What are your deal-breakers when it comes to cream eyeshadow?
I personally prefer more pigmented cream eyeshadows since I’m nearly incapable of doing one-and-done (it’s not really… enjoyable? to me, like my favorite part of doing my makeup is eyeshadow so doing one shade isn’t satisfying–hopefully that makes sense!). The formula has to go on evenly, dry down quickly, and not flake off during the day. A little creasing after 8+hours I could handle (if I had to) but flaking is more disruptive for me.
— Christine
Something that dries down too gritty… I’m not a fan of the gel-type formula of cream shadows that Colourpop has as they dry down feeling very tight on my eyelids. Something that dries down too quickly is also a deal breaker for me. I need time to be able to blend.
My cream eyeshadow deal breakers are creasing and grittiness.
They harden very quickly once opened and used. I had one set that the eyeshadow was hard as a rock after 3 months. I had sealed the jar completely after each use.
Hi Rachel,
I’ve had good luck using Inglot’s Duraline to get the right texture back in cream shadows.
It’s good for lots of other fixes too – turning shadows in liner, intensifying the color/texure of everything, more staying power, restoring dried out mascara, etc.
This is good to know, thanks! The shadows drying out too fast is my biggest problem as well.
1.) They dry down too fast and therefore cannot be blended out.
2.) They dry down too slowly, thereby creasing and looking like a hot mess.
3.) They breakdown and start getting goopy and creasey after less than 5-6 hours on my lid. Ideally, I want a solid 8-10 hours from them, though.
4.) Drying up in their pot or tube after only a year or less of use.
I agree with everything that everyone has said before me. The only thing I’d add is if the shadow is in a pot instead of a tube.
▪ Going crumb-y or gritty after a short period of time, even after tightly sealing after each use
▪ Dries down to quick on the lid, no time to blend
▪ Too watery or thin of formula=too sheer color for my preferences, usually creases on me
▪ I prefer them to be in pots or squeezy tubes instead of tubes with a wand applicator – I don’t like that last bit you can never get because it’s around the collar of the tube or down at the bottom and the doe foot can’t reach or scrape either area
The major deal breakers for me are creasing, drying down to soon and lack of pigmentation. I need enough pigment to make it look like I have actually done something on my lid as opposed to just a pale wash. I do like formula’s that can be built up a little since I can use it on the mobile lid as it presents and then build up a bit on the outer corner and crease. I need them to dry down completely as I have hooded eyes. Some favorites for me are the Chanel shade, New Moon, Tom Ford Platinum and the Marc Jacobs Eye See-quins.
I’ve given up purchasing them. They dry up too fast in their containers for me to be able to use them with my collection.
I don’t use cream eyeshadows as I don’t think the formula would suit my mature age hooded eyes very well…. and judging from the comments above, there is a fair amount of problems in using them.
Dealbreakers:
Dry out my lids making them look like alligator skin.
Fading.
Creasing.
What are deal breakers when it comes to cream eyeshadow ?
In a word creasing and shadows that are hard to blend .
The deal breaker is drying up in the pot after a few months of use, even after sealing the jar properly. That’s just too short of a shelf life.
A dry formula like MAC Painterly. I have very dry, very hooded, crepey eyelids and that’s exactly why I prefer cream shadows since powder shadows emphasize the texture. I love the Bobbi Brown sticks and Revlon pots, their texture is neither drying, nor slippery on me. Maybelline Color Tattoos were also too dry, but they seem to have changed the formula and the new shades work just fine. Thanks to a fellow lady here (sorry, I have a terrible memory for names at this age), I became aware of Inglot’s duraline and it miraculously solved all my issues with cream eyeshadows and gel eyeliners in a pot.
I rarely wear creams because almost all will crease — very quickly — on my oily, hooded lids.
I) Doesn’t dry down completely or creases. I have hooded eyes, so this rules out all cream shadows I’ve tried except ColourPop SSS and Maybelline Color Tattoos.
2) Irritating ingredients, including fragrances. I have sensitive eyes.
3) Cracks or flakes.
4) Poor pigmentation
Creasing and over accentuating lines.