Eyeshadow Palettes You’ll Actually Use

If you’re not head over heels in love with your eyeshadow palette, I promise you: You just haven’t found the right one. Because when you discover the best eyeshadow palette, no shade will go untouched, no look is out of the question, and no loose pigments or pots are necessary. But as is true with most categories in the beauty world, it’s easy to get blinded by pretty packaging and 40,000 options. When you *really* get into the eye makeup of it all, though, you’ll notice that the best eyeshadow palettes should check a handful of non-negotiable boxes. Celebrity makeup artist Ashlee Glazer tells Marie Claire that she asks herself the following questions before investing: “Does it have a variety of colors to be used for more than one function? Is there a medium blending tone and a glitter? Is there a popular, everyday shade I’ll always reach for?” 

While there are plenty of 12-plus pan palettes for anyone who likes to switch up their status quo, four shades is really all you need. “A perfect palette has a medium or bright-toned lid color, a rich, deep tone for definition or liner, a blending shade that is a combination of the first two, and something with a sparkly finish or frosty tone to highlight or add a pop,” says Glazer. Of course, there’s no such thing as having too many eyeshadow palettes, so we’re all for purchasing in bulk—or giving your collection a refresh. FYI: Eyeshadow palettes typically expire every year or two. 

To help guide you on this very exciting makeup journey, or give you some gift-spo for the holiday season, scroll ahead. With glitter eyeshadows from Charlotte Tilbury and unbeatable neutral eyeshadow palettes from Patrick Ta, these are our tried-and-tested favorite eyeshadow palettes. 

What to Look For

Skill Level

"When deciding to add an eyeshadow palette to your makeup collection you'll want to consider the type of makeup looks you want to achieve and also your skill level," says makeup artist and content creator Jonet Williamson. "If you're a beginner, pick up a palette that you can use from day to night."

Variety

While strictly matte or glitter palettes have a place, a great eyeshadow palette will typically contain a combination. "Look for one that has some really good matte textures (black, brown, and a nude) that suit your complexion as well as two to three shimmers: one more neutral for day time, a pressed glitter for more glam looks, and a warmer tone or fun pop of color," says Williamson.

Payoff

"When choosing an eyeshadow palette, I tend to gravitate towards a product or brand that has a beautiful color pay-off," says celebrity makeup artist Dominique Lerma. "Look for something that is finely milled, which means a little goes a long way during the application process."

The Best Eyeshadow Palettes

The Best Eyeshadow Palette Overall

Ethereal Eyes Eyeshadow Palette

$68 at Sephora

This once-limited-edition palette was brought back by popular demand—it's truly that good. The 12-pan palette has a healthy mix of mattes and shimmer shadows, that can be used individually or mixed and matched. Every shade layers nicely, never creases, and has pigment that lasts for hours. Mario's brushes are top-notch, but applying his shimmery shades with your fingers ensures an extra-special metallic effect.

Pros: Variety; Nice staying power; No creasing

Cons: None

Customer Review: "I bought this mainly for the shimmery shades, I have never seen such a beautiful shine in an eyeshadow. It has so many fine micro glitters, it will make your eyes look INSANE and luxurious." — Sephora

The Best Drugstore Eyeshadow Palette

Maybelline Eyeshadow Palette, The Nudes, 12 Shade Palette

$16 at CVS

A solid eyeshadow palette doesn't have to break the bank. Just look to this Maybelline 12-pan drugstore eyeshadow palette. It's a neutral-lover's dream, with browns, taupes, hits of ivory, and a gold pop comprising the palette. Even with an affordable price tag, there's no compromise on quality—every color blends seamlessly and looks flawless.

Pros: Affordable; Great basic color selection

Cons: A little fallout

Customer Review: "This is the most flattering pallet on my skin and with my eyes and hair color. Very easy to put on, I just put a brush in several pots of color at one time to make a mix and brush that on, done!" — Target

The Best Matte Eyeshadow Palette

PETITES MATTES WARM

$80 at Revolve

"These eyeshadow palettes are a makeup artist's best kept secret (not so secret). The color payoff is beautiful and this particular Warm Mattes SlimPro palette is so complimentary to any complexion shade. The hues are very appropriate for transitioning from Fall to Winter eye looks. I especially love how compact the palette is, it is small but mighty and compact enough to fit into a clutch or for those on the go! Not to mention that each pan is magnetized and can be removed, meaning you can customize your on the go palettes as needed. I customize palettes for my clients and it becomes a unique personalized palette that is just for them." — Dominique Lerma, Makeup Artist

Pros: Makeup artist-recommended; Great staple

Cons: No shimmers

Customer Review: "This palette is my new favorite for everyday. The colors are all matte, warm browns. They're so finely pigmented, blend like a dream, and stay on! The more rust colors are really fun to play with, and are not as intimidating as they seem. I cannot recommend this palette enough!" — Revolve

Best Eyeshadow Palette for Beginners

Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Eyeshadow Palette Pillow Talk

$50

at NET-A-PORTER

$55

at Nordstrom

$55

at Revolve

Don’t get me wrong, 12-pan palettes have their time and place. But if you’re looking for a palette that delivers one, perfectly curated eye look, Charlotte Tilbury has you covered. These compact little quads make a statement-making eye beginner-friendly. Each set has a prime, enhance, smoke, and pop, so you know exactly what to do with each color. My obsession with this baby, however, is rooted in the longwear results and blendable formula. It stays looking fresh from a.m. to p.m. and miraculously never creases. Pillow Talk Dreams is my colorway of choice (I’m big into the pink tones), but there’s a set for every undertone and aesthetic. 

Pros: Editor favorite; Travel friendly; Non-creasing

Cons: Small color range

Customer Review: "No words needed, it’s the feel of the eye shadow that gives that luxury feel. Eye shadow feels almost like a soft velvet, so luxurious. It also has that beautiful blend, at first it was really powdery and hard but I think we just need to get the hang of it. I truly recommend getting this palette." — Nordstrom

Best Luxury Eyeshadow Palette

Chanel Les 4 Ombres Tweed

$88 at Nordstrom

While I desperately wanted to preserve the iconic Chanel tweed embossing (how amazing, you guys?), I promise you the rich formulas that await you are worth the destruction. The colors across the board are unlike anything I’ve ever seen—they’re true-to-color and strike the perfect balance between intense and inviting. Add the long-lasting mineral pigments and nourishing plant oils to the mix, and you’re guaranteed an eye makeup look that will look fresh around the clock. Each compact comes with two medium colors ideal for the base and crease, along with a deeper and lighter shade to customize your look. 

Pros: Gorgeous packaging; Long-lasting

Cons: Expensive

Customer Review: "Beautiful product. I love that this eyeshadow has such a subtle, luxurious sheen to it. It's definitely not matte, but l also wouldn't describe it as "shimmering". It has a sheen/shine to it that's so special, I have not found any other eyeshadows like this. The color payoff is not a lot, but it's buildable. Gorgeous packaging." — Chanel

Most Versatile Eyeshadow Palette

Patrick Ta Major Dimension Eyeshadow Palette

$68 at Sephora

$70

at Sephora

$80

at Amazon

This palette is worth the investment—and you can trust me here. I’ve hit pan on each and every square. Versatility is at the forefront, with a mix of cream bases, velvety mattes, metallic shades, and opalescent toppers for an extra lil pop. Mixing and matching is a go, but if you look closely, you’ll notice the palette is ~technically~ broken down into three quads that are uber-compatible. No matter what combo you choose, I pinky promise that everything is super wearable. Nothing will feel too intense or bold off the bat—it’s buildable by design. 

Pros: Many finishes; Easy to blend

Cons: Has fallout

Customer Review: "I absolutely adore this makeup palette! The smooth and buttery texture of the neutral shades makes it a dream to work with. It's become my go-to for everyday looks, but the versatility to create a stunning smoky eye is what truly sets it apart. A must-have for any makeup enthusiast!" —Sephora

Best Do-it-All Eyeshadow Palette

Lawless The Little One Talc-Free Eyeshadow Palette

$64 at Sephora

If one-and-done is your eye makeup motto, this palette is for you. With 8 shades, including a white creamy primer and a jet black that can be used as a smudged eyeliner, this quite literally has everything you could ever need. There’s a handful of light neutrals great for daytime, bolder hues for times when you want a fun pop, or deeper tones that come in handy when you want a smoky eye or more intense glam. Pro Tip: Apply the shimmer shades with your finger for a more intense sparkle and wet the colors you want to make into a liquid liner. 

Pros: Great neutral palette; Good for color correction and eyeliner; Talc-free

Cons: Not very blendable

Customer Review: "I would definitely recommend applying an eyeshadow primer before applying your eyeshadow, however I still think this palette is a winner! I use this palette daily especially for the black and brown on the far right. They’re super pigmented and I feel more comfortable applying make up near my eyes that doesn’t have a bunch of toxic (carcinogenic) chemicals in it!" — Sephora

Best Build-Your-Own Eyeshadow Palette

Hourglass Curator Palette

$16 at Sephora

Hands down, the worst part about investing in an eyeshadow palette is letting a handful of colors go to waste. But good news: Hourglass has a solution. This genius product lets you make the palette of your choice. Take your pick from a wide variety of single shade inserts and pop ‘em on into the gold shell. That way, you’ll be left with a palette you actually intend on using. The best part? Once you hit bottom on the colors, you just refill the palette with a new set. 

Pros: Refillable; Customizable

Cons: Hard to pop pans in and out

Customer Review: "These palettes are super well made. They feel nice and heavy. Once you click in the shadows, they don’t move. The magnet that keeps it closed is strong! I love it. They also have a nice mirror." — Sephora

Best Everyday Eyeshadow Palette

Roen Beauty 75 Warm Eyeshadow Palette

$49 at Bluemercury

For an intuitive, easy-to-use palette that’s great for everyday wear, scoop up this Roén quad. It’ll become a staple in your routine in no time. The creamy eyeshadow pigments truly flatter undertones across the board and can be worn solo or layered. The main selling point with this palette however is that it’s finger friendly. In fact, I never dirty a brush when I use it. Just press your (clean) fingers into your shade of choice and swipe it directly onto your lid. 

Pros: Non-toxic; Can be applied with fingers

Cons: Creases

Customer Review: "This palette is stunning and easy. I usually dislike creamy and glittery eyeshadow products, (especially ones that you have to use your fingers to apply) but this product is so fantastic that I'm ok with it all. Even if you're not into glitter (I'm usually not into glitter), these products are so beautiful that you will still love these." — Dermstore

Best Nighttime Eyeshadow Palette

Mented Cosmetics Everynight Eyeshadow Palette

$30 at Ulta

$30

at Amazon

Pigment is the name of the game with this bold beauty buy. With everything from deep navy blues to pops of bright pink, there’s ample opportunity to have fun with your makeup look. While a handful of shades are certainly daytime appropriate, the fun shimmers and intense mattes can up the ante on your eye makeup for a night out. As an added bonus, the palette is vegan, non-toxic, and cruelty-free. 

Pros: Highly pigmented; Vegan

Cons: Deceiving color depiction in photos

Customer Review: "The palette is deeper in tone than pictured. I appreciate Mented cosmetics for creating products for deeper skin tones, as it seems most brands think aiming for the medium-tone range will somehow cover everyone's needs. There are some things you should know about the palette itself: the design is STUNNING. Sleek and gorgeous with a nice mirror inside. The mattes are beautiful and blend out very nicely." — Ulta

Best Buildable Eyeshadow Palette

Pat McGrath Mothership VI: Midnight Sun

$128 at Sephora

$128

at Pat McGrath

$128

at Ulta Beauty

This is a party palette if we've ever seen one. While there are shimmer, satin, and glitter finishes to spare, our favorite shade is Blood Moon: A warm copper that glistens upon application. As is typical with all Pat McGrath shadows, these are reflective as can be, buildable to the max, and pigmented as hell. (Editor’s note: While the shades can be used dry, spray them with a setting spray to get a liquid metal effect.) 

Pros: Multiple finishes; Intensely pigmented; Versatile

Cons: Expensive

Customer Review: "I like that it includes a mix of mattes, shimmers and glitters - never too much of one thing. The color story is dramatic, but you can also create beautiful subtle looks. It's such a versatile palette. I like to use the burgundy or eggplant shade (occasionally the shimmery dark green) with an angle brush as an eyeliner, then build that same shade into my outer lid, blend it with a lighter shade on my inner lid and pop a glitter shade in the middle." — Sephora

Best Classic Eyeshadow Palette

Urban Decay Naked Reloaded Eyeshadow Palette

$44 at Ulta

$50

at Amazon

$50

at Macy's

Beauty lovers everywhere mourned when Urban Decay announced the discontinuation of their iconic Naked palette. Fortunately, this gem came along to appease our sorrows. Their "reloaded" palette comes with the same versatile shade selection that we know and adore.

Pros: Great for everyday; Good for all skin tones

Cons: A little chalky

Customer Review: "I love UD, the quality, the variety the innovation, everything but this pallet is the best pallet of all of them. No just because the product is easy to apply, a little go long way, is very little fold out. The combination of colors is perfect. They go good with anything the you want to wear, any season of the year, day or night.

The Best Everyday Eyeshadow Palette

Color Design Eyeshadow Palette

$60 at Nordstrom

"Lancôme's eyeshadow palette has more cool tones that work well for a clean girl aesthetic. The matte shadows are super easy to blend and the shimmer is the perfect hint of champagne that would work well for just about every complexion." — Jonet Williamson, Makeup Artist

Pros: Expert-recommended; Versatile; Longwear

Cons: Payoff requires building

Customer Review: "I keep coming back to Lancome. I have also tried other high end brands, but Lancome's is easiest to work with and STAYS PUT! Doesn't change color or fade, and I have oily skin, so I appreciate that the eye shadow does not slide off my eyelids." — Nordstrom

The Best Limited-Edition Eyeshadow Palette

Diorshow 10 Couleurs Eye Makeup Palette - Mitzah Limited Edition

$130 at Bergdorf Goodman

"My most favorite palette at the moment for my personal use is this Dior palette. It has a gorgeous warm undertone to the matte shades which is something I really love day to night. The shimmers included are fun and sparkly but not overpowering and leave zero fall out." — Jonet Williamson, Makeup Artist

Pros: Expert-recommended; No fallout; Variety of finishes

Cons: Heavily pink tones

Customer Review: "I purchased this off of the Dior website and I ADORE IT! Now these are sophisticated satin formulas here, no you’re not getting McGrath level glitters for $130 but I don’t think that’s the point of this palette. Every single look I’ve turned out with this has been stunning. It also doubles as a face palette and has quite a few great highlighter and blush options." — Sephora

Meet the Expert

Jonet Williamson

Makeup artist and content creator

Makeup Artist, Jonet Williamson discovered her love for art at a very early age. While growing up in New Orleans, one of the world's most eclectic and inspiring cities, Jonet was admitted into the gifted art program of her magnet high school. Here is where she began to master color theory, symmetry, texture, and innovation. From paint brushes to makeup brushes, she has used those same skills to solidify her style as a pro within the beauty industry.

In 2005, Jonet began her journey in beauty working as a makeup artist for M.A.C. Cosmetics. Here the feeling of connecting with other women and helping them see the beauty within themselves became her greatest passion.

With a willingness to learn and an eye for perfection Jonet moved to New York City in 2014 determined to further her artistry and career. Since then, her work has been featured in commercial campaigns (Dolce & Gabanna, Levis, Shea Moisture), editorials (Essence, L'Officiel), and tv & film productions (CBS, MTV, TNT).

Dominique Lerma

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Celebrity Makeup Artist

Dominique Lerma a Hollywood bred Internationally published Makeup Artist and Beauty Educator, known for her ability to create flawless complexions and innovative beauty looks. She grew her love for makeup artistry at a very ripe age and began beautifying faces for her fellow classmates at her all girl parochial high school. Her self taught passion flourished while she was given the opportunity of working with the world reknowned Mac Cosmetics and soon became a Viva Glam Ambassador. Her 9 years in the beauty industry has landed her on the pages of Instyle, Nylon, Runway, and Photo Vogue Italia.

 Dominique’s vast resume includes Beauty, editorial, celebrity, advertising, rebranding and bridal. She serves as a Beauty Educator for Frankie Rose Cosmetics and is a bilingual traveling sales representative for both Enzo Milano Professional Hair Styling Tools and Royal Langnickel Brush. Her creative expertise consists of Makeup artistry, hairstyling and men’s grooming.