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15 of the best cream eyeshadows for long lasting colour
Because you abso-lutely deserve better than a creased smokey eye
Whether you prefer it in the form of a stick, a pot or a palette, cream eyeshadow is a brill addition to your makeup bag for too many reasons to count.
It's awesome for, er, dry eye-lids
Firstly, if you, like me, are cursed with the burden of dry eyelids (it's a thing, look it up), you might find that eyeshadows (especially the metallic, glittery types) start out looking totally gorgeous, but by 4pm have dried up into a wrinkled, Saharan nightmare. I feel you. Cream eyeshadows are my solution to this issue. Make sure you opt for more moisturising, oil-based varieties (see #7 and #11 for an example) and they'll ensure the skin hosting your pigment stays nourished and glowy.
...But it's also a saviour for oily lids
But also, if you're of the oilier persuasion, you probably also suffer when it comes to keeping a beat looking fresh, with all your hard work melting at the literal blink of an eye. A hard-wearing cream eyeshadow might be a solution for you too, especially if you enlist the likes of #2 and #5, which are designed to withstand facial oil.
And if you're keen to keep things smudge-proof, set with translucent powder (or even a powder eyeshadow in a matching shade or a complementary shimmer/glitter). This technique is brilliant for dark, smokey eye looks – start out with a rich jewel tone cream shadow, and layer over greys and blacks for a multi-dimensional smoke.
It's the perfect base...
Speaking of which, cream eyeshadows are also a good option for priming your eyes, provided you have a nude option to hand. Pick out a shade which knocks out any distracting tones in your lids, and enjoy building up your look over a blank canvas – the dream.
...and it's an amazing blending aid
Whenever a highly pigmented shadow, dark or light, starts misbehaving on your lids (i.e. creeping too high towards your eyebrow or smudging too close to your nose), you can grab a clean blending brush and a nude cream shadow and use the pair to 'delete' areas of your eyeshadow that are ruining the shape - a saving grace if you're into experimenting, but not especially steady-handed.
Screwed up your make-up? It'll save the day there too...
A wise make-up artist once taught me there's no botched eyeshadow look that can't be fixed with a layer of shimmer. Cream shadow toppers are perfect for this, especially the new holographic/wet-look/shimmer-heavy options we're seeing on the market. Keep one in your bag at all times for any blending disasters – you'll never have a pre-party make-up breakdown again. Promise.
Ready to invest? Read on to meet your match.
Rare Beauty Stay Vulnerable Liquid Eyeshadow
This cream formula feels as light as whipped cream and avoids leaving lids feeling stiff or tight. Not only that but it's liquid to powder technology also impresses with just how little the texture sinks into fine lines (spoiler: it's zero!).
e.l.f. No Budge Cream Eyeshadow
This 3-in-1 cream shadow, primer and liner will not only last you all day (and night!) but it won't break the bank, either. At just £5, you best believe we're adding more than one to our online shopping cart...
Vieve Eye Wands, £21 each
These wands are a neutral lover’s dream. Available in six shades you can combine the deeper shades for a blendable smoky eye or on lighter skin the three paler tones work as a great base for neutral looks.
£15.00 Glossier Skywash
As with everything that Glossier does, this sheer lid tint is a total life changer. It's a liquid-to-powder formula rather than a cream, but still imparts the same smooth, naturally looking colour wash.
MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot Eye Shadow
It's a cult pro secret for a reason. The shade Groundwork is your go-to buildable base for any look, from simple to all-out glam.
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour
If, like me, you're willing to do just about anything for an extra five minutes in bed, then look no further. This eyeshadow stick delivers effortless application (just scribble on and blend with your finger tip or a brush) with up to 12 hours of high-impact colour, too.
Good to go in a matter of seconds!
Danessa Myricks Beauty Colorfix Cream 10ml
You truly can't go wrong with a 3-4-1 bargain... and my Friday's Dominos order as well as the Danessa Myricks colourfix cream shadows are both evidence of that.
This small tube packs a punch with pigment that can be used not only as eyeshadow but eyeliner, lip colour, and blush, too! I mean, if it's gonna reduce time spent on makeup and save us some coin, you best believe we're all for it.
Huda Beauty Matte & Metal Melted Shadows
The queen of the cut crease knew what she was doing when she created this double-ended beauty. Lay down a highly pigmented pop with the matte end doe-foot, and add dimension using the opposite metallic end.
Hourglass Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow
Look like you made a massive effort, when in fact you swiped this on your lid with your fingertips, finished with mascara and went to pre-drinks. Ideal.
Beauty Pie Wondercolour Longwear Cream Eyeshadow Stick
Designed perfectly for makeup on the go, this cream eyeshadow comes in a handy stick format, whilst the formula is utterly smudge-proof. There are sixteen shades to choose from, so plenty of choice whether you're feeling experimental or fancy playing it safe with a neutral shade.
Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Eyeshadow
Made minimal effort for work and scheduled a last-minute Hinge date? Swipe a little of this shimmer on your lids and think no more of it.
First of all, we love how easy these little pots are to stack up and collect. The shade fortitude is an impactful red with a hint of iridescent shimmer. It has great pigment so you only need a touch of it blended out.
Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick
If you're new to creamy formulas, stick with this absolute classic, decorated with awards left, right and centre. This one's great for smokey eyes, but there's a range of mauves, browns and peaches to pick from too.
Too Faced Melted Chocolate Matte Liquid Eyeshadow
These matte shadows are for you if you’re obsessed with a soft warm eye look as all the shades are a variation of choc. The formula is very long-wearing and pretty crease-proof if you don’t layer up too much. It’s also a good base for pressing on glitter or shimmer to ramp up your eye game.
Natasha Denona Chroma Crystal Top Coat
This one's a game-changer. If you've tried (and failed) at the wet-look (I feel you, seriously), let this one give you hope. The shimmery, dynamic pigment is the perfect optical illusion to make you look like a sexy, sweaty Miley at Glastonbury.
Keeks Reid is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. While she loves all things beauty, Keeks is a hair fanatic through and through. She started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as editorial assistant at Blackhair and Hair magazines working her way to Acting Editor of Blackhair magazine at 23 years old. She spent much of her career working in trade hairdressing media at Hairdressers Journal, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards. Which is why she is a regular contributor to Cosmo's Curl Up franchise. Now, alongside her Cosmo work, she presents, creates content on social media and works with a range of beauty companies; from magazines and websites to beauty brands and salons.
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
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