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ELLE published a shopping guide to five products experts and editors use to brighten the eyes, including cream shadow sticks, face highlighter and powder palettes. The recommendations come with different finishes and drawbacks, such as noticeable sparkle, fading and stronger pigment in photos; the report does not provide comparative testing or sales data.
ELLE has published a five-product guide to eye highlighters, drawing on comments from makeup artist Judi Gabbay and the publication’s editors. The selections range from quick-application cream sticks to shimmer and matte powders, giving readers options for brightening the inner corner or adding light across the lid while flagging potential drawbacks such as glitter, fading and intense color payoff.
The report names a Laura Mercier shadow stick as a convenient option for fast application, citing its smooth texture, strong pigment and ability to be applied without a brush. Gabbay says she swipes it into the inner corner and blends with a finger. The guide lists 20 shades and a cream formula, while noting that some users may find it too sparkly.
For a product that can be used on both face and eyes, Gabbay recommends a powder highlighter available in six shades. She says applying it to the inner corner and cheekbones can connect the makeup look. The report includes a customer review describing a natural-looking, wet-effect glow without chunky glitter, but does not identify a broader test group or establish that all users will see the same finish.
Two palette options offer different approaches: Patrick Ta Beauty eyeshadow palettes include matte and shimmer shades, which Gabbay says blend easily and can brighten the inner corners. The guide lists six shades per palette and notes that shimmer shades can look very glittery. Makeup by Mario’s matte palette is presented as a sparkle-free alternative, with cream and ivory tones that Gabbay says can brighten without drawing attention to texture. The fifth pick, Tower 28 GoGo Cooling Eyeshadow Stick, is a water-based cream offered in nine shades; editor Emma Aerin Becker says its cooling feel suits her sensitive, eczema-prone eyelids, while the guide warns that it can fade quickly.
Choosing a Finish for Eye Brightening
The guide’s practical takeaway is that eye highlighting does not require shimmer. A matte cream or ivory shadow may suit readers who want brightness without sparkle, while a metallic stick or shimmer palette offers a more reflective finish. Product format also matters: a stick can be portable and applied by hand, whereas powder palettes provide multiple shades and finishes.
These distinctions help readers match a purchase to their preferences rather than treating “highlighter” as one uniform product category. The report also makes trade-offs visible: sparkle may be more pronounced than some users want, a sensitive-skin-focused formula may not last as long, and a product that looks subtle in person may appear more pigmented in photographs. Those points are editorial and review observations, not controlled performance findings.
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Five Picks, Different Formulas
The ELLE page is a product recommendation and shopping report, not a study comparing cosmetics under standardized conditions. It says every item was selected by an ELLE editor and discloses that the publication may earn commission on items readers buy. That commercial disclosure is relevant when interpreting the recommendations; it does not, by itself, establish that a selection was paid for or that the products were independently tested against one another.
The report combines expert comments, editor reviews and customer-review language. Gabbay comments on the Laura Mercier stick, the six-shade powder highlighter and Patrick Ta palettes. Editor Emma Aerin Becker discusses the Makeup by Mario palette and Tower 28 stick. Product claims and impressions are attributed to those speakers or to the guide, rather than treated as universal results.
““These are my go-to when I need something quick and easy. I love that I can throw one in my bag and apply it without a brush.””
— Judi Gabbay, makeup artist, as quoted by ELLE
What the Recommendations Do Not Establish
ELLE’s report does not provide a standardized, head-to-head wear test, independent clinical evidence or a comparative measure of how long each product lasts. Its observations about texture, finish and pigment are attributed reviews or expert opinions. The source also gives no publication date, prices or full ingredient lists, so those details cannot be compared from the supplied material.
Becker’s experience with Tower 28 is personal testimony, not a guarantee for sensitive skin. The source does not establish that the product is suitable for everyone with eczema or that it prevents irritation. Readers with known sensitivities should check product ingredients and seek professional guidance if they have concerns; irritation or other adverse reactions should not be dismissed based on a recommendation.
Check Products Before You Buy
The source does not announce a launch, product change or upcoming test. Readers considering the picks can check current shade availability, ingredients and retailer information, since those details may change and are not fully supplied in the report. They can also weigh the listed drawbacks against the finish and format they prefer.
For anyone choosing among the recommendations, the clearest next step is to treat them as editorial starting points rather than guaranteed results. A matte palette, a quick cream stick and a metallic shadow can perform differently across skin types, application methods and lighting. The report gives no further testing schedule or follow-up findings.
Key Questions
Which product in the guide is described as easiest to apply?
ELLE highlights the Laura Mercier shadow stick for quick application. Gabbay says she uses it without a brush and blends it with a finger; the guide also lists a potential drawback: it may be too sparkly for some.
Can an eye highlighter be matte?
Yes. Gabbay says she often uses matte shadows to brighten the eyes without adding sparkle. ELLE’s guide presents the Makeup by Mario palette as a matte option.
Which pick is described as suitable for sensitive eyelids?
Editor Emma Aerin Becker discusses the Tower 28 GoGo Cooling Eyeshadow Stick in relation to her own sensitive, eczema-prone eyelids. That personal account is not proof that it will suit everyone with sensitive skin, and the report says the formula can fade quickly.
Does the guide prove these products perform better than alternatives?
No. The page provides expert and editor opinions, product details and customer-review excerpts, but it does not describe a controlled comparison or establish that the picks outperform other products.
Source: elle.com
