

You also can't argue with the intense pigmentation that generally pairs with liquid eye shadows. "Once a liquid eyeshadow has set, it doesn't budge." The best formulas, which you'll read about soon, don't even break down through workouts, rain, or humidity. "You only have a limited amount of time to blend the shade before it dries on your lid," Mehta explains. However, whatever order you choose, don't flounder when it comes to application. "Use a fluffy kind of eye shadow brush that allows you to blend and apply at the same time." If you want to step it up a notch, take this tip from makeup artist Delina Medhin: "I love to lay down powders to build shadow and depth, then add the liquid as the topper." Makeup artist Amrita Mehta points out the opposite method, noting that "liquids make a great base for powder eyeshadow and help with longevity as well" - so you can really customize these no-fallout formulas to your own liking. "Start at the lash line in the middle of the eye and then build up from there," advises makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes.

They're pretty effortless to use and beginner-friendly, to boot - simply swipe, blend, and go. They usually come in easy-to-tote-around tubes that are perfect for throwing in your bag if you're crunched for time, prefer touching up throughout the day, or want to amp your eye makeup for post-work activities. "It's nearly impossible to mess up with liquid eye shadows because they're so creamy and easy to work with," says makeup artist Allan Avandaño, who adds that you can wear them alone or atop powder eye shadows. When it comes to eye shadow, liquid formulas are about as foolproof as it gets.
