I used to be a shadestick person through and through. I was never able to find a paint colour that worked for my skin tone, so finding shadesticks were easier. They're slightly tacky (and stay slightly tacky) which helps pigments and lustre formulas adhere especially well. They come in a variety of tones, so for brighter looks they give that extra punch you need. They're in crayon form so if you don't have brushes you don't have to worry as much.
But theeen I switched to paints and I'm not looking back. I finally found untitled and bamboom which work for warm or cool looks for me. They apply as thinly or sheerly as needed. This makes blending them out gradually a LOT easier (recc the 242 or the 213). They dry very quickly to a dry powder finish. This makes it easier for applying washes.
If you apply enough of either of them.. they will both crease. I find paints to crease slightly less of the time.
Perhaps this is just my luck, but I find shadesticks don't keep as well. In the past I've found they've dried out/hardened, snapped, become dislodged from their housing or the mechanism has broken. There are ways to fix these things.
Paints CAN dry out or spurt. I have not had problems with either.. but they too can be fixed.
They're both good... but in different ways. I would recc paints for every day looks. It's super easy to apply and go. Shadesticks are a bit better for complex looks because they stay tacky and for me at least... I can pack my pigments where I want them.
