The best eyeshadow palettes to take your make-up game to a new level

The possibilities are endless...

best eyeshadow palettes
(Image credit: IMAXtree)

The possibilities are endless...

They say eyes are the window to the soul, so let's make sure they blooming well pop with the best eyeshadow palettes.

Sure, the best mascara, best eyeliner and eyebrow products are your everyday staples, but few products allow for as much creativity as a whole palette of different shades and textures.

Eyeshadows can add a subtle wash of flattering colour, allow you to create smouldering smokey nighttime looks, or express yourself with bright, colourful combinations. You can create endless looks for any occasion with just one product – making them worth the investment.

What makes the best eyeshadow palettes so great?

'Eyeshadow palettes are one of my obsessions! I love the versatility and many different looks that can be achieved with a palette mix of gorgeous shades,' pro make-up artist Cher Webb tells us. 'My go-tos are the NARS Skin Deep Palette (£56, Lookfantastic) for a classic bronze smokey eye; so versatile for both daytime and evening looks, the carefully selected shades are flattering on everyone and every eye colour.

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'The Urban Decay Palettes are iconic; the pigment levels and shade selection set them apart and your desired look can be achieved with each palette's array of flattering shades. One of my personal favourites and an ideal starter palette is Naked Reloaded (£39, Feelunique), a perfect mix of colour and texture. BECCA Cosmetics have the very beautiful Pearly Glow Shimmering Eyeshadow Palette (£42, John Lewis). Each shade is like a colour wash, very eye catching and easy to blend and work with.

It’s really creative, fun and economical to customise your own palette and, as you are choosing your favourite colours, the whole palette will be used so there's no waste. Brands such as MAC, NARS & NYX offer this service with palettes ranging from mini two shade palettes all the way up to large palettes of fifteen.'

So, no matter your budget, we take you through the best eyeshadow palettes on the market. The possibilities are endless.

Best eyeshadow palettes for blue eyes

Now, there aren't necessarily any rules when it comes to what eyeshadow colours you can pull off. But in theory, the best eyeshadow colours for blue eyes are browns, bronzes and golds, all of which can really help make eyes stand out. If you're looking for something bolder try blues, pinks or corals.

Best eyeshadow palettes for brown eyes

Greys, warm browns and plum tones are all great picks for brown eyes and, for bolder options, bright pinks and purples make a great pairing.

Best eyeshadow palettes for green eyes

Browns, copper and silver tones all work really well on green eyes, while shades of purple will really make them pop.

Best eyeshadow primer

Prepping the area before application is key. You will obviously start by making sure the area is fully hydrated using the best eye cream for your needs, and then if you have oily eyelids and your shadow and liner likes to slip and slide all over the place, it's essential to use an eyeshadow primer. Probably the best in the biz is the below, which will grip shadow to your life all day long.

Urban Decay's Original Primer Potion | John Lewis

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Here's our roundup of the latest and greatest eyeshadow palettes on the market right now.

Lucy Abbersteen
Beauty Contributor

Lucy is a freelance beauty editor and contributor at Marie Claire, and has written for titles including Glamour, Refinery29, Popsugar, woman&home and more. She was previously Marie Claire’s junior beauty editor. During her career, she’s covered everything from backstage beauty at fashion week to interviews with famous faces like Drag Race royalty and Little Mix. As for her beauty ethos, she’s a big advocate for not having to spend a fortune on beauty products to get good results, and when she’s not got beauty on the brain you’ll find her reading or hanging out with dogs.