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If you were in a rush, what one eyeshadow would you apply?


If you were in a rush, what one eyeshadow would you apply? Share!

Tom Ford Escapade or Pink Haze!

Thanks to reader Phoebe for today’s question idea Do you have a question idea? Submit yours here.

123 Comments

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Samantha Avatar

MAC Gilt by Association if I wanted it to be noticable, or MAC White Frost if I just wanted a little highlight. I b cannot even remember the last time I only eore one shade of eyeshadow.

Katherine T. Avatar

If I’m running late, I will slap on Benefit’s Longwear Powder Eyeshadow in Call My Bluff–it’s a light almond beige color that’s a little lighter than my skin color, so it really brightens up the eye area and makes me look awake. Then I just swipe on some lipstick and run out the door!

StrangeOne Avatar

It’s cracking me up to say this but I would put lorac Pro’s cream because it matches my skin tone and then just line my eyes. I’d rather make a blank canvas and erasure of any discoloration for a properly nude look.

Ade Avatar

Urban Decay Juju 24/7 Shadow Pencil
It wears like iron on my oily lids (with or without primer), even better than M·A·C Paint Pot!
Not only this was a limited edition shade, they also had to discontinue this awesome product…. 🙁

Rachel R. Avatar

I go for one of three similar colors: BareMinerals i.d. loose powder eyeshadow in Bubbly or Barely There, or Colorevolution loose mineral eyeshadow in Surreal. They are all medium-light pinky nudes with shimmer. Very easy to buff over the entire eye quickly, and the colors go with everything. They don’t look weird if I have to skip liner and/or mascara. They are easy to dress up with liner and mascara, or add other shadow colors to later if I want to.

Mina Avatar

MAC orb, cause it brightens my eyes, or maybelline color tattoo in tough as taupe.
Also I like ingot pigment 35, but it’s more evening look and requires more makeup on.

Jennifer Avatar

Shiro Climbing Chaos – “Rich velvety brown with a warm metallic copper-bronze shine” – looks like rich suede on the lids, and only needs to be blended well for a complete-looking eye

Kuávsui Avatar

Thankfully I have so many good ones I can just slap on — the brown Eyelid and Crease shades in WnW Comfort Zone for example, or the reddish brown in IsaDora Matte Chocolates, or the second darkest in L’Oréal Color Riche quad Marron Glace. Those tend to be my go-to shades for a neutral day look when I’m in a hurry.

Astrild Avatar

In days when I’m wearing a no-makeup makeup look, I always gravitate to MAC Painterly Paintpot. Other than that, I have two favorites, Bad to the bronze color tattoo and MAC Eclair paintpot (looooove this one).

Soleil Avatar

Agree! And very timely too! For the past few days I’ve been searching for that single eyeshadow color for everyday use. This blog is the answer…as always.

sophie wynne Avatar

I know when from applying eye makeup every single day it’s probably the quickest part of the application for me, so from my eyeshadow palette I would apply a light nude color over my whole base and then a darker brown in the corners – just gives my blue eyes more standing out ability power!

what about you? 🙂

Carla Avatar

For a very simple almost-no-makeup look, I could swipe on OCC’s Crème Color Concentrate in “John Doe.”
I have ridiculously oily lids, so if I were to put a powder shadow onto unprimed lids, I’d have the creasy-creasies in a matter of seconds. “John Doe,” however, will stay put for two to three hours, and it’s a wonderful matte neutral.

gemma Avatar

Either Sleek Makeup eye dust in “Dirty” or RMS cream eyeshadow in “Magnetic.” Both can be applied with fingers. They’re also both easy to transform just by building up the color.

Sarah Avatar

I work shift work, so in the morning, I like to apply Mac Arena and in the evening I would apply Mac Soft Brown.. and on days off… well nothing if I’m in a hurry.

Susan Dowman Nevling Avatar

My eyes are a bit hooded so I would choose a medium warm brown, at least
in the crease or deeper in the crease. I love colors and usually use at least four colors but not when in a hurry.

Tammy Avatar

I got the six set of Laura Mercier caviar eyeshadow sticks you recommended this month and I have used one or two of them every time I don’t have time to do a full eye look, which has been four times in the past two weeks. Seriously, I’ve never used ANYTHING four times in one month, much less two weeks. These sticks are a revelation for me!

Charlotte Avatar

I would apply two.
Bobbi brown Taupe in the crease and Mac Soft & Gentle over the lid abd inner corner.
Ive ill have some time left ill pop some peach smoothie in the crease as well.
But one shadow is no option for me

alie Avatar

i might bend the rules here and say MAC greasepaint stick in black (whatever they named it) bc i can either line with it, smudge it out, or make a hard statement with it and it’s easy and stays on forever.

i liked maui wowie by urban decay for “sweep once and walk away” use.

MAC’s phloof! or dazzleray (dazzlelight? i cant remember right now) would be good too to “wake me up”.

Kat Avatar

Hmm. I don’t really have one that I specifically go to, but when I want to be quick, I almost always go for my Naked 3. From those, I mainly use Nooner, Liar, Mugshot and Darkside. And Limit. And Blackheart. And trick. And strange. Yeah, I like Naked 3.

Amalia Avatar

Any e/s from Dior’s Beige Massai quad or Mac Vex or Groundwork Paint Pot or Constructivist Paint Pot. Also fast and very effectively are Laura Mercier’s Cream Eyeshadows and the Korres Volcanic minerals twist eyeshadows ( a dupe for the Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks and for 6.5-10. 5 euros!)

Theresa Avatar

If i’m in a rush I usually just stick with either a matte cream, a highlight shade, or a matte brown to go in the crease. My favorite for a nude cream would be Blanc Type by Mac, for a highlight type shade I usually go with Shroom, and for a matte brown wedge is really nice. Either of these 3 work well in my opinion for a quick sweep of eyeshadow and a minimal eye makeup look.

Alecto Avatar

I don’t have one answer, it’s situation dependent. If I’m going for the not-wearing makeup look, it’s MAC Wedge, otherwise it’s MAC Outre (LE, I think , but I bought extra when it came out). Outre makes my blue eyes BLUE.

Jaz Avatar

Most days I only wear one eyeshadow – if I wear makeup at all, I have been a bit lazy lately because my hair isnt right. Anyhoo- I normally go for something neutral aka something coppery/chocolate/golden/bronzey. Or if I am really feeling pretty and colorful that day, something blue/violet. I will get my mojo back soon :))

Violet Avatar

This eyeshadow will probably sound ridiculous since I have a feeling that most would go more “natural/nude” (and I took a peak at the comments and see that it’s true…) But I would grab Urban Decay’s Psychedelic Sister. I have actually already used this countless times when I was short on time running late! I just can do a superfast smoky eye very dramatic, or do any darkness of the smokey eye by not using as much shadow. Also, it can be used as an eyeliner, once again as dark or light as I want, on top lid, bottom lid or both or even creat a nice cat-eye wing with this darker purple. Also, you can use it to define your crease for a subtle “no makrup” look. The color really makes my eye color pop and I really do find it very fast and easy to use this shade in different ways. It’s definitely saved me a bunch of days! (I wrote this with the idea that we are allowed to also grab 1-2 brushes/applicators.)

Brenda Avatar

Estee Lauder Twilight Rose, MAC Malt or Yaby Smoked Maple. Meow’s Morning Latte is great for a one colour look as well but a bit messy for me when I’m rushing around (loose pigments = disaster)!!

Ashley Avatar

I have several go-to’s that I’ll reach for when I’m in a rush – most of them are cream shadows. Smashbox Limitless Cream Shadow in Quartz, MAC Indianwood Paint Pot, MAC Woodwinked, or MAC Groundwork Paint Pot are my current favorites!

Evelyn Avatar

In a rush I skip eyeshadow but ive used Mac paint pot in fresco rose alone when I wanted something quick that won’t wear off and brightens my face some.

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