'Tis the season to sparkle, as they say, so for this month's Beauty on Trial we're putting something sparkly to the test. Time to find out which is the best glitter eyeshadow when put up against our fave glitter app Kira Kira.
HQ Tests: Glitter Eyeshadow
The Test: Glitter eyeshadow application, and then how it performs when we use the Kira Kira app
The Score: To make this a fair (yep) test, we'll be scoring each eyeshadow out of five based on the below:
- Instagrammable packaging
- Ease of application
- Texture
- Fallout
Best Glitter Eyeshadow 2019
- Stila Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow
- Lime Crime Diamond Dew
- Barry M Glitter Bomb Eyeshadow
- Illamasqua Iconic Chrome
- Benefit Vanity Flare Eyeshadow Palette
- NYX Professional Makeup Foil Play Cream Pigment Eyeshadow
- Bourjois Metallic Edition Eyeshadow
- Sleek MakeUP Eyeshadow Mono
- Rimmel Eyeshadow Palette - Smokey Edition
1. Stila Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow
What Stila say: "Combining varying sizes of pearl and glitter particles for a beautiful lustre, the lightweight liquid eyeshadow is water-infused and glides effortlessly across the lid; it delivers a rich, sparkling hue that dries smooth with minimal fallout."
Why we picked it: Can we please just talk about 'gram goals? Loved by influencers across the globe, this Stila liquid to cream formula looks easy to use, and we love the extra AF packaging.
Price: £23
2. Lime Crime Diamond Dew
What Lime Crime say: "A versatile, jewel-like formula that can be used over eyeshadow, on bare lids or on the cheeks and body for shimmering effects."
Why we picked it: Okay, so we know these are technically highlighters, but we reckon they'll look just as good as liquid eyeshadows. Will the Lime Crime Diamond Dew be able to sparkle hard?
Price: £18
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Continue Reading: our guide to the best Lime Crime products3. Barry M Glitter Bomb Eye Shadow
What Barry M say: "Supercharged with pearl and glitter flecks that deliver lustrous, iridescent sparkle, the highly pigmented, creamy formula makes applying and blending a dream."
Why we picked it: Drugstore brand Barry M was one of the first makeup brands we ever used, so we wanna know if it's up to the best glitter eyeshadow challenge.
Price: £4.99
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Continue Reading: our guide to the best Barry M products4. Illamasqua Iconic Chrome
What Illamasqua say: "The innovative cream-to-powder formula can be used on eyes, lips and anywhere you like to impart rich washes of colour for a metallic, multi-dimensional effect."
Why we picked it: We're intrigued by the idea of this Illamasqua glitter starting as a cream formula and slowly blending into a powder. As long as the glitter sticks around, we're gonna be obsessed in no time.
Price: £22
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Continue Reading: our guide to the best Illamasqua products5. Benefit Vanity Flare Eyeshadow Palette
What Benefit say: "This everyday neutral eyeshadow palette features 12 powder eyeshadows in 3 finishes: soft matte, satin and shimmer. Play with the rich, blendable shades for easy eyeshadow looks."
Why we picked it: OK, so this Benefit palette is hardly in your face glitter, but we always love their cosmetics so we're looking forward to seeing how this powder formula compares.
Price:£29.50
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Continue Reading: our guide to the best Benefit products6. NYX Professional Makeup Foil Play Cream Pigment Eyeshadow
What NYX Professional Makeup Say: "A highly-pigmented eyeshadow with a soft, jelly-like texture and fully foiled finish that glides on effortlessly and evenly."
Why we picked it: Foil was a massive trend over summer, so we want to see how NYX Professional Makeup's takin' this into winter - just in time for Christmas party season.
Price: £7
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Continue Reading: our guide to the best NYX Professional Makeup products7. Bourjois Metallic Edition Eyeshadow
What Bourjois say: "Ultra-creamy and long-wearing (up to 24 hours), the liquid-to-powder eyeshadow delivers the coverage of a cream with the finesse of a powder."
Why we picked it: Add some metal with these liquid eyeshadows from Bourjois. We're expecting a lightweight formula, but will it crease after application?
Price: £6.99
8. Sleek MakeUP Eyeshadow Mono
What Sleek say: "A long-wearing, triple-milled powder that delivers highly pigmented colour with strong payoff. Blending seamlessly onto the lids, the eyeshadow adds depth and definition for a professional eye makeup look."
Why we picked it: We're big fans of Sleek Makeup, so we wanted to see how it would compare with the others vying for the title of best glitter eyeshadow.
Price: £4.49
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Continue Reading: our guide to the best Sleek products9. Rimmel Eyeshadow Palette - Smokey Edition
What Sleek say: "Suitable for all skin tones, the shimmering colours can be applied alone or blended together for added depth and dimension, and can be used both dry and wet depending on desired intensity."
Why we picked it: Will this be the best glitter eyeshadow palette of the lot? A mix of shimmer and matte shades, this Rimmel palette is perf' for creating a smokey eye, but will the shades stand out on their own?
Price: £8.99
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Continue Reading: our guide to the best Rimmel productsGlitter Eyeshadow Reviews
Stila Glitter Eyeshadow Review
Instagrammable PackagingI've seen this on so many people's instagram feeds already - and it's going on mine the moment I'm out of here.
5/5
Ease of ApplicationIt's easy to apply straight from the applicator - it comes with a doe foot one - or with your finger, but as it's a very liquid consistency it can get a bit messy if you look up straight after application.
4/5
TextureAbsolutely love how it looks, but it can be a bit messy if you get too much of the glitter eyeshadow on the applicator.
4/5
FalloutThere's basically none straight after application, but there was a teeny tiny bit once it had dried.
4/5
Total: 17/20
Lime Crime Diamond Dew Review
Instagrammable PackagingI would put this on my Instagram feed any day – it’s sparkly, plus I like the shape and the see-through packaging.
5/5
Ease of ApplicationThis product is best applied with your finger as the applicator will give you too much product. When using your finger it’s really easy to apply - it goes on evenly and it’s super quick!
4/5
TextureI like the texture – it’s a glitter gel which dries down, so you can’t feel the glitter at all which I appreciate but it’s still super sparkly.
5/5
FalloutIt gave me a little bit of fallout which is why is why I give it 4 stars instead of 5, so I will probably apply it before my foundation in the future.
4/5
Total: 18/20
Barry M Glitter Eyeshadow Review
Instagrammable PackagingAbsolutely love that this is the perf' size to fit into any of my makeup bags, but I think the packaging is probs gonna' end up wearing quickly.
3/5
Ease of ApplicationI applied the glitter eyeshadow using the spoolie it came with, then patted it out with my finger - so easy.
5/5
TextureThe glitter is pretty finely milled so it didn't feel gritty, just had to wait a little while for the glitter eyeshadow to set before finishing my makeup.
4/5
FalloutOnce it's on, it stayed in place - I couldn't ask for any more!
5/5
Total: 17/20
Illamasqua Glitter Eyeshadow Review
Instagrammable PackagingTalk about luxe - this looks incred both with the lid off and on, and will take pride of place on my vanity table.
5/5
Ease of ApplicationThe product really stuck to my fingers, so you need to get quite a bit on your finger to make sure there was enough to get on your eyelids - bet this would be great to apply with a synthetic brush.
3/5
TextureThe glitter is really finely milled - which has pros and cons. It blends really easily, but it does mean it can be a bit messy. This would be great used as I have today, or also applied with an angled brush as an eyeliner.
5/5
FalloutAs it's finely milled, it was obvs gonna go everywhere, but it was really easy to brush off.
3/5
Total: 16/20
Benefit Glitter Eyeshadow Review
Instagrammable PackagingBenefit's gone old school with this packaging and I am so here for it. I love the retro illustrations, and it's small enough to fit easily into my makeup bag too.
5/5
Ease of ApplicationI think this would have applied a lot better with an eyeshadow brush, as some of the shades were a bit patchy when applied with my finger. The gold-nude colour I picked from the eyeshadow palette applied evenly though - so I'm happy with that!
3/5
TextureA super smooth and finely milled power eyeshadow, these applied just like I wanted them to.
5/5
FalloutPretty much none - although this definitely wasn't the glitteriest of eyeshadows, so I'm not surprised!
4/5
Total: 17/20
NYX Professional Makeup Glitter Eyeshadow Review
Instagrammable PackagingAbsolutely love the look of this NYX Professional Makeup glitter - the colour isn't what I'd normally go for, but really think it stands out in my collection and suits my skin tone too!
5/5
Ease of ApplicationOK, this was actually really hard to work out. After trying a few ways, it seemed to work best when applying a thin layer of lip balm across the lid to give it something to stick to, then patting the product on with my finger.
2/5
TextureThe NYX Professional Makeup foil was hard to "get" at first, but now I'm actually obsessed - it's really malleable and you can make it work for you.
3/5
FalloutI probably wouldn't advise you use this in a tent at a festival as it went everywhere the moment you got it out of the packet! However, after a bit of initial fallout after application, it stayed in place until I cleansed that night.
3/5
Total: 15/20
Bourjois Glitter Eyeshadow Review
Instagrammable PackagingSleek and rose gold (yep, still obsessed), this eyeshadow does it for the 'gram.
5/5
Ease of ApplicationI applied it from the applicator to my lids then diffused with my finger - a bit messy but that's how I like it!
4/5
TextureNot too liquidy, and blending like a powder - but was a bit too tacky for my liking on my finger.
3/5
FalloutNone at all - but then it's not that glittery so to be expected!
5/5
Total: 17/20
Sleek Glitter Eyeshadow Review
Instagrammable PackagingThis Sleek eyeshadow simple and compact, but there are jazzier options for the 'gram!
3/5
Ease of ApplicationApplication was easy peasy. I dabbed this on with my finger but a brush would work just as well, and means you'd be able to build up consistency too.
4/5
TextureThis powder eyeshadow was soft and buttery. It felt much more premium than its bargain price point too.
5/5
FalloutThe holy grail of all glittery eyeshadows is surely one with no fallout! There was a little bit on my cheeks but it brushed away easily enough.
4/5
Total: 16/20
Rimmel Glitter Eyeshadow Review
Instagrammable PackagingI'm really into the graded way the colours are laid out in this eyeshadow palette, so it'd definitely make its way straight onto the 'gram.
4/5
Ease of ApplicationTo make sure this test was as fair as possible, I used my fingers to apply, meaning that it the pigment packed on super quickly, but didn't blend out that easily. I reckon with a makeup brush I'd easily be able to make some killa' smokes.
4/5
TextureIt was really easy to make sure that the product applied evenly, however it's not as glittery as it looks in the pan, so knocking off a point for that.
4/5
FalloutOn application a far bit fell onto my lower eye, but once it was in place it didn't budge. I'd recommend applying this before foundation for sure.
3/5
Total: 15/20
And the winner is...
Lime CrimeWe've awarded the best glitter eyeshadow cup to Lime Crime's Diamond Dew as it applied evenly - and stayed where you wanted it to stay too. Plus, you can use it as a highlighter (for your inner corner) or as a lip topper for ultimate glitter goals.
Shop the best glitter eyeshadow edit
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