Feeling like you just need to change things up? Getting bored with your regular makeup routine?
If that’s the case, then you’re going to love glitter eyeshadow! However, it’s really easy to get a glitter shadow that’s sub-par, resulting in glitter everywhere, and that’s generally not the look we want to go for! So, which are the best glitter eyeshadows? Stay tuned and we’ll show you the best on the market!
Top 5 Glitter Eyeshadows Of 2022
Here’s a quick comparison table of the best glitter eyeshadows on the market:
Eyeshadow | Form | Features | |
---|---|---|---|
Fenty Beauty Galaxy | Powder | 14 different colors, hyper-reflective, 3D effect, sleek/oversized case, 100% cruelty-free, easy to travel with | |
Lamora Palette | Powder-Cream | 16 different shades, vegan, highly pigmented, great budget product, waterproof, great for everyday looks, easy application | |
Anastasia Beverly Hills Singles | Powder | Comes in wide array of colors and finishes, finely-milled, fully pigmented, customizable bundling options | |
L’Oreal Paris Infallible | Cream-Powder | Velvety formula that goes on easy, lasts a full 24 hours, maximized color, comes in wide variety of colors, waterproof, crease-resistant | |
Urban Decay Moondust Palette (Editor's Pick) | Powder | Vibrant array of different shades, exclusive design/palette, 3D metallics, diamond-like effect, 100% cruelty-free |
Now that you’ve had the chance to do a quick overview of each of the best glitter eyeshadows, scroll down a bit further to read about each product more in-depth.
Fenty Beauty Galaxy Palette – Most Trendy Product
Among the various eyeshadow palettes, that Sephora and other beauty shops have to offer, there are only a few that really seemed “worth it” to us. One of them was the Fenty Beauty Galaxy Eyeshadow Palette.The palette houses 14 shimmery shadows in a sleek, multi-chrome compact. The packaging is initially what drew us in, with the gem-like case (which is unfortunately like a magnet for fingerprints). However, it was really the product that kept us interested.
Fenty Beauty says the palette contains a mix of “sheer, glittering topcoats, and smoky, shimmer-drenched hues”. Most times, we find that the company is kind of embellishing their claims, but in this case, we found it to be pretty accurate!
It’s also recommended by the brand to either wear a shade alone for a sheer/smoky multidimensional effect, or to layer topcoats over other shades. It also recommends wetting your brush for a more intense look. We tried that and found it to be much deeper and with a better color payoff.
So, were there any issues?
Actually, yes. Since it is a dry powder shadow, they don’t work well unless the brush is damp or applied over a creamy base. The fallout can also be rather intense if you aren’t dampening the brush or using something like MAC Fix+ to minimize fallout due to the glitter content.
Our favorite shades were: Oh-Zone, Sublime, Cosmic Ocean, Meteor Crush, and Mars on Fire. These shades, in particular, were the most glittery, and really gave a more rocker/edgy look!
The shades are all easy to blend and stay on for most of the day without fading, which we really liked. We also liked the fact that, along with other Fenty Beauty products, it’s 100% cruelty-free.
What We Liked
- Comes in 14 different shades
- 100% cruelty-free
- Lasts quite a while and blends well
What We Didn’t Like
- Doesn’t have as great of color payoff/intensity without dampness
Lamora Palette – Best Budget Product
Are you on the prowl for an amazing glitter eyeshadow palette but don’t want to spend a lot of money? Normally that would be pretty difficult to do, but now there’s the Lamora Glitter Palette.Ringing it around half the price of most high-quality eyeshadow palettes, this is definitely not an item to pass over.
The color scheme is inspired by gentle femininity, and you’ll find that all of the shades are more delicate, ranging from an almost white-pink, to deep browns and metal greys. We personally loved the wide array of colors, while still maintaining a “soft” element.
They are all working together in a “harmony of lustrous hues”, ranging from the trendy rose gold to eye-popping, royal dark browns. They come in a variety of finishes to keep you guessing: Matte, Metallic, Satin, and Shimmer. They work just as well for daily looks as they do for a night out on the town!
What is the actual product like?
Well, they’re all powder creams that are ultra-micronized and highly pigmented. Even the lighter shades have an excellent color payoff, which was quite surprising given the price.
Due to the consistency of the shadows, there is minimal fallout, which is particularly an issue with glitter eyeshadows. They go on like velvet, making it super easy to apply, and even easier to blend on their own or with other shades.
Keep in mind you can use these either wet or dry.
While they work quite well dry, they work even better with a bit of dampness. In fact, even with just using a primer underneath, you’ll see a huge difference in intensity.
We have to mention that they’re also cruelty-free, which is becoming more and more common these days, but still very important to note.
So, was there anything we didn’t like?
Really, the only thing was the wear time. It wasn’t terrible, but we did find we had to touch up the shadow from time-to-time throughout the day.
What We Liked
- Available in 16 beautiful shades that vary from light pink to dark grey
- Great color payoff/works well either dry or wet
- Doesn’t have a lot of fallout
- Extremely inexpensive for a palette of this quality
What We Didn’t Like
- Wear time isn’t as long as some others
Anastasia Beverly Hills Singles – Most Versatile Product
Want that shimmer eyeshadow look but don’t like the palettes you’ve seen? It sounds like you may want some singles that you can customize! If that’s the case, check out the Anastasia Beverly Hills Singles, in glitter.Anastasia is a brand that has become a cult favorite in recent years. They consistently produce items that are relatively affordable, yet are some of the highest-quality, innovative beauty products on the market today. Their eyeshadows are no exception!
You have the option of customizing your own palette with various shades, or you can literally just buy a single on its own. Each glitter shade is densely-packed in there, with some more lightweight particles mixed in. When you first see the colors, they might look extremely frosted. However, once they’re on the lids, the shimmery finish is actually much more subtle, and absolutely suitable for everyday use.
There are a ton of different colors to choose from, and they vary from soft pinks and browns to more intense, metallic greys and browns. Whichever mood or look you’re going for, you can be sure you’ll find one among these pressed glitter eyeshadows.
Let’s get to the actual properties of the shadows.
Each one is very finely-milled, which makes them more luxurious-feeling, and they go on velvety. This makes them very easy to blend, either on their own or as a topcoat.
Dragonfly, Midnight, Mermaid, and Metal were probably our favorite shades, overall. Dragonfly is beautiful online, but even more so in person. Just like the other shades, it has a very fine glitter. It has a tiny hint of purple, but most of it is green and a light brown.
Midnight is more of a titanium color, but the base is a Matte Black. You’ll also see that the sparkle is a light blue-ish silver.
Mermaid is a hard-to-find shade of Deep Teal, with a beautiful shimmer and blue tinge. We loved it over black and grey bases, but it also looks amazing on its own.
Finally, Metal is the ultimate party color. It’s full of sparkle and fun, with the silver-gold hues it exudes. You could easily layer it over an array of matte colors, or use it on its own. The silver and gold goes with practically everything!
The only thing we’d change about this shimmer eye makeup?
Probably the fallout. With glitter shadows this is often difficult, so it didn’t surprise us, but we highly recommend using a damp brush or some kind of lid primer to help adhere the shadow on.
What We Liked
- Comes in a huge variety of different shades
- Can be customized into personal palette
- Relatively inexpensive for the level of quality
What We Didn’t Like
- Fallout happens without dampness/primer
L’Oreal Paris Infallible – Most Durable Product
Let’s get real: it’s not all that simple to find an eyeshadow glitter that’s durable. The quality of glitter itself makes it susceptible to falling off, rather than sticking. However, L’Oreal Paris’ Infallible Shadow has changed the game on us.For the first time, they’ve created an ultra-intense eyeshadow that literally lasts from dawn ‘til dusk: a full 24 hours! It’s difficult enough just trying to find a regular shadow that lasts this long, let alone a glitter eyeshadow!
How do they do it?
They’ve created the revolutionary formula by combining a cream along with a powder. The creamy substance is really what helps to hold everything together and on your eyelids. As you put your finger or brush inside the pot, you’ll feel how smooth and soft they are; even more so once they’re on your lids! They each go on velvety/creamy smooth and are just as easy to blend with.
The colors vary widely, so you have just about any shade to choose from; whichever fits your mood! Despite being so highly-pigmented, the shades are surprisingly lightweight on the skin. We tried them out even on the beach, and they still stayed put! We also discovered that (for the most part) they are water-resistant.
If you’re also searching for a budget product, this one will do the job just fine.
So, was there anything we were disappointed with?
Actually, yes.
With the lighter shades, we found that they needed touching up throughout the day, whereas the darker hues didn’t require this at all. We’d recommend using a base or some kind of primer if you’ll be using the lighter ones.
Other than that, this is one of the best glitter eyeshadows online and in stores if you’re looking for a budget!
What We Liked
- Comes in a wide variety of colors
- Lasts a full 24 hours
- For the most part, are water-resistant
- Very inexpensive
What We Didn’t Like
- Lighter shades need to be touched up throughout the day
Urban Decay Moondust – Editor’s Favorite
If you’ve ever used an Urban Decay product before, then you probably don’t use anything else; mostly because their products are amazing!They’re most well-known for their legendary Naked Palettes, but they just keep producing impressive shadows! You may have even used the original Moondust Eyeshadow formula before. However, the glitter Moondust Eyeshadow palette is our personal favorite.
This palette is a 10th Anniversary Palette and it’s filled with eight all-new shades of Moondust shadow. Each is smaller, at 0.02 ounces, versus the single size of 0.05 ounces, so you do receive less than half the size, but it’s still a great deal. Urban Decay products aren’t necessarily inexpensive; in fact, they’re more on the expensive side of things.
However, this palette is one of their most affordable, and you still get their high-quality products at a lower price.
The palette is gorgeous, in a gunmetal glitter with a raised texture, along with a large mirror inside. They haven’t included a brush as they usually do in their palettes, but we preferred using a sponge applicator with this formula, anyway.
How is it on?
It’s actually quite easy to put on. It has refined micro-glitter which is much easier to put on than those chunky glitter shadows. You must pat them gently on rather than use a brush, or else you’re going to be experiencing a lot of fallout. You can also use some kind of cream base or primer to avoid this from happening.
The shadows are all crease-and-fade-resistant, as well.
One more thing: we don’t really recommend it for everyday looks. It’s more designed towards wearing to a party or nightclub, however, there are some shadows that are more tame.
What We Liked
- Very high-quality product
- Available in wide variety of colors
- Easy to apply and blend
What We Didn’t Like
- Fallout if used without cream/primer/sponge applicator
How To Select The Right Glitter Eyeshadow For You
Now that you’ve taken an in-depth look at each of the best glitter eyeshadows, you may have already found the best one for you. However, if you haven’t, that’s okay! There’s a lot to consider when purchasing an eyeshadow; particularly if you’re going to be investing in a palette. That’s why we’ve gone ahead and created this buying guide to ensure you’re successful with your purchase!
Shades
First of all, you’re not going to just want any color or hue of eyeshadow. You probably already have an idea in mind of what you want. Do you want softer colors that are more ideal for everyday looks, or are you looking for brilliant metallics that will make you stand out even in the darkest of the dancefloors?
Perhaps you’re looking for a combination of both, in a palette, or you’d like to customize and create your own! No matter what you’re looking for, it’s available on this list.
Intensity
Once you’ve chosen your shades, think about the intensity or brilliance you want from your glitter eyeshadows. Do you want something that’s relatively see-through or tamer? Or perhaps you want the ultimate color payoff and intensity that is going to make you stand out.
Just because two shadows look identical in photos or in their packaging, doesn’t mean they’re going to look the same once they’re on your eyelids.
Wet/Dry
Do you prefer your eyeshadows to just be wet or dry? How about powders or creams? If you don’t know, we’ll help you out.
Creams/wet applications are going to be more intense, color-wise. The shades are going to be richer, and they’re overall, going to go on smoother and stay on better.
However, powders are typically easier in terms of blending and looking more natural. The downside to dry application/powders is that you’ll usually see much more fallout than you will with cream ones if you see any at all.
Palette/Singles
Are you searching just for one specific shade or color to go along with your already-existing collection of eyeshadows? Perhaps you’re looking to really spice things up and go with a palette. Think about this beforehand, because if not, you could find yourself searching for a long time.
Palettes typically already have a preset color arrangement that’s available, however, sometimes manufacturers will come out with different color options, like with the Naked Palette by Urban Decay. If you don’t find one you want, you can always go ahead and find one where you can create your own, like with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Singles.
Travel-Friendliness
Are you going to be packing your new shadow along for the ride in your handbag while you go to work and do all of your other errands? Or perhaps you travel often and will need to put it in your luggage while traveling by plane or train.
Regardless of what kind of traveling you’re going to be doing, if you’re taking your shadows along for the ride, you need to make sure that they are going to stay safe.
Some have packaging that opens easily, leaving your shadows to get all over your clothing or whatever else is in close proximity. Not only that, but you’ll have wasted precious eyeshadow! Usually, palettes are more travel-friendly and come in a case that closes securely.
Price
We highly advise you to decide how much you’re willing to spend on your new packed or loose glitter eyeshadow before even opening up your browser or reading our guide. That way, you don’t end up enamored with a product and spend more than you wanted to.
Price doesn’t always equal quality, so keep that in mind, too.
Generally speaking, palettes are going to be more expensive than singles, because you’re evidently receiving more product and a larger color variety. In addition, if you buy them in a palette rather than separately, you’re going to save money.
The Lamora is definitely the most affordable palette of a higher quality, but Urban Decay (for example) has shadows with a longer wear time, so you may find that while the listing price is higher, it will actually last you much longer than the cheaper ones.
Conclusion
So, which of these ended up being the best glitter eyeshadow for you? If you still can’t decide, let us suggest our personal favorite: the Urban Decay Moondust Palette. Urban Decay features unwavering quality in each of the products they put out, so you don’t have to despair about that.
It also comes in a wide array of beautiful, shimmery shades that will go with just about any look or outfit you feel like. The wear time is pretty impressive, they blend easily, and just a little product goes a long way. So, while the listing price is actually higher than most because they last so long, it’s actually a pretty great deal.
If the UD palette wasn’t your thing, you can feel confident in knowing that each one of these is the best glitter eyeshadows on the market today! Don’t let yourself go without one!