Keep reading to find your next go-to palette for everything from work looks to date nights.
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 13 ended up as winners in our book.
“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.
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.
Whether you prefer natural glam to smoky eyes, opt for muted palettes or vivid color, eyeshadow is an element of your makeup that allows you to explore your creativity and tap into whatever persona you’re channeling that day.
Best Overall
Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette
Amazon
View On Amazon
$45
View On Nordstrom
$49
View On Sephora
$45
Our Ratings
Pros
Rich pigments show up vividly with minimal pressure on application
Warm and earth-toned shades for everyday looks
Balanced mix of metallics and mattes
Cons
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). We felt that the price was easily justified for the number of colors and finishes the pallet offers, and the rich and pigmented shades make it feel even more expensive than the $45 it costs.
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.
Size: 0.28 oz. | Shades: 14 | Finish: Matte, metallic
People / Tamara Staples
People / Tamara Staples
Best Budget
Maybelline The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette
Amazon
View On Amazon
$14
View On Target
$12
View On Walmart
$12
Our Ratings
Pros
Good quality for a low price, especially if you're looking for a more neutral palette
Blends easily and smoothly, requiring light movements
Comes out more pigmented than other pallets in this price range that we tested
Cons
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. We loved how easily blendable these cool-toned shades were, and how well each color played nice with one another on the eyelids. They required very light movements with the brush to develop a beautiful gradient.
We appreciate 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. We were a little disappointed that that pallet packaging 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.
Size: 0.34 oz. | Shades: 12 | Finish: Satin, metallic
People / Tamara Staples
People / Tamara Staples
People / Tamara Staples
Best Splurge
Pat McGrath Labs Mothership IX Eyeshadow Palette
Sephora
View On Amazon
$202
View On Sephora
$128
View On Patmcgrath.com
$128
Our Ratings
Pros
High-end formula is creamy, easy to blend, and very pigmented
Mix of smooth mattes and ultra-reflective metallics
Seamless application, very easy for even a makeup beginner to blend the shadow out with light movements
Cons
Smaller shade range than other pallets we tested
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 top 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). We were in awe of the ease of application, high color payoff and little-to-no excess powder that fell onto the skin as we were blending, earning this palette a high score in the end.
We also appreciated its evident high quality and versatility, and we'd definitely turn to this palette for a night out or if we were experimenting with a colorful look. However, for the price, we 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.
Size: 0.47 oz. | Shades: 10 | Finish: Matte, satin, metallic, duochrome
People / Tamara Staples
People / Tamara Staples
People / Tamara Staples
Best Day-to-Night
Urban Decay Naked Reloaded Eyeshadow Palette
Sephora
View On Amazon
$50
View On Sephora
$50
View On Ulta
$50
Our Ratings
Pros
Highly pigmented formula means a little bit goes a long way
Long-wearing shades stayed on for hours without fading
Versatile color story means that you can make many different looks for different occasions with just the one pallet
Cons
Shimmers require extra blending
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.
We were floored by the level of pigment with this palette and appreciated its staying power, though we 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.
Well worth its $44 value for the impressive pigmentation, we think you absolutely 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.
Size: 0.49 oz. | Shades: 12 | Finish: Matte, metallic/shimmer
People / Tamara Staples
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Best Warm
Natasha Denona Sunset Eyeshadow Palette
Sephora
View On Amazon
$92
Our Ratings
Pros
Extremely pigmented colors create vivid eye looks
Wide shade range makes this pallet super versatile for every occasion
Zero fallout during application, which kept the rest of our makeup looking spotless
Cons
One of the more expensive pallets that we've tested
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 tone. The super-concentrated formula barely needed any powder on the brush to completely cover the eyelid in a wash of lurid color.
We adored the high-impact color payoff and were impressed by the lack of fallout, even when applying the shadow with a fluffy brush. Shimmer shades can often times be difficult to apply, but this velvety application was easy and smooth.
You may be a bit off-put by the higher price tag, but we think that the results more than match the price. Considering the shade range and quality, this pallet would make a great investment if you're willing to shell out the $130. If you’re someone who craves the luster of a warm eyeshadow look, then we have the perfect palette for you.
Size: 1.2 oz. | Shades: 15 | Finish: Matte, metallic
People / Tamara Staples
Best Colorful
Juvia's Place Warrior III Palette
Ulta
View On Amazon
$14
View On Ulta
$20
View On Juviasplace.com
Our Ratings
Pros
Intensely vibrant shades can create fun, eye-catching looks
Highly pigmented formula means a little goes a long way
Easy to blend and mix shades
One of the most affordable pallets that we tested, and feels much more luxurious than it's price suggests
Cons
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). We fell in love with the saturation of these shadows on the skin. 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 less than $20 on for special occasions. Compared to other shadow pallets that we tested, this one felt like it was worth much more than it's reasonable price. 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.
Size: 0.63 oz. | Shades: 9 | Finish: Matte, metallic
People / Tamara Staples
The 14 Best Eye Makeup Removers, Tested and Reviewed
Best Neutral
Too Faced Natural Nudes Eye Shadow Palette
Sephora
View On Target
$52
View On Nordstrom
$52
View On Sephora
$52
Our Ratings
Pros
Wearable, versatile shade range for everyday
Equal matte to metallic ratio
No fallout while applying, making it an easy clean-up
Highly pigmented formula is easy to build up
Cons
One of the more expensive pallets that we've tested
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 (eight soft mattes and eight 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 — what's more frustrating than 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, we felt that the results are worth the investment because the neutral tones work for any occasion or outfit.
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.
Size: 0.48 oz. | Shades: 16 | Finish: Matte, metallic
People / Tamara Staples
Best Glitters
ColourPop Eyeshadow Palette
Ulta Beauty
View On Amazon
$28
View On Ulta
$24
Our Ratings
Pros
Highly-reflective glitters create a beautiful wet-look on the eye
Easily applies when using fingers
Highly pigmented formula feels more luxurious than its price tag
Cons
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 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.
We were particularly blown away by the reflective pigment that the glitters had to offer, with a smooth and sparkling application. The mattes were just as much of a dream to apply, blending out beautifully where we applied them.
While these glitters glided onto the eyelids with stunning ease when applied with the pad of our tester’s fingertip, we 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.
Size: 0.48 oz. | Shades: 16 | Finish: Matte, glitter, duochrome
People / Tamara Staples
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Best Mattes
Dose of Colors Baked Browns Palette
Amazon
View On Amazon
$32
View On Doseofcolors.com
$32
Our Ratings
Pros
Very high pigmentation for wearable matte shades
Ideal neutrals for most skin tones
Extremely easy to blend with minimal effort
Cons
Slight fallout when blending
Only comes with 5 shades
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). We found favor in the shadows’ profound pigment, which looked just as vibrant on the eye as they did in the palette.
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, though 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.
Size: 0.30 oz. | Shades: 5 | Finish: Matte
People / Tamara Staples
Best Lightweight
PYT Beauty Upcycle Eyeshadow Palette
Amazon
View On Amazon
$49
View On Ulta
$34
View On Asos
$23
Our Ratings
Pros
Recyclable packaging that's made from 15% recycled plastic
Accessible price point compared to other pallets we tested
Great range of neutral shades
Lightweight, blendable formula
Cons
No colorful shades or high-shine glitters included
Not as pigmented as some of the other pallets we tested, and required about two layers of color for full pigment
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.
This palette has a great neutral 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 colors that you’re searching for if you tend to gravitate towards colorful shades or high-shine glitters due to its fairly neutral color palette.
We also appreciated how light the shadows felt on the lid and the buildable pigment of these formulas and found that they only required two coats maximum to attain a fully 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.
Size: 0.24 oz. | Shades: 12 | Finish: Matte, satin, shimmer
People / Tamara Staples
Best with Primer
Dior Backstage Eye Shadow Palette
Sephora
View On Amazon
$99
View On Sephora
$52
View On Selfridges.com
Our Ratings
Pros
Two-in-one product, thanks to the inclusion of primer
Wearable range of colors for everyday
Highly pigmented hues feel very luxurious and creamy
Cons
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.
We 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 we don't think would be as useful for someone with a deeper skin tone to use. However, we were 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 eyeshadow 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.
Size: 0.35 oz. | Shades: 8 (plus one primer) | Finish: Matte, shimmery
People / Tamara Staples
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