Let’s face it: Powder eye shadow can be a pain. Brushes barely pick up pigment, and then flick it everywhere you don’t want it to go. That’s what makes the season’s new shadows so exciting — they come in gels and creams, adding pops of shimmer and color without the annoying mess. Below, find our favorites.

• SHIMMER CHIC

  

  This German line arrived stateside this summer, bringing new textures along with it, like this powder shadow that turns gel-like on your eyelids. Use your finger for best results, patting color directly onto the lid.

  Catrice Glam Fusion Powder to Gel Eyeshadow in “Instaglam,” $5.99 at catrice.eu

• TRIPLE THREAT

  

  Part lipstick, part blush, part cream-to-powder eye shadow, these multi-use sticks make monochromatic makeup easy to pull off. Either run the stick along your lids for a swipe of bright color, or pat on using your finger for a lighter look.

  Bite Beauty Multistick in “ Lotus,” $24 at BiteBeauty.com

• HEAVY METAL

  

  Makeup artist Pat McGrath’s metallic kit (powder, cream, a double-ended eyeliner and a mixing liquid) is as opulent as it gets. Brush on the powder solo for a translucent sheen, mix it with the liquid for opacity or layer it over the kit’s “molten cream” for a thick slick of gold, silver, bronze or copper.

  Pat McGrath Metalmorphosis 005 in gold, $60 at PatMcGrath.com (on sale Nov. 15)

• MOON DANCE

  

  These shimmer-packed liquid shadows, dispensed via a tiny brush, start as a gel and dry into a bright, budge-free swath of color. Bonus: The metallic shades look different from various angles, creating a 3-D effect.

  Urban Decay Liquid Moondust eye shadow in “Vega,” $22 at UrbanDecay.com