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Makeup trends may come and go, but there are certain looks that are just classic and timeless. Think a red lip, a graphic black cat eye, a sheer pink nail—you get the picture. And when it comes to eyes, a natural, nude shadow falls on that list. No matter your skin tone or eye color, nude shadows always look great, not to mention that they work for, quite literally, any and every occasion.
Enter the beauty of a great nude (also known as neutral) eyeshadow palette, where you can mix and match neutral hues to your heart’s desire: “A nude eyeshadow palette should contain colors that compliment every skin tone and isused to create both natural and dramatic looks by contouring and defining eye shapes,” says celebrity makeup artist Gita Bass.
To find the best options on the market, we conducted extensive research, talked to our editors about their favorites, and even put several to the test in our lab facility in NYC. We evaluated each one based on itsshades, formulas, finishes, and wear, and ahead, were sharing which ones outshine the competition.
Natasha Denona I Need a Nude Eyeshadow Palette at Sephora
ColourPop Thats Taupe Pressed Powder Palette at Ulta
Pat McGrath Labs Mothership VII Eyeshadow Palette at Sephora
Patrick Ta Major Dimension III Matte Eyeshadow Palette at Sephora
Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette at Amazon
Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Naked Heat Eyeshadow Palette at Amazon
Natasha Denona Glam Eyeshadow Palette at Sephora
Victoria Beckham Beauty Smoky Eye Brick in Signature at Violet Grey
Danessa Myricks Beauty Groundwork: Defining Neutrals Palette at Sephora
In This Article
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Best Overall
Natasha Denona I Need a Nude Eyeshadow Palette
Sephora
View On Ulta
View On Kohls.com
Great mix of matte and metallic shades
Smooth, blendable formula
Excellent pigmentation
Palette comes with a large mirror
Could be more deep shades
The case can be argued that Natasha Denona is the ultimate queen of creating phenomenal eyeshadow palettes. Her beautifully curated palettes are what her eponymous brand is known for, and shes done it again with this gorgeous nude offering. Featuring15 cool-toned (but not too cool) shades, the colors range from pale taupes and espresso browns to matte mauves and shimmering bronzes. Dont get us wrong, the shades are thoughtfully put together and extremely versatile for a range of looks, but its theformulas and finishes that take this palette to the next level. The mattes are soft, buildable, and effortless to blend, the metallics are creamy and bold, and the wet-effect formula takes color payoff and shine to new heights.
Who Its For
If you crave versatility out of your makeup, we highly recommend adding this palette to your collection. There are soft matte shades that are perfect for subtle, everyday makeup, as well as gilded metallics that instantly take your look up a few notches. Whether you already prefer cool tones or are new to the color palette, this is a great product to invest in because the shades arent too grey—they maintain some earthy undertones that keep themincredibly wearable on a wide range of skin tones.
Price at time of publish: $57
Finish: Matte, metallic, wet-effect | Shades: 15| Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Budget
ColourPop Thats Taupe Pressed Powder Palette
ColourPop
View On Walmart
View On Colourpop.com
Nice balance of cool-toned and neutral shades
Good pigmentation and blendability
Shimmers catch light beautifully
Some mattes are a bit powdery
Drugstore and budget-friendly eyeshadows used to be sub-par compared to high-end options, but thankfully, thats changed over the last few years. You no longer need to spend a lot of money to get a palette withquality formulas, and this one from ColourPop is a perfect example. Featuring nine shadows that range from shimmering taupe to matte espresso, it offers a nice curation of wearable colors in smooth, blendable formulas. The mattes are pigmented and easy to blend, and the shimmers are creamy and intense, making them excellent at drawing light to the lids.
Who Its For
This palette is excellent for anyone who is looking for wearable, everyday eyeshadows at anaffordable price point. Its also a wise choice for those who are curious about experimenting with cool-toned eyeshadows but are afraid of their look ending up overly gray, because the taupe shades have some brown and purple undertones in them, making themwearable on a variety of complexions.
Price at time of publish: $14
Finish: Matte, shimmer | Shades: 9| Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Splurge
Pat McGrath Labs Mothership VII Eyeshadow Palette - Divine Rose Collection
Sephora
View On Patmcgrath.com
View On Selfridges.com
Finishes are unique and eye-catching
Great pigmentation
Unique tones
Could use a few more matte shades
Few (if any) eyeshadow palettes are as luxurious as the Mothership palettes from Pat McGrath Labs. Housed in sleek, weighted black packaging, each one offers carefully selected shades in a variety of beautiful finishes. This one is thebrands most everyday-friendly palette, offering soft nudes and metallic bronze shades with one or two subtle pops of color. The matte shadows are richly pigmented and easy to blend, the shimmers are smooth and creamy, and the glittery metallic shades haveout-of-this-world light-catching capabilities.
"When I want to create an everyday look that feels elevated, this is more often than not the palette I reach for," says Commerce Writer Alyssa Kaplan. "I love that the mattes blend seamlessly and offer depth, but its the high-shine, glittery shadows that make me look like I spent tons of time on my eyeshadow when I absolutely didnt."
Who Its For
Nude eyeshadow looks dont need to be basic. You can easily elevate them by incorporatingunique tones and texturesinto your look, and we think this is the perfect palette to do it with. If youre willing to splurge on a palette thatsperfect for daily use and for special occasions
, this one featuring exceptional formulas is perfect for you.
Price at time of publish: $52
Finish: Matte, shimmer, glittery metallic | Shades: 10| Cruelty-Free:
No
Best Matte
Patrick Ta Major Dimension III Matte Eyeshadow Palette
Sephora
View On Patrickta.com
Features warm and cool colors
Cream and powder formulas
Great pigmentation and blendability
High price tag
Matte eyeshadows are essential when youre looking to create shape and dimension in your eye looks. This all-matte palette is a powerhouse product: it comes with pretty much all of thewarm and cool-toned shadesyoud ever need to create a neutral matte look. Plus, it includes a deep brown shade and a jet black shade in acream formula that can be used as eyeliner, a base for your lids, or to add depth to the outer corners of your eyes.
Both the creams and the powders are soft, pigmented, and extremely blendable, making them easy to work with. We also love that the brand included warm and cool shades that range from very light to very dark, making them wearable on various skin tones and giving you versatility in terms of the types of looks you can create with this palette.
Who Its For
This palette is for everyone—thats one of the reasons we love it so much. Whether you prefer subtle looks or something intense and smoky, youll get tons of use out of the wearable shades this palette has to offer. The formulas are easy to work with, thecolors effortlessly pair together, and the palette can be used entirely on its own or in combination with other eyeshadows for a wide range of looks.
Price at time of publish: $70
Finish: Matte | Shades: 12| Cruelty-Free:
Yes
Best Matte, Runner-Up
Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette
Sephora
View On Sephora
View On Makeupbymario.com
Minimal fallout
Buildable
Nice range of depth
Pigmentation a bit inconsistent between shades
Mario Dedivanovic is no stranger to creating some stunning neutral eyeshadow looks, so its completely unsurprising that one of the most well-loved products from his brand is this Master Mattes palette. Featuring12 matte earth-toned shades, its the perfect palette for creating a look that focuses on adding depth and dimension to the eyes. The formula is smooth and buildable, and we applaud how well-dispersed the shades are across the depth spectrum.
We love that every single shade is pigmented, usable, andlong-lasting, even on oily lids. The shadows are the perfect transitions for building depth on a glitter eye look or can be layered on their own for all-matte looks, too.
Who Its For
Whether youre a makeup artist, a makeup aficionado, or a makeup beginner, we think this palette deserves a spot in your collection. It can be used all on its own to create a matte neutral look, or used in conjunction with other shadows to create a unique look.
Price at time of publish: $50
Finish: Matte | Shades: 12| Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Glam Looks
Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette
Amazon
View On Amazon
View On Ulta
Great pigmentation
Soft, blendable formulas
Nice range of depth
Mattes can be pretty powdery
Considering that this pick won best overall in our official test of the best eyeshadow palettes, its not surprising that its claiming a top honor on this list, too. Its a palette we reach for over and over again thanks to its rich pigments, blendable formulas, anice balance of mattes and metallics, and a shade range that offers a variety of neutrals with varying depths and undertones. Though its wearable for everyday looks, we love how well the deep shades and shiny metallics lend themselves to nighttime and event makeup looks.
Who Its For
This palette offers versatility in terms of shades and finishes, meaning that if you buy it, chances are youll get tons of use out of it regardless of your makeup style. However, if youre looking for a palette toadd smokiness to your look, reach for this one—the jet black shade, deep burgundy, and rich browns will get the job done perfectly.
Price at time of publish: $45
Finish: Matte, shimmer | Shades: 14| Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Warm-Toned
Urban Decay Naked Heat Eyeshadow Palette
Nordstrom
View On Sephora
View On Ulta
Includes various warm tones
Nice balance between matte and shimmer shades
Nice blendability
Shimmers dont offer much impact
The tides may be turning in favor of cool-toned palettes lately, but warm tones once dominated makeup trends, and theyll always have a place in our rotation of eyeshadow looks. Featuring12 shades that range from caramel brown to deep coral, youll be able to create the fiery, bronze look of your dreams with this beautiful range of shadows.
We love that it comes with a balance of matte and shimmer formulas, though its worth noting that the shimmers dont create as much impact on the eyes as we would like. We wish they were a bit more light-reflective. However, you can always pat on a glitter topper if you crave more texture, and the fact that this range of shades is so beautiful and cohesive makes it worth the buy.
Who Its For
If you have a warm skin tone or if warm browns, oranges, and terracottas are your go-to shades, we recommend checking out this popular pick. Its not ideal for people who crave tons of shine and texture in their looks, but the colors and depth you can create with this palette make it well worth the investment.
Price at time of publish: $59
Finish: Matte, shimmer |Shades: 12| Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Cool-Toned
Natasha Denona Glam Eyeshadow Palette
Sephora
View On Ulta
Nice range of cool and neutral shades
Mixture of matte and metallic formulas
Pigmented and blendable
Nothing
Cool-toned palettes have come a long way since most of them featured just icy silvers and jet-black shades. The perfect example is this one from Natasha Denona. Featuring amixture of mattes and metallicsin light champagnes, shimmering taupes, and wearable slate shades, it offers a plethora ofcool colors that are balanced out by the inclusion of a few neutrals. The shade collection is masterfully curated, and the formulas are equally outstanding thanks to incredible pigmentation and blendability.
Who Its For
If you, too, are obsessed with 90s makeup looks, consider this fan-favorite palette an answered prayer. Its packed with cool and neutral shades that vary in tone and depth, making themsuitable for all skin tones. Even better is that the cool shades have subtle brown and purple undertones which ensure they dont look overly gray or washed out on the skin.
Price at time of publish: $69
Finish: Matte, metallic | Shades: 15| Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Mini Compact
Victoria Beckham Beauty Smoky Eye Brick in Signature
Victoria Beckham Beauty
View On Neiman Marcus
View On Victoriabeckhambeauty.com
Great pigmentation
Smooth and easy to blend
Compact design
Packaging can be a bit finicky
Ready to recreate some of Posh Spices iconic looks? All you need is this gem and an eyeshadow brush or two. Victoria Beckham has sported tons of neutral smoky eyes in her day, so its no surprise that her successful beauty brand created this chic palette that allows you to create asophisticated nude look with this collection of key shades. The matte formula is beautifully pigmented and blends effortlessly in just a few swipes. The shades are foolproof to apply and pair together, and they last beautifully on the eyelids all day and night.
Who Its For
Whether youre constantly on the go and are looking for a compact palette, or youre into minimalist makeup looks, we think youll be pleased with this luxe palette. All four shades are pretty neutral, making them suitable for tons of different complexions, though they have unique undertones (think subtle peach and mushroom brown) that elevate them from your standard nude hues.
Price at time of publish: $56
Finish: Matte | Shades: 4| Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Multi-Purpose
Danessa Myricks Beauty Groundwork: Defining Neutrals Palette For Eyes, Brows, Face & Lips
Sephora
View On Danessamyricksbeauty.com
Unique formulas
Wide range of neutral shades with varying undertones
Buildable pigmentation
Texture takes some getting used to
If theres one thing Danessa Myricks is going to do with her brand, its innovate. And shes done it again with this unique,multi-purpose palette thats meant to be used all over the face. Its cool pomade-like texture feels similar to a cream-to-power eyeshadow. Theres also an oil-absorbing powder formula that can be used to expertly sculpt and define your features. Due to the unique formulas, its not necessarily ideal for swiping on and running out the door on a daily basis, but the value it could add to a makeup collection (especially for pros or makeup aficionados) cant be overstated.
"Though it took me a bit to get used to these interesting formulas, Ive come to adore this palette for shaping my eyes and defining my other features," says Kaplan. "The pomade feels a bit stiff to the touch, but it picks up on a synthetic brush beautifully and blends into the skin seamlessly. I also love the neutral shades the brand selected—they have truly unique undertones that help to create realistic-looking shadows on the face."
Who Its For
The palette comes with 10 different sand, brown, taupe, and black shades that vary in depth and undertone, meaning itworks beautifully on a vast range of skin tones. Its bound to be a dream come true formakeup artists or consumers who like to shape and shade facial features.
Price at time of publish: $65
Finish: Matte | Shades: 10| Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Romantic
Too Faced Born This Way The Natural Nudes Eye Shadow Palette
Sephora
View On Ulta
View On Target
Versatile range of nude shades
Nice balance of mattes and metallics
Minimal fallout
Pigmentation could be better
When we put this one to the test in our lab facility in NYC, we were impressed by the versatility it offers thanks to a beautiful lineup of shades that range from matte porcelain and rose to metallic bronze and chocolate. The palette has a solid balance of neutral, cool, and warm-toned hues, but we particularly enjoy that itcomes with a few rosy shadesthat offer a subtle, romantic flair. Though the formulas arent as pigmented compared to other palettes on this list, theyrebuildable, easy to blend, and produce minimal fallout.This makes them easy to work with, especially for beginners.
Who Its For
If overly pigmented eyeshadows are tricky for you to work with, this neutral palette is a solid option for you. The matte and metallic formulas are buildable so you can layer on color to achieve your desired depth, though theyre not so pigmented that youll need to worry about being very careful. Plus, the neutral and rosy shades areperfect for creating a soft and romantic look that can transition from day to night.
Price at time of publish: $52
Finish: Matte, metallic | Shades:16| Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Talc-Free
ILIA The Necessary Eyeshadow Palette
Sephora
View On Sephora
View On Walmart
Easy to blend
Smooth formula
Compact
Shimmers could have more punch
Infused with hydrating jojoba oil and vitamin E, the shadows in this palette are soft and never chalky-looking. Theyre formulated without talc, which we know can be pore-clogging and irritating on sensitive skin, in addition to giving products a super powdery texture. We appreciate that thepalette is offered in two colorways—one thats cool-toned, and one that leans more warm and natural in tone. And because there are only six shades in the palettes (and theyre super well-curated), mixing and matching them is essentially foolproof.
Lauren Pardee, senior commerce editor, adores the warm-toned palette, saying "I love how there are pops of color that really help bring out my hazel eyes and of course, the nude tones are great for achieving subtler looks. The colors arent overly pigmented, either, which is nice for a softer look, but they build nicely so you can go more dramatic if you want."
Who Its For
This palette is great for travel and keeping in your bagthanks to its compact size. Though it comes with various finishes, the satin and metallic shades dont offer much punch or light-reflecting quality, which is great if you take a more minimalist approach to makeup.
Price at time of publish: $40
Finish: Matte, satin, metallic |Shades: 2 palettes with 6 shades each| Cruelty-Free: Yes
Where We Stand
Our favorite nude eyeshadow palette is the Natasha Denona I Need a Nude Eyeshadow Palette thanks to a stunning range of neutrals that vary in tone and depth, pigmented and buildable formulas, and finishes that look complimentary on the eyes. If youre looking for an entirely matte palette that offers an even split between warm and cool-toned neutrals, we recommend the Patrick Ta Major Dimension III Matte Eyeshadow Palette. And if you want something small and easy for everyday looks, we think youll love the Victoria Beckham Beauty Smoky Eye Brick in Royal.
What to Look for When Buying a Nude Eyeshadow Palette
Shades:Nude (or neutral) eyeshadow palettes vary more than you might think. Typically, nude shades fall under three categories: neutral, cool-toned, or warm-toned. Some palettes have little variety in terms of color and depth, while others get creative and offer tons of shades that vary in tone and finish. Ultimately, the best one for you comes down to your preferences. If you like wearing warm tones, we recommend the Urban Decay Naked Heat Eyeshadow Palette. If you prefer cool tones, the Natasha Denona Glam Eyeshadow Palette is for you. If you like a mixture of all types of nude shades, go for the Patrick Ta Major Dimension III Matte Eyeshadow Palette.Formula and Finish:Modern innovation in the beauty space has added new finishes besides just your standard mattes and shimmers. Now, there are tons of textures and formulas that lend themselves to unique finishes, for example, the Natasha Denona I Need a Nude Eyeshadow Palette. It has mattes, metallics, and wet-effect shadows. If you like to experiment with different finishes, that one or the Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette are excellent choices. If you like working with all mattes, you cant go wrong with the Patrick Ta Major Dimension III Matte Eyeshadow Palette (which features both powders and creams) or the Makeup By Mario Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette.Packaging:Dont underestimate how important the packaging of an eyeshadow palette can be. If you travel a lot or you like to keep a small makeup bag with just your essentials, a large palette wont be ideal. If that sounds like you, try the Victoria Beckham Beauty Smoky Eye Brick in Royal. Also, consider where and how you do your makeup. If you sit in front of a vanity or dont do super-precise looks, then a palette with a mirror might not be necessary for you. But if you like to get up close and personal while youre applying eyeshadow, a palette with a big mirror (like the Natasha Denona I Need a Nude Eyeshadow Palette) will be incredibly valuable.
"A classic way to use a nude eyeshadow palette is to start by blending a color thats a few shades darker than your skin tone slightly above the crease of the eye to create some depth," explains Bass. "Then, choose the deepest color to trace your lash line for definition, and finally add the lightest shimmery color to the lid, brow bone, and inner corner to create some highlight. This technique is a more natural way to make eyes pop by adding shadow and light.
According to Bass, finding the right neutral palette comes down to understanding your skin tone in terms of depth and undertones. "Keep in mind the depth of your skin tone and make sure theres a shade a few tones deeper, and an even darker shade for definition and contrast," says Bass. "You also need to consider your skins undertones. For more olive skin, choose a palette that contains warmer nudes, and for blue/pink [cool-toned] complexions, youll want a cooler-toned palette."
How We Researched & Tested
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching and testing the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like formula, finish, shade range, and wear. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to narrow down the list to the palettes that truly stand out from the competition.
Why Trust buuk.top
Alyssa Kaplan is an experienced writer in the beauty industry and product tester specializing in cosmetics. She has years of experience using and experimenting with eyeshadow palettes and is a personal fan of many items on this list. To gain additional insight and recommendations for this story, she consulted with Gita Bass, a New York-based makeup artist whos worked with clients like Elizabeth Olsen, Emmy Rossum, Laura Dern, and more.
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