($45; saks.com)

This eyeshadow has been finely milled (that’s a fancy way of saying it’s been ground into a smooth-as-silk powder), making the formula’s shimmer (which is also finely ground) quite subtle. The result? An eyeshadow that manages to be both glittery and grownup, a duality the More Opinionistas were pretty wild about. “I loved everything about this eyeshadow. It looks and feels luxurious,it lasted all day, and the color is superb for all skin tones and types,” gushed one tester. The only (sort of) complaint: “I just wish this shadow came in a larger size.” 

($24; esteelauder.com)

Billed in the marketing materials as “hyper-metallic and futuristic,” this color might have been deemed off-putting (metallic pink on your eyes?). Instead, readers embraced it becauseit went on quite sheer. “This eyeshadow actually made a great highlighter,” said one tester. “The word metallic is misleading, as it has a very soft look, and it will wear well on women of any age.” The eyeshadow received two other thumbs-up, from testers who described the color simply as “a great shade!” and “really pretty.”

($10; drugstores)

A common complaint of women over 30 is that their eye makeup fades, creases or slips and slides (the last a likely result of rich eye creams). So it’s no surprise that this liner, touted as staying put for up to 24 hours, was embraced. “This stuff really stays on. Doesn’t flake or lose color all day,” said one. A few noted the black was dark for their complexions (it does come in four other shades), but they were glad it stayed moist enough right after application to allow them to smudge and soften the effect. Finally, several commented that a makeup remover is a must—that the 24-hour claim is not an exaggeration. “When I dropped the brush in the sink by accident, I had to use makeup remover just to get the smudge off the porcelain,” said one tester.

($24; bergdorfgoodman.com)

Described by the company as providing “intense exaggeration,” this mascara seemed to live up to its billing. “It made my minuscule lashes look long and full, even without using my beloved eyelash curler,” said one woman. And a particularly skeptical tester admitted, “This is the first mascara I’ve used that I’ve actually liked. It made my lashes look longer and thicker until they truly started to look almost fake.” The jumbo brush also merited some comments, mostly positive, though a few testers werea bit overwhelmed by the size. “It was so big, I laughed out loud the first time I pulled it from the tube. I could have brushed my hair with it!” joked one. Another suggested a smaller brush be added to the other end of the tube, since the sheer size of the brush made it difficult to coat shorter, lower lashes. Overall, though, the mascara was a hit. As one tester stated, “My lashes look the best ever.”

($45; shiseido.com)

The theory behind this new foundation: Sagging causes shadows; shadows age your face. To combat the problem, Shiseido packed this formula with light-reflecting particles designed to cause light to bounce upward, off the face, minimizing the appearance of dreaded shadows. The blend also contains skin-care ingredients to help firm skin and make it tauter over time. Testers commented primarily on the good coverage. “A little went a long way.” “Good coverage without being heavy.” “Love it! Love it! A small squirt is enough [for your whole face].” “The coverage is excellent.” “Covered everything!” Get the picture?  

Next: 20 Beauty Secrets That Work

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