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Rant & Rave: Eyeshadow Pencils

This Week’s Topic: Eyeshadow Pencils

Share: Tell us what you love, hate, or are otherwise indifferent to about eyeshadow pencils–you know, kind that look like short, wide eyeliners? Better than a regular cream eyeshadow? Worse?

my answer: They have their place — I don’t think it’s a product I reach for as often as a cream eyeshadow, but they’re particular useful for traveling, since they can be used as both a cream eyeshadow as well as an eyeliner. It can be a risky formula, though, as some work well and others are disappointing.

31 Comments

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xamyx Avatar

I don’t go out of my way to buy them, but if I catch something on sale, or at a good price, I may pick it up. Also, I have to really love the color, or have a need for it. I really only use them as bases, though.

Brenda Avatar

I have a Sephora-brand one (in Khaki which is a slightly golden green) that I use all the time as a base and as a liner, and it is probably my most used eye product. Super easy to apply when you’re on the way out the door in the morning. I love it so much I bought the Urban Decay version in Sin, but the UD was so dry when I got it the tip broke off the first time I tried to use it and I wound up returning it. I love the formula on the sephora one though – it wears really well as a shadow and a liner.

Susan Avatar

While reading your post on this subject of pencil liners. It jarred a memory that I bought a Sephora liner a couple of months ago and that I have never used it. I’m am going to my makeup table in a moment to pull this one out and try it. If I like it I might have to go look for the one you described. I love Khaki colored anything, and find if I use it subtly on my eyes it really pulls out the green in my eye color. Thanks for the post! <3

Mariella Avatar

Brenda, I have that same pencil (and I recently bought 2 others) and I agree with you about how great it is and at considerably less than the UD ones, which I like (mine haven’t broken or anything, though the gal at Sephora warned me about breakage as they’re constantly having that problem with their samples…she advised applying with the tip at 90 degrees rather than on a 45 degree angle, if that makes sense). My complaint with the UD ones, as someone else also mentioned, is that they are almost impossible to blend out.

Terri Avatar

never met an eyeshadow pencil that I liked.

So many people love the LM Caviar sticks but I’ve got one in Amethyst and it just makes a muddy mess on my eye. I’ve tried it in MAC and they don’t last. I’ve tried Urban Decay and they “dry” before you can blend.

I’m done with them. LOL.

LauraR. Avatar

I love the concept and I’ve found a few versions I like by Sephora and Mally Beauty.

I have really gotten into cream shadows lately and a pencil seems like a convenient delivery system, but I’ve found most of them dry down to the point that they flake away (that happened with my Urban Decay shadow pencils), adhere in a way that makes even smooth eyelids look wrinkled, or they can’t be layered because shadow won’t stick on them.

I haven’t tried the Laura Mercier ones, but I hear good things. I’d like to try Clinique’s new version.

Jennie Avatar

When I’m travelling, my go-to set of pencils are my UD 24/7’s. They’re chubby enough to do a quick shadow, but they have a point, so I can use them for liner. They last all day, don’t migrate, don’t make a mess during application, and they come in enough shades to do a full eye. Other than that, most formulas under-perform and leave me feeling disappointed. These pencils are the exception, so mostly I don’t like shadow pencils much.

Chelle Avatar

I pretty much only use them as bases in order to amp up the vibrancy of colours. NYX’s milk, which I’m sure everyone’s sick of by now, works wonders to bring out the colour of vibrant pigments. Whereas NYX’s black bean does an amazing thing for any of MAC’s transparent glitters.

Abbey Avatar

I actually use one from Milani every once in a while. I just find myself not reaching for them at all. I bought two UD ones that were so dry and hard they hurt my eyelids–and when I got them to work, they’d often break from the pressure I would have to use. I know a lot of people love them, but they just didn’t work for me. I’ve tried other pencils from other brands, and I don’t like theirs either. I’ve pretty much given up on them because there are so many other products I love and use often.

chris Avatar

I don’t use them everyday. But when I do – it is usually for a pop of color on the lower lash line (i.e. green, blue or purple). I like NYX’s slim waterproof pencils and I like the recently launched Mabyee – Master Drama ones. I also have tons of MAC pencils.

Kate Avatar

I’ve never come across a formula I really liked. My lids move a lot, which means that it’s extremely difficult for me to get even coverage without pulling/ stretching.

Kris Avatar

The two I have I love. Maybelline smokey eyes are awesome! Don’t really like the UD ones because they’re so damn dry, though 🙁 In general, I use them as bases and never really on their own.

beka Avatar

i usually like them because of their convenience-especially in the summer. when its hot out, or when i don’t have much time, i like to be able to just color in my eyelid with a pencil and have a complete look. i’ve tried MUFE and tarte shadow sticks, but i like my trish mcevoy one the best. it doesn’t have a point like the others, but it is a nice purple color (smoky quartz) that actually has some depth to it. i just put more on the outer corners for more definition. it lasts all day and i don’t have to put shadow on top (i usually do with the other two i mentioned).

Mariella Avatar

I love the jumbo shadow pencils from Sephora and the new ones from Tarte (I got a set of them before Xmas) – both brands offer really long lasting products that are double duty (work as liners and shadows) and that don’t crease. When they were first released, I bought several of the UD 24/7 shadow pencils which I loved for their long wear also and veratility. There were also some gorgeous colours. The only problem with those is that they are so difficult to blend out – you have to be really quick and often do a fair bit of tugging and even then, sometimes they just won’t blend. The Sephora and Tarte ones blend beautifully, though. My only complaint is sharpening them. I wish they came as “twist up” pencils, like MAC Greasepaint sticks or Clinque Chubby Stick lipsticks do. There is so much waste with a sharpener and you (or at least I) can never the the same shape tip that the pencil originally had, no matter how you try.

Melissa Avatar

I just want to let you know that Clinique is coming out with Chubby Stick Tints for Eyes and they are twist up!! Which is so amazing they blend amazingly and there is a good colour range. I would defiantly watch for them to come out they’re already at some Clinique counters.

Julia B. Avatar

I have been using more and more cream shadows and shadow pencils lately. They are easy to use and I don’t have to worry about fallout and incessant blending. I like Urban Decay’s 24/7 shadow liners. I have the set that included: rehab, juju, sin, and clash. I also bought a full size of midnight cowboy. I was not a fan of midnight cowboy at first. It was very dry and I couldn’t get it to go on smooth. However, after you sharpen it a few times, you’re golden. I also just got two of the new Bobbi Brown shadow sticks. They are amazing. They are the cream shadow formula in a stick form. I got them in golden pink (a shimmery metallic that DOES go on smoothly and opaque) and sand dune (a warm light tan). I have the NXY jumbo shadow pencil in Milk, but I honestly don’t use it much. It’s really tacky and difficult to blend.

Tatiana Avatar

the one i use on a daily basis is NYX eye / eyebrow pencil in 906 white,i place it on my waterline, it lasts longer than other pencils i’ve tried before. also like NYX jumbo eye pencils as an eyeshadow base, my favs are 611 yogurt and 613 lime (although sometimes they can crease, if applied thicker than usual)

Ellen Avatar

I love Sephora’s 12hr pencils – on me, they don’t crease with a base, and they last all day. Plus they’re only $12! I won’t spend much more than that, though, because they can be really tricky. And the colors I have are neutral, for an all-over-lid wash of color.

Laura Tinapay Avatar

I have a few that I like:

Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks. Sephora 12hr Jumbo Liner. Bobbi Brown Long-wear Cream Shadow Stick. Stila Smudge Crayon. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Pencil. I am completely obsessed with eyeshadow pencils as you can tell! They all perform well and last a long time. The main differences are the price, location, brand, etc.

Aubrey Avatar

I totally agree about the “some work better than others” statement. Yep, I’m thinking of you Nars pencils. 🙂
I really love the UD 24/7 pencils for an overall wash of color.

t_zwiggy Avatar

The ones I’ve tried have SUCKED! They are either too creamy and crease on my oily lid within 5 minutes or they are stiff and dry and applies unevenly. I also find them really hard to blend.

QuinnFace Blog Avatar

I have not yet found an eyeshadow pencil that I really LOVE. The Urban Decay 24/7 ones are OK, but they don’t always apply evenly, and I find that the Milani shadow eyez are about the same.

Both are decent but I prefer cream eyeshadow most of the time.

I wish there was a really wonderful formula that I did love, because it would be nice to just sweep it on and go.

Ani_BEE Avatar

Ok I have to admit I’m addicted to Eyeshadow Pencils over cream pot shadows.

I have, MUFE, Annabelle, Milani, Sephora, Marcelle, Estee Lauder one from the summer collection, a polish label one and I use to have UD ones in Lit Sin and Midnight Cowbody bit had issue with all but Sin out of the three.

Christina Avatar

I only have the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils and Urban Decay 24/7 glide on Shadow Pencils. They are so easy to use and blend. Plus, they don’t crease on me. I usually only use them when I can’t be bothered to spend a lot of time on my eye makeup though.

Kendra Avatar

I like them. I use them for a quick smoky eye when I’m in a rush. But usually I use them as an eye shadow base to really build more color and dimension. I have a couple from nyx and one from Sephora. Even though I have oily skin, I only experience mild creasing after about 6 hours, although I always use a primer and usually set with a powder. I wouldn’t say they are a staple in my makeup collection or routine, but they are a nice addition.

Sierra Avatar

They’re okay. I have a couple UD ones, and they’re fine. I’m pretty good about blending them out quickly, so they’re really not that big of a deal. I just prefer using a real eyeshadow because I have more color options. =P

yajuwen Avatar

I love those pencils but unfortunately I don’t think they serve well as eyeshadow. I can finish my everyday eye look in 5 minutes because of the thick line I got in one single stroke. I appreciate the versatility, while I don’t think it can ever be used alone on me. I still need to set with powder, and can never blend them well enough. It’s more like a jumbo eyeliner for me than eyeshadow actually.

Melissa Avatar

The only eyeshadow pencils I’ve tried are the Clinique Chubby Stick Tint for Eyes which I love and I’m very excited to launch onto counter. They blend amazingly and give a very good colour payoff.

Ana Avatar

I have just three of them. All were a gift from a friend who sells Yves Rocher products. I have oily lids so they are not my first option, however, I have used them as eyeshadow base and they are amazing! I love the color payoff and the way eyeshadow looks when applied over them. I use primer and they last longer than any eyeshadow, I don’t know with other brands but I’m willing to give them a try.

Hazel Avatar

Have all of the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eyeshadow pencils (the fat ones) and I use them as smudgy eyeliners. I don’t want that much color on my entire lid. Morphine is my favorite. Great for hazel eyes.

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