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.
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.
One of the biggest appeals of eyeshadow palettes is that the shades are put together by experts, so they are complementary in both color and finish, as well as including a diverse color range.
The base color of an eyeshadow palette can be used to create a defined look. They are great for softening the harsh line of your eyeliner or creating a bold effect like a smokey eye. Having several finishes to choose from, such as shimmer, glitter, and matte, also allows you to play around and produce a wide range of looks.
Finding an eyeshadow palette that's right for you not only results in more flattering eye makeup but also gives you more options to work with. Plus, choosing one that accentuates your eyes will make the process of doing your makeup that much more enjoyable.
Using a single matte shade is great for everyday or work makeup. For an event or evening look, try applying colors with a shimmer or glitter finish to the inner corners of your eyes to make them pop.
Lastly, while more colors in a palette may seem appealing, it's more important to find one with the least amount of unnecessary colors possible.