The looks seen backstage at SS17 were enough to turn even the most minimalist makeup-wearer to flashes of colour. Pops of metallics and primary colours were everywhere, from the ice blue and pink duo at Jill Stuart, to Sophia Webster's sparkly rainbow, to Jeremy Scott's sweep of navy and Marc Jacobs' '80s fuchsia.
While we're no strangers to experimenting with eye makeup, we've found that texture makes a big difference here. Whether you're looking for glossy or matte lids, rich pigment or barely there colour, cream eyeshadows have stolen our hearts (and space in our makeup bags). You can use your finger or a brush to apply, the formulas tend to be water-resistant (perfect when you're on holiday), and they come in pots, sticks, or with wands.
"They're easier to apply than a powder, and create a more uniform, intense and pigmented finish", Cristina Cobo, 3INA's head of product development, tells me. The brand's The Cream Eyeshadow comes in a multitude of bright colours, and the new neon range reacts to UV light – perfect for sweaty club nights and festival season.
Another plus for cream eyeshadows is that they make those with drier or damaged skin look youthful, "particularly if they have a beautiful light-reflective glow to them," Rose-Marie Swift, founder of RMS Beauty, explains. "Our cream eyeshadows double as a moisturiser due to the skincare properties of the ingredients and won’t dry out your skin like traditional shadows."
Our favourite ways to wear cream shadow? Under a slick of Vaseline for hyper-glossy lids, and with loose glitter pressed on top with a finger. Click through to see our favourite shadows for this summer.
bareMinerals 5-in-1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow & Primer, £14.40, available at Look Fantastic
New CID Cosmetics i-Colour, £14, available at Look Fantastic
Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow, £21, available at Selfridges
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour, £23, available at Selfridges
3INA The Fluoro Cream Eyeshadow, £10.95, available at 3INA
Illamasqua Cream Pigment, £17, available at Look Fantastic
Yves Saint Laurent Eye Duo Smoker, £25, available at Selfridges
RMS Beauty Eye Polish, £19, available at Look Fantastic
3INA The Cream Eyeshadow, £8.95, available at 3INA
Yves Saint Laurent Full Metal Eye Shadow, £22, available at Selfridges
Tom Ford Cream and Powder Eye Colour, £48, available at Selfridges
Giorgio Armani Eye & Brow Maestro, £28, available at Selfridges
NYX Professional Makeup Full Throttle Shadow Stick, £6, available at Selfridges
Surratt Prismatique Eyes, £36, available at Cult Beauty
Clarins Ombre Matte Cream-To-Powder Eyeshadow, £19, available at Selfridges
Pixi Lid Last Shadow Pen, £12, available at Look Fantastic
Tom Ford Cream Colour For Eyes, £30, available at Selfridges
Jane Iredale Smooth Affair Eyeshadow, £32, available at Look Fantastic
Laura Mercier Eye Basics, £21, available at Selfridges
Ellis Faas Creamy Eyes Eye Shadow, £24, available at Selfridges
Burberry Eye Colour Contour, £23, available at Burberry
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
The Best Eyeshadow Palettes You Can Buy For Less Than £20