I just love quick one-and-done eye looks, what can I say. But not all eyeshadow sticks are created equal… See for yourself in the best stick eyeshadows and their dupes!
I’ve used and loved so many eyeshadow sticks. Chanel’s twist-ups were always great, Burberry’s quite good as well. I’ve used Bobbi Brown’s, Mac’s (AGES ago)… and of course the really well-known ones – By Terry, Kiko, elf’s (they really do have some kind of renaissance going on, haven’t they?). I am, btw, speaking about the twist-up sticks, not the crayons you’ve to sharpen.
The thing is: I have different requirements nowadays, and those are: my eyes have gotten even more hooded, and regular eyeshadow sticks DO crease. They ALL do. Apart from – my newest discovery, and the ones I didn’t want to review on their own, because they’re apparently being discontinued at the moment: Lancome’s Ombre Hypnose Stylo – or maybe they’ve just supply issues. Who knows. (And I do tell you right now: if you can still get them where you are, run, don’t walk. They are so, so, so incredibly good.)
I was really curious about one thing: people speak of different eyeshadow sticks as “dupes” all the time. And I get it: they’re somehow similar in packaging, skin-feel, performance, even shade range. But are they really interchangeable?
What I want
While there’s a time and place for going wild with that 12-pan eyeshadow palette, at heart I’m a lazy bitch. And that’s why sometimes (traveling, early morning appointments etc.) I want an eye look that’s easy to apply, long-wearing and still sophisticated and multi-dimensional. Sure, I could use a single powder shadow, or a cream eye shadow, or even a supershock eyeshadow.
But then, even those don’t have two requirements I want: application without a brush and with minimal blending required, and a waterproof formula. (Yes, it’s niche, but first, it’s winter, second, my eyes water, and third I went to Iceland recently where rain comes at you horizontally. – And even if I’d go to a tropical island, it would’ve been great to have a formula like that for pool days.)
I always use an eye primer, because everything smudges without one. Still, I wouldn’t characterize my lids as oily.
Here’s what I did
I googled ingredient lists. Groundbreaking, I know. What I didn’t do was to look for a 100% match, but matches that were close enough. With skincare, we do know that it matters a lot how ingredients are combined, and that even a 100% match might not result in the same product. With colour cosmetics, I do believe that’s not completely the case, because so many formulas are just delivery systems for colour. On top of that, usually brands use the same manufacturers that offer a basic formula which will be tweaked per the brand’s wishes.
The best stick eyeshadows and their dupes
The ones that are created equally…
Kiko, By Terry, Bobbi Brown
Yup, these formulas are very, very similar. Which is wild when you look at their respective prices.
Especially Kiko’s Long-Lasting Eyeshadow Sticks were my long-time faves (see here and here), but nowadays, they just don’t hold up on my eyes anymore. Their big plus is their price and the shade range, they’re definitely creamy and very blendable. For me, they easily blend into nothing and are hard to layer to reach full opacity. They also don’t set quickly or fully enough for my lids.
In this case, I can vouch that Kiko, By Terry and Bobbi Brown sticks are dupes: they feel the same, they perform the same, the ingredients are (nearly) the same. No reason to spend the big bucks here.
Kiko’s Long-Lasting Eyeshadow Sticks
- Shade range: 11-32 (depending on location)
- Waterproof: n.a.
- Long-wearing: 8h
- Weight 1.64g
- Price: $ 10.99/ 8€
- Made in? Italy
- Available internationally: yes
By Terry Ombre Blackstar
- Shade range: 6
- Waterproof: n.a.
- Long-wearing: n.a.
- Weight 1.64g
- Price: $44/33€
- Made in? Italy
- Available internationally: yes
Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick
- Shade range: 24
- Waterproof: n.a.
- Long-wearing: 8h
- Weight 1.64g
- Price: $28/36€
- Made in? Italy
- Available internationally: yes
… and the other ones
elf (Laura Mercier)
I really haven’t ever tried Laura Mercier, and now that I know that they twin with elf, I don’t really want to. elf is fine, sure, but a bit behind the ones above, both in packaging, shade range and formula. Both brands stress the creaminess and blendability of the product, which on me invariably backfires.
elf no-budge eyeshadow stick
- Shade range: 11
- Waterproof: n.a.
- Long-wearing: n.a.
- Weight 1.64g
- Price: $5/7€
- Made in? China
- Available internationally: yes
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick
- Shade range: 40 (!)
- Waterproof: n.a.
- Long-wearing: 12h
- Weight 1.64 g
- Price: $29/34€
- Made in? USA
- Available internationally: yes
… and then, there’s Lancome
Let’s talk about Lancome’s Ombre Hypnose Stylo then, my new love, and – in my humble opinion – the best of them all. Why? BECAUSE THEY HOLD UP. No matter what. My hooded eyes in bad weather? No prob, hun! Allergies making my eyes water? Don’t worry about it!
These perform great on their own, layer great, and are wonderful bases if you want to add a powder eyeshadow. They do dry down rather quickly and for that reason, may be hard to blend. My shades are neutral and easy to wear with my skintone (I don’t have to blend Erika F. at all) – I can imagine that bolder shades are hard to manage and manipulate.
I’m super happy, though, that my sleuthing unearthed some potential twins, amongst them Yves Rocher Lifeproof Eyeshadow, Artdeco High Performance Eyeshadow Stylo and Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Stick. I haven’t tried either of them, though.
Lancome Ombre Hypnose Stylo
- Shade range: 9 (?) (depending on site)
- Waterproof: n.a.
- Long-wearing: 24h
- Weight 1.4g
- Price: $25/ 24-30€
- Made in? Germany
- Available internationally: yes
Artdeco High Performance Eyeshadow Stylo
- Shade range: 23 – not bad!
- Waterproof: n.a.
- Long-wearing: 10h
- Weight: 1.4g
- Price 12,95€
- Made in? Germany
- Available internationally: Europe, Canada, UK
Yves Rocher Lifeproof Eyeshadow
- Shade range: 11 colours, rather neutral
- Waterproof: yes
- Long-wearing: 14h
- Weight: 1.4g
- Price: $14-24/10,99€
- Made in? Germany
- Available internationally: yes
Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Stick
- Shade range: 14 colours, rather colourful
- Waterproof: yes, up to 24h
- Long-wearing: 24h
- Weight: 1.4g
- Price: $26
- Made in? Germany
- Available internationally: yes
The best stick eyeshadows and their dupes?
Still here? Cool.
The can’t be any doubt that my favourite formula is Lancome’s right now. We’ll see how quick they dry out though.
If you want something a little more emollient and blendable, I’d always go for Kiko. They have a great shade range and are cheap. I’d steer clear both of elf and By Terry for different reasons: elf is the cheapest, and the only one who manufactures in China. It’s also the one they dried out really quickly, and has really flimsy packaging (the new one is also ugly af). By Terry is simply overpriced.
Hope that was helpful to you and do let me know what your faves are!
Please note that this post is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods or money for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
I am looking for something to put over my Kat Von D liquid eyeliner to help it blend in. I’ve been using eyeshadow, but ugh. Would a stick be a better choice, do you think?
It’s worth a try, isn’t it? If you do, though, I’d go for one of the cheaper options – still time to splurge if you like it! – D.
Lise Watier? It Cosmetics? Stila? What other brands did you try to come up with your list of ‘bests’? I was looking for a super creamy pearl liner that would stay put on my water line. I found one, but I ended up with three shadow sticks, too. Also found a ’drug store’ brand (but not made in China) super creamy eye liner (wrong colour ).
I’m surprised you left out one of the biggest eyeshadow stick queens…Mally! I know there’s lots of them out there but her eyeshadow sticks are famous & great! As a 59 yr old lady, I don’t want all that sparkle and glitter on my eyes that most of the shadow sticks contain. That’s why I really like Alleyoop 11th Hour sticks. I use Baby Pearl as my base a lot and Charcolit. They have shimmer but not that ghastly glitter. Julep is also huge in eyeshadow sticks with a big shade range. They have great sales all the time where you can pick them up at 44% off! Thank you for your comparisons on these.
Hi Chevelle, that sounds great! The thing is, I can only really compare products that are available in Germany. That rules out some brands. Also, because I try to use all the products I review regularly (‘love your beauty stash’ isn’t twindly’s hashtag for nothing), I only buy things I’m confident I’ll like. That puts a limit on what I can review. Thanks for your input!