For me, simplicity is always key with my makeup. And I’ve found that nothing is quite as low effort, high payoff as a twinkly lid. The beauty of a glittery eye shadow is that it’s so easy — you don’t need to be a makeup expert to dab some sparkle on your lids. It’s also near-impossible to mess up: no straight lines, brushes, or steady hands needed. Glitter shadow has long been my secret for quick “special occasion” makeup.
But not all glitters are great. Drugstore options I’ve tried have been chalky and didn’t have the rich pigmentation and creamy texture of the eye shadows from brands I’d found at Sephora. Sadly, however, these high-end options are expensive — Urban Decay Moondust glitter shadows, for example, are $24. Now don’t get me wrong, I love Urban Decay’s Cosmic: Its pure white, snowflake-y sparkle is a longtime staple in my makeup bag. But a few months ago, when I wanted to treat myself to a sparkly lavender shade to match my 30th-birthday outfit, I just couldn’t justify shelling out $25 for eye shadow.
A few weeks before the big day, I was in the depths of an old makeup bag and grabbed an old gem: ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow in Frog, a cool pink with rainbow glitter. I’d bought it on a whim after watching Rosie Huntington Whiteley’s YouTube channel (pre-TikTok, that’s how old it is!), and I’d used the eyeshadow so much that it was worn down to the metal pan underneath, reminding me just how obsessed I once was with it. Despite years of neglect, when I dabbed a bit along my eyelids, its rich, baby-pink pigment and sparkly finish remained as vibrant and dazzling as ever. In this moment, it dawned on me: This $7 shadow is every bit as impressive as the pricier Urban Decay one I swear by. Inspired, I set out to the local Ulta to see if I could find a cute shade for my birthday.
After spending an hour swatching, I took home three colors for $21: Rooftop Cocktail (a warm rust with a blue-green duo-chrome finish), Ice Dream (opalescent white with pink, violet, and blue duo-chrome effects), and Moon Daisy (metallic baby blue with blue and silver pinpoints). What sets these shadows apart is their unique bouncy texture; when applied, it transforms into a stardustlike powder that easily washes over the lids. These shadows are also really pigmented and shiny, so the payoff is good — a high-shimmer chrome that rivals not just Urban Decay but most shadows I own. The best part is they last for ages on the lids, clinging like a second skin. They don’t budge no matter how much I’m running around.
Since reintroducing ColourPop’s Super Shock Shadows into my makeup routine, I’ve mastered creating a grungy, twinkly eye that is seriously the easiest part of my entire makeup routine. I tap the shadow along my eyelids, focusing on the center of the lid to create a wet, dimensional effect. Next, I gently line my top and bottom waterline with a black kohl (my favorite cheap drugstore one is from NYX), softly running the pencil back and forth with my eyes closed, creating a subtle, slightly smudged effect that adds depth and definition to my lids. With just a few flicks of mascara, I look equal parts soft-grunge and elegant. It’s my go-to for those moments when I want my makeup to be effortlessly cool, whether I’m running errands or celebrating my birthday. (I’m very pleased to report that my birthday makeup stands out as one of my all-time favorite beauty looks.)
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