All Day Shimmer

After looking through my matte eyeshadows, I felt I needed to balance things out and feature my favourite and most used shimmery eyeshadows. The majority of the shades I picked are neutral eyeshadows that I reach for in the mornings to apply over the lid. I usually opt for a second darker colour (a deeper bronze, purple or green) that I place along the upper lash line and blend out slightly for more definition. I haven't included any of those darker shades here, though they would certainly be among my most beloved eyeshadows (namely, the bronze from the Sleek Storm palette). I've also confined the list to powder eyeshadows, even though two cream shadows (Maybelline Bad to the Bronze and Essence Pas Des Copper) are absolute staples.

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in Silent Treatment (Eyelid shade)
I almost much never touch the other two shades in this trio because they just don't hold a candle to the Eyelid colour. This is a very wearable purplish taupe that isn't too cool, grey or silvery. It takes 2-3 layers for full pigmentation as it can apply a little on the light side initially. It has more of a soft sheen and isn't overwhelmingly shimmery or frosty. I usually pair this with a darker purple (lately, the right side of the L'Oréal HiP Metallic Shadow Duo in Electrified).

Laura Mercier African Violet (from the Lingerie Eye & Cheek Palette)
There's a reason why African Violet seems constant in every Laura Mercier eyeshadow palette release. Nothing that I have in my whole collection comes close to it. It's a warm pinkish-purple infused with the most beautiful coppery-gold shimmer. The glimmering finish and chameleonic quality of this shade makes it truly special. It could easily be too much and appear overly glittery, but it's sophisticated and surprisingly wearable for the daytime. Goes really well with a matte brown (I like Rich Cocoa from the same palette).

Revlon Luxurious Color Satin Eyeshadow in Polished Bronze
Brown and bronze shades are my default choice because they're easy to wear and go with anything. Polished Bronze is one of those ever-reliable colours that I reach for constantly. It might not be the most unique shade, but it's exactly what I'm after when looking for an everyday bronze that's a complete no-brainer. Not too dark, not too metallic, not too cool or grey, or overly warm/copper. Just right.

Revlon CustomEyes Shadow & Liner in Naturally Glamorous (fourth shade)
This is similar to Polished Bronze but quite a bit darker and a touch warmer, so it's better as an all-over lid colour when I can't be bothered to add more depth with a separate, darker shade. I find it a bit too dark for the day time unless I apply it lightly and blend well to soften the edges and sheer out the colour. It's nicely pigmented and the texture is smooth, soft and not at all crumbly or powdery. On the downside, the packaging seems flimsy as the hinge of my palette recently shattered.

Urban Decay YDK (from the Naked2 palette)
Honestly, YDK is ridiculous. So pigmented and stunningly metallic. It's a treasure in my collection. Just a light swipe is all you need for intense colour payoff. It's almost too shimmery for the daytime, but that hasn't stopped me. It's a copper-tinged, frosty bronze that I usually pair with Busted from the same palette.

Urban Decay Toasted (from the Naked palette)
Such a good eyeshadow staple. Sometimes I forget how amazing both Naked palettes are, as I haven't been reaching for them lately. Along with Smog, Darkhorse and Hustle, Toasted is my most used shade from the original Naked palette. I usually wear Smog with Darkhorse, and Toasted with Hustle. I think I marginally prefer Toasted to Smog, as the warm, slightly pinkish bronze is more neutral and wearable than Smog, which is darker and a little more antique in tone. Although metallic, there's a softness to it and it's not at all frosty.

Maybelline ExpertWear Eye Shadow in Rock Icon (Crease shade)
I had to include a green, because along with purple and bronze, it's one of my favourite colours. Green complements brown eyes and goldish olive/khaki shades are an accessible way to venture into colour while still remaining relatively neutral. I used to wear the crease shade in Rock Icon pretty often, but have neglected it for a while. I do have similar colours that I reach for now and then or were once on high rotation, including L'Oréal Infallible eyeshadow in Bronze Goddess and the fourth shade in the Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow palette in Khaki Suede. The shadows in this quad might not be the best quality, but the crease shade is decently pigmented (moreso than the lid and browbone), and with a primer, they hold up fairly well.

l-r: Wet n Wild Silent Treatment (Eyelid), Laura Mercier African Violet, Revlon Polished Bronze, Revlon Naturally Glamorous (fourth shade), Urban Decay YDK, Urban Decay Toasted, Maybelline Rock Icon (Crease)

l-r: Wet n Wild Silent Treatment (Eyelid shade), Laura Mercier African Violet, 

Revlon Polished Bronze, Revlon Naturally Glamorous (fourth shade)

l-r: Urban Decay YDK, Urban Decay Toasted, Maybelline Rock Icon (Crease shade)