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Confession: My very early makeup days (circa 2008) turned me off of cream eyeshadows for basically an entire decade. They were sticky, greasy, and creased on my eyelids in exactly three minutes (eye primer wasn't really a thing back then—dark times, I know). It wasn’t until a few years ago that I finally gave cream eyeshadows a second chance and realized that these formulas have gotten way better since my middle-school days. Not only can I easily tap them on with my (clean!) finger, but I don't need to spend 10 minutes buffing and blending, since today's formulas are silky, blendable, and surprisingly long-lasting.

Sounds too good to be true, but trust me—I'm a full convert now. So if you’ve felt chained to your powder eyeshadow palettes and crave a simpler makeup routine like I did, please tiptoe into the cream-eyeshadow world for me, k? Below are the 13 best cream eyeshadows I highly recommend for both your low-key makeup days and your bold makeup trend days. But before you get overwhelmed by choices (you've got everything from drugstore eyeshadow to splurge-worthy picks to choose from) let's narrow down your options, starting with:

Some cream eyeshadows skew toward the sheer side, giving you a wash of color that's perfect for anyone who likes light, subtle makeup. Other cream formulas can pack on the pigment with just a couple taps of your finger or eyeshadow brush—perfect if you like to go big and bold. If you can test the product in store, compare the pigment intensity by blending it on the back of your hand. But if you're shopping online, make sure to really read through reviews, look at customer photos, and, hello, listen to me, who broke down every one of the best cream eyeshadows for color and pigment, below.

Be honest with yourself: If you're a makeup beginner, and a highly-pigmented or glitter eyeshadow sounds intimidating, opt for a stick formula that'll allow you to shade in your eyelid like a coloring book and control exactly where you deposit the color. And if you hate all makeup brushes and applicators, opt for a pot or cream eyeshadow palette so you can use your fingers (again, wash 'em first!) to tap and blend.

Ready for the breakdown? Keep scrolling—or pause here for a peek at what’s to come:

Ready to get into it? The full breakdown, ahead.

Anything that multitasks has my vote, and that includes this cheek, lip, and eye tint by Danessa Myricks, which comes in a super-wide range of matte, metallics, and high-shine finishes. It’s also ideal if you like to keep a paired-down makeup bag, since it's an all-in-one product. Example: The Sweet Pink Matte shade (pictured) or Primary Red shade can work as your cream eyeshadow, liquid blush, and tinted lip gloss for a simple monochromatic makeup look.

Meet the cream eyeshadow that legit converted me. This sparkly little stick is beyond easy to apply (I swipe it over my lids super quickly and tap it in with my fingertips) and leaves me with the prettiest, slightly subtle finish that actually stays put all day.

Makeup enthusiasts, welcome to your new favorite cream eyeshadow palette. The creamy formulas will give you all the control and powerful pigment you need for the cool makeup looks that you will definitely be posting to your grid (it's never too soon to practice your Halloween makeup). Pro tip: To make sure the color doesn’t budge for hours, start with a primer and finish with a setting spray to lock it in place.

The best part about this cream eyeshadow—aside from the fact that it won’t smudge or crease—is that it's a stick formula, which makes for easy application. So if you’re a makeup beginner or simply refuse to spend more than 30 seconds on your eyeshadow (hi, same), you can just guide this cream eyeshadow stick over your lids and blend with your fingertips.

If intense pigment is what you’re after, you’ve come to the right eyeshadow. Dab the applicator on the back of your hand as a makeshift palette, then tape and dab a tiny bit of eyeshadow over your lid—you’ll be surprised by how much color just a little bit of this silky formula gives you.

Channel your inner Euphoria makeup vibe with this ultra-pigmented metallic cream eyeshadow (which comes in five sparkly hues). Formula and color aside, though, you’ll love the ease of the tube packaging and applicator that you can just paint carefully over your eyelid in one layer for a bold eye moment.

Some days you want a full face, and some days you just want a little bit of shimmer on your eyelids. Enter: This super-customizable cream eyeshadow. Swipe on fingertip’s worth (or use a flat eyeshadow brush, if you’re ~civilized~) for a light wash of shimmer, or pack on a few more layers for a highly pigmented, metallic finish.

Honestly, the fact that this long-wear cream eyeshadow is less than $10 and comes with a convenient little eyeshadow brush is pretty excellent. The drugstore formula comes in 12 shades, too, including this iridescent green.

Guess what? Your lids need sun protection too. That’s where makeup with sunscreen (and this eyeshadow) comes into play—not only does it give your eyelids the perfect wash of color, but it’s also spiked with SPF 30 to help protect your lids from harmful UV rays.

Streamline your makeup routine with this multitasking cream eyeshadow. The stick applicator lets you wear the formula on your lids or your lash line, and it’s especially great for quick smokey eyes that smudge out, then stay put.

You know those days when you want to go extra as all hell? Sweep on this ultra-glittery cream eyeshadow (I’d recommend using a brush, unless you’re down to get glitter on your fingers) for a full-on gilded look (which, BTW, genuinely lasts).

Consider this cream eyeshadow your new go-to for quick touch-ups. The silky formula goes on super subtly, ideal for your soft-glam makeup look. So feel free to dab it onto your lids while you’re commuting to happy hour or your next Tinder date without fear of going overboard.

This creamy black eyeshadow is the key to creating the smokiest of smokey eyes. Buff it across your lids with a fluffy brush, then trace your lash line with an angled eyeliner brush. And, fun fact, it can be layer (and layered again) for the deepest of black shades.