Eyeshadow is my favorite part of a makeup look. I think that’s especially clear because I have an alarming number of eyeshadow palettes (whoops!). To give you a bit of context, I own eyeshadow palettes from the following brands: Urban Decay, Too Faced, Pat McGrath, ColourPop, Makeup Revolution, Maybelline, Morphe, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Huda Beauty, Juvia’s Place, Beauty Bakerie, and Fenty Beauty. That was a lot and I probably forgot some. All of that is to say that I’ve thought long and hard about which eyeshadow palettes are actually worth it based on their price and pigmentation. That being said, I’ve narrowed my list down to my five favorite eyeshadow palettes:

ColourPop “Ooh La La” 

Best for: Someone looking to add some bold bright colors to their eyeshadow collection, at a very affordable price!

The name pretty much sums up my reaction when I saw this palette for the first time. I may be biased because pink is my favorite color, but everyone could use a nice pop of color in their lives every now and then right? ColourPop is known for their incredibly quality at such affordable prices. The trend continues with this palette which is only $9 and comes with a mirror. The pigment is stunning as is the case with essentially all other ColourPop shadows.

If I’m being honest, lately there have been many new ColourPop palettes and releases. I am normally one to get them all, or at least as many as I can, but it is truly too much to keep up with. The good news is, after about 3-5 palettes from ColourPop, there starts to be some overlap. I fully understand that the “Ooh La La” palette may be too out there for you. If that’s the case and you’re looking for something more traditional, try the Perception palette. If you like bright colors but pink is not your thing, there are similar palettes with other color schemes. The bottom line is you really can’t go wrong with ColourPop eyeshadows in general.

Urban Decay “Born To Run”

Best for: Someone looking for a travel friendly, day to night, beginner eyeshadow palette. 

I definitely caught the travel bug last year. The hardest part about being a makeup-loving traveler, is figuring out how to pack makeup efficiently. I was definitely in need of a palette with enough variety for it to be the only palette I packed when I traveled. Urban Decay came through with this palette in the middle of 2018. Of course, this palette is great even when you aren’t traveling. If you’re generally looking to start up your eyeshadow palette collection, Urban Decay is a great brand to check out. This palette in particular will give you plenty of options to create various eye looks. Yes, it’s a bit pricier than the other palettes on my list. Keep in mind it comes with 21 shades and a mirror! If you want to hear more of my thoughts on the palette, check out my Youtube review of it!

Morphe Jaclyn Hill Palette

Best for: Someone looking for a palette with plenty of options but that’s also on the less adventurous side as far as shades go. 

Although you may be overwhelmed with the number of options you have in this 35 shade eyeshadow palette, this palette is probably the most beginner friendly option on my list. It comes with an even mix of mattes and shimmers and a whole lot of neutrals and transition shades. For when you are feeling adventurous or want to step out of your comfort zone, there are shades like “Pool Party”, “Jada” “Royalty” and “Twerk” that come in handy with a little extra color. I think the names of those shades say it all anyway. This palette is also perfect for creating a smoky eye look like the ones I have posted about in the past!

Morphe James Charles Artistry Palette

Best for: Someone not afraid of packing some bold, bright, and pigmented colors to create some eye stopping looks.

I initially was hesitant to get this palette especially since it was always selling out so quickly. I figured between the numerous eyeshadow palettes I already own, I had colors that essentially covered what was included in this palette. First of all, I was wrong. There’s nothing like having a single palette of all the shades I would normally have to buy as singles from brands like Sugarpill, which was where I deferred to for bright, highly pigmented pressed shadows initially. (I still love me some Sugarpill pressed shadows by the way.) This is a palette that can be intimidating for a beginner. To be honest, I  haven’t even gotten as creative as I know I can with this palette. The only downside to this palette is the size. It’s HUGE and does not come with a mirror, so it’s not as travel friendly as other palettes on this list.

Juvia’s Place “Saharan II” 

Best for: Someone looking for some highly pigmented shadows but creative enough to make the unique array of shades in the palette work!

Are you surprised that there’s a Juvia’s Place Palette on my list? You definitely shouldn’t be. There are plenty of Juvia’s Place Palettes that could have made this list, so it’s really about finding whatever works for you. I included the Saharan II palette in particular because of the interesting arrangement of colors. You might be thrown off at the array of colors, and not quite sure how to use it without pairing it with another palette. But from the warm transition shades of “Fez” and “Tara” to the bold, bright metallics of “Berber” and “Nomad”, if you give it time and step out of your comfort zone, you’ll surprisingly pull off some amazing eye looks with the Saharan II.

Final Thoughts 

I get so excited talking about eyeshadows because it truly is my first love of makeup. As mentioned at the start of this post, I have acquired many palettes over the years but these are the ones I keep going back to because of their affordability, portability, and usefulness. What are some of your favorite eyeshadow palettes or brands? Let me know in the comments!

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