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The highest-rated eyeshadows of 2024 can add depth and dimension to our eyes, making them look larger. It is most commonly used to draw attention to the eyes. You can create smokey eyes with eyeshadow, adding sex appeal and sophistication. The true power of eyeshadow, or any makeup product, in fact, is how it empowers people to feel sexy and confident.
Makeup is simply about liking your outer appearance and making yourself feel good. If you want to wear a fluorescent pink eyeshadow in your 60s go for it! It’s amazing what a bit of makeup can achieve. Most of us don’t want to disguise our whole face, but rather express how we are feeling or accentuate our natural beauty.
Whatever look you are hoping to achieve, we are here to help you achieve it! We have done plenty of research into great eyeshadows so you don’t have to. It wasn’t easy ordering takeout pizza and getting our makeup done by a professional for a few days, but someone’s gotta do it.
Read below to see our recommendation for the best eyeshadows available on Amazon!
Leading Eyeshadows of 2024 in Detail
Urban Decay Naked2 Palette — Best Overall
Key Features
- High-pigment nude shades
- Durable travel-ready palette box
- Cruelty-free
- Free from paraben, sulfate, and phthalate
If you are looking for neutral matte shades that go well with a wide variety of skin tones, you may like the Urban Decay Naked2 basics eyeshadow palette. The palette itself is rather durable and perfect for traveling trips. It also won’t take up a lot of room in your makeup bag. These cruelty-free high-pigment shades are ultra-versatile and great for anybody who wants to create simple or dramatic looks. They also blend very well with other shades of eyeshadow.
Pros
- Great for lots of skin tones
- Perfect for traveling
- Very versatile shades
Cons
- You may be disappointed by the compact size
Maybelline Blushed Eyeshadow Palette — Runner-Up
Key Features
- 12 shades of eyeshadow included
- Can be paired with other Maybelline collections
- Industry-leading brand
- Combination of shimmers and mattes
Maybelline is one of the big names in the makeup game, and the Maybelline blushed nudes eyeshadow makeup palette more than lives up to the reputation. With a whole range of nude colors to choose from, you can create a variety of looks with these eyeshadows, from simplistic and everyday-ready to dramatic and striking. Pair this palette with the Maybelline eyeliner and mascara collection if you really want to set tongues wagging.
Pros
- Great for dark and smoky looks
- Affordable - good value for money
Cons
- Unfortunately, Maybelline is not a cruelty-free brand
Smashbox Eyeshadow Trio — Honorable Mention
Key Features
- Each mini palette comes with three shades of eyeshadow
- Ultra-portable container
- Matte finish
- Smooth application
The Smashbox Photo Edit eyeshadow trio may not come with as many shades as the other recommendations on our list so far, but this portable mini eye palette comes with a range of color sets depending on personal taste. Each trio of eyeshadows has been carefully put together to create intriguing color combinations and striking finishes. Find one which best suits your skin tone and you’ll have a reliable palette that won’t let you down, no matter the occasion.
Pros
- Great for day and night looks
- Plenty of color combinations to try
Cons
- Would be nice to see more colors in one palette - we shouldn’t have to buy several palettes!
Urban Decay Stoned Eyeshadow Palette — Most Convenient
Key Features
- 12 matte and shimmer eyeshadow shades
- Compact, travel-ready palette
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Colorful eyeshadow options
You shouldn’t be surprised to see Urban Decay making a second appearance on our recommendations list, these guys ooze quality with every product. This palette comes with 12 delightfully vibrant eyeshadows that come in matte and shimmer shades. If you want to make a statement, you’ll be able to with this item. Like with all Urban Decay products, this eyeshadow palette is completely vegan and cruelty-free, making it very popular among environmentally conscious consumers.
Pros
- Great for people who are vegan
- Awesome if you want to go for a dramatic look
Cons
- Once again, the palette is quite small considering the number of eyeshadows
NYX Ultimate Eyeshadow Palette — Most Reliable
Key Features
- Each palette includes 16 shades
- Multiple palettes available with lots of color combinations
- Completely vegan
- A mix of matte, satin, and shimmer shadows
The NYX professional makeup ultimate eyeshadow palette should be your first stop if you’re looking for an eyeshadow product filled with a variety of matte, satin, and shimmery finishes, not to mention quality all-round makeup. This eyeshadow palette gives you a wide range of colors that are perfect for achieving professional standard makeup results at home. No need to go to the salon to look your best!
Pros
- Great for people who enjoy bold colors
- A useful way to try out various eyeshadow types for one affordable price
Cons
- You can get similar palettes for a cheaper price, but not all of them will be vegan
MYUANGO High Pigmented Eyeshadow Palette — Also Consider
Key Features
- 32 metallic and shimmer eyeshadows
- Not tested on animals
- Water and sweat-resistant
- Highly pigmented
Want an eyeshadow palette that is really good value for money? Try the Myuango high pigmented eyeshadow palette. This item comes with a very generous 32 shades of metallic and shimmer eyeshadow colors. These high pigmented products are both bold and completely cruelty-free, meaning your extravagant looks come at no moral cost. You won’t find a lot of nude tones here, but you do get bright colors and interesting blending options.
Pros
- Great for rainy days or if you want to try experimental looks
- Cruelty-free is always a plus
Cons
- No neutral or blending shades in the palette
jane iredale Pressed Eyeshadow Duo
Key Features
- Smooth consistency
- Easy to blend
- Crease-free
- Very rich colors
The Jane Iredale pressed eyeshadow duo is the perfect choice for anybody who likes to keep their makeup look simple and to the point. These products are very smooth and blend well for a crease-free and long-lasting finish. The brand makes a variety of eyeshadow duo products, all of which come in two different colors.
Pros
- The finish is always reliable and crease-free
- Surprisingly gentle - this eyeshadow is great for sensitive eyes
- One of the most blendable eyeshadow recommendations on our list
Cons
- You only receive two eyeshadow colors
Buyer's Guide: Find Your Favorite Eyeshadow
One of the beautiful things about life is its diversity. We appreciate that people have their own individual preferences. In order to help you make informed decisions on what eyeshadow to buy, we thought we’d share a few things we looked for when making our suggestions list. We have also included some information on what you should expect to pay.
Things to Consider Before Buying Eyeshadow
There are many brands, textures, and colors of eyeshadow to choose from. Make sure you consider the following things before making your purchase.
Eye color
Certain color palettes are known to suit certain colored eyes. Of course, you can wear whatever color you want for dramatic purposes, but if you want some tried and tested colors for your eyes, consider the following:
- Brown eyes: For a striking contrast, purple will bring out the color in your eye whilst making the white of your eyes look whiter. Green, bronze, or gold shades also go particularly well with brown eyes.
- Blue eyes: If you have blue eyes, peachy pink-colored eyeshadow will make your eyes look even bluer. Brown, copper, coral, bronze, and warm tones will contrast the cool color of your eyes, making them stand out more.
- Green eyes: Green eyes are quite bright so you will want to choose an eyeshadow with soft tones and little contrast. Try eyeshadows that are grey, shimmery brown, or forest green.
- Hazel eyes: Brown, greens, and golds will enhance the vibrancy of hazel eyes. Like brown eyes, purple eyeshadow can also create a nice contrast. Bronze will also bring out the brown of your eyes.
Type of Eyeshadow
We recommend using powder eyeshadow if you are unfamiliar with makeup and only just dipping your toe in the water. Powder eyeshadow is the easiest product to blend and is perfect for beginners. If you are not used to wearing and applying makeup, this is the eyeshadow for you.
Cream eyeshadow offers a smooth finish thanks to the long-lasting formula. These products blend well and you can mix many colors for a dramatic look. However, some people find the cream creases into the wrinkles of the eyelid. Cream eyeshadow will also melt and smudge when it heats up. Cream eyeshadow is perhaps not the best choice if you are hitting the bars and clubs.
Liquid eyeshadow is like lipgloss for the eyes. It is easy to transport in a handbag during nights out and is easy to apply. However, like cream eyeshadow, it can crease when heated. Keep in mind the fact that liquid eyeshadow dries quickly and doesn’t blend well.
You can also buy loose powder eyeshadow but this is only really used by professionals. It is a highly milled and intensely colored powder. If it is not used with plenty of primer, it will dry out your skin which can irritate your eyes.
Looking for something simple? Try stick eyeshadows. These products look like large crayons and are easy to apply. You simply draw a line on your eyelids and smudge with your finger. It is easy to use this product on your lower lids too. They are easy to carry around and reapply, not that you will need to - this eyeshadow can last up to 24 hours.
Baked eyeshadow is slightly creamier than powder eyeshadow. This product blends easier than powder eyeshadow. The application also feels smoother. Baked eyeshadow generally contains less pigment than powder eyeshadow but you can add it wet to make the color more vibrant.
Vegan
There are many eyeshadows that have not been tested on animals or contain animal derivatives. If this is important to you, choose a cruelty-free product. You will look fabulous and have a clean conscience.
Eyeshadow textures
Matte eyeshadow is best for natural daytime looks. This eyeshadow can define and reshape your eye because it is highly pigmented. Unfortunately, the high pigmentation can make this type of eyeshadow difficult to blend.
Satin textured eyeshadow is a mix between shimmer and matte eyeshadow. It is easier to blend than matte but contains a little less pigment and a mild shimmer effect.
Shimmer eyeshadow is great for people who have a few sags or wrinkles. You can go for a subtle look with a thin layer of shimmer eyeshadow or a dramatic look by building it up in layers.
Frost textured eyeshadow comes mostly in pastel shades and has a white or silver sparkle. If you want a retro 70s-style look, this is the eyeshadow for you.
Eyeshadows Price Range
Eyeshadows vary in price depending on whether you buy them individually or as part of a palette. It also depends on the brand of the eyeshadow. You can expect to pay anywhere between $2 for drugstore brands and $150 for high-end eyeshadow.
How We Chose Our Eyeshadows
We had a lot of fun choosing our eyeshadows! We took into account the overall appearance of the eyeshadow, as well as ease of application, how long it lasted, and value for money. We also read many customer reviews and asked professional makeup artists for their input.
