When makeup artist Nina Park co-signs a product, we must test it—we don't make the rules. Known for her minimal yet noticeably glowy aesthetic and skin-first approach, Jillian Dempsey's Lid Tint has remained a staple in her kit for years on end.
Known for clean formulas and products that you could use without any tools but a single finger, Jillian Dempsey and Nina Park have a similar ethos: enhancing natural features and achieving a glow from within finish are key.
While Jillian Dempsey's Lid Tint isn't a new product, it's one that continues to be a topic of beauty conversations and one that still has enough buzz to stand the test of time. As someone keen on keeping my makeup routine to ten minutes or less and always feels a unique sense of satisfaction when told that someone couldn't tell that I was wearing makeup at all, I was intrigued by the easy application and sheer yet shimmery finish. So, naturally I took the time to test it—for work purposes and personal curiosity alike.
Ahead, my honest review of Jillian Dempsey's beloved Lid Tint.
The Product:
Beloved by makeup artist Nina Park, aka the queen of soft glam and skin-first makeup, Jillian Dempsey's Lid Tint is the lazy and/or minimal beauty girl's solution to eyeshadow. For those that prefer a quick, no frills routine, this product requires no tools aside from a single finger and can simply be swept across your eyelid. For those who before a minimal makeup look, the finish is sheer and results in a natural, dewy look. The easy application paired with the sheer, glowy consistency results in a fool-proof product—I can, very clearly, recall myself touching up my lids with my pinky finger while riding in an Uber.
With organic coconut oil, shea butter, and organic sunflower seed oil as the hero ingredients with major hydrating powers, this lid tint is a balmy cream formula with noticeable glide and a sheer glossy finish.
The Results:
As a girl with melanin-rich skin, I'm always a little wary of how colors will show up on my skin tone—and, especially when it comes to sheers, if they will at all. In the past, I've found that shimmery sheer products all show up on my skin more or less the same, regardless of the actual pigment and undertones. So, I tried four shades of Jillian Dempsey's Lid Tint: taupe, glimmer, shell, and bronze. I was immediately obsessed with how easy the product was to apply, the fact that it left my lids glowy and not at all dry, and that it is, at the end of the day, a multi-use product that can also be applied to the cheeks—I'm a Capricorn who values efficiency and is always eager to kill two (or more) birds with one stone, so this is the major selling point to me.
In the end, two of the four shades that I tested emerged as favorites.
Shade: ShellThe first shade that resonated with me was 'shell,' an iridescent neutral with pink undertones. I found this shade to pair perfectly with a simple makeup look that prioritized an even complexion and a bit of glow. This shade reminds me of the beach, mermaid makeup and, of course, seashells. It was the perfect shade for a girl (me) who often puts highlighter on her eyelids, but even more luminous.
Shade: ShellThe other shade that earned a permanent spot in my rotation is 'bronze.' While all of the shades are sheer, this one gave me the perfect edge that I often crave in my makeup looks. It's the darkest shade of those that I tried and gives the perfect moody, dramatic finish without being overly dark or pigmented.
Shade: Bronze
Shade: BronzeThe third shade I tried was taupe, a neutral that tows the line between a light brown and a gray.
Shade: TaupeWhile this didn't end up being one of my favorites simply due to the fact that the color was a little too close to my skin tone, I can see this working on other people. My vision: a neutral outfit featuring various earth tones, and this lid tint to tie everything together. Not a vision that I can perfectly execute, but someone with the right skin tone can and should.
Shade: TaupeThe fourth and final shade that I tested was 'glimmer,' a peachy pink with just the right amount of shimmer.
Shade: ShimmerWhile I was initially attracted to this color because of how it looked in the palette, it didn't perfectly translate on my skin tone. To me, it didn't look distinctly different from the other shades I didn't and I felt as though it offered less pigment. I could, however, see this working on others. Remember: shades aren't one size fits all!
Shade: ShimmerWhen all was said and done, I knew these two shades would become permanent fixtures in my routine—for the glimmer that they provide, but mostly for how quick and easy the application process. Literally a couple sheer swipes without having to worry about painting over the edges of the lid because, if you do, it's just a little more glow for your face.
Worth It?
At $28 a pop, Jillian Dempsey's Lid Tint more or less in line with other products in the cream eyeshadow category. For me, as someone who hopes to one day dive deeper into the world of eyeshadow and all the bold, highly pigmented colors offered, the relatively natural finish paired with the list of hydrating ingredients that are music to dry skinned gal's ears, this product is definitely worth it—and, will be restocked when I inevitably run out.
TL;DR
Beloved my makeup artist Nina Park, Jillian Dempsey's Lid Tint is packed with hydrating ingredients and provides a glossy, shimmery, and relatively natural finish. I, as a girl with melanin-rich skin who finds it difficult to find the right sheer pigments, tested four tones and found two favorites: shell and bronze. While this might not be the product for those drawn to bold colors and highly pigmented colors, this product surely has a place in the routines of those more keen on a subtle shine and skin-first makeup.