20 Metallic Eye Shadows That Are Like Molten Metal for Your Eyelids
Photographed by Tanya and Zhenya Posternak
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Courtesy of brand1/20Milani Hypnotic Lights Eye Toppers
The five shades of these liquid eye toppers offer a glimmering texture of color and duo-chrome finish and dry down to a stay-put formula. You can tap them on top of another eye shadow for an even more multidimensional effect or wear alone for enough sparkle to spot from a mile away — they're some of the shiniest eye shadows you can find at the drugstore.
$12 (Shop Now)
Courtesy of brand2/20Dose of Colors Block Party Eyeshadow
These glimmering powder eye shadows are legends of makeup-swatching porn. Just one swipe across the pan with your finger picks up the dazzling opaquely-pigmented powder, delivering a foil-finish, jewel-toned shade in one fell swoop. Available in 20 shades, these are so popular, Dose of Colors' website has put a two-per-customer limit on purchasing. (If you're in a golden mood, this one is called Heart of Gold.)
$20 (Shop Now)
Courtesy of brand3/20ISH Shimmy Shadows
These pots contain what appears to be tiny metallic foil flakes that when pressed with your finger onto your skin leave a mirror-like finish. We're not kidding — it's like someone shattered a disco ball and somehow made it safe to smear on your eyelids. Not gonna ask questions, just going to keep shining.
$22 (Shop Now)
Courtesy of brand4/20Bobbi Brown Longwear Sparkle Stick
Bobbi Brown's eye shadow sticks are already some of the most long-lasting in the game, and now with these limited-edition sparkly versions, your lids can glimmer all day into all night (and dawn, depending on how the night goes).
$30 (Shop Now)
Courtesy of brand5/20Huda Beauty Rose Gold Remastered Eyeshadow Palette
Huda Beauty gave its already popular rose gold eye shadow palette an upgrade with the Remastered version, which keeps its most glittery shadows in a row at the top. They're the most unbelievably buttery foil-like metallics that feel like silk but look like molten metal when you sweep them across your lids. Honestly, it's just a really stunning formula.
$65 (Shop Now)
Courtesy of brand6/20Almay Shadow Squad Eyeshadow
Don't fear orange shadow. In its metallic state, it's closer to copper. In this handy quad called Pure Gold Baby, you can choose from a shade flecked with gold or a shimmery soft peach. Coat your whole lids with a single hue from lash line to creases or sweep on all four for a bold gradient look.
$5 (Shop Now)
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Courtesy of brand7/20Wet n Wild Color Icon Metallic Liquid Eyeshadow
Dab one of these four chrome liquid shadows on your lids for long-lasting shine. At first, they're wet, but once they dry down, they won't budge no matter how much you sweat (or cry). One of our editors even compared them to a temporary tattoo. They're that smudge-proof.
$5 (Shop Now)
Courtesy of brand8/20L’Oréal Paris Infallible Paints Metallics Eye Shadow
When this formula won a Best of Beauty award, Allure's editorial assistant, Jesa Marie Calaor, called it her "desert island beauty product." Its pigmented enough to live up to its metallic name upon first swipe, but it can easily be sheered out for a subtle glow. We love the rose gold shade called Rose Chrome.
$9 (Shop Now)
Courtesy of brand9/20Urban Decay Distortion Eyeshadow Palette
Mix and match these 15 technicolor shadows to create a multi-dimensional, prismatic look that mermaids and unicorns would be jealous.
$48 (Shop Now)
Courtesy of brand10/20Stila Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow
Previewed on the runway at the BCBG Max Azria spring/summer 2018 show, Stila's latest liquid eyeshadow is a glitter-free version of the popular (and often sold-out) Glitter & Glow formula. Blend it on the center of your lids to create a halo effect.
$24 (Shop Now)
Courtesy of brand11/20Kat Von D Metal Crush Eyeshadow
The Metal Crush Eyeshadows are so damn shiny that Kat Von D created a highlighter palette inspired by them. The formula is so smooth that you'd think it was matte. However, once it's on lids, it catches the light like foil. Try Paranoid (a metallic cobalt) or Thunderstruck (a metallic pearl that doubles as highlighter).
$21 (Shop Now)
Courtesy of brand12/20Too Faced Chocolate Gold palette
Too Faced just dropped another addition of its popular collection of chocolate-scented palettes. This time around, the palette is all about razzle-dazzle with shades like Drippin' Diamonds (the silver) and Money Bags (the emerald).
$49 (Shop Now)
Courtesy of brand13/20Tarte Chrome Paint Shadow Pot
Inside this rose gold pot you'll find a creamy powder that is so reflective, your eyelids will look like little mirrors.
$22 (Shop Now)
Courtesy of brand14/20Kevyn Aucoin Electropop Pro Eyeshadow Palette
Why limit yourself to one metallic hue when you can shop a palette that covers basically every shade of the rainbow and then some? All 12 of the powder shadows in the Kevyn Aucoin Electropop Pro Eyeshadow Palette are packed with shimmer, and a couple even have color-shifting pigments.
$57 (Shop Now)
Courtesy of brand15/20Make Up For Ever Artist Color Shadow
Make Up For Ever just launched a whopping 121-shade range of shadows, but this pretty-in-pink one has to be our favorite. In the pan, ME-840 appears to be a plum. However, when brushed on, it transforms into a bright watermelon pink with a warm purple base.
$17 (Shop Now)
Courtesy of brand16/20NYX In Your Element Water Shadow Palette
This 12-shade set pays homage to good ole H2O with a myriad of metallic and matte shadows. Use the shimmer-free powders as a base to make the glitzier ones shine even brighter than they do on their own.
$30 (Shop Now)
Courtesy of brand17/20Natasha Denona Lila Eyeshadow Palette
Meet the cashmere of eye shadows. These pans are filled with the softest powders you'll ever dip your fingers into. They aren't so soft that they disappear once they are on your face, though. Instead, the pigment looks exactly as it does in the palette as it does on lids.
$128 (Shop Now)
Courtesy of brand18/20Tom Ford Private Shadow in Warm Leatherette
Sub this bronzey hue in for your usual smoky eye shadow color to add some warmth and twinkle to your look.
$36 (Shop Now)
Courtesy of brand19/20Pat McGrath Labs Mothership II Eyeshadow Palette – Sublime
Pat McGrath's limited edition metallic makeup blew off digital shelves so often that she decided to put together three permanent palettes. You can guarantee they will forever be in stock, and they'll give your eyes that mesmerizingly shiny finish that everyone double taps on the makeup artist's Instagram to see Instagram.
$125 (Shop Now)
Courtesy of brand20/20Chanel Illusion d’Ombre Eyeshadow
Just like the vampires in Twilight: New Moon, Chanel's New Moon shadow will make your lids sparkle in the sunlight. Nostalgic reference aside, this cream shadow blends seamlessly onto lids with just with a couple windshield wiper motions across them.
$36 (Shop Now)
