The Best Neutral Eyeshadow Palettes
I have collected so many colorful and neutral eyeshadow palettes over the years, it’s kind of ridiculous. During the first month of quarantine, I spent a lot of my free time organizing my closets and de-cluttering my makeup stash. It was pretty easy to sift through and make quick decision. I separated all the trendy, colorful palettes I know I would never use again and kept all my neutral eyeshadow palettes.
If you’re on the hunt for a neutral eyeshadow palette, or maybe you’re thinking about adding to your collection, I’ve narrowed down my top four favorite neutral eyeshadow palettes based on ease of application, color range and what works best for your budget/lifestyle.
For reference, I have fair skin with neutral undertones. I have hazel eyes (almost dark green) so keep that in mind with these recommendations. I also want to mention by no means am I recommending that you purchase all of these palettes.
Tarte Tartelette in Bloom
This is my favorite eyeshadow right now. It’s also the newest addition to my collection. I truly love every single pan in this palette. Tartelette in Bloom has a mix of mattes and micro-shimmers. Each pan has a smooth, buttery formula that’s easy to blend too. I find that the darkest shades are great for using as eyeliner—wet or dry. This palette goes on sale quite a few times a year (you can shop a la Sephora or Ulta sales, or Tarte’s direct to consumer website). I suggest holding off until a sale so you can save some money.
Urban Decay Naked3 Palette
Urban Decay has produced so many palettes in the “Naked” collection and this the Naked3 palette I ever purchased from UD, so it definitely holds a special place in my heart.
Personally, I find that this is great for beginners because the shades are not super pigmented. I know for some that may be a con considering the price. This palette is perfect for anyone that loves rose gold or mauve pink shades. There are a couple shades that are grainy in texture (Dust, Buzz); however, my love for shades like Limit and Nooner outweighs the few shades I don’t really use. I find an excuse to use this for just about any special occasion (pre- COVID-19, of course).
Tarte Tartelette Tease Palette
Here’s another favorite from Tarte Cosmetics: Tartelette Tease. This is a mini compact (only 6 shades) so it’s perfect if large palettes easily overwhelm you or, you prefer something you can take with you in your purse for on-the-go application. I purchased this a little over a year ago and it’s the only palette where I feel like I’m on track to hit pan on a couple of the shades. This is what I’ve used almost every day for my 9 to 5 (again, before COVID-19). Some of these shades are similar to the Tartelette in Bloom palette and it’s also half the price, so consider it a cheaper alternative.
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Eyeshadow Quad
This is the most expensive eyeshadow quad I own but to me it was worth every penny because I use it often, especially during the winter season. The four shades include: a soft shimmery rose pink champagne, a matte warm pink, a rose gold glitter, and a warm matte brown. These shades layer really nicely and blend easily. I wrote a more in-depth review of this eyeshadow quad and compared it to another Charlotte Tilbury quad that you can read here. If you have the means to splurge, then I would recommend this quad.
What are your favorite neutral eyeshadow palettes? Have you hit pan on any of them? Let me know in the comments!
