"If we asked you to picture your perfect everyday eyeshadow palette, what would it look like? Would you have neutral warm tones? Cool tones? A touch of shimmer here and there, or strictly mattes? It’s easier said than done to find a truly perfect eyeshadow palette; I can’t be the only one who has to use a couple of shades from one palette and a few from another to create the looks I really want. But having too many eyeshadow palettes can be a hassle to keep in your makeup bag, especially if you’re someone who travels often.
When you’re looking for an eyeshadow palette, you want to find one that you actually reach for. Sure, the bold purple or bright turquoise that are snuck into most palettes are pretty in theory, but not always practical for actual use. If you’re looking for a one-and-done palette that you can reach for whether you’re creating looks for day or night, your best bet will be one with neutral shades that work together and are flattering on the eyes. These are the do-it-all eyeshadow palettes that have every shade you’d ever need within them—no mixing and matching necessary.
How long do eyeshadow palettes last?
Is your Urban Decay Naked palette from 2016 still in your kit? Hey, we get it. While most eyeshadow palettes have an expiration date of one to three years after opening, it’s hard to actually go through that many shades within that time frame.
If you want to ensure your eyeshadow palette’s safety and longevity, follow these tips:
- Spray your eyeshadow pans with a sanitizer spray or isopropyl alcohol regularly to sanitize the pans
- Make sure your palettes are stored in a dry location to prevent bacteria from growing
- Clean the entirety of the palette regularly (the mirror, packaging, fallout, etc.)
The best warm-toned eyeshadow palette
Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette
Makeup by Mario, created by Kim Kardashian’s makeup artist, Mario Dedivanovic, offers a range of stellar products that pride themselves on being high-quality and easy to use. One of their top-selling products is this Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette, which has 12 creamy matte eyeshadow pans in a warm, flattering color palette. The shades are all matte, but their blendability and quality ensure that they never look patchy or chalky. The palette is also compact enough to fit in the palm of your hand, making it perfect for travel.
The best eyeshadow palette for smokey eyes
Patrick Ta Major Dimension III Matte Eyeshadow Palette
Patrick Ta, another insanely talented celebrity makeup artist, released his brand, Patrick Ta Beauty, in 2019 with the goal of sharing his artistry through his innovative products. The Major Dimension III Matte Eyeshadow Palette has 10 velvet matte eyeshadows and two creams that can be blended and layered to create multi-dimensional looks. What’s really unique about this palette are the cream shadows, which can serve as bases to amplify and intensify every eye look.
The best mini eyeshadow palette
Bakeup Desert Road Trip Palm Palette
If you’re the type of person who only tends to reach for one or two eyeshadow shades, this is the palette for you. With eight matte shades, this palm-sized palette has buttery, buildable shadows that were made to be wearable. BAKEUP is uber-talented makeup artist Jo Baker’s makeup brand, and this specific palette specifically is beloved by celebrities far and wide. The brand claims this is “the last neutral palette you’ll ever need,” and the best part? It’s only $24.
The best neutral eyeshadow palette
Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette: The Neutrals
Is it possible to make something already perfect even better? Lucky for us, Makeup by Mario did. The brand recently released the second iteration of their iconic Master Mattes, but this time in all cool-toned and neutral shades. The shadows have the same buttery, blendable consistency as the ones in the original palette that gained a cult following, but in slightly different hues. If you have a cool-toned complexion or just prefer cool and neutral shades over warm ones, this is the do-it-all palette for you.
The most versatile eyeshadow palette
Danessa Myricks Beauty Groundwork: Defining Neutrals Palette (Eyes, Brows, Face & Lips)
Danessa Myricks started out as a self-taught makeup artist, and since then, has created a brand that’s known for its innovative, one-of-a-kind products that never miss. The brand’s Groundwork: Defining Neutrals Palette For Eyes, Brows, Face & Lips truly stands on its own in the beauty world.
What’s so special about this palette is that it comes in 10 neutral shades, but each shade has two consistencies: a pomade and a powder. The pomades are made to be creamy and blendable, while the powders are meant to control oil and smooth texture. For optimal wear, you can apply the pomade as a base, then set it with the powder for long-lasting pigment. The best part about this palette is that, while it can be used on the eyes, it’s made to be used on the entire face (like the old-school, all-over face palette you had back in high school, but completely reinvented and modernized). This was one of our Senior Beauty Editor’s favorite beauty purchases of 2023.
The best drugstore eyeshadow palette
ColourPop Feelin’ Toasty Pressed Powder Eyeshadow Makeup Palette
If you’re someone who needs a little shimmer in your life, opt for this affordable palette from Colourpop. This nine-pan palette has four shimmer shadows, three mattes, and two matte sparkles that can be combined or worn alone for endless looks. The shadows are long-wearing, highly pigmented, and easy to blend. At just $14, you’d be hard-pressed to find a palette that packs this much punch for the price.
The best eyeshadow palette for beginners
Morphe 9T Neutral Territory Artistry Palette
Morphe palettes are known to tout major quality at a low price point, but if you want an everyday palette to add to your kit, make it this 9T Neutral Territory Artistry Palette. With six neutral matte shades and three shimmers, these creamy shadows’ blendability makes them great for beginners and professionals alike. The palette is also compact and has a built-in mirror, making it an amazing option for travel.
The most beautiful eyeshadow palette
Florasis Retro Brown Floral Engraving Phoenix Makeup Palette
A makeup palette is already a work of art, but this Floral Engraving Phoenix Makeup Palette by Florasis takes that up a notch with the help of beautiful engravings in each eyeshadow pan. Composed of nine shades ranging from mattes to shimmers, these vibrant shadows last all day and blend with minimal effort. The quality of these shadows allows the palette to stand on its own two feet, but the beauty of them makes using it feel like a luxury experience every time.
The best luxury eyeshadow palette
Pat McGrath Labs Mothership VII Eyeshadow Palette: Divine Rose Collection
Makeup artist Pat McGrath has been named one of the most influential makeup artists in the world, and her artistry and skill are all reflected in the eponymous brand she debuted in 2015. The Mothership VII Eyeshadow Palette consists of 10 shades with a combination of matte, shimmer, and metallic finishes that blend seamlessly together to create an endless amount of stunning eye looks. The creamy, buildable shades range from dusty pinks and mauves to rich berries and champagnes, giving you the option to create sweet or sultry looks depending on your vibe of the day. Pat McGrath’s formulas are known as the crème de la crème of eyeshadows—if you’re looking to treat yourself to a luxury palette, you won’t find one better than this.
The best colorful eyeshadow palette
Juvia’s Place: The Sweet Pinks Palette
Juvia’s Place is known for their vibrant formulas made for every single skin tone. If you love bold pops of color, their super-pigmented eyeshadow palettes are a necessity to have in your makeup bag. Founder Chichi Eburu wanted to create products that enhanced her dark skin tone, and she accomplished just that across all of Juvia’s Place products. The Sweet Pinks palette has three matte shades and three shimmer shades, allowing you to create distinct looks for natural-makeup days or full-glam days. If pink isn’t your thing, they also have the same palette in purples, mauves, oranges, taupes, and more.
The best eyeshadow quad
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Dreams Luxury Eyeshadow Palette
Some of us don’t have a need for an entire 12-pan eyeshadow palette, and that’s where a do-it-all quad comes in. Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk shade is known as an iconic nude for lips and cheeks, but let us let you in on a lesser-known fact: It’s just as pretty on the eyes. This quad has one pearlescent shade, two mattes, and one shimmer, which can be built upon to be as subtle or intense as your heart desires.
