(Makeup)
The value of a good eyeshadow palette hasn't changed.
For all whose earliest introduction to cosmetics included a cobalt blue lid, eyeshadow was the thing that single handedly launched a lifelong obsession with makeup. Well, beauty trends have done a 180 since then — nay, a 360, because guess what? The '80s lid is in again, and who can forget about the revival of early 2000s hair and makeup trends? The value of a good eyeshadow palette hasn't changed. The 38 best of all time, from veteran classics to newborn social media sensations, are all included in TZR's lineup.
Just look at Anastasia Beverly Hills' universally loved Modern Renaissance Eye Shadow Palette, which has managed to amass more than 7,000 five-star ratings on Sephora, or the $3 e.l.f. palettes that went viral on TikTok at the beginning of 2020. Eyeshadows have a way of garnering more cult followings than perhaps any other beauty product on planet Earth.
Some are perfectly pigmented, others deliciously creamy. Some are as vivid as acrylics, while others are treasured merely for their simplicity. So, whatever your eyeshadow style may be — perpetually smoky à la Kim Kardashian or loud and proud like your momma's lids used to be — there is at least one palette out there that's just right for you. Shop the best of the best eyeshadow palettes ahead.
We only include products that have been independently selected by TZR's editorial team. However, we may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.
Welcome the newest addition to the Naked Palette family: the Cyber. Sweep on shimmery neutrals and dreamy, reflective duochrome shades for a futuristic, tech-inspired look.
In less than two months since its launch, the dreamy rose-inspired palette already amassed nearly 550 reviews on the Anastasia website with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. The 12 shades range from soft, buttery hues like Primrose and Honey, to the metallic and shimmery Fire Opal and Sparkling Amber.
Giddy up, cowgirl, this blazing wild palette is inspired by the deserts of California, blue skies, and Joshua trees. The 12 shades range from neutrals like pale peach, creamy beige, and terracotta brown, to metallic bronze and turquoise greens and blues.
The galactic rendition of the Naked Palette collection, Ultraviolet, allows you to create bold, Euphoria-inspired looks with the 12 pigmented shades. As with all Naked drops, this is a must-have eyeshadow palette.
Mented Cosmetics' Everynight Eyeshadow Palette might not be quite cult-status worthy yet; however, it's well on its way. The palette features the perfect mixture of five shimmers and five mattes, each named after the founders' favorite cities and neighborhoods.
If you're into bright shades, this palette from Juvia's Place, the Warrior III, is calling your name. Plus, you can't beat a beloved eyeshadow palette for under $20.
Whether you love a matte or shimmery lid, the Black Magic Color Poise palette from UOMA Beauty has you covered. Bonus: The shades are water-resistant, making this palette a must-have in your summer collection.
Haus Laboratories' Glam Room Palette No.1: Fame has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on the brand's site, and with good reason. Featured in the palette is a mix of 10 universal shades that work on every skin tone.
NARS Afterglow Palette features every warm shade you can imagine — and its coveted status makes it hard to get your hands on. With the mix of highly pigmented mattes and shimmers, you can go as minimal or over-the-top as your heart desires.
If Victoria Beckham is behind an eyeshadow palette, you know it's good. The Smoky Eye Brick palette in Silk from Beckham’s beauty brand garnered nearly 700 plus reviews less than a year after its launch.
For those constantly on the go, Beauty Bakerie's Coffee & Cocoa Bronzer Palette is the perfect palette to throw in your purse. With the four earth tones in the palette, you'll be able to create easy eye looks in a pinch.
With a whopping 304-plus thousand likes on Sephora and 2.8 thousand reviews, this little palette is treading near cult status. And for good reason. The 14-color day-to-night palette has a perfect mix of essential matte shades and glam duo chrome and shimmer hues.
The 9,000-plus reviews on Sephora and average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars speaks for itself: This Anastasia Beverly Hills palette is eyeshadow royalty. That’s probably because it's a little bit of everything: mattes, metallics, neutrals, and bright berry tones. It's a favorite among beginners and professionals alike.
No capsule makeup collection would be complete without a neutral palette, and this one is just dying to be your trusty steed. Originally designed to enhance the brand's Born This Way Foundation, these 16 matte and shimmery shades have turned out to be an everyday go-to.
This expansive Morphe palette is for the glamorous. Shimmery peaches, bronzey golds, dusty pinks, rich and nutty browns, and glimmering mahogany are all included in this massive, 35-shade collection.
But if vivid colors aren't really your aesthetic, reach for this simple Suqqu quad instead. The Designing Color Eyes Palette range includes lots of colorways, with this slightly smoky version being the MVP.
The people have spoken, and they say Anastasia’s Norvina is a must-have eyeshadow palette. The pretty summer lilac hues have racked up over 21 thousand likes on Sephora and counting, with an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on the Anastasia website.
If it's good enough for Michelle Obama's lids, then how could you possibly resist it? This clay palette, packed with warm tones in microshimmers and mattes (and used by makeup artist Carl Ray on the former FLOTUS) is an everyday essential.
In addition to its wildly famous Modern Renaissance palette — an everlasting classic — there's Anastasia Beverly Hills' Carli Bybel collection, which has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Beauty Bay.
There’s a reason Urban Decay’s Naked collection has shown up so many times on this list: It’s among the world's best eyeshadow palettes and is widely beloved by the beauty community. At least one palette from this celebrity-backed collection sells every five seconds. The Naked3, a later edition of the now-discontinued original, is an all-time favorite.
Speaking of Urban Decay, Amazon reviewers have compared this top-rated drugstore palette to the $54 Naked3 time and time again. Its 12 shades are remarkably similar, and that under-$10 price tag is tough to beat.
And when you tire from the run-of-the-mill neutrals, turn your attention to the vivid colors offered by Huda Beauty's Obsession range. The Amethyst colorway — nine high-pigmented mattes and metallic shimmers — is the brightest of the bunch.
Hardly anything in the beauty world has reached the cult status of Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk lipstick, except for the Pillow Talk Instant Eyeshadow Palette, a 12-shade collection of nude-pink hues.
In a slight departure from the super-neutral shades the Naked collection became famous for, this fiery Heat range has your smoldering ambers and shimmering siennas covered. This one deserves a spot in your holiday party makeup rotation.
Another drugstore gem, CoverGirl's TruNaked palette was made for blending. It's made up of eight intensely pigmented neutrals, smokies, shimmers, and mattes, aka the perfect recipe for an experimental cat-eye.
A 35-pan (yes, 35!) palette inspired by mother nature, this Morphe assortment’s predecessor — the 350 Nature Glow Artistry Palette — was recommended by 95% of its 1,000-plus Ulta Beauty reviewers. The super version is a glow-up with an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.
If you've joined the TikTok world, then you must already be acquainted with these adorable little eyeshadow poppers, which cost — wait for it — just $3. These pocket-sized quads (each a mixture of mattes and shimmers) are available in eight different colors.
Galactic makeup is still going strong, and this Pat McGrath Labs creation is right on par with the spacey aesthetic. Aptly named Mothership VI (hue: Midnight Sun), these ultra-luxe coppers, violets, crimsons, and golds have hundreds of Sephora reviewers saying "all hail the mother" in unison.
All the glittery metallics and neutral mattes you'll ever need are packaged up so conveniently into this Too Faced palette. Infused with actual gold and cocoa powder (to the point where it smells like a chocolate bar — *drool*), the Chocolate Gold Eyeshadow Palette is a widespread favorite.
Eyeshadow queen Natasha Denona outdid her own palette sorcery with this sunrise-inspired collection, a combination of earthy tones, fiery reds, pinks, and sunshiny yellows in her signature high-quality formula. It's a masterpiece in itself.
With 19 colorways to choose from, how could you not have already gotten your hands on one of Tom Ford's famous quads? Nude Dip is the one to reach for every day for a rosy tint, a swipe of frosted gold, or a standard smoky eye.
With more than 2,100 perfect ratings on Too Faced’s website, this springtime beauty essential is so dang peachy it's literally infused with the essence of peach, so you can smell as sweet as you'll look. Its 18 shades vary from neutrals to pops of purple and basically every shade a peach could possibly be.
You can't beat Maybelline's universally adored City Mini palettes for under $10. They come in seven colorways, from the metallic Chill Brunch Neutrals to the fiery Hi-Rise Sunset range. Whether you want smolder, glitter, neutral, or bold color, this affordable palette has you covered.
You'll find this nifty quad in just about every celebrity makeup artist's kit. It was behind Saoirse Ronan's ethereal lavender lids at the 2020 Oscars, Nathalie Emmanuel's shimmery look at the 2019 Emmys, and the list goes on. It's available in a whopping 18 colorways.
Of all the five-star reviews on Amazon, the LORAC PRO Palette is most commonly cited for its lasting power and effortless blendability. Reviewers say it's the perfect travel accessory and that it beats out palettes that cost twice as much.
A mix of mattes and shimmers in 12 totally blendable nude shades, this neutral range is a minimalist staple. It suits any skin tone and costs less than your lunch.
Use the pearl shade to lift and illuminate or the rich and shimmery chocolate hue to contour. These five staple shadows are so smooth you'd swear they were cream and not powder.
As far as cool neutrals go, Dior's Backstage Palette is adored not only for its pretty soft pinks and muted mauves, but also for the fact that it actually comes with a primer. Why hasn't anyone thought of this before?
This article was originally published on
