I feel like I am always in the market for new eyeshadow palettes because they have a slightly different shade that I don’t already have in my collection of probably 20+ eyeshadow palettes. (I counted, I actually have 27 palettes in my everyday use collection.)

In recent memory I don’t think I have bought a single pan eyeshadow because in many cases those are sometimes harder to find than buying a palette with several different shades. I also find myself trading out older more inexpensive palettes for more expensive higher quality ones as I continue to grow my makeup collection.

There are several things I look for in a palette of eyeshadows, the most important is pigmentation. If the pigmentation isn’t all that great, then I am going to have to apply more product to my eyelids and I don’t want to do that. I also look at packaging, I am a sucker for good packaging; you want me to buy your product put it in some fancy packaging and I am going to be more likely to look at it and then try to find the swatches online before I purchase it. I also look for value and quality; these are both very important; though I feel like quality goes hand in hand with pigmentation but for the most part I am going to shy away from a palette that costs more than $50. Granted, I have bought a few that were over $50 but I have to really think long and hard about those.

These palettes are in no particular order in my top 5 but these are pretty much the 5 palettes that I find myself reaching for on a consistent basis.

Again this is my opinion, no one is telling me to put these eyeshadows in this post, all of it is my thoughts and opinions.

Here is a picture of them all together, each number corresponds with the number of the explanation below:

1. Tarte- Tarteist Pro Palette

Why: When I was younger all I wanted was glittery or metallic eyeshadow, as I have grown up I have switched to more matte shades in more natural colors and I have found that my Tartist Pro palette is one of the best for those shades. The pigmentation is great in every color and you know what, the palette itself smells amazing. I love playing with the colors in this palette and it has been one of the staples in my makeup bag ever since I purchased it. I love that it has a full mirror in it as well because that tends to be the palette I grab for when I need a large mirror when doing makeup not in my bathroom. I did drop it recently and took a good chunk out of one of the pigments which I was not happy with myself for. I can see this palette continuing to be a staple for the foreseeable future.

 

2. Too Faced- Sweet Peach Palette

Why: Too Faced always has great packaging, and also this palette smells like peaches! I love the color names and the pigmentation as well as the variety of colors within the palette itself. I have used my Sweet Peach palette for well over a year now and it has yet to disappoint when it comes to its hold and how nice the colors look throughout the day. I think having a metal case on it has kept me from breaking it a few times because I am clumsy and until recently I didn’t really have an area to put my makeup on in my bathroom which caused some interesting counter arrangement.

 

3. Urban Decay-Naked Smoky Palette

Why: Okay so I coveted the Naked palettes for years, and I have no shame about it so last year for my birthday I bought the Naked Smoky and the Naked 3 palette’s and I have not looked back. The Smokey palette has been another staple in my makeup bag since it was purchased because it is what I need when I want to attempt the perfect smoky eye (it’s always terrible but I still try). I wore it to a wedding last summer and the hold was amazing for several hours even without an eyeshadow primer on underneath. Urban Decay was one of the first brands that I ever bought as Sephora so I will always have a soft spot for the brand no matter what.

 

4. Morphe – Fall Into Frost (35F)

Why: When Morphe finally came to Ulta I went to three different stores trying to find this palette because I had been seeing it online for months. I cannot get over how nice of a palette it is. Again like the rest of these palettes the Fall into Frost palette has been an absolute necessity in my makeup bag since last fall. It is for sure one of my favorites to use on a daily basis for just day eyeshadow looks but also is great for more daring looks that you want to experiment with. My only problem with this palette is the lack of a mirror but that con does not even make a dent in all of the pros of having this palette in your collection.

 

5. Anastasia Beverly Hills- Prism Palette

Why: So if you watched or read my February Favorites then you will know what I had to say about this palette. I always want something daring in my makeup collection, I have always played it safe with my makeup since I got out of high school. I used to want to wear only crazy makeup and now that I am an adult I really don’t think that I can do that anymore. This palette though is really a mix of everything I would have wanted back in the day but also everything that I want in a palette now. It is daring but it is also something that stands on its own when it comes to how nice of a palette it is. I have used it a few times recently and I have not been disappointed at all with anything I have tried out of the palette. Still need to find a way to use the color Sphere but I am working on it.

Do you have a favorite or go to palette when it comes to eyeshadow?

-MJ