In the beauty world, few things distinguish the makeup experts from the newbies faster than eye shadow [1]. Do it well and you'll feel like it's time to add MUA to your Instagram bio, but one slip and you may be tempted to just wash your face and start your makeup over from scratch.
To play it safe, some only dabble in high-end eye shadow to achieve their desired look, but there are plenty of affordable eye shadows that are just as pigmented, blendable, and long-wearing as the top-dollar alternatives. We've assembled the best drugstore eye shadow singles, quads, and palettes that will impress both an eye shadow novice [2] and professional, so keep reading to find out which shadows you should be keeping your eyes on.
Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Quad
The budget-friendly beauty brand recently gave its line of shadows a makeover, and the Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Quad [3] ($3) features four ultracreamy shadows that blend like a dream.
E.L.F. Smudge Pot Eyeshadow
You'll want to collect all of the E.L.F. Smudge Pot Eyeshadow [4] ($3) shades, which go on smoothly and stay in place all day thanks to a gel formula.
L.A. Girl Eye Lux Eyeshadow
There are 16 L.A. Girl Eye Lux Eyeshadow [5] ($7) quads to choose from, and the smooth shadows come in either a metal, satin, or matte finish.
L'Oréal Paris Infallible Paints Eyeshadow Metallics
High on shine, just one swipe of the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Paints Eyeshadow Metallics [6] ($6, originally $9) is all you need for a smooth shadow that boasts saturated color without looking glittery.
Rimmel Magnif'Eyes Eyeshadow Palette
The Rimmel Magnif'Eyes Eyeshadow [7] ($8) palette comes in three variations, with each containing 12 fine, soft shadows. The formula is firm and leaves very little product fallout, and the shade range lets you go from natural to dramatic looks with one palette.
Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow
Perfect for a single-shade eye makeup look, the Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow [8] ($5) collection features more than a dozen shadows that start as an easily blendable gel and transforms into a powder.
Pixi by Petra Get the Look
The Pixi by Petra Get the Look [8] ($24) palette is on the pricier side, but it includes smooth matte shades that are never chalky as well as shimmery shadows that are as smooth as butter.
Maybelline Blushed Nudes
The 12 ultrafeminine shades in Maybelline Blushed Nudes [9] ($10) make the palette an instant hit, and the shade range is ideal for an everyday rosy look.
NYX Professional Makeup Avant Pop! Shadow Palette
You can collect all three NYX Professional Makeup Avant Pop! Shadow Palette [10] ($17) options and still have cash to spare. The shadow pigments rival any pricier palette, and there's little to no shadow creasing.
NYX Professional Makeup Lid Lingerie
A little NYX Professional Makeup Lid Lingerie Eye Tint [11] ($7) goes a long way. The liquid formula glides on smoothly, dries immediately, and leaves the lids dry, not sticky like similar liquid shadows.
CoverGirl Tru Naked Eyeshadow Palette
The CoverGirl Tru Naked Eyeshadow Palette [12] ($10) is filled with intensely pigmented shades that are smooth to the touch and shimmer from nearly every direction.
Catrice Liquid Metal Eyeshadow
Catrice Liquid Metal Eyeshadow [13] ($5) singles are all about pigment, with a powder formula that looks bold, sleek, and metallic on the eyes.