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Instagram made us do it.
Maybe it’s the change in seasons, (or perhaps it’s those late-night Instagram scrolling sessions), but every so often we feel compelled to break out of our make-up rut and try something completely new.
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The latest trend stealing our thoughts is a little less expected. Our love affair with pink eyeshadow began (as most of our beauty fixations do) on the ‘gram, where so many of our favourite make-up artists are embracing a spectrum of pinks, from soft peony to intense, 1980s-inflected fuchsia. (If you're after a starting point, look to colour queen Katie Jane Hughes.) Even the A-list have noticed the pretty appeal of these powdery shades, with everyone from Lady Gaga to eternal beauty inspiration Lucy Boynton embracing the look.
Perhaps the appeal of pink lies in its wearability – more than can be said for many born-on-the-runway trends. A wash of candyfloss, swept softly across your lids (and onto the temples, if you’re feeling braver), is one of the most flattering ways to embrace this season’s dreamy romance. For the bolder, a sharp line of vivid pink liner offers immediate punk-but-pretty impact.
On our mission to embrace pink, however, there have been some failures. The key to nailing the look is in the softness, and many pink eyeshadows are too dark, too fluorescent or simply too packed with glitter to deliver the desired subtlety. Here, discover the ones that met our (admittedly high) standards.
These are the best pink eyeshadows we’ve swatched, swiped and blended this season.
A strong swipe of this will lend any look instant impact – just imagine it against all the new season’s earthy checks and terracotta tones.
NARS' Melrose shadow is flecked with gold sparkles that will catch the light from all angles. It’s a perfect choice for evening.
This is your gateway pink – soft enough to look entirely natural (when applied with a light hand), but easily layered once you’re ready to intensify.
If you prefer statement impact, try switching out powder shadows in favour of a bold swipe of Shiseido’s toxic lavender crayon.
Lime Crime’s eyeshadows are famously packed with pigment, but the cool-toned pinks in this palette are undeniably pretty.
Trust Charlotte Tilbury to offer up a glamorous take on the trend. This molten-metal eye cream comes in the perfect shade of rose – not too shimmery, but not too sheer.
A real grown-up pink, this pastel peony is as pretty as it is on-point. Mix things up by clashing against a burgundy lipstick.
If the cat-print packaging doesn’t have you enamoured, the two perfectly matched pink shadows inside will.
A subtle way to play with pink, this all-natural tinted cream will blend seamlessly into skin, no artistry skill required.