elf No Budge Cream Eyeshadow At a Glance At A Glance
The elf No Budge Cream Eyeshadow is a potted cream matte eyeshadow.
• Shades: 8 available at $5 each.
• Formula: 3-in-1 eyeshadow, primer, and eyeliner.
• Finish: Creamy eyeshadow that dries down to a matte finish.
• Consistency: Some shades are dry, while others are more emolient.
Over the past few years, elf brought us potted eyeshadow, discontinued it, and now they brought it back again in a new way. I am testing out all of the elf No Budge Cream Eyeshadow shades, including swatches and full details. You will be surprised about the results!
Details & Claims
I am starting out with where you can buy the shadows. It can be found on elf’s website, as well as Amazon and Ulta. As time moves on, it may become available from more of the typical retailers that carry elf Cosmetics. Each pot is $5 and contains 0.14 oz of product.
They feature a 3-in-1 formula to work as eyeshadow, primer, and eyeliner. They should be richly pigmented, velvety, and buildable to easily swipe the color over your eyelids. You should be able to use the formula with a brush or your fingers. They claim to not budge, smudge, or crease for long-lasting, vibrant wear. As with all elf products, these are free of phthalates, parabens, nonylphenol ethoxylates, triclosan, triclocarban, and hydroquinone. Additionally, this product is made in a Fair-Trade Certified factory.
When it comes to how to apply, the choice is yours! You can use your fingers, or an eyeshadow or eyeliner brush for application and blending. If you are applying this product as primer, you do want to allow it to dry down before layering eyeshadow on. For removal, waterproof eye makeup remover is a suitable option.
Swatches & Shades
Below I have swatches of all shades. The swatches are very telling as to the inconsistencies in the formula, which I will detail in my review coming later.
Canyon
Golden Rays
Oasis
Plateau
Sahara
Sand Dune
Wildflower
Wispy Cloud
Review
Now it is time for my review. I am playing with them a lot, from application to swatches, and I have a lot to say about the formula. Sadly, the formula is inconsistent across the shades.
Wispy Cloud, the white shade, is incredibly dry in a way that makes it look patchy on the eye. I applied it with both my fingers and a brush. I find that the brush surprisingly gave better payoff. From here, I thought I would use it more like a primer and layer eyeshadow over top. This was, of course, a patchy disaster. It definitely creased. I really wanted this shade to work the best, but it does not deliver.
Oasis, the blue shade, is also dry, but not in the same way as the white. It does not want to pick up on a brush. Your finger does better, but you have to sort of stamp the color down. It does not look dry or patchy, but it refuses to blend. It gives me the sensation that my eyelid is sticking when I blink, and it also creases. Wildflower and Plateau are on the cusp of being the same way, but it is not as bad.
The other shades are super creamy, and they almost feel like they have an oil in them. This enables them to apply well with a brush or your finger, and they dry down to be fully matte fast. You do get time to blend them, and they blend well. I find that they mildly crease. You would need to look super close at your eyelid to see the creasing. Because they work as intended, use as eyeliner is also a breeze.
Ultimately, I give these three out of five stars. The formula is too inconsistent. For what its worth, they all have super vibrant pigmentation. I enjoy patting them onto the eyelid with a brush, then using that same brush to blend them up into the crease for a diffused look. As long as you are using the shades that actually work, you can enjoy them as primer, eyeshadow, or eyeliner. For a long-lasting cream option from the brand, the elf No Budge Shadow Sticks are phenomenal.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Super vibrant pigmentation across all shades
- Some shades have a creamy, almost oily texture that applies and blends well
- Dries to a fully matte finish quickly
- Provides blendable, buildable color with enough working time
- Can be used as primer, eyeshadow, or eyeliner
- Lighter creasing only visible up close with better-performing shades
Cons
- Formula is inconsistent across shades
- Some shades (like Wispy Cloud and Oasis) are overly dry and patchy
- Dry shades crease noticeably and refuse to blend properly
- Some shades cause a sticky feeling on the eyelids when blinking
- Poor performance as primer under eyeshadow for certain colors
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the e.l.f. No Budge Cream Eyeshadow best for?
It’s best for quick, one-and-done eye looks. The formula is smooth, buildable, and sets to a long-wear finish without needing a primer. Great for beginners or anyone who wants low-effort eye color.
How do you apply e.l.f. No Budge Cream Eyeshadow?
Apply with a fingertip or synthetic brush. Start with a thin layer and blend fast—it sets quickly. You can layer for more color or use it as a base under powder shadows.
Does e.l.f. No Budge Cream Eyeshadow crease or fade?
Once set, it’s designed to resist creasing and stay put for hours. On oily lids, it may still benefit from a primer underneath for all-day wear.
Shop The Cream Eyeshadow
I want to love these more, but the formula is too inconsistent from pot to pot. Some of them are disastrous to your eye look, while others are beautiful. As outlined in my review, I recommend only going for the shades that work and meet their claims. Are you a fan of cream eyeshadow? Until next time, continue to let your true beauty shine.
