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It doesn’t matter whether you prefer a natural, “no makeup” look or a full glam beat, a high-quality neutral eyeshadow palette is a must-have staple in your makeup bag.
Neutral eyeshadow palettes are the LBD of eye makeup: timeless, foolproof, and elevate a look without much effort.
What is a neutral eyeshadow palette?
A neutral eyeshadow palette is not necessarily the same as a nude palette, but a nude palette can definitely be a neutral one. Neutral is oftentimes taken as a synonym for natural-looking makeup. Which it can be, but doesn’t have to be.
Neutral tones include those that are naturally found in skin, like pinks, peaches, beiges, and browns, but also creams, taupes, greys, plums, and black. Neutral palettes can have a range of colors from light to dark, in warm and cool tones, and a variety of finishes from matte to metallic.
What can you use a neutral eyeshadow palette to do?
The best neutral eyeshadow palettes can help you lift, sculpt, shape, highlight for a sophisticated day or dramatic evening look. They are not only versatile in terms of neutral eye looks you can create, but these shadows can also multitask as eyeliner along your lash line or as a brow powder.
I’m sharing a roundup of the best neutral eyeshadow palettes that should be present in everyone’s makeup collection. Whether you’re a beginner or pro, these palettes will become your go-to.
And if you’re looking for all-matte eyeshadow palettes, check out my recommendations here!
The Must Have Neutral Eyeshadow Palettes of 2023
Patrick Ta Major Dimension Eyeshadow Palette
Celebrity makeup artist Patrick Ta is known for his work with the biggest names on runways and red carpets. Ta’s signature look is soft, neutral, and monochromatic in a way that makes his clients look sculpted and flawless. And now he created an essential eyeshadow palette that will let you do that at home.
The Major Dimension Eyeshadow Palette offers a range of warm and cool tones in velvet mattes, iridescent metallics, and glittering pearl toppers. The palette also has two cream bases that you can use to intensify, contour, and create a multidimensional look. You can wear each element alone or layer them to achieve looks that work for any occasion.
Patrick Ta Major Dimension II Rose Eyeshadow Palette
And if you love rose shades, you’ll also want to check out the Major Dimension II Rose Eyeshadow Palette!
Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette
From beauty editors to influencers to makeup lovers, I don’t know anyone who isn’t a fan of Anastasia’s The Soft Glam palette. Since its release, it’s been topping best eyeshadow lists and is consistently one of my most-reached-for palettes.
I’ve been a fan of Anastasia’s eyeshadow formulations for years. They perform well and are easy to work with whether you’re a beginner or pro.
The Soft Glam palette has a great mix of highly pigmented and blendable mattes and shimmers that work for both day and night looks. It also comes with a double-ended brush and mirror if you’re taking it on the go.
Smashbox Cover Shot Eye Shadow Palette in Minimalist
This compact neutral palette has a mix of six eyeshadows and two double-sized base shades in the essential colors and finishes you need to create countless eye looks with minimal effort. This pigmented palette has a great mirror, fits in your purse, and comes in very travel-friendly packaging.
More Colors:
MAKEUP BY MARIO Master Mattes™ Eyeshadow Palette
Since buying the Master Mattes palette, it’s become one of my go-to eyeshadow palette for everyday looks and my number one travel palette.
There’s a reason Sephora has a hard time keeping this palette in stock. The makeup artist responsible for Kim K’s signature looks created this universally-flattering matte palette to be a timeless staple in your collection. Using natural human skin tones as his inspiration, Mario developed a range of nudes from light to deep that work for everyone. These shadows are blendable and buildable, so you can go as natural or dramatic as you like. Grab this palette before it sells out again!
Tom Ford Eye Color Quad Eyeshadow Palette in Sous Le Sable
This quad is all about quality over quantity. And just because it’s a quad, doesn’t mean you can’t create multiple day and evening looks from these luxe shadows. While this rave-reviewed palette might seem pricey, it’s worth the investment for these pigmented, easy-to-blend, and long-wearing shades.
More Colors:
Urban Decay Naked3 Eyeshadow Palette
Out of all of Urban Decay’s Naked palettes, the Naked3 is their bestselling palette for a reason—it works for all skin tones and looks great on everyone.
If you’re into rose-golds and dusty pink shades, the Naked3 is a must-have palette. With this range of twelve pigmented and blendable rose-toned neutrals in matte, shimmer, and metallic finishes, you can create an endless variety of eye looks.
The Naked3 is beginner-friendly and very travel-friendly with a full size mirror, brush, and hard outer casing. If you want a more compact version you can throw in your purse, check out the Naked3 Mini Palette.
Viseart Eyeshadow Palette in 01 Neutral Matte
Two words: Holy Grail.
This Viseart Eyeshadow Palette in 01 Neutral Mattes is one of my all-time favorite palettes and one of the best all-matte palettes I’ve ever owned.
The 01 Neutral Mattes is Viseart’s bestselling palette and has earned a cult following in the beauty world. that features core, universally flattering beige and brown tones that are easy to use, extremely blendable, and perfect for both day and night looks.
I use it a lot. It’s a compact travel friendly size AND highly versatile—You can also use these shadows as a brow powder, highlight, contour!
Pro Tip for Beginners: When you’re learning makeup skills—especially blending shadows—it is much less frustrating working with quality products. While this palette may seem pricey, it is well worth the investment.
Victoria Beckham Smoky Eye Brick in Tuxedo
This luxe minimalist eyeshadow quad makes the perfect smoky eye easy to achieve. With a formulation that minimizes skin dryness, plumps fine lines, and improves skin texture, reviewers love the easy, smooth application and that the shadows are blendable and buildable, without creasing or fading. This palette also receives high praise for the quality of the packaging.
More Colors:
Natasha Denona Glam Eyeshadow Palette
Natasha Denona is known for her pigmented, high-performing, long-wearing signature eyeshadow formulations.
This everyday palette couldn’t be more beginner friendly with shade names that tell you the ideal place to apply them. This staple palette has everything you need whether you’re going for a more natural daytime look or dramatic glam—you have everything you need in one palette.
One reviewer said, “My go to for life! Best eyeshadow palette I have ever used! Colors are amazing, super blendable and I love that the palette tells me where to place the colors!!”
Natasha Denona Mini Bronze Eyeshadow Palette
If you’re looking to try out Natasha Denona’s shadows, her travel-friendly mini palettes are the way to go. This highly-rated Mini Bronze palette features five warm-toned shadows in a mix of creamy, pigmented mattes and metallics.
More Top-Rated Natasha Denona Mini Palettes:
Too Faced Natural Eyes Eyeshadow Palette
Soft neutral mattes, satins, and shimmers that are blendable, buildable, and beginner-friendly.
Danessa Myricks Beauty Groundwork: Defining Neutrals
One of the newest additions to my collection, I’ve been getting a ton of use out of this versatile Danessa Myricks palette.
This all-in-one palette comes with 10 velvety, blendable neutral pomades paired with coordinating oil-absorbing, texture-smoothing matte powders. More than just an eyeshadow palette, I’ve been loving it to define my brows, contour, and conceal all over the face. This multi-use, talc-free palette really does it all!
(Plus, as someone with sensitive skin, I also love that this palette is fragrance-free, and free of irritating ingredients like parabens, formaldehydes, phthalates, sulfates SLS & SLES, and more.)
Valentino Color-Flip Multi-Look Eyeshadow Palette
While it might look like a quad, you actually get 8 shades that can create subtle to smokey looks in this luxury eyeshadow palette. These pigmented, versatile eyeshadows feel even more luxe in the uniquely fashionable meets functional packaging
Guerlain Ombres G Quad Eyeshadow Palette in Wild Nudes
These splurge-worthy Guerlain Ombres G eyeshadow quads have been receiving rave reviews for their velvety, talc-free, long-wearing, pigmented formula. Infused with winter rose oil, these comfortable, creamy shadows include 4 different finishes (satin, matte, metallic, and pearl) that can be worn wet or dry to create a variety of depth, shades, and textures.
One reviewer wrote, “It’s one of the best formulations on the market along with Tom Ford to compare! Highly pigmented, silky texture, no fall outs, creamy and high quality! Formulation wise is high quality!”
More Colors:
Chanel Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow
Inspired by threads of CHANEL’s iconic tweed, Les 4 Ombres is a quad eyeshadow palette that comes in a variety of versatile shade combinations and finishes to create universally flattering eye looks.
CHANEL makeup lives up to the hype and hasn’t let me down yet. I find that these quads last a long time before hitting pan, and given the quality and performance of these shadows, you are getting more than your money’s worth.
Each quad comes with two medium tones to color, transition, and contour, plus a deeper shadow for more intensity, and a lighter shade to highlight.
With a range of shades, you are sure to find a favorite that works with your skin tone and depth. If you have a medium skin tone like I do, you’ll love 266 Tissé Essentiel (pictured above), 226 Tissé Rivoli, and 308 Clair-Obscur. For darker skin tones, I recommend 268 Candeur et Expérience and 328 Blurry Mauve.
More Chanel Les 4 Ombres Colors:
tarte Tartelette In Bloom Clay Eyeshadow Palette
This cult-favorite, award-winning, bestselling tarte palette is an everyday makeup dream come true. This 12-shadow palette is arranged in three rows for suggested shades to mix and match. This universally-flattering neutral palette is foolproof for day-to-day use and also great for travel—compact size, luxe packaging, and a large mirror.
tarte Tartelette Toasted Eyeshadow Palette
If you’re looking for a warm palette, these beautiful everyday eyeshadows can create an almost endless range of looks.
Morphe 35O Supernatural Glow Artistry Palette
This neutral palette has been a staple in my collection for years.
The 35O Supernatural Glow Artistry Palette has been Morphe’s signature bestselling palette for a reason: it has a wide range of incredibly blendable, universally flattering, neutral shadows at an affordable price point.
This 35 shade eyeshadow palette works for any and every occasion. It has a wide range of nudes and neutrals from peaches to brown tones with a mix of mattes and shimmers. You really can’t go wrong with this beginner-friendly palette.
ColourPop Stone Cold Fox
If you’re looking for an affordable cool-toned neutral palette, it’s hard to beat this one. Mauves, silvers, greys, browns and more in a 30 shade mix of mattes and metallics really give this palette versatility—you can use it for everything from a natural no-makeup look all the way to the set of Euphoria glam.
Dose of Colors Eyeshadow Palette in Baked Browns
Dose of Colors makes highly pigmented shadows that are buttery and blendable, with inclusive shade ranges that work for all skin tones and eye colors.
More Colors:
Charlotte Tilbury Super Nudes Easy Eyeshadow Palette
Charlotte Tilbury is an icon in the beauty industry (and the creator of several of my favorite holy grail products!).
True to its name, this nude palette is both easy-to-wear and easy-to-use. With six ultra-blendable satin-matte shadows—three warm and three cool-toned neutrals—you can create the perfect 90’s supermodel makeup. These shadows are formulated with oils and waxes for a buildable look without creasing or patchiness.
Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Eyeshadow Palette in Pillow Talk
These Charlotte Tilbury four-step eyeshadow quads are foolproof. Each palette has four complementary colors to prime your base, enhance dimension, smoke out your look, and add pop where you want it.
More Colors:
EYE PRIMERS
And if you want your eye look to last all day without fading or creasing, I recommend investing in a solid eye primer. These are a few of my favorites:
