buuk.top / David Hattan
Fact: The perfect glitter eyeshadow palette sparks joy. Whether it’s bold and bright or made up of bronze-toned neutrals, there’s just something special about a shiny, shimmery makeup palette that makes us swoon. “I love a good glittery eye, makeup artist Michael Brown tells us. “It’s also an easy occasion look as it doesn’t really take a lot of time or skill to throw together—just create a base, layer on your glitter and finish with mascara,” Brown adds.
While not as functional as a great concealer or clear brow gel, a glitter eyeshadow palette is still a useful inclusion in any makeup kit—one swipe across the lids can take you from boardroom to bar in seconds (and we’re 100% here for that).
From wearable neutrals to disco hues and everything in between, we conducted hours of research on the best glitter eyeshadow palettes., evaluating each on shades, pigment level, texture, and finish. After consulting a celebrity makeup artist and considering dozens of options, we landed on the products in this roundup.
Pat McGrath Labs Eyeshadow Palette at Sephora
Too Faced Born This Way Eyeshadow Palette at Amazon
ColourPop Eyeshadow Palette at Amazon
NABLA Palette at Ulta
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Palette at Walmart
Charlotte Tilbury Eyeshadow Palette at Amazon
Huda Beauty Eyeshadow Palette at Amazon
Juvia’s Place Eyeshadow Palette at Amazon
NARS Voyageur Eyeshadow Palette at Amazon
Morphe Artistry Palette at Amazon
In This Article
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Best Overall
Pat McGrath Labs Mothership V Eyeshadow Palette
Sephora
View On Selfridges.com
View On Bergdorfgoodman.com
Easy to wear shades
Beautiful textures
Satin, shimmer, and glitter finishes
Matte shades may be a little dry for some users
A treasure chest of an eyeshadow palette that makes choosing what shades to wear difficult. The rich jewel tones and shimmering metallics make any look created using them instantly luxurious. This haute couture of makeup palettes can be used to create high end minimal glamour with a single sweep of the Rose Gold across the lid or a maximum impact party eyelook by mixing the Blitz Flame and Glity Pleasure. Unlike most glitter eyeshadows these shades glide easily onto lids and are extremely blendable due to their creamy texture. The deep pigment and emollient powder formula also means color stays in place and prevents fallout. The ease and versatility of this palette make it a firm favourite with both professionals and customers alike. So whether you want to experiment and express your creativity with a multi-toned glittering eyelook or are looking to shine with just a single shade, the Bronze Seduction Palette provides everything you will ever need to sparkle.
Shades:10 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Neutral
Too Faced Born This Way Sunset Stripped Eyeshadow Palette
Sephora
View On Sephora
View On Ulta
Mix of glitter and matte/satin shades
Great neutrals
Contains coconut water to support hydration
Not as pigmented as others
Have your eyes looking like its golden hour at any time of day with this sunkissed inspired palette. Each of the 16 shades in this collection will give your makeup shimmering year round holiday and beach vibes. The metallic light gold/beige shade Suns Out is perfect for adding a little bit of sparkle to your day makeup by either placing it in the inner corners of your eyes or with one light layer across the lid. While the deep bronze metallic shade Bonfire Babes can be used on its own or blended into the outer corner of the eyes for a subtle glitter evening look.
Shades: 16 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Pink
ColourPop Truly Madly Deeply Pressed Powder Eyeshadow Palette
Ulta Beauty
View On Ulta
Bright color palette
Richly pigmented
Only a handful of glitter shades
The combination of warm hues and soft glitters make this palette one for the dreamers. The romantic mauves and peachy pink shades give any look created with this palette an ethereal quality. Even the matte shadows are infused with gold flecks. Renegade is the standout shade in this palette with its soft rose gold color and copper sheen making it suitable for all skin tones and will add just the right amount of sparkle to any eye makeup. The icy peach and gold of Sweet Dreams means it also works great as a highlighter on the upper cheekbones and on the brow bone.
Shades: 16 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Finish
NABLA Glorious Lights Glitter Palette
Beauty Bay
View On Beautybay.com
True glitter
High shine finish
Only 4 shades
Risk of fallout
With more sparkle than a jewelry box, this palette from Nabla doesn’t hold back when it comes to shine. There isn’t a matte shade in sight in this collection, with each of its 4 shades looking like they have been milled from crystals and diamonds. If you go all in when it comes to glitter then this palette is an essential for your makeup bag. Best applied by placing the pigment with your finger tips, these eyeshadows are actually extremely easy to use. Each color has a trio-chrome finish meaning it reflects different tones depending on where the light hits. This is especially noticeable with Divine and its rose quartz glitter and burgundy micro-sparkle undertones.
Shades: 4 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Jewel Tones
Urban Decay Stoned Vibes Eyeshadow Palette
Amazon
Great shade range
Rich pigment
Dimensional, chunky glitter particles
Risk of fallout
This palette from Urban Decay is like a mood ring for your eyes, no matter how you wake up feeling match your makeup to your vibe with one of the 8 glitter shadows teamed with one of the 4 matte shades. Infused with tourmaline to block bad energy, this palette not only elevates your look but also your vibrations. Create marbleized effect eye makeup by blending the purple shimmery tone Raw Energy with the silver rainbow undertones of Opal Aura. Whether you believe in crystal healing or not this palette will make you shine like a diamond.
Shades: 12 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Blue Eyes
Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Eyeshadow Palette in Walk of No Shame
Sephora
View On Sephora
View On Nordstrom
Easy to apply
The four shades work well together
Expensive
Not a classic glitter
Make your blue eyes pop and create the ultimate creamy, dreamy and shimmering smokey eye with Charlotte Tilbury’s Walk of No Shame quartet palette. Apply a base color of the peach champagne across the lid and then blend some sultry berry blushed crimson into the eyelid and under the eye to emphasize eye shape. Finish off the look with the rose gold sparkle in the inner corners and anywhere else you want to add some shine. This compact is easy to carry in your bag for whenever you need to add some silky smooth berry tones to your eye makeup.
Shades: 4 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Sensitive Eyes
Huda Beauty The New Nude Eyeshadow Palette
Sephora
View On Sephora
Wearable colors
Highly pigmented
Comes with a concealer base
Not entirely made up of glitter shades
Glitter shadows can be a nightmare for anyone with sensitive eyes. But this palette from Huda Beauty contains aloe vera and coconut oil to ensure a smooth butter like application to avoid irritating the eyes. High shimmer finishes are provided by acacia, jojoba, and sunflower wax and all the shadows are talc and fragrance free. The palette also includes a concealer base to ensure your eyeshadow lasts all day and doesn’t drop. With 18 different shades there is no end to the different looks you can create, with tones Lace and Daydream going particularly well together.
Shades: 18 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Shade Range
Juvia’s Place Culture Eyeshadow Palette
Ulta Beauty
View On Ulta
View On Juviasplace.com
Amazing shade range
Highly pigmented
Not all shades have a glitter effect
With 30 shades of bold colors and vibrant glitters this palette is fun loving and full of life. Inspired by the craftsmanship of West African Masks and the concept that the mask must come to life by the wearer, Juvia’s Place has selected colors to symbolize love, unity, excitement, fruitfulness, growth and healing. Majestic purples, rich oranges and deep yellows combine with duo chromatic shades and cosmic glitter shadows to create this full spectrum collection for rainbow lovers everywhere.
Shades: 30 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Green Eyes
NARS Voyageur Eyeshadow Palette
Sephora
View On Sephora
View On Opensky.com
Great color payoff
Fine glitter prevents fallout
Some shades may be slightly orangey for some wearers
Perfect for travelling, weekends away or anyone with an on the go lifestyle, the NARS voyageur palette is so compact it will fit in your pocket. These tones work especially well for anyone with green eyes but can also be blended and layered to suit any eye color. The velvet texture of these shadows make them a winner with all skin types and the long lasting pigments means they can be worn for working all day or dancing all night. For a full on shimmer eye look combine Yokohamma, Cantina and Pampelonne across the lids.
Shades: 6 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Daily Use
Morphe 35C Everyday Chic Artistry Palette
Morphe
View On Ulta
View On Morphe.com
Huge range of colors
Great mix of shimmer and glitter shades
Affordable
Not as pigmented
Proving that glitter is not just for discos and dancing, the Morphe Everyday Chic Artistry Palette has 35 shades of daylight friendly sparkling shadows to keep you shining from morning til evening. If your party days are over but you still miss creating shimming eye looks, this palette combines subtle glitter shadows with warm matte tones perfect for daytime glowing. The Talk of the Town shade looks great on all skin tones and worn across the eyelid with a brown liquid liner makes for a fresh and bright elevated day look.
Shades: 35 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Mini
Lime Crime Prelude Chroma Palette
Ulta Beauty
View On Ulta
View On Nordstrom
Buttery texture
Pigmented
Smaller shade selection
Make like Michelangelo and treat your eyelids like the ceiling of Sistine Chapel with the Chroma Palette from Lime Crime. That might be a slight exaggeration but the renaissance style packaging and celestial shades of this mini collection will send you into a historical fantasy world where the birth of Venus and sirens on the rocks are the go-to makeup looks. Top off any eyeshadow with a dab of the sheer iridescent Sea Foam shade to add a touch of magical realism to your makeup. Or combine the uber gold Eros and ocean blue Saturn for a foil finish metallic eye look.
Shades: 8 | Cruelty-Free:
Yes
Best Drugstore
NYX Professional Makeup Ultimate Utopia Shadow Palette
Ulta
View On Ulta
View On Nyxcosmetics.com
Affordable
40 shades
Saturated pigment
Great shade range
Not entirely made up of glitter shades
With 40 different shades and 3 types of finishes the Ultimate Utopia Shadow Palette is an investment product for anyone who loves to express their artistry through makeup. It has all you could ever need and more to create an array of eye looks and its carefully curated selection of shades compliment each other seamlessly. If you love playing around with makeup and experimenting with texture and color, this palette will provide you with the tones, shades and pigments to create almost any look you want. Whether you are just beginning to build your makeup collection or looking to add more colorful options to your current favorites, this palette is incredible value for such a wide selection of shadows.
Shades: 40 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Pastel
Natasha Denona Retro Glam Eyeshadow Palette
Sephora
View On Natashadenona.com
Free from parabens and mineral oil
Gorgeous pastel tones
No creasing or fallout
Colors may be too sweet for some users
Natasha Denona combines modern day makeup advancements with vintage hues to create this Retro Glam Eyeshadow Palette, ideal for those who want a contemporary take on feel-good nostalgic colors. The tones are playful and soft, mixing glitters, shimmers and mattes to create a selection rooted in classic makeup shades but with highly developed rich pigment finishes. Create the ultimate vintage inspired smokey eye by placing the neutral rose shade Holly on the lid and blending the metallic pastel sage green Palladian on the outer corners, then add some Flutter the sparkling light champagne pink color to the inner corner.
Shades: 15 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Intense Color
Danessa Myricks Beauty Lightwork Vol. IV Transcendence Palette
Sephora
View On Danessamyricksbeauty.com
Free of parabens and formaldehydes
Chromatic shades
Beautiful color selection
Luxurious finish
No nude tones
This palette is the most beautiful collection of intense vibrant colors and textures. Pressed chrome flakes are used to create the shades Paradise and Heaven with just the tiniest bit elevating your eye makeup to the next level. The ultra reflective glass metallics Divinity and Angels work well for everyday use, adding a crystal like shine to any look while the velvet chrome shades Trance and Awakening can be used to create a dramatic night eyelook. Any makeup created using this palette will be next level due to the intensity and depth of the pigments.
Shades: 14 | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Final Verdict
For glitter purists nothing can compare to NABLA’s Glorious Light Glitter Palette. It is everything glitter eyeshadow should be, with no apologies. Its easy to apply and the sparkling shades instantly make your eyes glisten. We also love the NYX Ultimate Utopia Shadow Palette for its variety of colors and textures, making it a great way to explore different color combinations for your complexion.
Meet the Expert
Michael Brown is one of Australia’s leading celebrity makeup artists and experts, and has worked on countless photoshoots, campaigns, red carpet looks and magazine covers over the course of his 20 year career. Michael has also held Australian ambassador roles for global brands including St Tropez, Marc Jacobs, Moroccanoil, Ardell Lashes and Olay.
Clare Holden is an experienced makeup artist and beauty journalist who has over 15 years experience working with different products for photoshoots, events, and productions.
What to Look For in a Glitter Eyeshadow Palettes
Formula
If youve ever owned a glitter eyeshadow, you know that not all are created equally. The wrong palette will have your entire face covered in glitter (sometimes everywhere but the lid) and that is of course a no no. Glitters with a silkier and more satin finish that glide on the eye are typically the most optimal when it comes to pigment and payout with the lowest risk of fallout.
Complementing Colors
While there is of course wiggle room when working with glitter shades (after all, the point is to pop), finding colors that compliment your eyes is always a plus. For blue eyes, reach for earthy tones. Green eyes, neutrals. And for brown eyes, lucky you, you can pull off just about any color.
Shade Range
If you are a palette queen and have the ability to purchase in multiples, finding color-specific palettes may be your thing. But if youre looking for one master-shimmer palette, go for something with variety. The bigger the variety, the more bang for your buck. You never know when youll be in the mood for something different.
Glitter eyeshadow palettes can be a great investment for your makeup collection. Whether you love to experiment for nights out or like to add some shine to your day makeup, having a glitter palette on hand gives you the option to elevate any eye look with some sparkle. Most palettes come with a selection of mattes and shimmers so you will often find that even when you are not using the glitter shades you will get use out of the other shadows. Glitter can also be notoriously messy so keeping them in one palette is a cleaner option than in separate pots where one misplaced lid can leave your makeup bag or bathroom looking like the aftermath of a carnival.
Shimmer eyeshadow has more of a consistent spreadable shine when applied whereas glitter is tiny little sparkling particles in various shapes and sizes, generally with reflective qualities. Shimmer eyeshadow provides more of a subtle glow in one color while glitter eyeshadow provides a more intense sparkle.
In order to remove glitter eyeshadow and avoid irritating the eyes, gently massage a cleansing balm or milk into the eye area to lift the product. Rinse with lukewarm water and repeat the process until all the product has been removed. Use a face cloth soaked in warm water to clean the rest of your face.
Unlike food not all makeup comes with an expiration date. However that doesn’t mean that they last forever. Recommendations for using makeup range from one to two years. Try to avoid keeping palettes in the bathroom where they are more likely to absorb humidity.
Eyeshadow can add depth and dimension to the eyes and help change appearance or even shape. It can complement your eye color and make it pop, and of course, can simply draw attention to your eyes.
While its typically recommended you blend matte shades with a brush—with glitter, the best tool is free: your fingers. Dabbing and dotting glitter shadows and pressing them onto the lid will pack most punch. If youre looking for a more subtle look, stick to your brush routine.
Technically, yes. However, you never want to put anything on the eye without making sure it is deemed safe. Many palettes offer loose glitters, and using an eye primer or sticky base will allow you to apply a loose glitter shadow successfully.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Why Trust buuk.top
buuk.top contributing writer Clare Holden trained and worked as a makeup artist after graduating from her degree in Journalism. While she was working on theatre productions she got to experiment with every type of glitter imaginable and see how they worked under various conditions. With over 15 years experience in the beauty industry and having tried and tested hundreds of products on every different type of skin and face shape, she now combines her love of writing with her knowledge and expertise of beauty and skincare products.
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