13 Best Drugstore Cream Eyeshadows For Well-Defined Eyes, As Per An Expert

We all love investing in high-end brands for eye products, but sometimes, it can burn a hole in your pocket. To beat that, the best drugstore cream eyeshadows have got your back. Even if it doesn’t work better, it works just well and is great. After all, all good things have great substitutes. The quality of the products on our list will blow your mind. Glitter, sparkle, or just plain matte – all these drugstore cream eyeshadows can be easily used to create a professional makeup look with your beginner skills.

A tinge of color or a simple pop-up of color transforms your entire appearance from drab to fab real quick. Whether it’s a hectic workday at the office or late night party with friends, a little bit of your cream eyeshadow on your eyelids will doll you up instantly. These are easy to apply, smooth and gentle on skin, and ultra-fine to blend effortlessly. Whether you like metallic or shimmery finish or matte hues, we have got you covered with all kinds of affordable cream eyeshadow options. Scroll down to have a look at the 13 best drugstore cream eyeshadows we have listed below.

13 Best Drugstore Cream Eyeshadows For Well-Defined Eyes On A Budget!

1. Best Ophthalmologist-Tested:Revlon ColorStay Crème Eyeshadow – Vanilla

4.2

Image: Revlon

BUY ON AMAZON | $5.09

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Cosmetics and beauty giant Revlon never disappoints with their formulas and unforgettable products. Since they’re on the top of our list, it can only mean one thing — the ColorStay Crème Eyeshadow is one of the best pigmented drugstore eyeshadows in the makeup artistry world. The ultra-smooth, incredibly blendable eyeshadow formula offers you a waterproof pigment in both matte and shimmer finishes available. The Vanilla shade is a sparkly one among 18 others that you can use as a base or highlight the inner corner of your eyes with. If you want matte shades for a bold look, or shimmery ones for a little ‘oomph’, this drugstore cream eyeshadow range has got it all. You can check out this YouTube video that details a tester’s experience with the product if you require more convincing.

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

With 9,963 positive reviews on Amazon, this product has become a bestseller.

2. Best Crease-Resistant:Maybelline New York Color Tattoo 24HR Metal Cream Gel Makeup- Inked In Pink

4

Image: Maybelline New York

BUY ON AMAZON | $15.99

Here it is, the best drugstore single eyeshadow you’ve been waiting for! With a beautiful metallic finish that lasts all day long, this waterproof formula effortlessly blends without creasing or fading. The colors are highly pigmented too and they’re going to stay put once you walk out the door and walk back in after a long, tiring day. It offers up to 24-hour wear, making it the longest lasting drugstore eyeshadow on this list. The 17 bold eyeshadow colors and vibrant pigments can illuminate your eyes and take your entire look to the next level. Don’t be afraid to shine with Maybelline New York’s pigmented drugstore eyeshadows. If you want to find out more about this product and its usage, make sure to check out this review on YouTube  based on the reviewer’s experience with the product.

Pro Tip

If you’re using a bright eyeshadow, always pair it with muted lips and cheeks to balance out the look.

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

More than 6,238 Amazon users have vouched for this amazing product.

3. Best Ultra-Pigmented:e.l.f Cosmetics Bite-Size Eyeshadow Mini Palette – Cream And Sugar

4.3

Image: Rms Beauty Eye Polish

BUY ON AMAZON | $3

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This classy drugstore copper eyeshadow by the celebrity-endorsed e.l.f Cosmetics will have you squealing in delight with their top-notch pigments. This mini-palette contains 4 neutral eyeshadow shades that can be worn as is or can be blended with other colors to achieve multiple looks, including a natural makeup look. There are both matte and shimmer shades, so make your pick for a statement-making look that is impossible to forget. Also, there are no parabens, sulfates, phthalates, triclosan, hydroquinone, ethoxylates, and triclocarban so your eyes are healthy while looking gorgeous. So, if you’re looking for a good drugstore cream eyeshadow that delivers color while being safe for you (and the environment), this is the one! If you need further convincing, check this YouTuber’s review out.

Quick Tip

Apply a thin layer of e.l.f Shadow Lock Eyelid Primer under the eyeshadow; it will help create a smooth look after you apply the eyeshadow. It will also enhance the eyeshadow’s wear time.

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

More than 5,918 rave reviews on Amazon prove why we are so in awe of this product.

	Revlon ColorStay Crème Eyeshadow - Vanilla Revlon ColorStay Crème Eyeshadow - Vanilla	Maybelline New York Color Tattoo 24HR Metal Cream Gel Makeup- Inked In Pink Best Crease-Resistant	e.l.f Cosmetics Bite-Size Eyeshadow Mini Palette - Cream And Sugar Best Ultra-Pigmented
	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now
Color	Vanilla	Inked in Pink	Cream and Sugar
Dimensions	1.03 x 1.65 x 1.65 inches	1.73 x 1.73 x 0.94 inches	0.99 x 3.3 x 10.8 inches
Weight	0.18 Ounces	0.14 Ounces	0.12 Ounces.
Rating
Reviews	9,963	6,238	5,918
Price	$5.09	$15.99	$3

4. Best Transfer-Resistant:WUNDER2 Super-Stay Stick Eyeshadow – Moonstone

3.9

Image: Wunder2

BUY ON AMAZON | $19.0

Don’t you just love the convenience that comes with makeup in the form of a stick? Experience that with WUNDER2’s Super-Stay Stick Eyeshadow, as it is the best drugstore cream eyeshadow stick you can get your hands on. Super-easy to use and convenient to travel with, this waterproof stick formula has high pigment with no hassle of fallouts as with traditional eyeshadow palettes. The shade Moonstone is a beautiful shimmery neutral that glides on easily and instantly brightens up your eyes, creating a look of naturally enhanced beauty. This is the best drugstore shimmer eyeshadow stick and is available in 7 pretty shades for you to choose from. And what’s even better, is the presence of soothing ingredients like silk powder, hydrogenated castor and safflower seed oils, and aloe vera to keep your eyes moisturized on-the-go.

5. Best Hypoallergenic:Almay Velvet Foil Cream Shadow – Astro Girl

4

Image: Almay

Now 25% Off

BUY ON AMAZON | $7

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One of the best drugstore brand eyeshadows out there, Almay’s Velvet Foil Cream Shadow will bring some sparkle into your life. With a velvety finish that shimmers, say hello to the best drugstore glitter makeup you can use for a metallic look. With a staying power of up to 24 hours, this creamy formula infused with vitamin E won’t budge from your eyes and the pigments are rich and luscious. And to top it all off, this is an eyeshadow that doesn’t crease! You can experiment with every eye makeup style you want to as it is available in 12 deeper colors that are easy to blend and make for great color combinations. And that’s not all–you can even use these creams as a base for powder shadows and unveil timeless beauty.

6. Best Organic:Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques Creme Eyeshadows – Plum Fairy (Matte)

4

Image: Lauren Brooke

BUY ON AMAZON | $13

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The shade Plum Fairy is a great drugstore purple eyeshadow from the Creme Eyeshadows line by Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques. Made with a base of botanical ingredients and exuding a subtle vanilla scent, this eyeshadow will give your eyes as much love as the color it delivers. Shea butter moisturizes and revitalizes your eye area and rosehip acts as an antioxidant that reduces inflammation and irritation. Along with vitamin E, a blend of oils protect the skin while jojoba seed, olive and coconut hydrate it, leaving your skin feeling nourished and well cared-for. There’s also raspberry that helps reduce signs of aging so you can be on your way to youthful eyes. According to the reviewers, this is one of the best matte drugstore eyeshadow ranges and is safe for sensitive eyes as it doesn’t irritate the skin. Available in 12 matte colors and shimmery shades, these are the best drugstore eyeshadow singles you can have in your makeup vanity.

7. Best Cream Formula:L’Oreal Paris Infallible 24HR Eyeshadow – Golden Emerald

4.2

Image: L'oreal Paris

BUY ON AMAZON | $7.95

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For the perfect eye makeup look, you don’t have to go scouring high-end brands. One of the top drugstore eyeshadows is brought to you by L’Oreal Paris. The intense pigments stay put for up to 24 hours in this powder-cream eyeshadow hybrid that blends and glides seamlessly. This luxurious formula offers a smooth base and won’t crease on your eyelids or fade away. It’s going to stay just as fresh as when you dabbed it on with your fingertips for the first time! Enhance your eyes with the best drugstore eye makeup to turn heads wherever you go.

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

It has received 5,206 reviews on Amazon and is a popular choice among shoppers.

8. Best Cruelty-Free:Jillian Dempsey Lid Tint – Peach

3.6

Image: Jillian Dempsey

BUY ON AMAZON | $28

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The neutral color Peach in Jillian Dempsey’s Lid Tint range is a warm and bright drugstore orange eyeshadow with a soft matte finish. Highly-saturated pigments, which give an instant pop of color and blend like a dream are the key features of this celebrity-endorsed drugstore eye makeup.Rest assured that your eyes are in good hands with skin-nourishing ingredients that provide natural antioxidants such as cocoa and shea butter with oils like coconut, castor and rosehip seed, sunflower seed oils. These elements help repair, revitalize, and moisture the skin, so that your delicate eye-area remains healthy. And to supplement your skin with more benefits, this drugstore matte cream eyeshadow is formulated without parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs, synthetic fragrances or dyes.

9. Best Multipurpose:Glo Skin Beauty Cream Stay Shadow Stick – Echo

4.3

Image: Glo Skin

BUY ON AMAZON | $24.02

A high-quality cream shadow, Glo Skin Beauty’s Cream Stay Shadow Stick is best for longwear and will find a permanent place in your makeup routine. Ultra-pigmented, the stick also doubles as an eyeliner for a highly-defined look. Enriched with jojoba oil, this Cream Stay Shadow Stick intensely moisturizes and hydrates the area around your eyes for healthy skin. The 13 available shades are buildable and you can go your entire day forgetting that it’s even there! You can also use this cream eyeshadow stick as an eyeshadow base and the stick comes with a built-in sharpener that makes it a convenient travel partner. Count on this clinically tested drugstore cream eyeshadow stick to make you look fab even when you are pressed for time.

10. Best Non-Sticky:Marshique Touch Fit Glitter Cream Shadow – Flamingo

3.7

Image: Marshique

BUY ON AMAZON | $12.8

If you love dressing up your eyes in different styles, this drugstore glitter cream eyeshadow needs to be in your vanity right now! The brightness in Marshique’s Touch Fit Glitter Cream Shadow can power a whole town. As per reviews, this drugstore shadow formula blends incredibly well and stays put for long hours, while being resistant to both sweat and water due to a silicone film. No clumping or creasing with this one, folks. This crease-proof eyeshadow can be used as a primer or a highlighter to illuminate the corners of your eyes and you can also dab a little on your lips and cheeks for a soft, flushed look. Who doesn’t love a product that multitasks? The drugstore glitter pigment in Flamingo is a soft coral color with hints of pink and the range has 4 equally stunning colors to choose from. Is this one of the best drugstore eye glitters? We think so!

11. Best Shimmery Finish:Burt’s Bees Color Nurture Cream Eye Shadow – Rose Cream

4

Image: Burt’s Bees

Now 14% Off

BUY ON AMAZON | $8.74

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Light up your entire world with the Burt’s Bees’ Color Nurture Cream Eye Shadow, which is a weightless formula that blends seamlessly without creasing. With vitamin E as the main ingredient that offers antioxidant benefits, this drugstore shimmer eyeshadow nourishes the delicate eye-area. This eyeshadow is kind to your skin with the presence of soybean, castor, and sunflower seed oils. The kaolin helps draw out impurities and pore-clogging oils to render your skin a clean feeling.The Rose Cream shade is a soft pink with a light gold glimmer. You can build on these shades that are also free from parabens, sulfates, petrolatum or SLS. One of the best drugstore rose gold eyeshadows out there, this shade is ideal for transitioning from day wear to a night look.

12. Best Smudge-Proof:Laura Geller Make It A Double Eyeshadow Stick And Powder – Absinthe

4.1

Image: Laura Geller

BUY ON AMAZON | $24

Is 2 always better than 1? In this case, yes! Primarily because it means double the glam. Laura Geller’s dual-function eyeshadow stick and powder glide with a smooth texture to give you an eye makeup look you’ll never forget. The creamy texture of eyeshadow feels luxurious and won’t crease or smudge, providing exceptional results. When you lock the cream in with powder, the shade stays put without budging, so you can go about your day worry-free. It also doubles as an eyeliner, and helps create statement looks while the powder makes for a glowy look. In our books, this is a good drugstore glitter eyeshadow for a minimalistic or dramatic look. As a plus, this product doesn’t use any parabens, talc, phthalates, oil or gluten.

13. Best Blendable:Barry M Cosmetics Euphoric Metallic Eyeshadow Cream – Aurora

4.1

Image: Barry M Cosmetics

Now 41% Off

BUY ON AMAZON | $4.68

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A good drugstore cream eyeshadow can make you feel euphoric the entire day and this Barry M Eyeshadow Cream is testament to that. This is a high-pigmented eyeshadow that glides on smoothly and blends without a hassle. This drugstore metallic shade is here to make your dreams come true. Blending the shade with your ring finger or a brush applicator ensures even coverage that’s perfect for night or day. The shades sit well without getting into creases and are available in 6 bold colors you can choose from.

Now that we’ve looked at some of the best drugstore cream eyeshadows out there, here are some tips to help you apply this product better.

Tips To Apply Cream Eyeshadow

• If you have oily or mature skin, it always helps to use primer before using cream eyeshadow as it can get greasy or crease otherwise.

• For a look with more dimension, you can layer the cream eyeshadow with some powder.

• Always be gentle when blending, because if you’re aggressive, you may end up tugging at the delicate skin around the eyes. This gives an uneven look.

• Dab some cream eyeshadow in the middle of the eyelid and gently move inwards to the corner of your eye and outwards from the middle to ensure even color distribution.

• Don’t wait too long to blend, as cream eyeshadows can dry quite quickly, and make the product difficult to work with. Quick but gentle is the key.

Infographic: Tips To Choose The Best Cream Eyeshadow

If you have always struggled with applying eyeshadows, cream eyeshadows are perfect for you. They are simple to use and can even be applied with your fingers. But how do you choose the best cream eyeshadow for you? Check out the infographic below for more details.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Why Trust Stylecraze?

Our in-house makeup enthusiast, Srijita De, wrote this eloquent article where she lists the best cream eyeshadows you can get at any drugstore. Yes, it is quite possible to achieve a flawless eye look at an affordable price. She scoured the internet, investigating many products and reviews, to bring you this reliable list. These cream eyeshadows come with benefits such as high color payoff, smooth texture, color variety, skin care benefits, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are cream eyeshadows better than powder?

Cream eyeshadows fare better on dry skin types due to the moisture content in them. However, they give mostly a shimmery or glittery finish, so if you’re someone who’s fond of matte, powder would be a better option. Additionally, cream eyeshadows are harder to mix with another color but powder eyeshadows blend easily for a dual-tone look.

Do you need primer for cream eyeshadow?

Since a cream eyeshadow is generally resistant to creasing and smudging, a primer is not necessary as in the case of powdered eyeshadows.

What is cream eyeshadow good for?

Cream eyeshadow has a creamy base, rich in texture, and blends easily into the skin. It can be used on eyelids as an eyeshadow or as a base for powder eyeshadow to make the color pop.

Is cream eye shadow better for older eyes?

Yes. For women with mature skin, cream eyeshadows impart glowing skin, offer a smooth texture, and keep the eyes hydrated.

Do cream eyeshadows need a primer?

Yes, using a primer before applying cream eyeshadows creates a smooth eyelid finish. However, especially if you have oily eyelids, it is better to use a primer to get a longer and sheen finish.

Can I apply cream eyeshadow with a brush?

Yes. You can apply cream eyeshadow with an airbrush dual-ended eye-transformer or a medium-sized fluffy eyeshadow brush for an opaque finish. You can also use a flat synthetic brush to apply cream eyeshadow.

Is cream eyeshadow good for dry skin?

Yes. Cream eyeshadows are a better choice for dry eyelids. They offer high blendability, making eyeshadow application easier. You can use fingers or a brush to blend it into the skin.

What color cream eyeshadow makes you look younger?

Pink and neutral-colored eye shadows make you look younger. Neutrals complement your makeup look without making your look awkward.

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Nyssa GreenMakeup Artist

 

Nyssa Green is an Emmy award winning makeup artist and a trusted beauty and lifestyle expert with over 20 years of experience. Her diverse portfolio of clients includes celebrities from all walks of life, like Alicia Keys, Bono, Jane Fonda, Vickie Winans, Jermaine Dupri, several US Presidents, authors, and politicians.

Read full bio of Nyssa Green

Srijita DeCommerce Writer

 

Srijita De is a makeup and fashion enthusiast with a passion for empowering readers through practical tips and tricks to present their best selves with confidence. Armed with a postgraduate degree in English and Literature from the University of Calcutta, she has honed her writing skills and developed an in-depth understanding of the beauty and fashion world.

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Srijani Roy Chowdhury Associate Commerce Editor

Srijani is an associate commerce editor with a master's degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal. She is certified in makeup techniques and is also a certified style and image consultant.

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Madhumati ChowdhuryAssociate Editor

Madhumati is an associate editor with seven years of professional experience. She has previously worked as an editor, proofreader, and a writer with various organizations, helping her navigate through the various facets of content creation and refinement with ease.

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