We'll admit it: Glitter has changed us. We used to be perfectly content with the velvety matte finishes in our makeup bags. Then glitter showed up with its fairy dust sparkle and modern formulas and we were never the same. And we're perfectly fine with that.

No longer just for teens experimenting with makeup for the first time, we happily embrace every holographic, glazed and unicorn-inspired product to hit the market. And beauty brands are more than happy to oblige by continuously launching innovative new formulas in an effort to quench our sparkle thirst. One such formula that's been getting a lot of buzz lately is duochrome eyeshadow.

Don't mistake duochrome eye shadow as another fancy name for metallic. Duochrome eye shadows fall into their own category and are the most interesting of all the shimmery shadows, says celebrity makeup artist Elena Miglino, Smith & Cult beauty ambassador. "Duochrome is different from metallic. Metallic shadow is a metal color, usually one tone, [such as] gold or silver. They do come in a bunch of different colors, but always a solid color," she says. In contrast, duochrome shadows appear as two colors. Celebrity makeup artist Kristofer Buckle explains, "Duochrome eye shadows are colors that shift depending on the light or angle with which it's viewed. For example, blue-brown is a shiny brown that also shows a metallic blue when light reflects off of the blue pigments that are in it." He encourages us to think of duochrome shadows as taffeta fabric, which can look like different colors depending on the light.

Of course, the way to really understand duochrome eye shadow is to wear it. Read on for the shimmering iridescent shadows we can't get enough of.

Image via Imaxtree

Cover image via Imaxtree

These liquid eye shadows already have a gorgeous shade-shifting look in their clear tubes and the effect is only increased when the product is applied. Each shadow is packed with pearl, multiple colors, glitter and a holographic effect. It's everything you could ask for in a sleek, purse-friendly package.

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Makeup Geek has an extensive collection of budget-friendly eye shadow pans. Don't get distracted by the foiled, shimmer and matte options that you miss the duochrome ones. There are nine highly pigmented colors that deliver shade-shifting finishes that last all day — or night. The shadows have also been certified by PETA as cruelty-free.

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What's better than a duochrome eye shadow? A palette with six duochrome colors plus seven dreamy options that complement the prismatic shadows. Because that's not magical enough, the palette is decorated with a rainbow and unicorn. What's more, the shadows are infused with rose quartz for love and have an uplifting citrus scent.

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There are a lot of M.A.C. eye shadows to choose from. For times when you're craving an extra beauty look to go out, make a beeline for the duochrome shadows. They pack as much pigment as the other shades and blend easily. The shadows look good by themselves and they can enliven a smoky eye.

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