I have so many shadows which are less fussy and far easier to graduate and blend, so for this formula I tend to stick to using a finger to strategically pat on, usually just as an inner corner or mid lid highlight colour.
Another vote for flat synthetic here. I’ll tap the color borders with the clean side if the edge is a little harsh when using a darker cream shadow but I’m not really a “blend, blend, blend” kind of gal with any type of shadows, more like “pat, pat, pat”. Especially if it’s just laying down a cream base color, it doesn’t need to be that perfect if powder or glitter is going over it. I kind of cringe when I see people scrubbing back and forth tugging and moving the delicate eye skin, ugh. For near the lash lines, I have an ancient Smashbox #9 that can stamp a nice thin line of color in place.
I usually apply with fingers first, then go back and add more with a brush (typically a flat shader) if there are areas that need it.
I really like using Chanel’s Illusion d’Ombre in 81 Fantasme as a base for other shadows, but that’s not a subtle look. 🙂
I mix with a little eye cream. Then I use a concealer brush and it goes on so smooth and effortlessly. Also makes a great shadow base.
I always apply them with my fingers.
I mostly have laura mercier caviar sticks as my cream eye shadows… Which i apply directly from the tube. For mac pan versions, i prefer to use to fingers. At the end, i definitely use my mac 217 brush to blend out the crease area.
Although I have some, I am not very good at applications. Looking forward to reading everyone else’s comments. They ones I have used with success are the bullet types that apply directly and I blend with fingers.
First, I pat it on with my fingertip, then blend it out with my Quo cream shadow brush.
I use the Maybelline Color Tattoo’s everyday as base (rarely as eyeshadow). So the application method depends on how long my nails are. Short nails – fingers, long nails – a flat synthetic brush.
As for eyeshadows in a crayon – I draw lines on lid and blend with any dense brush, preferably synthetic. High speed is crucial here since most of my crayons last forever but dry in seconds.
Always fingers, and usually only one shade. Never more than 2.
Some of you brought up the excellent point of crayons and twist ups. I was too quick to consider those. Those I just do straight from the tube. I would then use my finger if there was any strange edges that needed blending. I probably also wouldn’t line my upper lid. These kinds of colors, whether they are bright or subtle, tend to look best on their own. I’m currently working a bright yellow wet n wild cream shadow pencil (Color Icon, Chiquita Sunrise). Just that with a soft black liner (NYX Slide On in Black Sparkle_ on the lower lashes and a coat or two of mascara – nothing too spidery (Benefit Roller Lash, from this month’s Glossybox). Cream shadow needs to be kept simple.