Everything I put on my lids, from the primer that keeps it in place to the liners that stay put through a school day.
Eyeshadow is where I have the most fun with makeup. I want a color for every occasion, so my drawer has everyday nudes and a few bold palettes with matte and shimmer shades for the fun days.
I mix splurges with budget finds here. My favorite shimmer is a champagne from a drugstore single, and it lives right next to the splurge palettes. Every pick on this page earns its spot the same way: smooth color that blends easily and stays put.
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I have two favorites. The first is a smudge-proof liner from Lancome, the 24-hour Drama waterproof gel pencil. Shop Lancome Drama 24H → The second is the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On pencil. Shop the 24/7 Glide-On → They glide on like liquid, they dry super fast and they stay all day.
I have five things I use to get that look. First, Lumify eye drops, which make your eyes look well rested and super bright. They get rid of redness instantly and give you a wider, brighter looking eye. Shop Lumify → Next is my Instant FIRMx Eye tightener by Peter Thomas Roth. It instantly tightens the skin under your eye and makes it look smoother. Shop Instant FIRMx Eye → Once the skin under my eyes is tightened, I dab on an under-eye brightener called Instant Awake by Catrice. What I love about these brighteners is that it comes with hyaluronic acid and shea butter, and it's buildable, meaning I can go as light or as heavy as I want depending on the makeup I'm going for that day. Shop the Catrice brightener → For my eyelids I use Sheer Wisdom Serum Shadow by butter LONDON in the color Sepia Tan. Shop Sheer Wisdom → And my last step is my fake awake eyeliner by tarte in the color nude. It instantly brightens your eyes in seconds. Shop fake awake →
Shadow and primer in one
"My shadow and primer in one, with skincare built in."
Why I like it:
This is a liquid shadow with a soft, smooth finish, and it doubles as my primer. It has skincare in it too. Wear it alone for a light wash of color, or put it under powder shadow so everything goes on even and stays put.
Every nude you need
"My best nude palette: 16 shades that flatter real skin tones."
Why I like it:
Sixteen nudes based on real skin tones, which is why they look natural on me. There are mattes for every day and metallics, shimmers and sparkle for when I want more. The shadows are creamy and blend without a fight.
One stick, three eye looks
"One stick, three ways: wash of color, liner or inner-corner light."
Why I like it:
It glides on and blends easily, it's waterproof and ILIA rates it for 12 hours. I use the flat side of the slanted tip for all-over color and the edge to line. Twenty matte and shimmer shades, made to mix and match.
Shadow that lasts all day
"My longwear single: velvety color that stays put 12 hours."
Why I like it:
A single shadow that's creamy and vegan, with a lot of pigment and a velvety feel. Urban Decay rates it for 12 hours of wear. It comes in shimmer, metallic, matte and satin.
Liner that stays where you put it
"My best longwear liner: 16 hours, waterproof, zero smudge."
Why I like it:
Creamy going on, and then it stays put. Urban Decay rates it for 16 hours, waterproof and smudge-proof. There are more than 30 shades in matte, metallic, shimmer, glitter and satin, so you can go bold or keep it simple.
Bold liner that locks in place
"My best overall liner: creamy going on, locked once set."
Why I like it:
A creamy gel pencil with dramatic color. It blends easily right after you put it on, and once it sets, it doesn't move. It's waterproof and Lancôme rates it for 24 hours with no smudging, flaking or fading.
Smoky eyes with a steady hand
"My smoky pencil, with a thicker shape for a steady grip."
Why I like it:
This is my soft, smoky eye pencil. The thicker shape is easier to hold steady, and the color goes on rich and smooth with no skipping. It stays put all day. It has vitamin E and caffeine in it, a nice bonus for tired eyes.
Look rested on no sleep
"Eight hours of sleep in a pencil."
Why I like it:
It's a trick in a stick. It twists up, so there's nothing to sharpen, and it glides on smooth. Run it along your waterline and inner corners and you look more awake. It works on your brow bone, nose and Cupid's bow too.
Easy, steady eyeliner
"My liquid liner: a paint-brush tip you can actually control."
Why I like it:
Urban Decay modeled this on a paint brush. The grip sits right in your fingers and the tip is super fine, so the line goes exactly where you want it. It's vegan, water-resistant and smudge-proof, and Urban Decay rates it for 24 hours through sweat, humidity and tears.
Bright eyes in minutes
"They make your eyes look well rested and super bright."
Why I like it:
This is my first step when I look as tired as I feel. It gets rid of the redness in your eyes instantly and gives you a wider, brighter looking eye.
Smoother under-eyes, fast
"It instantly tightens the skin under your eye."
Why I like it:
My second step. It tightens the skin under my eye and makes it look smoother, and then everything I put on after it sits better.
Brighten tired under-eyes
"Buildable, so I go as light or as heavy as the day needs."
Why I like it:
Once the skin under my eyes is tightened, I dab this on. What I love about it is that it comes with hyaluronic acid and shea butter, and it's buildable, meaning I can go as light or as heavy as I want depending on the makeup I'm going for that day.
