This month we're looking to makeover our make-up bags with lots of gorgeously light and airy beauty buys. Cream eyeshadow is must-have make-up for spring/summer, so we challenged handbag.com forum regular Helen McDonald, a 26-year-old PA and bride-to-be from Surrey, to test five of the best on the market to see if she could find one with crease-free staying power - and maybe even one to add to her wedding make-up kit...
Rimmel Metallic Cream Shadow
£3.49
'I use Rimmel eyeliner daily so am familiar with the brand - I usually think of it as a cheap and cheerful option. This shadow had a fab shimmery colour and was quite thick so easy to apply. I liked the way you could build up the colour easily to create completely different looks - from a light smudge for daytime colour through to a more dense layer which would look great in the evening. It stayed on pretty well, longer than I expected it to, but did crease by the end of the evening.'
Available nationwide
Clarins Soft Cream Eye Colour 'I was really looking forward to trying this as I love Clarins. I have never used the make-up before though, but splash out on the creams when I feel like a treat. This shadow has a very thick texture but turns to powder on your skin, which is a lovely touch and makes it easy to blend, plus you only need a tiny bit to cover your lids. The colour is very multi-faceted and didn't budge all day and night. I also loved the packaging. Definitely worth the extra money.' Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner 'All Benefit products have lovely packaging and this didn't disappoint - a great retro box and glass jar. Very long-lasting and doesn't crease at all. The texture was quite greasy which I wasn't sure I liked at first, but I think this added to its durability as it stayed put all day and well into the evening. The shade was lovely too (r.s.v.p) and earned me quite a few comments from my friends - one even said I should save it for my wedding which is coming up in June, so it must have looked good!' Shiseido 'The Makeup' Hydro-Powder Eye Shadow 'I'm a sucker for packaging so I loved this one. The shadow is quite thick, so a little went a long way. It's easier to apply with fingers than with the applicator provided (but if you want a thicker, more dramatic layer, use it). The colour was lovely, a subtle shimmer which changed shades depending on how the light hit it. It didn't crease into my lids and lasted the whole day. I've never used Shiseido make up before but will definitely try other products from its range now.' Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow 'The Bobbi Brown packaging is fab - a very stylish glass pot in a box - and a pleasure to have on your dressing table. The texture of this was much thicker than the other ones I tried, and it was very easy to apply with my fingers. It left a lovely matt-effect colour. This is the ultimate in staying-power - and definitely lives up to its name. I will probably buy this when I next need a new "going out" shadow! Very similar to the Shiseido, it just pipped it to the post in the long-lasting stakes.'
£13
Available nationwide
£13
www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk
£14
020 7630 1515
£18
www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com
