15 Glitter Shadows to Help You Shine Through the Holidays and Beyond
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For Batsheva’s spring/summer 2023 show, makeup artist and Love+Craft+Beauty founder Francelle Daly painted a “glitter kid club eye” on models that felt fresh in a post-Euphoria world (that is, until season 3 drops). “The shape is important,” she told ELLE backstage. The secret to getting that sharp line, Daly shared, is two-fold: first, outline the exact shape you want with liner so you know precisely where to put the product; and next, nix any glitter fallout by pressing skin lightly with some Scotch tape.
Fortunately, for those of us not on the runway, glitter can look just as chic. Whether you’re going for a barely-there pop of shimmer in the corner of your eye (it instantly makes you look more awake!) or a full-out glitzy beauty moment à la Batsheva, these 15 options have you—and your lids—covered.
Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow
Pros
- Top seller at Sephora
- Five shade options
Cons
- Goes on sheer
This powder from Urban Decay flies off the shelves for a reason: a single swipe serves up a subtle shimmer, but can be built up to disco ball levels.
RÓEN 52° Cool Eyeshadow Palette
Pros
- Talc-free
- Cream and powder formulas
Cons
- Limited shade range
The genius behind this chic palette from Róen is it’s goof-proof. Use your fingers or a shadow brush to apply one or more of the talc-free creamy shadows across your lids, in the corner of your eye, or on your brow bone for a shimmery and chic look.
Pros
- Compostable packaging
- Great for experimenting
Cons
- Limited shade range
When Euphoria makeup artist Donni Davy launched her own line—Half Magic Beauty—we knew there’d be unique textures and colors. These singles are housed in fully compostable packaging and come in playful colors with equally playful names.
Pros
- Black-owned
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Smaller than expected
Dip a toe into the queen of makeup Pat McGrath’s world with this mini palette focused around the shade of violet. You’ll find four variations of shimmer and sparkle, with two complementary mattes to boot.
Pros
- Clear base
- Four shade options
Cons
- Needs multiple layers to achieve an opaque look
We support you using this pot of powder shadow to recreate that iconic all-over glitter face from Valentino’s SS23 runway, or simply just to paint your lids. For a more intense look, wet the brush first.
Pros
- Black-owned
- Multipurpose
Cons
- Requires a Q-tip to apply
This glowy gel has tiny specks of glitter inside—making it a gorgeous multi-purpose product for dewy eyes, cheeks, lips, or all at the same time.
Pros
- Jelly-to-powder texture
Cons
- May dry out
Pat this golden jelly onto lids and let it dry for a chrome effect that makes eyes really pop.
Pros
- Comes with applicator
- Eight shade options
- Waterproof
Cons
- Requires makeup remover to take off
These pouches are filled with super creamy glitter shadows—use the doe foot applicator to apply a feline flick or all-over sparkle that lasts until you leave the party.
Lovecraft Beauty Basic Rituals Palette
Pros
- Vegan
Cons
- Limited shade range
Created by makeup artist Francelle Daly, this palette has all the glitter and shine you need to create basically any cool-girl eye look. Plus, “Waning” is the perfect liner to turn into a shadow.
Danessa Myricks Beauty Infinite Chrome Flakes in Pixie Dust
Pros
- Black-owned
- Clear base
- Fifteen shade options
Cons
- Needs layers for opacity
- Requires a brush to apply
The specks of sparkle in this clear gel base are all holographic, so they change as the light hits them for a super-mesmerizing beauty look.
Pros
- Cool texture
- Seven shade options
Cons
- May crease
It may look like a powder, but this product feels (and wears) like a smooth cream on the lids. The crushed pearls inside offer a subtle shimmer within the pigmented shadows, which reads like the most sophisticated form of glitter out there.
Maybelline New York Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow Pot
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Six shade options
- Affordable
Cons
- Requires makeup remover to take off
This cream shadow has super-fine sparkle inside for an eye look that will survive dancing all night long (and breakfast at the diner after, to0).
Pros
- Comes with applicator
- Super pigmented
Cons
- May bother sensitive eyes
If you want to paint your lids like a disco ball (and let’s be real, who wouldn’t?) this is the product for you. The doe foot applicator makes it so easy to apply the clear base filled with with differently sized sparkles. Instant party on your face.
Tom Ford Cream and Powder Eye Color
Pros
- Cream and shadow options
Cons
- Pricey
This Tom Ford pot gives you three eye looks in one. Wear the topper alone for the most subtle sparkle, or the cream and powder together for foiled eye look.
Pros
- Sixteen different glitter options
Cons
- Pricey
There are 16 different glitter balms inside this palette. Some glow under UV lights, others have different shapes mixed in with the classic circle shape—all look cool on your face.
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