There’s a reason vials and polished tubes have replaced our palettes of matte nudes. Powdery eye makeup is great for winter when we don’t live in fear of creases, flakes or smudges. But come summer, eyeshadow means business. We need something with a strong, no-nonsense pigment and quick-drying capacity.
Liquid eyeshadows are pretty solid once they settle in — a huge draw for us at any climate. Since summer makeup requires more frequent touch-ups, it’s a huge relief when we can just apply a slick of shadow. Powdered or dusted shadows, and even some cream ones, usually need a do-over and may come off looking patchy if you’re in a hurry and don’t layer it right.
This is where liquid eyeshadows shine. You can literally just glide them over your eyes and ditch your liner as liquid shadows offer more coverage and long-lasting staying power.
[ Next: How to Wear Colorful Eye Makeup IRL ]
Smooth Liquid Eyeshadows for Summer
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Estée Lauder
Pure Color Envy Shadow Paint, $26 at Ulta Beauty
This subtly shimmery, creamy, gel-like formula is an amazing fit for our neutral daywear palette. This range also has some darker, more festive shade options.
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Giorgio Armani
Eye Tint, $39 at Bergdorf Goodman
This smudge-proof eye color is ideal for days when you don't want to spend a lot of time on makeup. It has a smooth base and needs very little time to set.
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Glossier
Lidstar Duo, $30 at Glossier
The creamy liquid formula in Glossier's duo glides over your lids and doesn't crease or smudge. The pair comes in a basic color and a metallic highlighter shadow.
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Huda Beauty
Matte & Metal Melted Double Ended Eyeshadows, $25 at Sephora
This Huda Beauty product has a matte color and another wand featuring a subtle metallic formula with a reflective finish. It also comes in several convenient shades, most of which are pretty eye-catching.
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Milk Makeup
Eye Pigment, $24 at Sephora
Trust Milk Makeup to give a silky edge to your daily eye makeup. It comes in a number of breezy shades, some of which have a metallic finish.
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Yves Saint Laurent Beauty
Full Metal Shadow, $30 at Barneys
This YSL number is an exceptional party pick. If you prefer metallic hints in your smoky eye, use this as your base along with some silver highlighter.
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Perricone MD
No Eyeshadow Eyeshadow, $35 at Anthropologie
This crease-proof liquid pigment has a smooth, serum-like finish and is ideal for when you just want a natural look. It also has hyaluronic acid, oat kernel extract and date fruit extract to nourish your lids.
