Makeup Artists Compliment My Makeup Whenever I Wear This Underrated Product

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(Image credit: @hungvanngo)

Don't get me wrong—makeup-related compliments from anyone at any time are wonderful, but there's something about receiving a compliment from, um, an actual makeup artist that just kind of transcends all others. Makeup artistry is their profession, after all.

Now, I don't score this particular kind of coveted remark often, but I have noticed an interesting pattern. Any time a makeup artist has openly admired my makeup, it's always been on my shimmery shadow MO. And since I pretty much abhor powder and cream formulas, their compliment always befalls whichever liquid eye shadow I happen to be wearing on that blessed day. (Spoiler: I have lots of liquid eye shadows I collect and adore equally.)

As someone who is rather inept when it comes to eye makeup (for years, I strictly wore mascara and maybe a quick flick of liquid liner), my obsession with liquid eye shadow makes sense. While it may sound counterintuitive (liquid equals mess, right?), these types of formulas usually involve way less mess and fallout, they're easier for me to blend, they're faster to apply, and they don't move once they dry. For someone who adores the look of ethereally glimmering eyelids (Hi! Me!), there couldn't be a better medium. Therefore, I pretty much exclusively wear liquid eye shadows in lieu of the powder options most makeup artists seem to prefer. 

Because all of the best liquid eye shadows have scored me loads of compliments over the years and because summer is approaching and 'tis the season for a fuss-free liquid formula to shine, I'm sharing nine of my all-time-favorite liquid eye shadows below. Plus, some game-changing makeup products to pair them with because why would you stop at your lids when compliments are on the table? Keep scrolling. 

Best Overall: Stila Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow

Pair it with: Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

Glossier Skywash 

Pair it with: Lash Slick

Kosas 10-Second Eye Shadow

Pair it with: The Sun Show Bronzer

Armani Beauty Eye Tint Liquid Eyeshadow

Pair it with: A-Line Liquid Highlighter

Crop Natural Bio Metal Liquid Eyeshadow

Pair it with: Mascara

Danessa Myricks Beauty Twin Flames Liquid Eye Shadow

Pair it with: Colorfix Multi-Use Eye, Cheek & Lip Waterproof Liquid Pigments

Ami Colé Lid Joy Matte Liquid Eyeshadow

Pair it with: Desert Date Cream Blush & Lip Multistick

Bodyography Liquid Eye Shadow

Pair it with: Glitter Pigments

Haus Labs by Lady Gaga Hy-Power Eye, Cheek & Lip Pigment Paint

Pair it with: Eye Armor Kit

Beauty Director

Erin has been writing a mix of beauty and wellness content for Who What Wear for over four years. Prior to that, she spent two and half years writing for Byrdie. She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. interning with the Byrdie and Who What Wear family. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A. to begin her career as a beauty editor. She considers her day-to-day beauty aesthetic very low-maintenance and relies on staples like clear brow serum (from Kimiko!), Lawless's Lip Plumping Mask in Cherry Vanilla, and an eyelash curler. For special occasions or days when she's taking more meetings or has an event, she'll wear anything and everything from Charlotte Tilbury (the foundations are game-changing), some shimmer on her lids (Stila and Róen do it best), and a few coats of the best mascara-type product on earth, Surratt's Noir Lash Tint.