Alyssa Brascia is a commerce writer PEOPLE, covering beauty, fashion, home and lifestyle products. She has previously written commerce content for Dotdash Meredith brands such as InStyle, Shape, Southern Living and more during her time as the E-Commerce Editorial Apprentice while she was an undergraduate fashion student at Iowa State University. Her passions include fashion and beauty writing as well as makeup artistry and styling. You can find her on Instagram to follow along on her creative journey.
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Whether you prefer natural glam to smoky eyes, opt for muted palettes or vivid color (like Halsey’s frosty blue look), eyeshadow is an element of your makeup that allows you to explore your creativity and tap into whatever persona you’re channeling that day.
You can craft your everyday look with the softer shadows from Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty or add some edge to your eyes with bold pigments from Haus Labs by Lady Gaga and play with all of the aesthetics in between to find your eyeshadow groove — and according to Ernesto Casillas, the creative artist behind Doja Cat’s striking eye looks, there’s no right or wrong when it comes to eyeshadow — but there are some key aspects to look for.
“A good eyeshadow palette is curated with very specific colors to tell a story and a variation of textures,” says Casillas. “I love having a palette for different looks, such a smokey eye palette and a warm-toned palette.” He looks for versatility, appreciating a mix of tones and finishes (think metallics and mattes) in a palette to provide several possibilities for color combinations.
With the sheer amount of eyeshadow palettes out there, from long-standing beauty companies to celebrity lines, it can be a colossal feat to decide on the eyeshadow palette that looks and feels right for you. We tested 32 popular eyeshadow palettes in the PEOPLE Tested lab to discern which were worth the hype, and 15 ended up as winners in our book.
Keep reading to find your next go-to palette for everything from work looks to date nights.
Warm and earth-toned shades for everyday looks
Balanced mix of metallics and mattes
Exterior can get dirty easily due to its velvety fabric
Past the velvety, golden lid of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam eyeshadow palette is a glorious spread of warm hues, romantic purples and pinks, and a smattering of shimmery metallics — all tied together with a few dark shades to add some depth to the spectrum. This palette passed our tests on shade range, pigmentation, application, and value with flying colors, scoring a perfect five out of five for its lurid colors and stunning blendability.
Complete with fourteen shade pans, an impressive amount when compared to some others, this palette includes five high-shine metallic finishes and nine matte shades, one being a true, midnight black (an inclusion that is easily overlooked yet very appreciated). Our tester felt that the price was easily justified, saying that they would “gladly pay $45 for an eyeshadow palette that has fourteen different options.” We couldn’t agree more.
Though this product had no complaints by our testers, we do want to note that the palette’s fabric exterior is prone to picking up loose eyeshadow, powders, or any other spilled makeup in your cosmetic drawers. The soft fibers can hold onto these pigments fiercely, potentially making it hard to clean — so just be sure to take care of your new go-to eyeshadow palette to prolong its pretty packaging.
Price at time of publish: $45
Size: 0.28 oz. | Shades: 14 | Finish: Matte, metallic
Good quality for a low price, especially if you're looking for a more neutral palette
Doesn't have a mirror, making it less portable
If you’re looking for a staple, everyday eyeshadow palette but don’t want to stretch your wallet to attain one, then we have just the thing for you. ‘The Nudes’ eyeshadow palette from Maybelline is an inexpensive yet great-quality spread of twelve easily wearable shades, from shimmery metallics to matte earth tones. Our testers loved how easily blendable these cool-toned shades were, sharing how each color played nice with one another on their eyelids and they required very light movements with the brush to develop a beautiful gradient.
The tester concluded by appreciating the value this palette possesses while retailing for a fairly low price. “It has a good range of colors for those looking for a simple palette,” they shared. Due to its simplicity, our tester lamented the fact that it lacked a mirror — but if this isn’t a make or break factor for you, then we think you’ll find favor with this compact. We recommend this pick from Maybelline for anyone who is searching for a basic palette whose quality surpasses its price.
Price at time of publish: $12.99
Size: 0.34 oz. | Shades: 12 | Finish: Satin, metallic
Mix of smooth mattes and ultra-reflective metallics
Smaller shade range than others
Arguably one of the best makers of eyeshadow formulas and palettes is Pat McGrath, so it’s no surprise that the Mothership IX: Huetopian Dream Eyeshadow Palette was one of our tester-loved picks. The glossy, galactic-inspired compact opens up to reveal ten buttery shades — three mattes, five super-charged iridescent metallics, and two duochromes (meaning the color shifts between different shades depending on the lighting). Our testers were in awe of the ease of application, high color payoff and little-to-no excess powder that fell onto their skin as they were blending, earning this palette a high score in the end.
The tester also appreciated its evident high quality and versatility, sharing that they would “definitely turn to this palette for a night out” or if they were experimenting with a colorful look. However, for the price, they did wish it came with just a few more shades. $128 is hefty for some to spend on a palette with ten pans, but the value does match the price — and the results are almost too good to be true. For true out-of-this-world eyes, you can’t go wrong with the Mothership IX: Huetopian Dream Eyeshadow Palette.
Price at time of publish: $128
Size: 0.47 oz. | Shades: 10 | Finish: Matte, satin, metallic, duochrome
Highly pigmented and blendable formula
May need a fluffier brush to help blend the looks, which isn't included
What’s better than a palette that spells out exactly which shades to use for different occasions? The Charlotte Tilbury Instant Eye Palette in Pillow Talk breaks its colors into the categories “day, desk, date, and dream” for the color combos that make the glam process foolproof for everyday life — from the office to nights out with your significant other and everything in between. Our tester particularly loved this aspect of the packaging, sharing that it “made it fun and easy to see how versatile this singular palette could be.” Not to mention that the smattering of neutral and pink shades are ultra blendable and beautifully pigmented, so a little goes a long way.
With its combinations of matte and pearl finishes, this palette creates eyeshadow looks that call for lots of blending — which made our tester wish there was a fluffy brush included in this palette. The compact comes with a plastic overlay that outlines a few eyeshadow placement ideas for different occasions, which would be easier to execute if the right brush were supplemented. “They're already started showing how easy and versatile their product can be, the addition of a brush would only further that,” they explained. But if you have a fluffy brush (or a few blending brushes that can get the job done) then this is an aspect that won’t affect your application process in the slightest.
Price at time of publish: $75
Size: 0.24 oz. | Shades: 12 | Finish: Matte, metallic pearl
High pigmentation, where a little goes a long way
The Urban Decay Naked Reloaded Eyeshadow Palette has all of the shades you’d want in a one-stop-shop palette. From light and shimmery base tones (think Bribe and Angel Fire) to transition shades (Bucked and Blur), and sultry hues to deepen your shadow (Burn, End Game), this palette comes with all the right colors to take your makeup look from natural glam to date night vixen. With its gleaming range of micropearl metallics to buttery-soft mattes, the color combinations and look possibilities are endless.
Our testers were floored by the level of pigment with this palette and appreciated its staying power, though they did think the shadows stayed so well that they were a bit hard to blend at times. Using your finger to lightly tap on a shimmery shade or brush with a light amount of shadow will give you just the right amount of the product, because “a little goes a long way,” according to our testers. Well worth its $44 value for the impressive pigmentation, our testers claimed that you “get your money's worth of product” with this palette. We’re loving this pick from Urban Decay for its ability to effortlessly elevate your look, no matter what time of the day.
Price at time of publish: $44
Size: 0.49 oz. | Shades: 12 | Finish: Matte, metallic/shimmer
Pretty pricey, but our tester claims it's worth it
There are few things in the beauty industry as stunning as a warm eyeshadow palette, and the Natasha Denona Sunset Eyeshadow Palette steals the scene with its striking collection of autumnal shades, crystalline finishes and grounding mattes. Complete with fifteen shades (the largest we’ve seen yet), this palette packs a punch with highly-pigmented shades that show up beautifully on any skin tones — our tester sharing that this “super concentrated” formula barely needed any powder in the brush to completely cover the eyelid in a wash of lurid color.
Our tester adored the high-impact color payoff and was impressed by the lack of fallout, even when applying the shadow with a fluffy brush. They also reference their past experience with shimmers being difficult to apply, but that this velvety application was nothing of the sort. You may be a bit off-put by the higher price tag, but our tester is here to assure you that the results more than match the price. “Considering the shade range and quality, I'm not surprised by how expensive it is,” they state, supporting the nearly $130 value. If you’re someone who craves the luster of a warm eyeshadow look, then we have the perfect palette for you.
Price at time of publish: $129
Size: 1.2 oz. | Shades: 15 | Finish: Matte, metallic
Easy to blend and mix shades
Doesn't include any neutral shades for more everyday looks
Everyone needs a splash of color in their lives, and your eye makeup is a fun way to incorporate some vibrant hues into your look. The Juvia's Place Warrior III Palette is a glorious compact packed with punchy colors that are perfect for the bold makeup maven. Stacked with ultra-pigmented primary and secondary colors, as well as two galactic blue shimmers, this palette is crafted for the creative artist who likes to pair fun colors together or blend a few on top of one another to achieve their desired shade (hence the basic color wheel shades). Our tester fell in love with the saturation of these shadows on her skin, saying that she believed herself and the warrior on the packaging have the same complexion and that this palette had the “prettiest and most vibrant colors” for her skin tone.
Other perks with this palette include little to no fallout, smooth application, and a fairly low price point, especially for its standout quality. While this may not be the color scheme that you reach for every day (though it could be, if colorful eyes are your trademark), this palette is worth spending the mere $20 on for special occasions. Our tester felt that the price almost felt unfair to Juvia’s Place, thinking it could go for much more due to its stunning quality. For a product that has lovely pigmentation, is easy to apply, and has a reasonable price tag, we couldn’t imagine a better palette to paint our kaleidoscope eyes.
Price at time of publish: $20
Size: 0.63 oz. | Shades: 9 | Finish: Matte, metallic
Wearable shade range for everyday
Equal matte to metallic ration
No fallout while applying, making it an easy clean-up
On the pricier end, although our tester felt the results were worth it
A swift detour from our favorite colorful palette is our best neutral pick, the Too Faced Born This Way “The Natural Nudes” palette stole the show in terms of everyday wearability and versatility. Stacked with a whopping 16 shades (8 soft mattes and 8 glittery metallics), this palette has a comprehensive color story that makes it easy to create looks for any occasion — from office makeup to night-out glam. The formation that the eyeshadow pans are laid out in takes the guesswork out of how to match a matte and shimmer shade, as each rectangular matte pan has a square, metallic shadow that accompanies it. This design makes it incredibly simple to put two contrasting textures together, and you can also move horizontally across the palette to put adjacent mattes and metallics together for an entirely new (and easy) look.
The absence of fallout was a huge perk for our tester, as they “hate working on a smoky eye and having such a mess to clean up” — a task that didn’t need tending to with these shadows’ high-quality formulas. Though this palette’s price tag may seem a bit steep, our tester felt that the results are worth the investment. “The neutral tones are so nice and work for any occasion or outfit, so long-term value is definitely there,” they concluded. Too Faced’s The Natural Nudes palette makes it easier than ever to design neutral eyeshadow looks for everything from everyday life to special occasions, but be careful… this purchase is so good, you may never touch your other palettes again.
Price at time of publish: $52
Size: 0.48 oz. | Shades: 16 | Finish: Matte, metallic
High quality for reasonable price
For pigment that packs a punch, you can’t go wrong with the Spanglish Pressed Pigment Palette from Alamar Cosmetics. This whimsical palette includes eight luscious shades, with four glitter pans and four mattes that round out the romantic color story of this compact. Our tester was shocked by how effortlessly these shadows swiped on a generous amount of opaque color, the glitters offering a beautiful iridescence and the mattes buffing onto the lid with ease. They highlighted how concentrated the formula was, appreciating how “very little need” there was to build the color. “It also blended so well where I wanted it to fade out,” they added. “I feel like I had really great control on the lid.”
With great pigment often comes great fallout, so the bits of stray powder that fell onto the skin after using this shadow were not terribly shocking to our tester. However, the amount of fallout was minimal and can be taken care of if the undereyes are set with powder to brush away any stray flecks later. All in all, the quality of this palette (and its pigment) was far higher than its price tag, making it a product that our tester thought was well worth the buy.
Price at time of publish: $28
Size: 0.40 oz. | Shades: 8 | Finish: Matte, shimmer
Glitter application was harder with brush
Nothing can instantly elevate a makeup look like a little bit of glitter, and the Truly Madly Deeply palette from Colourpop was a standout among our tests due to the phenomenal assortment and performance of its glitters. Outfitted with 16 dreamy shadows, this palette consists of three high–impact glitters, seven satiny shimmers and six smooth matte shades to sculpt the glitzy eye looks of your dreams. Our testers were particularly blown away by the reflective pigment that the glitters had to offer, calling its smooth and sparkling application “insane.” The mattes were just as much of a dream to apply, blending out beautifully where our tester applied them.
While these glitters glided onto the eyelids with stunning ease when applied with the pad of our tester’s fingertip, they did notice that it was much harder to swipe on these shadows with a brush. You’re all set to use a fluffy brush on the matte and shimmer shadows (in fact, they blend out quite beautifully this way), but you’ll want to use your finger to get the most impact on your eyelid when it comes to these glitters. If you’re sick of the same old shimmery and metallic finishes in your eyeshadow palettes and want to reach for something with some real glitz and glamor, then our pick from Colourpop should do just the trick.
Price at time of publish: $24
Size: 0.48 oz. | Shades: 16 | Finish: Matte, glitter, duochrome
Ideal neutrals for most skin tones
If shimmers and glitters have never really been your cup of tea, then you may find favor with an all-matte palette — our favorite being the Baked Browns palette from Dose of Colors. This perfectly neutral color story has a range of light to deep shades that will compliment many skin tones and eye colors, making a statement on everyone. The compact includes five rich, circular pans with an ivory shade (perfect for highlighting), sandy beige (for transitions and blending), warm brown (for shading), deep rust (for warmth), and espresso brown (for depth). Our tester found favor in the shadows’ profound pigment, sharing that they “looked just as vibrant on the eye as they did in the palette,” a testament to its big-time color payoff.
Its easily blendable formula was another standout aspect of these shadows, meaning you can prolong the life of this palette because you only need a little to get the major pigment that you seek. However, there was a bit of fallout observed by our tester, but they assured us that it wiped away with ease. You can also use a setting powder under the eyes to prevent any straggling specks from ruining your foundation, as mentioned before. All in all, this palette is the one to grab for matte makeup lovers who want a single palette that can take them through everyday life with smooth and ultra-pigmented eyeshadow looks.
Price at time of publish: $50
Size: 0.30 oz. | Shades: 5 | Finish: Matte
Recyclable packaging that's made from 15% recycled plastic
Great range of neutral shades
No colorful shades or high-shine glitters included
What’s better than a blendable eyeshadow palette with a stunning range of neutrals? A sustainable one, of course. The Upcycle Cool Crew Nude eyeshadow palette from PYT Beauty consists of 12 mixed and matched neutral shades in a smattering of mattes and metallics, plus completely sustainable packaging made from 15 percent recycled plastic and pre-degraded plastic. When you’ve hit the bottom of the pan on these blendable shades, you can pop them out of the palette, wash the palette clean from any fallout over the years, and recycle the used packaging and pans to start the process all over again.
Our tester describes this palette as the “perfect neutral shade range,” offering tones that highlight, add depth, and even a little sparkle (thanks to the shimmery shadows). However, this may not be the variety of color that you’re searching for if you tend to gravitate towards colorful shades or high-shine glitters, due to its fairly neutral color palette. The tester also appreciated how light the shadows felt on their lid and the buildable pigment of these formulas, stating that it only required “two coats maximum” to attain a pigmented look. With dramatic shades that blend beautifully and packaging that’s good for the planet, there’s so much to love about this pick from PYT Beauty.
Price at time of publish: $27
Size: 0.24 oz. | Shades: 12 | Finish: Matte, satin, shimmer
Two-in-one product, thanks to the inclusion of primer
Wearable range of colors for everyday
Primer won't match all skin tones
We’re all about comprehensive products that can make our lives easier, and that’s exactly what you get with the Dior Backstage eyeshadow palette in “Rosewood Neutrals,” a warm, bronzy palette that features a pan of Dior’s primer in the corner. This one-stop-shop product is perfect for travel because of its inclusion of this little primer, which erases the need to take another product with you on the road and at the very least minimizes the amount of clutter you deal with as you get ready in the morning. The palette’s eight warm-toned shades include shimmery and matte finishes, which allows for creativity and the ability to mix textures to come up with an eye-catching look.
Our tester loved how packed with pigment these eyeshadows were but felt that the accompanying primer was not inclusive to everyone who could be using the palette. The farthest upper-left pan holds the handy primer, which is a “super light shade” that would most likely work on someone with light skin, but that they “don't think would be useful for someone with a deeper skin tone” to use. However, this tester was still enamored by the strong pigmentation (it only took a few light taps to the pan to pick up a large amount of color) and felt that its blending job was top tier. For the name “Dior” you’d expect a crazy price point, but this palette felt very reasonable for its price thanks to the addition of the primer (an extra purchase, if you hadn’t bought it this way) and eight luxe shades to boot. This is definitely our designer pick of choice.
Price at time of publish: $49
Size: 0.35 oz. | Shades: 8 (plus one primer) | Finish: Matte, shimmery
The shade range you desire in an eyeshadow palette largely has to do with the type of places you’re going, clothing you wear, and the tone of your skin, hair, and eyes… but mostly, it has to do with personal preference. “For me, the idea that certain eyeshadow colors are more suited for specific eye colors is a dated concept,” says Casillas. “You should wear whatever colors you enjoy and feel you look best in.” When you find your color palette niche, you can then get a little more picky with the products you purchase. If you love matte shades but want a healthy dose of shimmer and shine, you can search for a palette (like the Too Faced Born This Way The Natural Nudes Eye Shadow Palette) that has a one-to-one ratio of earth-toned mattes to shimmers. And the same goes for colorful shades — you’ll want to reach for a vibrant palette (like the Juvia's Place Warrior III).
There are so many finishes when it comes to eyeshadows that it can be hard to keep count. From mattes to metallics, glitters, and duochromes, there seems to be an endless supply of shadow textures to add to your lids. To put it simply: matte finish means non-light reflecting, which means the shade will be smooth and emulent of the natural shadows on your face. Satin and pearlescent are shadows that reflect light subtly, while metallic and glitter finishes cast light boldly and sparkle in the correct lighting. Duochrome shadows are a sector of metallics, which cast different colored hues as the light moves (think the shade “Blitz Sextreme” in Pat McGrath Labs Mothership IX: Huetopian Dream).
If you’re in the market for a new eyeshadow palette, you’re most likely searching for one for a specific purpose or occasion — whether that be date nights, black-tie events, or even everyday makeup. For more formal events, you may want to search for palettes that have a range of light and dark shades (with a hint of shimmer) like the Urban Decay Naked Reloaded palette, and for everyday looks you may want to stick to something more neutral and soft like the Charlotte Tilbury Instant Eye Palette. But if the world is your runway and everyday is a fashion show, then by all means — grab the best glitters that the ColourPop Truly Madly Deeply Pressed Powder Eyeshadow Palette has to offer and adorn yourself in all the glamor. There’s no specific occasion necessary to do your eyes up in a way that makes you feel beautiful, just the right palette that will help you get there.
Our testers came to the testing lab barefaced, with no products on the eyelid. Each tester primed their eyes and then tried one or two of the 32 products on different eyes, one at a time. They played around with the palettes as they received them, swatching the shades on their fingertips and forearms to see how they perform before applying them to their eyelids. Then, each tester used their choice of a makeup brush (flat, blending, angled, and pencil brushes were provided), foam eyeshadow applicator, or finger to apply the shadows on their lids. They then analyzed each shadow based on shade range, pigmentation, application, and value — taking note of any creasing, fallout, staining, or subsequent results that the shadows left them with.
While this is an objective question, we think Anastasia Beverly Hills makes the best eyeshadow palettes because our testers rated the Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam palette so highly. There are many cosmetic companies creating standout eyeshadow palettes, but this particular brand creates some of the most popular, accessible, and high-quality eyeshadows for a reasonable price — and one that our testers at PEOPLE approve highly of.
There are many elements to a good eyeshadow palette — from shade ranges to packaging size and pigmentation. However, what really makes a product great starts at a molecular level, which urges us to look at the formula. “When it comes to ingredients, I say go by a formula that you like — swatch the shadows in-store,” says Casillas. “I’m not a chemist so I can’t tell you what ingredients to avoid in eyeshadow, but do look for certain pigments that will stain your skin.” Oftentimes vibrant red, purple and orange shadows run the risk of leaving an unsightly, but temporary, stain on your eyelid, which isn’t ideal when you want to wash the makeup look off at the end of the night. Casillas urges us to look for a warning on the packaging for palettes with shades like these, as they will indicate what colors may stain and where to avoid applying them.
“When it comes to beginners makeup, I always recommend starting with one or two eyeshadows — a sparkly or satin eyeshadow for the eyelid and a matte one for the crease,” Casillas advises. “It’s best to start by getting a feel for how the product works.” He also recommended being light-handed with the brush, which will teach you how to blend shadows together nicely. “If you can feel the brush pressure on your eyes, then you are pressing too hard,” Casillas says. Remember, makeup should be comfortable and fun — so be gentle with yourself and practice the different beauty looks that you’ve always wanted to wear.
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.
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