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By Kitty Guo, a writer at the Strategist covering beauty, fashion, and gifts.
Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers
In this article
- Best overall
- Best less expensive
- Best neutral-toned
- Best warm-toned
- Best cool-toned
- Best colorful
A good eye-shadow palette is essential for highlighting and defining your eyes, whether you prefer a laid-back wash of color over your lids or you’re experimenting with head-turning cut creases. The best ones contain a versatile combination of colors that are richly pigmented and easy to blend, with minimal smudging or fallout throughout the day. But with hundreds of palettes out there containing a dizzying array of mattes, shimmers, duo chromes, and everything in between, it can be difficult to discern what’s actually worth buying. We consulted multiple makeup artists and beauty enthusiasts for their go-to palettes; below, their favorites,from a $3 drugstore find to an “investment” option you’ll reach for every single day.
Update on November 12, 2024:Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
Best eye-shadow palette overall
Multiple artists we spoke to unanimously agreed that the brand Viseart makes some of the best eye-shadow palettes on the market. “The pigment is stunning and the textures are so fine and easy to blend,” says makeup artist Amanda Thesen, and makeup artist Emma Elizabeth agrees: “They’re super creamy and you get excellent color payoff. They’re some of the best quality palettes for the money out there.” The best-selling Neutral Mattes palette contains 12 natural shades that can be used to create a simple, toned-down look; serve as a base for more glamorous looks; or even fulfill other purposes such as contouring or filling in hairlines, says makeup artist Crystal Gossman, who has been using her Viseart palette for over 13 years. The pans are interchangeable, which Gossman appreciates because you can swap out different shades depending on your preferences or only take a few colors “if you’re traveling and you don’t want to bring the full palette. It’s just a very, very versatile line,” she says. This specific palette is also celebrity-approved: Franchesca Ramsey likes that it works with “every makeup look I’m going for,” and told us that it was recommended to her by her makeup artist: “She basically told me, You need this. She never leads me astray.” But if you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, the brand offers plenty of warm and cool mattes, as well as ultrabrights and collections of curated color stories; Elizabeth is a particular fan of the Paris edit, an assortment of romantic mauve and pink shimmers.
Best (less expensive) eye-shadow palette
Another frequently mentioned eye-shadow palette is the Makeup by Mario Master Mattes, which received a stamp of approval from four different makeup artists. According to Elizabeth, it offers the same flexibility as the Viseart palette, with its 12 neutral shades. “You can do eye shadow, you can do your eyebrows, you can use it as a companion palette for other fun looks — it’s a basic building block to create whatever kind of looks you want,” she says. Makeup artist Lindsay Kastuk says she mostly uses hers for editorial shoots, but she has friends “who use it for bridal or for personal use because it works in pretty much any situation.” As for how the shadow performs, makeup artist Elika Hilata says the pigment is “very, very fine,” which makes it long lasting once applied: “It doesn’t crease and the colors show up very beautifully on the skin.”
Best neutral-toned eye-shadow palettes
Best neutral-toned eye-shadow palette overall
Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photo: Retailer
When Strategist writer Rachael Griffiths heard that Urban Decay had re-released its original Naked eye-shadow palette from ten years ago, she knew she had to get her hands on it. “By then, it was already destined to be a classic: 12 neutral shadows ranging from light transition shades to deep smoky blacks and browns,” Griffiths writes. “Each shade was buttery and blendable, and since they were all so complementary, it was practically impossible to pick a combination that didn’t work.” According to Griffiths, the new version is just as good, with deep pigmentation and a impressive longevity that maintained its freshly applied look all day. “It’s simple, properly smoky, and has a luxury feel at a decently affordable price,” she says.
Best (less expensive) neutral-toned eye-shadow palette
This Smashbox palette “was created to mimic the Cali sunset,” notes Emmy-nominated makeup artist Steven Aturo, who calls it “the best natural palette” with shadows that “work on every skin tone.” It comes with two different double-sized base shades to apply first and build your eye-shadow look off of. Aturo uses them to highlight the brow bone, and says “the texture offers a great color payoff and has a hint of shimmer for extra glow.”
Best mini neutral eye-shadow palettes
Mini palettes — which I define as containing six colors or less — are an easy and economical way for makeup beginners to experiment with eye shadow without getting overwhelmed. (Plus, their compact size makes them very travel-friendly.) Elizabeth loves this Eye Brick from Victoria Beckham Beauty in the color Signature because even though it only contains four colors, “it gives you everything that you need,” she says. “You can use the shadow as eyeliner. You can pop a brown in the crease. You can just use the matte shades all over the eyelid.” Plus, the shades themselves are “super buttery and foolproof” and the palm-size packaging is very convenient for taking with you on-the-go. “You don’t have to think too hard when using it,” Elizabeth says.
$22
Glossier’s Monochrome eye-shadow trios make it easy to create a straightforward, cohesive eye look. Each compact contains three finishes: matte, satin, and metallic, and currently, there are ten sets to choose from, all inspired by colors in nature. Some skew warmer and some cooler, but all are fairly understated, from soft taupes to rosy browns. I’ve been testing the palettes in several shades, and while they’re not the ones I would reach for to create a wild smoky eye, they’re perfect for relaxed everyday looks. Each tin is also refillable and recyclable, so once you own the compact, you can swap in any new pans you like.
Best warm-toned eye-shadow palettes
Best warm-toned eye-shadow palette overall
Urban Decay Naked Heat Eye-Shadow Palette
now 49% off
$30
While the original Urban Decay Naked palette contains mostly shades of brown and gray, this one — one of seven in the Naked collection — has a much more fiery shade range full of pinks and ambers. Makeup artist Mylah Morales, who regularly works with Rihanna and Taraji P. Henson, calls it “a great everyday palette for all ages.” She especially likes that “it can be used wet or dry,” and says anyone from a pro to a beginner can use it. She also thinks this colorway works well on “all skin tones from the lightest to the darkest.”
Best (less expensive) warm-toned eye-shadow palette
Anastasia Beverly Hills’s Soft Glam palette has achieved cult status thanks to its range of 14 warm-neutral shades that can be mixed and matched in endless combinations. A year ago, I was on the hunt for an eye-shadow palette that would serve as my go-to everyday palette, and after much research and perusing threads on beauty Reddit, this was the one I chose. The palette offers a healthy balance of shimmer and matte shades, and I’ve never experienced any fallout or fading, even after a full day of wear. I also like that the set includes a dual-ended brush; I use the denser side to stipple and layer the matte shadows and the fluffy side to brush a dusting of glitter on top.
Alexx Mayo, makeup artist to celebrities including Lizzo, called out Huda Beauty products as exceptionally high-quality for the price. “The formulation of these shadows are so buttery and glide on the eye with maximum impact,” he says. And though this Nude Obsessions palette is small enough to carry around with you, makeup artist Eunice Kristen says it packs a large punch. The colors, which range from warm pralines to peachy pinks, “go with many different skin tones, are highly pigmented, and stay on all day,” she says.
Best mini warm-toned eye-shadow palettes
Em Cosmetics’ Divine Skies palette in the shade Magic Hour is a “really lovely, romantic palette,” says Elizabeth, adding that the three mattes and three shimmers are “supersoft and impactful” and together create a “really versatile and unique color story.” This palette was one of the first eye-shadow sets I ever bought; I used it for nearly three years, until I’d hit pan on most of the shades, and can personally attest to its smooth texture, ease of use, and beautifully dreamy colorways.
Porsche Cooper, a celebrity makeup artist who works with Mary J. Blige, Iman, and Winnie Harlow, suggests Juvia’s Place for inexpensive palettes that offers warm bronze and neutral shades. “It’s filled with a rich tan and auburn as well as matte and shimmery dark chocolate options to accomplish the most beautiful smoke signals on your eyes,” Cooper says. “The pigment of each shadow is extraordinary enough to inspire makeup pros and novices to create soft and high glam moments.”
Best cool-toned eye-shadow palettes
Best cool-toned eye-shadow palette overall
Huda Beauty Pretty Grunge Eyeshadow Palette
now 22% off
$54
Kastuk is also a fan of Huda Beauty products and says this Pretty Grunge palette is “really fun because it’s got a few different textural elements to it,” from pearlescent shimmers to chunky glitters, so “you can use it to do everyday looks or really sparkly going-out looks.” Keep in mind, though, that because Huda Kattan is a makeup artist herself, some of Huda Beauty’s products require a certain level of technique and aren’t necessarily for beginners.
Best (less expensive) cool-toned eye-shadow palettes
Morales recommends any of the five “Tartelette” palettes from Tarte. “It’s a vegan, cruelty-free makeup line,” she says, and the shadows “are creamy and blendable for a natural eye makeup look.” Each of the palettes has 12 shades, ranging from matte to metallic, and they’re “perfect for all skin tones,” Morales adds. Makeup artist Natalie Dresher likes this matte Amazonian Clay version in particular because of the subtle mauve and purple tones in the color story: “It has every color you would need for everyday or going out,” she says.
Makeup artist Mollie Gloss is loving the new wave of cool-toned shades right now: “Grungy neutrals in gray and charcoal tones are definitely trending,” she declares. She says this Colourpop Stone Cold Fox palette “truly has everything you need, from neutral matte bases to transition shades to more fun metallics.” Colourpop is known for its wide variety of palettes that provide quality shadows at accessible prices, and Gloss says hers are “right there next to my Pat McGrath and NARS palettes. They’re soft and buttery and pigmented. I’ve been doing makeup for a long time, and the Colourpop ones have genuinely become some of my favorites.”
Best mini cool-toned eye-shadow palettes
Hilata likes NARS’s range of cool- to mid-toned browns, especially since they’re easy to layer with other, brighter shades. “I love the ordinary, natural brown matte eye shadows in this palette, but if you want to play with it, you can mix it with greens or purples or blues without looking crazy,” she says. She also trusts the brand for excellent performance and longevity: “NARS never lets you down. The quality is always great,” she says.
If you’d rather not splurge on makeup at the moment — but you still want to try out a new look you spotted on TikTok — might we suggest these $3 e.l.f. Cosmetics palettes? They come recommended by makeup artist Margina Dennis, who says they’re an “inexpensive makeup kit for talent on set,” because they’re cheap enough to toss afterward for sanitary reasons. But you don’t have to be a makeup artist to appreciate these. They also have “good pigment payoff for a variety of skin tones and a great range of colors and finishes,” Dennis adds.
Best colorful eye-shadow palettes
Best colorful eye-shadow palette overall
Gloss acknowledges that this punk-inspired Isamaya palette is a splurge but thinks the shadows are “beyond gorgeous and worth it.” It contains shades she’d never seen before, like a scarlet orange and seaweed green: “You have multichromes, you have crease colors, you have different textures and rich pigments. Seeing how everything shifts under certain lights, they’re special.” Though you can certainly wear this every day if you’re the type to go bold with your makeup, Gloss says it’s definitely suited for “some razzle-dazzle when going out” and describes it as a designer piece “for your face because it’s such a beautiful experience using it.”
Best (less expensive) colorful eye-shadow palettes
Because Charlotte Tilbury herself is a professional makeup artist, “she understands the need for creamier shadows that blend well and are buildable to the skin,” says Morales. Nordstrom beauty director Autumne West recommends this Beautyverse palette from the namesake brand for “a great mix of matte and shiny shades” and gravitates toward it whenever she’s in the mood to make her eyes the focus of her makeup look. “I’m obsessed with the warm brown matte shades for easy and quick definition, and the ‘Planet Pink’ shade is an amazing wash of shine that still feels appropriate for a day look but with a little flare,” West says.
Anastasia Beverly Hills sells many different iterations of its Norvina palette, and makeup artist Sheika Daley likes them all. “These have an amazing color payoff and they come with a larger selection of colors,” she says. With 25 different shades of “professional-grade eye shadows” that Daley calls “bold and rich,” she thinks it’s “perfect for those who like to create outside the box” and are constantly switching up their look.
Best mini colorful eye-shadow palettes
Strategist writer Ambar Pardilla coveted Byredo’s mussel-shaped eye-shadow palette formonthsbefore finally taking the plunge. She bought the Metal Boots in the Snow palette, which includes both a glittery silver and an iridescent green called Ground Frost; each color, she writes, “is buildable and blendable (and there’s no need for abrush).” I also couldn’t resist the bivalve-esque compact and own this palette in two colorways myself: Desert Road, a mix of rosy clay and terra-cotta shades, and Sciomancer, which includes playful pops of orange, blue, and purple. They’re definitely some of the most luxurious shadows I’ve tried — just one swipe with my finger is enough to cover both eyes.
$6
For a really vivid look, Dennis says that the pigments on this neon rainbow-colored palette show up strong and vibrant — and for the price, you won’t have to stress too much over how the shades will actually look on your eyes. But if you’re still feeling hesitant, NYX’s website will let you try on the colors virtually before you buy.
Additional reporting by Chloe Anello
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