Remember when sparkly makeup made us cringe because it brought back memories of the thickly applied glitter from our youth? Our stance on sparkles has certainly changed in the last few years. Now, we’re not just craving shine, but multidimensional luster — and beauty companies are eager to satisfy our need for grown-up glitter products.
Makeup artist Pat McGrath may have single-handedly ushered in the age of ultra-shiny makeup with her covetable metallic lip kits and eye kits launched last year. Her reflective offerings go beyond the usual gold, silver and bronze, giving us blues, greens and reds in shimmery foils. Since then, our penchant for all things prismatic has led other brands to follow suit with their own foil makeup.
Foil makeup takes the reflective finish we crave and boosts it to dazzling levels. The result is a makeup finish that looks like we’re using actual gold (or silver or red or blue) leaf on our features but without the labor-intensive application that comes with applying gold sheets. Foil makeup typically comes in the same easy-to-apply packages as matte and satin products, but foil makeup delivers a so-shiny-you-can-see-your-reflection finish.
The high drama of foil makeup lends itself well to evening, but those who cannot wait until after hours can add a prismatic touch by using foil as a highlight on eyes or cheekbones during the day. Similarly, a neutral foiled lip combined with an athleisure look is a suitable lo-fi day look.
No matter the direction, it’s necessary to have the right products, so we rounded up the best foil makeup products for next-level shine.
[ Next: The Best Glitter Makeup for Grownups ]
11 Foil Makeup Products That Deliver an Extra Metallic Finish
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11 Foil Makeup Products That Deliver an Extra Metallic Finish #1
Take shine to the next level with these gorgeous foil makeup products.
Image: @ciatelondon
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Ciaté London
Precious Metal Eyeshadow, $21 at Ciaté London
This pot holds the key products for achieving mirror-like shine. First, apply the primer to create a smooth base. Next, dust on the loose pigment for a reflective finish. Leave off mascara so the liquid metal effect can be fully appreciated.
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BH Cosmetics
Foil Eyes 2 - 28 Color Eyeshadow Palette, $8 at BH Cosmetics
If you're a foil makeup newbie, this eyeshadow palette is the perfect intro to the trend. It features 28 different colors that range from icy pastels to bold jewel tones to flattering neutrals. All of them deliver major pigment and a molten finish in a silky powder formula.
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Stila
Magnificent Metals Foil Finish Eyeshadow, $32 at Ulta
This is not your average eyeshadow. Each of six luxurious foil finish shades comes with a deluxe eye primer and a mixing tray. Simply blend the two eye products together, then smudge it on with fingers to use as eyeshadow or apply with a fine brush as eyeliner.
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Touch In Sol
Metallist Liquid Foil Lipstick Duo, $25 at Sephora
Get double the metallic shine with one lipstick. On one end, there's a matte metallic shade. Flip it over and there's a buildable glitter gloss. Try one coat during the day, then stipple it on after dark. Choose from seven glistening shades.
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Pat McGrath Labs
Mothership II Eyeshadow Palette – Sublime, $125 at Sephora
The master of metallics, Pat McGrath's three Mothership palettes contain a curated mix of richly pigmented shadows ranging from high-impact foil finishes to creamy satins. Each shadow is highly blendable to create seamless color transitions for your own runway-ready look.
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Jouer
Skinny Dip Ultra Foil Shimmer Shadows Palette, $40 at Nordstrom
Channel an ice princess or a rock star with this six-pan shadow palette. The colors can be worn individually or blended together for endless possibilities. Each shade delivers intense pigment and a strong foil effect to perk up eyes. Plus, the shadows can double as colored highlighters.
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Tarte
Rainforest of the Sea Foil Finger Paints Shadow Palette, $39 at Tarte
Put down those brushes and apply these pigmented eyeshadows with your fingers. The three full foil shadows have a "crushed velvet" texture that applies easily to lids. The split pan contains two sparkly shades that can be worn individually or applied on top of the other shadows for extra dimension. Remember, when it comes to a foil finish, there's no such thing as too much.
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Tom Ford Beauty
Soleil Lip Foil, $53 at Net-a-Porter
Tom Ford's luxurious lipstick is infused with pearl-like mica particles for superior shine, but it still has a creamy formula that's comfortable to wear.
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Victoria Beckham Estée Lauder
Eye Foil, $40 at Estée Lauder
The Victoria Beckham Estée Lauder collection has earned countless fans for a reason: the products are innovative, but still slot comfortably into any makeup routine. Achieve a smoky eye Posh would be proud of with the vinyl-like liquid eyeshadow. The gunmetal color maintains a liquid metal look even after it's dry.
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Shu Uemura
Eye Foil Liquid Eye Shadow, $35 at Shu Uemura
This liquid eyeshadow has a unique ring applicator allowing it to be used as a liner or shadow. Use the side to create a fine flick or use the wide part to cover lids. The product has a refreshing watery texture when it's applied before drying down to a molten metallic veil.
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Too Faced
Melted Gold Liquified Gold Lip Gloss, $21 at Too Faced
If someone were to melt gold down to liquid form, it would look like this radiant lip gloss. After all, the gloss is actually infused with real gold. Plus, it maintains the molten effect long after it has been applied.
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Lottie London
Freckle Tatts Temporary Face & Body Foil Tattoos, $14.99 at Ulta
Faux freckle makeup keeps coming back with new and more prismatic variations. For a festival-ready look, apply these temporary face and body tattoos to enhance natural freckles or to fake a (metallic) freckled complexion.
