By Jennifer Hussein and Michelle Rostamian
When it comes to highly coveted makeup drops, nothing tugs at the heartstrings of beauty lovers quite like the best eye shadow palettes on the market. Aesthetically, they're a feast for the eyes, but one could even go so far as to call them pragmatic. Don't @ us — some are very travel-friendly and take up the least amount of space in your carry-on, while still touting a wide variety of shimmery and matte shades. Plastic Cosmetic Bottles
However, perhaps more than anything, a good eye shadow palette is usually more of an investment purchase than a lipstick or eyeliner. When we take a look back at the record-breaking, best-selling, can't-keep-them-in-stock palettes, you'll find that the ones that came out on top are a delightful hodgepodge of highly pigmented, highly blendable goodness.
With drugstore sweethearts like Maybelline New York's classic collection of warm neutrals, Urban Decay's rebooted version of its beloved (and discontinued) Naked Palette, Charlotte Tilbury's masterful curation of neutrals, and Pat McGrath Labs' luxury palette to end all luxury palettes, we've swatched every inch of the market to come up with our favorites. Get ready to expand your repertoire of makeup looks.
If you've hit pan and repurchased one (or several) of the palettes below, this will be a fun stroll down memory lane for you. In case you're an eye shadow palette newbie, overwhelmed by the cornucopia of shades, take a deep breath and relax — we got you. Available across the world wide web's favorite retailers, the following 17 best eye shadow palettes have quickly risen to the ranks of our all-time favorites, and you're about to find out why.
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Why It's Worth It: New York City-based makeup artist Ashlee Glazer is a big fan of Anastasia Beverly Hills' Soft Glam Eye Shadow Palette, and we love it just as much. This modern icon features a mix of 14 mauve-, neutral-, and rose-toned shimmers, foils, and mattes with long-wearing formulas that won't budge, smudge, or fade throughout the day. "This palette has a wide variety of fun and sexy colors all encased in a lightweight compact," says Glazer.
Editor Tip: Don't neglect the included brush — use the flatter end for packing eye shadow onto the lid and the fluffy end for buffing shadow through the crease.
More Palettes We Love: - For warmer, romantic looks: Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance, $45
Why It's Worth It: No matter the season, you can count on Fenty Beauty's Snap Shadows Mix & Match Eye Shadow Palette as your go-to essential. These six-pan cases are small, compact, and come in six color palettes that can be used solo or snapped together to mix and match as you please.
Editor Tip: Looking for the perfect everyday shades? Tobi Henney, a makeup artist based in New York City, notes her favorite palette is True Neutrals: "I love to use the warm brown tone in the crease and then use the top right bronze tone all over the eye for the most beautiful bronzed eye look," she notes.
Why It's Worth It: Tarte's In Bloom Clay Eye Shadow Palette comes packed with 12 matte and shimmery neutral shades that are perfect for doing both casual everyday looks and bolder or smoky eyes. It scored 2020 and 2021 Readers' Choice Awards and an Allure Best of Beauty Award in 2022 as it's a foolproof palette to have in your collection if you fancy creating a wide range of wearable eye looks. What’s more, there’s little fallout, which means no risk of ruining your concealer if you did your face makeup first.
Editor Tip: Allure commerce editor Sarah Han calls this mix of earth-toned mattes and shimmers a must-have for all makeup mavens, regardless if you're a minimalist or into a full beat. "On lazier days, I'll pop on just one or two shades and call it a day," she says. "That's the beauty of this palette: You can easily dress your looks up or down."
More Palettes We Love: - Standout shimmers: Tarte Glamazon Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Palette, $47 - 18-pan goodness: Tarte Big Ego Eyeshadow Palette, $49
Why It's Worth It: What's better than satisfying your sweet tooth with actual sweets? A candy-inspired eye shadow palette, naturally. The Juvia's Place The Candy Shop Eyeshadow Palette is one of the best eye shadow palettes if you have your favorite treats in mind — bubblegum pink, sandy butterscotch, and sour wild cherry all make for a delectable eye look fit for a special day event or nighttime soirée.
Editor Tip: While we think this palette is perfect for special occasions, who are we to stand in the way of using it for more subdued looks? Run the dusty mauve in your crease to add a subtle contour or go for a single-shadow look with one of the ultra-opaque shimmers.
More Palettes We Love: - For warm looks: Juvia's Place The Coffee Shop Eyeshadow Palette, $25 - For brown eyes: Juvia's Place The Violets Eyeshadow Palette, $15
Why It's Worth It: For a four-shade palette, Charlotte Tilbury's The Bella Sofia Luxury Palette truly excels in versatility. Swatches don’t do the shadows justice — this makeup bag-worthy quad gets our (and Glazer's) stamp of approval for its rich, blendable, and buildable shades that'll do just the trick no matter what eye look you're going for. Each shimmery shade in this quad has something to offer, whether you need a dazzling bronze for your next smokey eye look or just want a touch of glimmering olive to enhance your usual daily makeup routine.
Editor Tip: If you're a fan of Charlotte Tilbury's classic dusty mauve shade, Pillow Talk, you're in luck: The brand has an entire Luxury Palette quad dedicated to the iconic shade.
More Palettes We Love: - For '90s matte: Charlotte Tilbury Super Nudes Easy Eye Palette, $60
Why It's Worth It: Applying a Natasha Denona eye shadow is an experience in and of itself. Each shadow is packed with pigment, long-wearing, and ultra-blendable. Good luck choosing amongst the 15 creamy cool-toned shades and a buffet of matte, metallic, shimmer, foiled, and wet effect finishes in the I Need a Nude Eyeshadow Palette — we promise you'll find yourself reaching for this beauty often. Plus, all Natasha Denona products are certified cruelty-free.
Editor Tip: For the best color payoff, use your finger to apply the metallic shades.
More Palettes We Love: - Hello, moody looks: Natasha Denona Xenon Eyeshadow Palette, $69 - To take on your travels: Natasha DenonaMy Mini Dream Palette, $27
Why It's Worth It: Conveniently packaged in three stackable, pocket-sized blocks, the Maybelline New York Shadow Blocks give high-end palettes a run for their money. Each block houses a single eyeshadow — two mattes and one shimmer — for a no-fuss eye look that's easy to achieve (and even easier to travel with).
Editor Tip: This travel-friendly 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner offers five color stories to choose from, each of which is named after (and inspired by) bustling cities in New York like Broadway and Prince Street, 82nd and Park Avenue.
Why It's Worth It: What's not to love about the Florasis Floral Engraving Phoenix Makeup Palette, which picked up a 2023 Best of Beauty Award? Nine stunning warm hues like champagne glitter, peachy brown, and light apricot make for a wearable look that can be worn for any occasion. Plus, each eye shadow features a three-dimensional phoenix imprinted on it — so pretty you'll never want to hit pan on it.
Editor Tip: The champagne shade works as a non-pore-enhancing, mirror-like face highlighter. You're welcome.
Why It's Worth It: A whole lot of luxury sits in the pocket-sized Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Natural Eye Shadow Palette. In true fashion of the luxury label, this travel-friendly palette delivers a light and creamy eye shadow formula in five neutral matte- and satin-finish shades. And, they're so simple to use: Just swipe them on, add a bit of mascara, and you’re ready to go.
Editor Tip: The beauty of this teensy palette — well, besides its sleek aesthetic and signature Chanel logo — is that it's available in five flexible colorways to complement a wide range of skin tones.
More Palettes We Love: - For serious vanity eye candy: Chanel Les 4 Obres Tweed, $88
Why It's Worth It: "This palette basically covers any neutral tone you could ever need for an eye look," Henney says regarding the Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Eye Shadow Palette, making it a no-brainer choice for beginners and experts alike. Inspired by the wide range of skin tones the brand has tested on, all 12 matte eyeshadow shades are highly pigmented, easily buildable, and oh-so blendable.
As for the texture, these luxe powders are super light, creamy, and matte. "I love to do a wash of color with one of the lighter shades and then build the crease and undereye area with a darker tone for a super simple everyday or night look," Henney says.
Editor Tip: These shadows are perfectly long-wearing and opaque enough to work on your brows.
Why It's Worth It: When it comes to top-tier makeup, Pat McGrath Labs can't be beaten. Just about every palette under the brand's Mothership lineup is adored by at least one Allure beauty editor, but the Mothership X: Moonlit Seduction is, as Glazer so accurately puts it, "like a treasure box of creative candy for your eyes; a jewel box of colorful opportunities, whatever strikes your fancy or mood." This 10-shade palette features cosmic-inspired glitters, metallics, satins, and mattes that we guarantee will become mainstays in your makeup routine.
Editor Tip: This palette mainly features a blend of matte neutrals and glimmering cool tones, but if you're in the mood for precious pinks and delectable sorbet shades, we suggest checking out the Pat McGrath Labs Mothership IX: Huetopian Dream.
Why It's Worth It: While Colourpop's OG Super Shock Shadows are what put them on the map, the pressed powders are worthy of a fandom too, as evidenced by the Stone Cold Fox Eyeshadow Palette, a cool-toned 30-pan palette that comes with everything you need to transform your look from work to Happy Hour. Our favorite shades include Quarry Days (a matte dusty taupe), Mystery (a metallic cool-toned icy lavender), and Gneiss Guy (a mid-toned rose with some gold flecks).
Editor Tip: Use a flat, densely-packed brush for the most color payoff.
More Palettes We Love: - For festival looks: Colourpop Pretty Guardian Pressed Powder Palette, $22 - For icy eyes: Colourpop Sorbet Eyeshadow Palette Quad, $10
Why It's Worth It: Glazer says Kevyn Aucoin's The Contour Eye Shadow Palette is a must-have for its mix of six eye-enhancing shimmery shades and creamy matte eye shadows, which are available in four colorways to complement all eye colors. "The size, the pigment, the delivery, and texture of these shadows are a sure thing," says Glazer. Her favorite feature is how lightweight the compact is, which she says "makes it great for a professional and a personal kit," but our editors especially love the high-quality, buttery feel and rich pigmentation that works for just about any daily natural eyeshadow look.
Editor Tip: The pans are refillable and magnetic, meaning you can pop them out for convenient traveling or on-the-go use.
Why It's Worth It: The Kaja Beauty Bento Bouncy Eyeshadow Trio is a favorite of Allure staffers (it won a Best of Beauty Award, after all) for its innovative packaging alone. We love the cute little stacks that open and close with a satisfying snap, but the shadows themselves are also really good. Whether you grab a fluffy brush to apply your eye shadow of choice or just use your fingers, you get a lovely color payoff and, most importantly, a shadow look that lasts.
Editor Tip: Because these shadows maintain their pigment and have a long-lasting finish, you won't need to apply an eye shadow primer beforehand.
Why It's Worth It: Prados Beauty's The Matriarch Eye Shadow Palette is truly wearable art. The brand partnered with artist Steven Paul Judd on this palette filled with 30 deep and vibrant shades of pinks, blues, greens, and more. Los Angeles-based makeup artist Robin Black says, "It's long-lasting, easy to apply, and has a fun range of colors."
Editor Tip: You can feel good about supporting an inspiring brand, says Black, as Prados Beauty's overall mission is to give back to fellow Indigenous communities.
Why It's Worth It: Urban Decay's now-discontinued original Naked palette changed neutral palettes forever as we know them, having carved out a veritable category for collectible, wearable palettes with names to make your grandmother blush. One of its numerous evolutions, the soft Naked 3, has reached true icon status, at least to our readers, considering that it won its second Readers' Choice Award in 2023.
In case you're not familiar, this nude undertone eye shadow palette features 12 extra-large pans filled to the brim with matte beiges and glitzy metallics.
Editor Tip: We love a makeup product with bonus tools, and this one has two for you: an ultra-wide mirror and a double-ended shadow brush for blending and packing pigment.
More Palettes We Love: - For the love of metallics: Naked Metal Mania Metallic Eyeshadow Palette, $59 - Classic with a punch of color: Naked Reloaded Eyeshadow Palette, $50
Why It's Worth It: The Milani Gilded Nude Palette is filled with 15 different neutrals that are versatile for any and all of your eye makeup looks. Contrary to its name, this glam eye shadow palette features 10 matte shades ranging between peachy pinks and chocolate browns, but there are also four subtle shimmers the brand describes as "soft metallics" and a single disco ball-hued glitter named Detox.
Editor Tip: Stuck on how to wear these shadows? No tutorial needed — pair the shadows that are in the same row together for some inspo.
More from Allure The BEAUTY EXPERT
Packaging Lipstick © 2024 Condé Nast. All rights reserved. Allure may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Ad Choices