The full review

ShadowSense Eyeshadow review: my honest take

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*As stated by SeneGence.

ShadowSense is SeneGence’s long-wear eyeshadow, and it’s one of the brand’s bestsellers. It goes on as a cream and dries down to a powder finish. SeneGence says it’s smudge-proof, waterproof and crease-free, which is the whole point: color you put on at 7am that still looks put together at dinner. It’s also vegan, and it comes in 61 shades on sale right now.

Blend while it's wet, walk away once it's dry, and stop checking for creases.

There are two families. The mattes dry to a velvety finish and can be worn alone, blended, or pressed along the lash line as a soft liner. The shimmers are made to layer over or next to the mattes. The trade-off is timing: it sets fast, so you blend while it’s wet and stop once it dries. If you like to fuss and rework shadow for ten minutes, a powder palette will feel easier.

At $28 for 0.2 fl oz, one shade goes a long way because you only need a little. I’d start with one neutral matte and one shimmer that works with it. If you want the fastest possible eye with no brush and no blending, the Glowify Eyeshadow Stick is the simpler pick.

ShadowSense vs Glowify Stick vs Bouncy Mousse: which one should you get?

	ShadowSense Eyeshadow My pick	Glowify Eyeshadow Stick	Glowify Bouncy Mousse
Format	Crème-to-powder cream	Crème-to-powder stick	Whipped gel mousse
Wear	Smudge-proof, waterproof, crease-free (SeneGence)	Waterproof, crease-resistant (SeneGence)	Sheer and buildable
Where	Eyes, or as a soft liner	Eyes	Cheeks, lips and eyes
Shades	61 on sale	10 on sale	2 on sale
Price	$28	$32	$32
Pick it if	You want the biggest shade range	You want the fastest eye	You want one dewy product for the whole face

Where it fits in your eye routine

1ShadowSenseyou are here2EyeSense Pencildefine3VolumeIntense Mascarafinish4Fooops! Removerat night

Shadow goes on first so any fallout or mistakes are easy to clean up before liner and mascara. Let it dry fully before you line. At night, long-wear shadow needs a proper remover: Fooops! Dual Phase Color Remover is made for SeneGence makeup, so skip the scrubbing.

What’s in it, in plain words

• Crème-to-powder formula: it goes on like a cream and dries to a powder feel, so it sets instead of staying tacky on the lid.
• Matte shades: a velvety matte finish you can wear alone, blend, or use as a soft eyeliner.
• Shimmer shades: luminous colors designed to coordinate with the mattes, so pairing them is easy.
• Anti-aging, vegan: SeneGence describes the formula as anti-aging and vegan.

Sets that include ShadowSense

• Afterglow ShadowSense Collection: three neutral shadows and a bag, $84
• Dripping Jewels ShadowSense Collection: three jewel-tone shadows and a glitter bag, $84
• Glow Gorgeous Duo: Bronzed Blush Shimmer and a gloss, $53
• Rosy Rendezvous Collection: Pink Frost, Smoked Topaz, LipSense and gloss, $113

My tips

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ShadowSense Eyeshadow FAQs

Does ShadowSense crease?

SeneGence says it’s crease-free. It helps to apply a thin layer and let it dry completely before touching your eyes. Thick layers take longer to set and can move before they do.

Is ShadowSense waterproof?

Yes, SeneGence describes it as smudge-proof and waterproof. That’s also why it needs a real remover at night, like Fooops! Dual Phase Color Remover.

What's the difference between matte and shimmer ShadowSense?

Mattes dry to a velvety, flat finish and can double as liner. Shimmers are the light-catching shades, designed to layer over or pair with the mattes.

How many ShadowSense shades are there?

61 shades are on sale right now, from soft neutrals like Dove and French Toast to deeper colors like Onyx and Garnet. Browse all eye products on the eyes page.

Can I use ShadowSense as eyeliner?

Yes. The matte shades can be worn as a soft liner. Press a dark matte close to the lash line and let it dry.