eye shadow

American  

Or eyeshadow

noun

1. a cosmetic coloring material applied to the eyelids.

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eye shadow British  

noun

1. a coloured cosmetic put around the eyes so as to enhance their colour or shape

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Etymology

Origin of eye shadow

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

“We started to see a lot more intensive makeup looks, with contouring and heavy eye shadow application.”

From MarketWatch • Feb. 7, 2026

Sephora gave shoppers free rein to schmear on lipstick and play with eye shadow.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 8, 2025

You’ll find Amber workshopping her stories at a cafe in Leimert Park, with a sheer, subtle eye shadow that creates a glow around her almond eyes.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 17, 2025

For me, it was where I met friends after school, tried on eye shadow for the first time, and listened to DJs pumping out dance music.

From BBC • Aug. 15, 2025

We shaded our faces green with a broken eye shadow that belonged to Dora’s mother, and my mother gave us two burlap sacks that had once contained basmati rice, for collecting candy.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri