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Rant & Rave: Eyeshadow Pencils

Share: Tell us what you love and hate about Eyeshadow Pencils!

my answer: When they’re really creamy, they’re amazing for quick, easy looks, and they can almost double as an eyeliner (some are better at this secondary task than others). When they’re stiff, they can be really annoying, because even using a brush doesn’t always make it work!

20 Comments

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MzCrafty1908 Avatar

I love when they are creamy and don’t budge. I hate it when they are stiff and don’t stay.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a taupe or cream colored eye liner that doesn’t fade from the water line?

Nikki Avatar

My absolute favorite thing about eyeshadow pencils is that they are the perfect way to wear glitter eyeshadow–there’s no fallout. Unfortunately most eyeshadow pencils don’t HAVE glitter, but when they do it’s really something special IMO. I also like that they can act as a good, sticky base for wimpy powder eyeshadows to grab onto. NYX Milk didn’t change my life, but it’s a helpful product, especially for colors like yellow that often need a little help to pop.

Biggest issues are texture and application (can by hard, dry, or faky, or on the opposite end too soft to sharpen and greasy).

Sunny Avatar

I love them when they are done right! I prefer the twist-up type that are creamy, go on even with good color payoff, blend out easily, and SET for the whole day! A big part of eyeshadow pencils’ charm for me is the ease of use, so if I have to bust a brush out just to blend everything out, the formula doesn’t cut it in my book. Also, if it creases on top of a primer (which I always wear. I don’t really have a choice with my eye shape), it’s also unlikely to be a favorite.

Dreamer19 Avatar

I only like them for the waterline. They seem to fiddly for my lashline and don’t cover well, e. g. leaving space between my lashes and the pencil line. I much prefer gel liner for that or even a think felt tip one.

Audrey Avatar

It seems like it can be difficult for companies to get the right formula. Many are too stiff where it is a bit difficult to apply across the eyelid, without tugging, but these tend to have good lasting power. Others are wonderfully creamy and apply across the eyelid like a dream, but easily crease and don’t last. When a formula can balance creaminess and longevity, they have a winner. My favorites are Laura Mercier’s Caviar Eye Sticks.

Rachel R. Avatar

Rant: They crease and fade on my lids. They aren’t very precise.

Rave: They often do make great eyeliners, and you can find colors you can’t get liners in.

Katherine T. Avatar

Love– lighter and easier to carry around than powder shadows or pots of cream shadows
Rant–I find eyeshadow pencils are harder to apply than powders because the tip is pointed but the eyelids are curved. And once applied, it can look like a thick layer unless I use my fingers to blend it in. And since my lids are oily, pencils can crease more than powders

Mariella Avatar

I like when they are smooth and blendable when first applied but then set and don’t crease (kinda like MAC Paint Pots in a pencil!). When the UD 24/7 shadow pencils first came out, I was all over them and purchased 5 or 6. They were wonderfully long-wearing and non-creasing but they were IMPOSSIBLE to blend at all without basically pulling the living daylights out of my eyelids! I love the pencils from Sephora and Tarte – they combine all the best qualities.

Vanessa V Avatar

I really love Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks I have about 7 of them, they act as a nice base or shadow on their own. I also really love the Tarte shadow sticks as well both are nice and creamy last all day without creasing. And I’d like to try By Terry Ombre Black star shadow sticks as well. Oh and how could I forget the MUF aqua eyes shadow sticks perfect during the summer months and are water resistant/ proof!

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