(Beauty Report Card)

The 10 Everyday Eyeshadows I Rely On For A Quick Makeup Look

Easy peasy.

Kelsey Stewart

March 18, 2023

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To be frank, I’m not a morning person. As much as I wish I could jump out of bed at 6:30 a.m., I’m the type who sets at least three alarms before actually getting up and values an extra 15 minutes of sleep whenever possible (but I’m working on changing my ways!). Thus, I have a super-quick — or, you could call it, “lazy girl” — makeup routine down pat. A non-negotiable part of my regimen? Easy everyday eyeshadows. Spoiler: These formulas look like I pulled out all the stops with my beauty look when in reality, all I did was apply one or two swipes of product to my lids. Shhh, it’s our secret!

I’m a fan of liquid and powder shadows, but I often reach for the former. Because, IMHO, liquid formulas provide more pigmentation in fewer layers than powder eye products. My holy grail wet formula is Stila’s cult-classic Magnificent Metal Shimmer & Glow Eye Shadow, which I own in maybe seven or eight shades, from shimmery to matte (They’re that good.) They're available in practically any color you can imagine, and the finish gives my lids some subtle shimmer without looking too over the top.

When it comes to powder products, Charlotte Tilbury’s Hypnotizing Pop Shots Eyeshadows never disappoint, thanks to their perfect pigmentation and long-lasting power. And as far as colors go, I’m drawn to neutrals like rich gold and light champagne as well as playful hues such as light purple or baby blue.

Keep scrolling to find the 10 easy everyday eyeshadows I swear by. Hopefully they can cut down your makeup routine by at least a few minutes, too.

Stila

Magnificent Metal Shimmer & Glow Eye Shadow

$25

Let’s start with my all-time favorite liquid shadow: Stila’s Magnificent Metal Shimmer & Glow Eye Shadow in Compassionate. The shimmery mauve hue adds the prettiest splash of color to my lids.

Kosas

10-Second Eye Gel Watercolor Eyeshadow

$15

A 10-second eyeshadow? Sign me up. I’ll usually apply two to three layers of this water-based formula and boom — my eye look is complete.

Armani Beauty

Eye Tint Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeshadow

$36

Armani Beauty's Eye Tint Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeshadow is a no-brainer if I know I'll be out all day and unable to touch up my makeup. It truly doesn't smudge, which I count as an essential quality in a shadow.

Hourglass

Curator Eyeshadow Singles

$29

Hourglass’ Curator Eyeshadow in Fox (a light champagne) is an excellent base for a smoky eye. After I apply three layers or so of it, I’ll go in with a darker brown in my crease for extra definition.

Ilia

Liquid Powder Eye Shadow Tint

$28

Sure, moss green may sound like an odd eyeshadow hue, but hear me out: The color is subtle yet still provides a statement. Plus, it’ll coordinate with virtually any outfit.

Laura Mercier

Caviar Stick Eye Shadow

$32

Laura Mercier’s Caviar Sticks are as quick as it gets. The creamy formula glides smoothly on the lids, creating an easy, ultra-pigmented look. I’ve tried multiple shades, but my go-to is Metallic Taupe, a chrome taupe.

Charlotte Tilbury

Hypnotizing Pop Shots Eyeshadow

$34

I can confidently say I found the perfect gold shade. Enter: Charlotte Tilbury’s Hypnotizing Pop Shots Eyeshadow in Sunlit Diamond. It’s pigmented, easy to blend, and looks stunning alone. And as the name suggests, my eyes always pop when I wear the formula.

about-face

Matte Fluid Eye Paint

$16

I can always count on about-face’s Matte Fluid Eye Paint in Blue Monday to give my makeup look some extra oomph. Not to mention, it makes my blue eyes sparkle.

Glossier

Lidstar

$18

I’ve been a Glossier stan since college, and its Lidstar shadow remains a favorite of mine today. Though I’m loyal to a few shades, Cub (a warm rose gold ) is unlike any other eyeshadow color I own.

Sephora Collection

Sheer Liquid Eyeshadow

$10

For a good-quality product that won't break the bank, I can't recommend Sephora Collection's Sheer Liquid Eyeshadow more. The shade Mocha (a smoky brown) looks so gorgeous when worn alone.