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Store your matte makeup on a shelf for a few seasons. The latest and most exciting eye makeup trend by far is glossy eyeshadow, which makes you look a little like you’ve been out dancing all night.
Now, let’s stop for a minute and remember there is a major difference between sexy, glossy eyeshadow and sticky, slick eyelids that allow makeup to roll right off or, worse, cause your shadows to streak and settle in your crease. The glossy eyeshadow trend requires shimmery, metallic shadows, and not glitter. To DIY the look, the you can mix a tiny amount of Vaseline or even lip balm with regular matte eyeshadow and apply it to primed lids (primer is key here to keep shadow in place).
But why go through all of that trouble when these amazing glossy eyeshadows have done all of the work for you? These are the best glossy eyeshadows to give you a head start on perfecting this fun eye makeup trend.
Tom Ford Eye Gloss ($36)
Whether you’re looking to add a beautiful sheen to matte eyeshadow colors or to bare lids, this eye gloss is perfection. Using the applicator wand, add a small amount to lids that are already made up or that have been prepped with primer. Blend and behold: a healthy, glossy sheen that lasts for hours is now yours.
Charlotte Tilbury Eyes To Mesmerize Long-Lasting Easy Cream Eye Shadow ($32)
This little eyeshadow pot is genius for creating glossy lids — it starts off as a cream that’s simple to apply and pretty much fool-proof, and then transforms into a shimmering glossy dream on lids. This highly pigmented formula comes in six shades that include wearable neutral nudes and regal greens.
Yves Saint Laurent The Shock Eye Gloss Smudger ($30)
This multipurpose eye gloss is translucent and can be applied over smoky eye makeup for a sexy, grungy look or over bare eyelids to give you a healthy glow. The non-stick formula feels weightless on lids, but here’s the best thing about this product: it serves so many purposes. Use it on cheekbones or your cupid’s bow for a beautiful, subtle highlight.
Decorté Eye Glow Gem Glossy Eye Color ($27)
Get three-dimensional color on your lids with one sweep of this gorgeous eyeshadow. Thanks to its dewy texture, this shadow is super easy to apply and its highly pigmented formula looks intense and stays in place for hours. It comes in 27 colors with options that range from nudes, coppers, and rose-golds to silver and lilac.
RMS Beauty Eye Polish ($28)
This sheer metallic eyeshadow has slightly more glitter than some others, but it still provides a subtle glow that can be worn during the day (as opposed to a disco ball finish that only works at night). But what’s most amazing about this gloss shadow is that it’s also nourishing: it doubles as an eye cream and works wonders on dry eyes that are showing signs of aging.
Tom Ford Cream & Powder Eye Color ($62)
This cream and powder two-tiered eye shadow duo gives you creative options to play with your eye makeup look. Apply the metallic cream shadow to lids to give your eyes an intense glow. Then, if you’re feeling super sparkly, add a layer of shimmering powder over your shadow. Choose among four metallic shadow shades.
