Best eyeshadow palettes

Eye makeup is something of a lifesaver when you have to show your face to the world after a heavy night of partying or restlessness. Since your peepers are first to show the signs of last night’s effects, an eyeshadow range in different colours and finishes is essential for a glamorous transformation.

When choosing the perfect palette, you should look out for shades that compliment every eye colour as well as hues that appeal to your own unique style. A good palette should take the trickiness out of your eye makeup look and include light, medium and dark tones. Make sure these come in matte and shimmery finishes, which are both equally important for building intensity and adding brightness.

With multiple bestselling palettes, Urban Decay has made eyeshadow shopping easy for makeup newbies, but there are plenty of game-changing collections from brands like Lime Crime and Too Faced to consider as well. Whether you’re primping for a night out or prettifying your face for a wedding, we’ve done the legwork to find you 8 eyeshadow palettes for every type of glam.

Urban Decay Naked Cherry

Looking to switch up your nude eye game? Enter Urban Decay’s Naked Cherry, the latest edition to the brand’s cult Naked range. A must for beginners, the stunning edit of deep and light colours features shimmering deep pinks, warm burgundies and and red-based tones. The pigment-packed mattes blend smoothly with the velvety shimmers, while the double-tapered brush makes for a breezy application. You can also mix and match colours from other Naked palettes. No wonder it keeps popping up on our Instagram feed.

£33.60 | Urban Decay | Buy it now *On sale now from £42

Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Eye Shadow Palette

Nude makeup lovers, rejoice! Anastasia Beverly Hills, the makeup brand known for its cult brow products, has launched the neutral palette of your dreams. It features 14 sumptuous tones and, as the name implies, is designed to help you achieve the perfect subtle eye makeup look. From neutral mattes to glistening metallics, the pigment of each eye shadow is incredibly punchy – so as you might expect, there is fallout. We used Orange Soda and Burnt Orange in the crease, Glistening and Sultry across the lid and Cyprus Umber on the lower lash line. The results? A soft and sexy smoky eye that paired beautifully with our favourite nude lipstick.

£43 | Cult Beauty | Buy it now

Illamasqua Demise Palette

A quad of matte, shimmer and gel-like pearlescent tones, Illamasqua’s Demise palette brings texture and sparkle to the eyes for a dramatic look. The richly pigmented mattes last impressively long, making this collection ideal for evening makeup. We found the peachy ‘Wilt’ shade perfect for highlighting the brow bone, while the black-blue ‘Gimp’ hue is a great alternative to eyeliner. If you need to carry less in your handbag, this is the palette for you.

£35 | Look Fantastic | Buy it now

Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette in Dolce Vita

Our favourite clutch-friendly palette comes from none other than the makeup artistry legend. The creamy copper, bronze and champagne shadows drape the lids in warmth with the dreamiest shimmer. Perfect for turning your office look into a full glam, it comes with a step-by-step guide for a simple transformation. Whether you pair the look with a dramatic red pout or subtle nude lip, it’s sure to make you feel gorgeous.

£39 | Charlotte Tilbury | Buy it now

Lime Crime Venus II

Following the epic success of the first Venus palette, Lime Crime has upped the ante with a ‘darker’ collection of sparkly and matte shades. The bold selection, which is housed in an uber-kitsch case adorned with Mash Botticelli's classical Venus painting, is great for anyone aiming for a more edgy eye look. ‘Mustard’ is a gorgeously-dark yellow that blends well with ‘Mud’ and ‘Jam’ to form a 90s-inspired eye. It’s a little pricey for eight shades, but its versatile colours mean you can create various looks to match with every outfit, while its strong and buttery pigments should last you a while.

£34 | Cult Beauty | Buy it now

Huda Beauty Textured Shadows Rose Gold edition

If you’re familiar with beauty blogging sensation Huda Kattan, then you should be aware of the hype around her dreamy cosmetics line. Her very first eyeshadow palette managed to break the internet and sell-out instantly when it first released in 2016, and it’s easy to see why. The much-anticipated collection draws inspiration from Huda’s favourite metallic hue, Rose Gold, and consists of 18 chrome-pressed pearl, vibrant matte and metallic shades that make for a stunning smokey eye. Offering incredible pigments and endless variations, this one is our go-to for a night out on the town.

£56 | Harrods | Buy it now

Too Faced Sweet Peach Eye Shadow Collection

For a bright and cheerful eye, a selection of delicate peach tones and neutrals is just the ticket. One of Too Faced’s fastest-selling products, this fruit-themed palette provides plenty of variations and, thanks to the rich and juicy essence of peach, it smells as good as it looks too. The summery edit offers up 18 full-sized shadows, ranging from peachy mattes to shimmery browns, which all work together to create neutral and dramatic eyes. The pigments are pretty strong, but you’ll need to use a primer for long wear. The brand has also included a guide with three different looks to inspire you.

£39 | Debenhams | Buy it now

Sleek iDivine Eye Palette in A New Day

If you don’t always have time to start over your makeup from scratch before venturing for a night out, then a collection of subtle nudes and dark matte colours can be a big help. Packed with 12 generously-sized shades, Sleek’s ‘A New Day’ palette is great for transforming daytime neutral looks into something more dramatic and won’t break the bank either. The selection reveals a combination of contrasting matte and shimmery colours that blend beautifully together and provide impressive colour pay-off, but a good eye primer is essential if you want to increase the staying power. Our top pick for girls on a budget.

£8.99 | Boots | Buy it now

Verdict:

For a bronzy eye that will instantly warm up your look, we’d turn to Urban Decay’s Naked Heat palette. The collection provides plenty of variations for daytime and evening looks and applies with ease. Those who prefer more colour are best off with Too Faced’s Sweet Peach Eye Shadow Collection, which is great value for money and a treat for the senses. If you’re looking to splash out, then Huda Beauty's Textured Shadows Rose Gold edition, with its high-quality pigments and gorgeous textures, is certainly worth trying.