My Go-To Everyday Eyeshadows

Hi friends!

I haven’t written a dedicated eyeshadow post in what feels like forever, but I recently got the itch again. I love smudging a bit of shadow on my lids most days, and I tend to reach for something that’s quick to apply, quick to blend and (usually) neutral in tone. So in today’s post I’m taking you through my current go-to everyday eyeshadows from some of my absolute favorite brands.

Let’s get started!

BOBBI BROWN LONG-WEAR CREAM SHADOW STICKS IN NUDE BEACH AND TAUPE

You know I adore my cream shadow sticks; they are just so darn easy to use and nowadays they come in so many different finishes. Personally I prefer a matte finish, and that’s why the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Sticks in the shades Taupe and Nude Beach are absolute hall-of-fame for me.

Let me first talk about the formula. I’ve mentioned these sticks many times before on the blog – most recently in this post from last year – but this is hands-down the creamiest eyeshadow formula I’ve ever used. There’s no drag across the lid, no patchiness, no unpleasantness at all; just easy-peasy application and blending. You can get your eyeshadow on in less than a minute flat. I wear these without a primer and I’d say you’ll get a good 7 or so hours of wear before some minimal creasing sets in. Chuck on a primer if you want extended longevity.

The shade Taupe is anything but a traditional taupe. This is a warm mid-tone matte brown that leans slightly orange on my pale skin tone. I’ve been obsessed with this shade for years now, and wore it almost exclusively after I discovered it. I’ve taken it on countless trips with me (when I used to travel), it’s just the bee’s knees!

The shade Nude Beach is also awesome for everyday wear. It’s a rosey-taupe that’s mistakenly (?) listed as a shimmer on the Bobbi Brown site, but is most certainly a flat matte. When I want something less warm and more neutral than Taupe, I reach for this one and it’s gorgeous!

 

MAC PRO LONGWEAR PAINT POT IN GROUNDWORK

We’ve come to what is probably my holy grail of everyday eyeshadows, the MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in the shade Groundwork. My love for Paint Pots is long and deep. I’ve been using them in my routine for absolute ages; in fact, I wrote a whole post dedicated to them.

Groundwork is my most recent Paint Pot purchase, and I gotta say it’s perfection! I first mentioned it in this post about no-eyeshadow eyeshadows last year, but when I want something that looks super natural – almost like a naturally discolored eyelid – this is the shade I reach for. It’s a neutral mid-tone brown with a subtle satin finish that just barely catches the light. I’d say the Bobbi Brown sticks are slightly more creamy than Groundwork, but you can still apply this product in seconds even with your fingers.

It’s not 100% bullet-proof. Like with the Bobbi Brown sticks, you can get about half a day’s wear before minimal creasing sets in. Totally doesn’t bother me though; I adore it anyway!

 

MAYBELLINE COLOR STRIKE CREAM-TO-POWDER EYESHADOW PEN IN FLARE

I first wrote about the Maybelline Color Strike Cream-to-Powder Eyeshadow Pens in this post from last year. They had just launched into drugstores, and as a fan of many eyeshadow “pens” I originally purchased three different shades. Flare, a taupey grey with a satin finish, has turned out to be my most used by far.

If you’re not familiar with what an eyeshadow pen is, it’s like a powder shadow in a pencil or liner format; the product is contained in a cushion nib that you load up every time you screw the cap on. It’s incredibly user-friendly in application, which makes it a big win for me. I tend to use this shade now more as a liner, but it’s very easy to apply as a shadow all over the eyelid as well.

Flare is absolutely perfect for creating natural shadow on the eye, especially if you use it underneath the lash line. I like to smudge a little bit under my eyes when I’m wearing something more colorful on my eyelids, just to balance things, or I’ll often just use Flare alone all over my eyes. If you were a fan of the old school Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadow in the shade Tough as Taupe (RIP!), this is very similar in color!

 

 

What are your go-to everyday eyeshadows? I’d love to know!

xo, and be well, Erica

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