12 Best Eyeshadow Palettes of 2023 [Tested and Reviewed]

The New Nude Eyeshadow Palette is by Huda Beauty, a cosmetics brand founded by beauty blogger and makeup artist Huda Kattan in 2013. They claim their eyeshadow uses aloe vera and coconut oil for moisture retention.

This palette received excellent scores on each of our tests. There are plenty of colors to work with, and the textures include matte, glitter, and pearl, making it an excellent choice for beginners and pros alike to create everything from natural makeup to bold, glam makeup. It was also popular among our testers due to the quality of the pigment, which maintained a uniform color on all skin types.

When rating its usability, we found that although there were instances of fallout, it was easy to blend with other colors. The ease with which you can achieve a beautiful look with this highly pigmented-palette is a major draw.

This eyeshadow palette is our top recommendation for people having trouble finding eyeshadow that has vivid pigment and looks just as good after application.

Anastasia Beverly Hills' Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette touts itself as offering a neutral palette of colors that look just as good in the daytime as they do at night.

During our ease-of-use tests, our testers were positive, mentioning that sometimes there was fallout, but the shadows blended in smoothly without any harsh lines. When it comes to the colors, they tended to stay vibrant even after application. However, we did notice that the darker matte shades had a tough time giving a completely even look. You might want to give the brush a little shake to get rid of any extra product before putting it on.

With 14 colors and two different finishes, this palette offers a wide range of options that you can use to achieve a variety of looks. The included brush and mirror are a welcome bonus.

Whether you prefer natural makeup or are looking for something more glam, this eyeshadow palette has you covered.

Named after its London-born founder, Charlotte Tilbury, the cosmetics brand embodies her vision. Their Luxury Palette is meticulously designed to align with your everyday makeup needs, delivering an effortless and feminine look.

Following the application of this eyeshadow, our testers shared comments such as "I didn't need an extra makeup brush, and there was no fallout." When it came to pigmentation, one of our testers noted, "On my skin type, one application wasn't enough, but the color really popped after a second layer." If you notice that the pigmentation appears muted on your skin, using a concealer or eyeshadow base could be worthwhile.

Although the palette features just four shades, it offers essential elements: a base color and two distinct finishes. Despite its simplicity, it allows for the creation of beautiful looks. Additionally, its compact size and integrated mirror enhance its practicality for on-the-go use.

This eyeshadow palette is tailored to individuals seeking a versatile solution for both home and on-the-go use.

The Morphe 2 Ready in 5 Eyeshadow Palette, crafted by the renowned L.A.-based cosmetics brand Morphe, renowned for its exceptional makeup brushes and expansive eyeshadow collections, asserts that its design encapsulates the essence of a serene vacation getaway.

While maintaining its portability, the palette impressed us with its thoughtful incorporation of a base color and a deep hue. Through testing, our team observed that it applied uniformly and adhered well to the skin, achieving the quintessential eyeshadow effect with remarkable pigmentation.

But there was a tradeoff. One of our testers said, "Although the pigment is great, it requires some skill to blend properly." If you're applying it with a brush, make sure to shake off the excess powder to avoid using too much.

For those seeking a compact brown eyeshadow palette featuring inviting warm tones, this could be the perfect match.

Established on the West Coast of America in 1996, cosmetic maker Urban Decay claims its Naked3 Eyeshadow Palette contains no parabens or sulfuric acids.

The palette's standout features lie in its expansive collection of 12 colors and the incorporation of two distinct finish types. The added convenience of an included brush and mirror enhances its usability, especially for on-the-go makeup touch-ups. However, it's worth noting that its size might not be suitable for carrying every day, making it more fit for home use or taking trips with.

Feedback from our testers included comments such as, "The shimmer shades displayed uniform application and boasted vibrant pigmentation, while the deeper matte shades seemed uneven unless layered multiple times." Fortunately, its performance fared well in ease-of-use evaluations, as testers noted, "There was minimal fallout, and blending was a breeze." When working with matte shades, consider applying them gradually in modest increments for optimal results.

Featuring a delicate color spectrum, this eyeshadow palette will help you create elegant looks.

The tartelette in Bloom Amazonian clay palette, created by cosmetics brand tarte, touts the benefits of its Amazonian clay formulation in preventing smudging. Additionally, during our evaluation, we picked up on a subtle and pleasant fragrance from the eyeshadow.

In our analysis of pigmentation, we observed that the colors maintained their vibrancy across different skin tones. Testers unanimously agreed that the application was consistent and the color payoff was striking even with a single layer. With a diverse offering of two finishes and multiple base shades, this palette ensures you have ample options to achieve your desired look.

However, during our ease-of-use assessment, our testers had mixed opinions, primarily due to occasional makeup fallout. While the blending process posed no significant challenge, the necessity to meticulously remove extra powder from the brush made us think that applying eye makeup before foundation might be preferable when utilizing this palette.

If you're looking for an eyeshadow palette with a varied color selection and excellent pigment, and aren't too concerned about fallout, then this one could be right for you.

Dior's Backstage Eyeshadow Palette proudly asserts its ability to let you craft a diverse range of looks, from effortlessly natural to strikingly glam. As the name implies, it's part of Dior's "Backstage" collection, designed to ignite the spirit of fashion and artistry through professional quality.

In terms of pigmentation, our testers shared comments such as, "A single application produced a duller color compared to how it appeared in the palette, though a second layer enhanced the effect." Another tester noted, "Blending with shades nearby each other was smooth, but minor fallout occurred during the process."

On a positive note, this palette offers a pleasing array of nine colors, including a base color and more than two formulas, all within a compact design. It's an ideal choice for individuals seeking to experiment with a multitude of combinations and diverse looks.

While this palette might not cater to those seeking intensely bold colors achievable in a single application, it remains a commendable option if you're in search of a compact selection featuring warm tones.

Revlon's ColorStay Day to Night Eyeshadow Quad contains adhesive oil, which is supposed to give it lasting power and prevent fading.

Some of our testers noted that upon applying the eyeshadow to their eyelids, "Having a darker complexion causes the color to appear duller than it looks in the palette." In terms of ease of use, feedback highlighted, "Fallout is minimal, yet creating a gradation requires some technique." Enhance pigmentation by using concealer or an eyeshadow base, as the colors might not deliver optimal vibrancy on their own.

A positive aspect of this palette is the four colors it contains. It includes a base color and at least two different formulas, which is enough to create well-defined eyes.

With its compact size and sponge applicator, you could easily keep this palette in your handbag for touching up your makeup in the evening.

The Professional Neutral Eyeshadow Makeup Palette by Prism Makeup claims it's designed to bring out the natural beauty in your eyes.

The standout feature of this palette lies in its expansive offering of 40 shades and multiple finishes. It's comprised of exactly four distinct finishes and multiple shades that can be used as a base color. These points contribute to its exceptional selection and scoring highly in this aspect.

Following the application, our testers observed, "The pigment quality varies notably across different shades." Opinions were also split regarding ease of use, with at least one individual noting, "Certain colors pose challenges in blending." You'll need advanced makeup skills to achieve optimal results with this palette.

This is a great eyeshadow palette for a wide range of colors to work with, but it isn't exactly beginner-friendly.

The Bite-Size Eyeshadow palette hails from e.l.f. Cosmetics, a company renowned for their commitment to cruelty-free testing and a vegan-friendly approach. Their eyeshadow line is promoted by the company for its striking pigmentation and effortless blending.

The "I Love You A Latte" palette in the Bite-Size Eyeshadow lineup only contains matte textures, but its inclusion of a rich base color made it favored among our testers. It's a four-color palette made with portability in mind, so people looking for a palette with matte, brown eyeshadow for on-the-go will appreciate it.

In terms of pigmentation and ease of use, our testers shared feedback such as "There was minimal fallout, but the colors appeared softer upon application" and "Trying to blend the colors led to fading, which made multiple reapplications necessary."

Don't expect to create dramatic looks with this palette, but it comes in handy for subtle looks.

Natasha Denona's Glam Eyeshadow Palette offers a color scheme with cool, neutral tones. The colors come in rearrangeable magnetic pans, so you can create a layout based on your needs and skin tone.

When we asked about their impressions on pigment and ease of use, the consensus was, "While the application is uniform, certain colors retained their pigment better than others, which made blending more demanding." This palette likely caters to individuals who already have some confidence in their makeup skills.

This palette scored particularly high for its color selection. In addition to including several base colors, it also has three different finishes to play with.

Experienced makeup artists seeking a palette featuring cool-toned brown shades will find many possibilities with it. However, most beginners might encounter challenges when working with it.

The Color Icon 5-Pan Palette, crafted by the cosmetics brand Wet n Wild, touts its eyeshadow formula's capability to deliver rich hues with a generous payoff, ensuring smooth application and blending.

We loved the color selection in this palette and its inclusion of multiple finishes and a strong base color. It can create both natural looks and looks with a more noticeable smokey effect.

Conversely, when asked about pigmentation, our testers reported that after using it, "The colors appeared somewhat dull and proved challenging to apply evenly." In evaluations concerning ease of use, feedback included statements like "The lackluster pigmentation made blending difficult," which could prevent you from achieving your desired look.

To get the most color payoff, we highly recommend using a bright concealer or eyeshadow base before doing your makeup with this palette.