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The 17 Best Eyeshadow Palettes We Love for Eye-Popping Color

Your next great makeup look starts here.

Best Eyeshadow Palettes

Byrdie / Brian Kopinski

If finding your go-to foundation is like finally nailing the perfect pair of jeans, then finding your ideal eyeshadow palette is like discovering the perfect little black dress. You might not wear it every day, but it’s reliable and it’s there to provide a confidence boost when you need it. But, just like most makeup categories today, the market for eyeshadow palettes is incredibly saturated—and weeding through it to find what you love can be challenging, not to mention costly.

So we did the hard work for you—we tracked down the most popular and highly rated eyeshadow palettes and put dozens to the test so you don’t have to. We spent 304 hours testing and evaluating them based on their formula, blendability, finish, wear, and color story. We also looked through hundreds of reviews to add carefully selected additional palettes worth the money. Finally, we consulted with New York-based celebrity makeup artist Neil Scibelli for tips and tricks on how to get the most out of your palette. From splurge-worthy picks to budget-friendly options and more, we’re sharing our top picks in every category.

What We Like
  • Expansive neutral shade range

  • Rich pigmentation

  • Great blendability

What to Consider
  • Some reviewers found the formula to be overly powdery

Number of Shades: 14 | Finishes: Matte, Shimmer | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This iconic palette is unparalleled for creating soft glam looks—and so much more. It contains various neutral, cool, and warm nude shades as well as some subtle pops of color that you can get creative with. It also has a wide shade range in depth, so it’s a great option regardless of skin tone. 

We were pleasantly surprised by how much range this neutral palette could provide. The shades were richly pigmented and easy to blend, allowing us to create a gorgeous look in a short amount of time. Some reviewers did find the shadow overly powdery in general, so we suggest using it before your complexion makeup to avoid fallout ruining your foundation or concealer.

Read Full Review: The Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette Is Worth the Hype

What We Like
  • Good variety of neutral tones

  • Easy to blend

  • Even pigmentation

What to Consider
  • Satin shades don’t provide much texture or light reflection

Number of Shades: 12 | Finishes: Matte, Satin | Cruelty-Free: No

The drugstore is a mixed bag when it comes to finding beauty gems, but we highly endorse this versatile palette. It contains an impressive twelve neutral shades that range from light to dark, which allows you to go subtle or build up the intensity of your look. We could diffuse the colors with minimal effort, and while we would have appreciated the inclusion of a mirror, given the price tag, it’s not a deal-breaker. 

If we could change anything about this one, it would be the intensity of the shimmery, satin shades. They perform well but don’t offer much shine or light reflection like some of our favorite shimmers do.

What We Like
  • Rich pigmentation

  • Great blendability

  • Palette comes with guide for beginners

What to Consider
  • Shimmers need to be layered up for high impact

Number of Shades: 12 | Finishes: Matte, Shimmer | Cruelty-Free: Yes

There are no rules for applying eyeshadow, but sometimes a little guidance is appreciated. This palette comes with a plastic overlay offering suggestions on where to place each shade for a flattering look (aka perfect if you’re new to eyeshadow). The shades fall in the rosy and brown families, and when combined, they make for a romantic look that also works for every day. We love that the rose and pink shades make this palette just a bit different from the typical everyday neutral palette. 

Each eyeshadow in the palette offers nice pigmentation and great blendability, although we did find that we had to build up the shimmers to create a real impact on the eyes. If you like a more metallic finish, wet your brush and apply the shades to give them more shine.

Person using an eyeshadow brush to apply eyeshadow while looking into a lit mirror

Byrdie / Tamara Staples

What We Like
  • Nice range of neutrals

  • Rich pigmentation

  • Cohesive color story

What to Consider
  • Some reviewers say the quality of this palette is inconsistent with previous palettes

Number of Shades: 12 | Finishes: Matte, Metallic | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This is the re-release of the nude eyeshadow palette that arguably started the palette craze, so we were excited to give it a try. It comes with 12 shades in various cool and neutral-leaning tones that vary in depth to provide a bit of everything. We love that the shades are not lacking in the pigmentation department—but a little goes a long way, so be careful when applying. If you struggle to find neutrals that deliver on color payoff, this is a great option for you. 

Naked Urban Decay loyalists, beware that some people find the shadows in this palette more powdery than those in previous palettes. However, it doesn’t seem to affect the blendability or color payoff of the palette, so it’s not a major concern for us.

What We Like
  • Excellent blendability

  • Unique shades

  • Colors and textures make for impactful looks

What to Consider
  • Glitters need to be built up for high-intensity

Number of Shades: 10 | Finishes: Matte, Shimmer, Glitter | Cruelty-Free: No

Pat McGrath eyeshadow palettes are expensive—but the quality, artistry, and uniqueness of each palette make them a special treat. This one is the ninth iteration in the Mothership lineup, and it’s the glitter eyeshadows and nuanced rose and violet tones that make it stand out. Aside from revering the undeniable quality, we loved how the shades blended seamlessly across the eyelids as well as with each other to make a cohesive look. We also appreciated its versatility—you can achieve a somewhat subtle look or something bold for a special occasion.

The glittery eyeshadows in the palette—which Pat McGrath refers to as Blitz Astral shades—are incredibly vibrant and impactful. However, it's worth noting that they can take some building up to appear fully opaque.

What We Like
  • Great blendability

  • Shades are buildable

  • Colors remain vibrant all day

What to Consider
  • Shadows produce some fallout

Number of Shades: 9 | Finishes: Matte, Shimmer | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you’ve played with a variety of eyeshadows, then you might know how difficult it is to find a high-quality, colorful palette. Many colorful eyeshadow palettes lack pigmentation and blendability—but not this one. This affordable option contains nine vivid eyeshadows that deliver the perfect combination of richness and buildability. They’re not overly pigmented and hard to work with, but you won’t need to spend too long packing on the color, either. 

The shades showed up beautifully on dark skin tones and blended effortlessly. But, just like many colorful palettes, the shadows do produce a bit of fallout, so it’s wise to do your complexion makeup after using this palette.

What We Like
  • Great variety of textures and finishes

  • Nice pigmentation

  • Good blendability

What to Consider
  • Glitters aren't easily applied with a brush

Number of Shades: 16 | Finishes: Matte, Metallic, Pressed Glitter | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Glitter is a fun medium for experimenting with creative looks, but the inevitable mess can be a major deterrent. With this eyeshadow palette, you get glitter eyeshadows in a mess-free, pressed formula that’s incredibly easy to use. The combination of glittery, matte, and metallic shades makes it a great palette to reach for whether you’re creating an everyday makeup look or something more vibrant. 

As is true with most ColourPop palettes, this one delivers on pigmentation and blendability. While the glittery shades didn’t apply well with a brush, when using our fingers, they went on smoothly and didn’t make a mess.

What We Like
  • Excellent color payoff

  • Nice balance between mattes and metallics

  • Great blendability

What to Consider
  • Shadows produce a bit of fallout

Number of Shades: 8 | Finishes: Matte, Metallic | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This flirty palette delivers on pigment and blendability—you get vivid color with a single swipe of your brush. We enjoyed the even split between matte and metallic shades and found that both formulas applied smoothly and showed up well. We also loved how iridescent the metallic shades were without needing to add several layers. This palette does create a bit of fallout, so beware of that before reaching for it.

What We Like
  • Versatile range of nude shades

  • Nice balance between matte and metallic shades

  • Minimal fallout

What to Consider
  • Pigmentation didn’t blow us away

Number of Shades: 16 | Finishes: Matte, Shimmer, Metallic | Cruelty-Free: Yes

A go-to neutral palette is a makeup collection staple, and this one is an excellent choice. It contains a versatile range of nude tones that vary in depth, allowing you to create natural and smoky eyeshadow looks. It also has a nice balance between finishes, making it even more versatile. We could create a subtle look and take it from day to night by adding some of the deeper shades to give it more dimension. The deeper shades didn’t produce fallout which was seriously impressive.

While the formulas in the palette are super blendable, the pigmentation didn’t wow us. However, the shades can be built up to a nice intensity with a bit of effort, so the lack of bold pigment right off the bat wasn’t a deal-breaker.

What We Like
  • Excellent range of depth

  • Great blendability

  • Shades look true to color on the eyes

What to Consider
  • Shadows produce a bit of fallout

Number of Shades: 5 | Finishes: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

A matte, neutral palette is practical for everyday use, but can also be great for taking looks from day to night if it includes shades with depth. Although this option only comes with five shades of neutral browns, they range from light to dark so you can add dimension to your eyes. 

Matte eyeshadow formulas tend to lean dry and powdery, making them tricky to work with. This palette is surprisingly smooth, creamy, and easy to blend out. The shades look the same when applied as they do in the pan, and they are easy to work with. Aside from the bit of fallout you might experience, it has everything we could ask for in a mini matte palette—including a mirror and a blending brush.

What We Like
  • Cohesive color story

  • Nice pigmentation

  • Chic, compact packaging

What to Consider
  • The included primer shade isn’t universal for all skin tones

Number of Shades: 9 | Finishes: Matte, Shimmer, Primer | Cruelty-Free: No

With this Dior palette, you get a well-rounded color story, great quality shadows, and a bit of luxury all wrapped up in a small, travel-friendly package. The warm palette boasts eight gorgeous shadows with matte and shimmery finishes, as well as a creamy shade that doubles as a primer. The primer is a unique touch, but given that it’s a very light shade, it might not be ideal for all skin tones. 

We thought it delivered on pigmentation and blendability and did not produce noticeable fallout or kickback. We could create a cohesive look—all of the shades worked together beautifully, but we had a particular affection for the deep shades which added a rich pop of color that looked gorgeous on blue eyes. 

Caitlyn Martyn, Commerce Writer

“Each shadow-packed pigment, even the lightest 'highlighter" shade. I personally loved the mauve and copper brown shades since they showed up the most.”

What We Like
  • Recyclable packaging

  • Buildable formula

  • Cohesive color story

What to Consider
  • Shadows are a bit powdery

Number of Shades: 12 | Finishes: Matte, Shimmer | Cruelty-Free: Yes

It’s no secret that the cosmetics industry is a major contributor to waste, so anytime we can be more sustainable with our beauty routines, the better. This palette’s packaging is made from 15% recycled plastic, and it can be recycled once you’re done with it. 

Aside from the sustainability component, the array of cool and neutral shades is beautiful for daytime and evening looks, and we love how easily the shadows blend. The formula is buildable, so you can gradually apply color to achieve your look. However, some online reviewers mention that the eyeshadows feel a bit powdery which can create kickback in the pan as well as some fallout.

What We Like
  • Shade range contains lots of depth

  • Creamy, blendable formula

  • Rich pigmentation

What to Consider
  • You can get a similar color story in other, more affordable palettes

Number of Shades: 15 | Finishes: Matte, Metallic, Duo-Chrome | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Many eyeshadow aficionados say that Natasha Denona has some of the best eyeshadow palettes you can buy, and we agree. Both the mattes and metallics are incredibly pigmented, creamy, and blendable, and the brand even includes gorgeous duo-chrome shades in some of its offerings—including this one. 

Aside from the stellar performance in terms of pigmentation and blendability, we’re in love with the color story. The combination of light, medium, dark neutral, and warm shades work together to create a stunning dimension, and it’s so easy to achieve a cohesive look. While some feel that the color story is dupable, the excellent quality and depth of shades make this palette stand out. If you’re in the mood to splurge on a staple palette, you won’t be disappointed with this one.

What We Like
  • Five color story options

  • Comes in a smooth matte or soft satin finish

  • Dermatologist-tested

What to Consider
  • Colors aren’t the most pigmented

Number of Shades: 4 | Finishes: Matte, satin | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you’ve ever coveted Victoria Beckham’s signature smoky eye look, this palette is for you. Drawing inspiration from the designer’s recent runway collections, it pairs four complimentary but contrasting shades, providing everything you need to create a sultry, perfectly blended smoky eye. There are five color stories to choose from, including '90s-style blues, shimmery metallics, and VB’s favorite–a flattering combo of nudes and warm browns. 

Although reviewers found this palette easy to apply and blend, some complained that the hues could be more pigmented and long-lasting. In other words, you may have to take a few passes over your eyelids to reach full pigment potential.

What We Like
  • High-reflect shimmers

  • 12 pigmented shades

  • Smooth and blendable

What to Consider
  • Susceptible to fallout

Number of Shades: 12 | Finishes: Matte, metallic, glitter | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When you want a show-stopping look for the evening, metallic hues are the way to go. This super-shimmery palette from Anastasia Beverly Hills brings together rose gold shades with a spectacular gleam, which can be layered and blended to turn up or down the intensity. 

Thanks to their rich pigment payoff, application, and blending don’t take long at all, but some reviewers warn that the powdery formula is prone to fallout and smudging. We recommend holding a tissue under your eye as you apply, or saving your skin makeup until you’ve finished working on your eyes. 

What We Like
  • Snap two palettes together for handy transportation

  • Highly blendable

  • Three ultra-pigmented finishes

What to Consider
  • Not the most long-lasting

Number of Shades: 6 | Finishes: Matte, glitter, shimmer | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This pocket-sized palette from Fenty Beauty combines six curated shades to offer versatility on all skin tones. There are six color stories available and not a dud among them. These are eyeshadows you’ll be reaching for daily, think soft matte neutrals for day and ultra shimmery deep hues for the night. 

Fenty also included one very nifty design feature: you can snap two palettes together, making it super easy to bring your favorite shades wherever you go. Although some reviewers were disappointed that the product wasn’t longer-lasting, it’s compact enough to carry with you for strategic reapplication.

What We Like
  • Only three colors for easy application

  • Buildable and talc-free formula

  • Minimal fallout and creasing

What to Consider
  • Could be more pigmented

Number of Shades: 3 | Finishes: Matte, satin, metallic | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you’re a bit of an eyeshadow newbie, a giant palette with tons of potential color combinations can feel intimidating. This pretty option from Glossier keeps things simple with a monochromatic trio in three finishes: matte, satin, and metallic. Start by layering the finishes to add dimension to the eyes. Once you’ve got the hang of that, combine them with Glossier's other shades for a more creative look. Reviewers love how easy this palette is to apply and blend, but some lamented the level of pigment, saying it wasn’t impactful enough without heavy layering.

What to Look For in an Eyeshadow Palette

  • Shade Range: We’re probably stating the obvious here, but it’s important to look for a palette with a range of colors you’ll use. If you tend to stick to neutral shades and rarely branch out, then opting for a neutral palette is wise. The shade range is also important from a cohesion standpoint. Some palettes have unique, interesting color stories, but if you’re not a pro or struggle to pair colors together, opt for a palette that takes the guesswork out. For example, the Dior Backstage Eye Shadow Palette in Coral has some beautiful, fun shades but they’re very cohesive together, which will make using the palette simple and attainable for most people. 
  •  Textures and Finishes: The textures and finishes you use when creating an eyeshadow look are equally as important as the colors you select. Matte finishes will appear more subtle and help with shading, while shimmers and metallics add light reflection and dimension. Glitter shadows with thicker, chunkier textures will provide a unique, eye-catching component to your look. If you’re looking for a palette that provides you with many options in one, we recommend the Pat McGrath Labs Mothership IX: Huetopian Dream Eyeshadow Palette.
  • Quality: When determining the quality of eyeshadow, consider the level of pigment to guarantee that you'll get a rich color payoff. The Alamar palette delivers ultra-pigmented color to help create statement eyelids that pop and also create a natural contour on every skin tone.
FAQ
  • How do you pick an eyeshadow palette?

    Look for versatile eyeshadow palettes, since you'll be using them for both special-occasion and daily looks. Many palettes feature a range of finishes as well as colors because some days you might want shimmer while others, you might prefer matte. You may even be able to find a palette you like as part of a larger makeup kit.

  • How long does an eyeshadow palette last?

    Eyeshadow palettes can usually last up to two years, but for hygienic reasons, Scibelli says it’s best to replace them after one year. Cosmetics products typically list their shelf life on the packaging, so when in doubt, refer to the packaging of the palette you choose.

  • How do you clean an eyeshadow palette?

    Scibelli advises wiping down the edges with a makeup wipe. To clean the actual shadows, lightly scrape the top off with a disposable mascara wand and dust off that layer, or try spritzing a tiny bit of alcohol over the shadows.

  • How do you fix a broken eyeshadow palette?

    Because eyeshadows are delicate powders, it’s not uncommon for them to crack or shatter—but this is often a fixable issue. “Add some rubbing alcohol to create a paste-like texture, then use a flat butter knife to pat it back down into its pan and let it dry overnight,” advises Scibelli. FYI, if you have sensitive eyes, skip this (the alcohol can potentially be irritating) and replace the shadow or palette entirely.

Why Trust Byrdie

Alyssa Kaplan is an experienced writer in the beauty industry and product tester specializing in cosmetics. She has tested dozens of eyeshadow eyeshadow palettes over the years—including several on this list. Alyssa has been a commerce writer at Byrdie since 2022, where she covers all things beauty.

Esme Benjamin is a freelance beauty writer, editor, and podcaster based in New York. She has been writing stories on a wide array of beauty topics since 2023.

Edited by Ally Hirschlag

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