19 Glitter Eyeshadows to Try When You Can’t Get Enough Sparkle

July 17, 2023

By: Ariel Wodarcyk | Makeup.com by L'Oréal

How to Apply Glitter Eyeshadow

For maximum sparkle, a few key application moves will give you the best payoff and help your glitter last, too. We recommend priming your lids with an eyeshadow primer, such as the NYX Professional Makeup Glitter Primer or their Ultimate Shadow and Liner Primer (both are 30% off between 7/16 and 7/18 for the brand’s Primer Day Sale). Using a primer will intensify the color and shine of your glitter eyeshadow, prevent glitter fallout and help it last longer.

To apply the glitter eyeshadow, we recommend packing on the color with a flat, dense eyeshadow brush or a clean finger for a saturated look. Apply it anywhere you’re looking to add extra brightness and shine to your eye area, such as the inner corners of eyes, lash lines, or the center of lids.

The Best Glitter Eyeshadows

Urban Decay 24/7 Moondust Glitter Eyeshadow Singles

If you ask beauty lovers on TikTok, this is the glitter eyeshadow of the moment. From the viral champagne shade Space Cowboy to fan-faves Solstice, a duochrome red with green sparkles and Cosmo, a sheer snowy white, you’ll be tempted to collect every shade in the collection.

Maybelline New York Color Tattoo Eye Stix Up to 24HR Wear Shadow, Liner, Primer

These multi-use eye sticks come in five shimmery shades, from understated neutrals to a dreamy purple and smoky olive green. We love the easy-to-apply crayon format and the water-resistant, 24-hour-wear formula.

Valentino Beauty Dreamdust Glitter Eyeshadow

Dust your lids in diamond-level shine with these fallout-free, ultra-reflective shadows. Available in four shades (silver, rose gold, forest green and icy blue), the cream formula glides on like velvet and is packed with pigment.

NYX Professional Makeup Ultimate Glow Shots Liquid Eyeshadow

These shimmery liquid eyeshadows are unfailingly pigmented, easy to apply and long-lasting, offering up to 12 hours of wear. You can find them in a range of 22 shades, from bright, flashy hues to soft and subtle neutrals, for only $11 each.

L'Oréal Paris Brilliant Eyes Liquid Eyeshadow

Use this liquid shadow’s doe-foot applicator to quickly and easily swipe on shine and color. Each of the blindingly metallic shades is crease-resistant, flake-proof and gives you up to 16 hours of wear.

YSL Beauty Sequin Crush Mono Eyeshadow

As one reviewer says, these glitter eyeshadows from YSL Beauty are like “magic.” While they’re technically a powder, they’re so soft and richly pigmented that they go on as smoothly as a cream eyeshadow.

Giorgio Armani Eye Tint Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeshadow

Our editors fell in love with the long-lasting colors and pearly, reflective sheen of these liquid eyeshadows. While they’re not the most sparkly of the bunch, the metallic shades are perfect for adding some subtly reflective shine to your look.

NYX Professional Makeup Face & Body Glitter

These loose glitters are perfect for getting festival or rave-ready. Load them up on top of a glitter primer for maximum color intensity and disco-ball like sparkle.

Glam Goth Beauty Glitter Diamonds

These vegan, cruelty-free chunky glitters come in a range of shapes, sizes and colors to customize your makeup look. We’re a fan of the containers, which feature a small hole sifter to help minimize mess.

ColourPop Chrome Liquid Shadow

If you love a duochrome eye, these liquid shadows deserve a spot in your makeup routine. Each shade is high-shine and pigmented, with colors that shift from blue to purple to red to gold depending on the light you’re standing in.

Half Magic Chromaddiction Shimmer

These shimmery, smudge-proof eye paints are perfect for an all-over wash of shadow or as eyeliner. You can find them in eight dreamy shades, from pastel pink and periwinkle to a shimmery champagne flecked with blue reflects.

about-face Fractal Glitter Eye Paint

For eyes that rival a starry sky, look to these mega-glitter shadows. The formula is vegan, cruelty-free and delivers bold, eye-catching color without any fallout.

Violette_FR Yeux Paint

This multi-use liquid shadow and liner comes in seven vivid shades, from a shocking fuchsia to a fiery orange. A cinch to blend, it features an easy-to-use applicator that allows you to cover the lid in a wash of color or create an intricate graphic liner look.

Kaja Viva Shine Bento Highlighter + Eyeshadow Palette

This adorable three-powder stack features an eye, face and body shimmer for an all-over gleam. You’ll find the upper shade packs the most sparkle, while the bottom two hues provide a more subtle twinkle.