One of the oldest and most popular forms of cosmetic throughout history has been the makeup stick. Max Factor was such a huge fan of classic theatrical greasepaint sticks that he used them as inspiration for his first commercially available foundation, 'Pan Stick', in 1947, which women all over the world adored for its ease of application and portability. I’ve seen an huge influx of new stick makeup for every area of the face recently and particularly eyeshadow sticks. These are great if you like quick and easy shadow application - the formulas tend to be creamy and blendable so you can scribble onto lids, blend with fingers and go. Many also have great long-lasting, crease-proof and often waterproof formulas, so the maintenance is low.

Here are some we’ve been testing at the #houseofeldridge…

The Tired Skin Brightener...
Clio Gelpresso Waterproof Stick Shadow in In Your Place
I love this pretty, shimmery lilac shade - a flattering 'pep up' colour that's great for tried faces. The Korean-made formula is super-creamy so easy to blend and buff out, though once it sets there’s no budging - the waterproof aspect makes it particularly good for holidays and humid days. You can keep application as a light wash of colour or layer up if you want more pigment and intensity. Available here in 11 shades to suit all skin tones.

The Easy Golden Eye... 
Jouer Creme Eyeshadow Crayon in Rococo
A creamy, vanilla gold that would look super-pretty on lots of different skin tones, either all over the lid or as a highlight at the inner corner. It has a bit more blending time than the Clio pencil but again once it sets it's very long-lasting and water resistant, so another good option for summer months and oily lids. There’s a sharpener at the end of the pencil if you want a more precise finish. Available here in 7 shades to suit all skin tones.

The Fast and Foolproof Smokey Eye... 
Surratt Smokey Eye Baton
If you prefer powder shadows to creams, this stick has a liner on one end and powder on the other. You can use the powder first for a gorgeous hazy wash of smokey colour, add the liner then use the sponge tip to smudge out for an undone, lived-in finish. If you have oily eyelids I'd suggest using an eye primer first as the powder had less staying power than the 'setting' cream sticks. The packaging is also really slim and elegant - good for small handbags! Available here in 5 smokey shades.

The Dynamic Duo... 
Kiko In The Shade Eyeshadow and Kajal
Another dual ended pencil with two creamy colours. Although one side is called 'shadow' and the other 'kajal', there's no rules as to how you can wear them - alone, smudged together, however you like. There's a nice mix of shades from more classic golds and browns to the glimmery emerald and bright blue combo in the image above. Like the Clio pencil, the colour sets quickly so you only have a little bit of blending time. Available here in 6 shades.

The Shadow Stick for Shadow Novices... 
Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint
The chunky shape of Clinique's pencils makes application really easy - just scribble over eyelids and blend out, great for days when you're short of time. The shades are quite sheer - though you can build them up if you like - so although the formula is fairly long-lasting use a primer if you want to keep the vibrancy. Whooping Willow above is a really unusual sage shade with hints of gold that looks especially beautiful on brown eyes. Available here in 14 shades.

Top photo:
Photographer: Matt Irwin (a brilliant photographer who will be greatly missed by the industry)
Model: Georgia May Jagger
#makeupbylisaeldridge

For a super-speedy smokey eye using an eyeshadow stick, watch my tutorial with Alexa Chung below: