The 10 best make-up palettes our make-up artists swear by

Whether you like to be spoiled for creative choice or would prefer a collection of shades you can be confident will go well together, investing in eye make-up palettes is an easy way to create a range of stunning daytime and evening looks.

But with so many palettes out there claiming to be the best, which one should you choose? Don’t worry – we went straight to the experts. Our professional make-up artists shared their top 10 go-to make-up palettes, ranging from nude to colourful. From MAC and NARS to Jeffree Star, Makeup by Mario or Urban Decay, here are the best make-up palettes recommended by our professional beauty therapists. Which will you go for?

1. Morphe 350 

If you’re looking for a neutral, natural selection of colours, then this Morphe 350 palette should make your shortlist. There are 35 shades ranging from a light, luminescent nude to deepest, darkest, cocoa-rich chocolate.

Whatever you’re wearing and wherever you’re headed, this eyeshadow palette offers a beautiful range of hues, including glamorous golden shades to rich terracotta hues. The colours are all given intriguing, rather magical names too; such as Secret Potion, Dreamlike, Time Travel, Levitate and Special Effect. 

2. Beautybay Warm Neutrals palette

Beautybay’s range of palettes also come highly recommended by our expert therapists. Rich in pigmentation, they are simple to apply and blend so you can create just the look you want to achieve. 

The ultimate warm neutrals palette comprises 16 of the most appealing shades you could hope to find: from soft, pearlescent pinks to rich, earthy shades or dramatic dark tones. It’s a palette that will take you from boardroom to bar, via meeting your new partner’s parents or even attending a wedding. 

3. MAC Sculpt and Highlight palette

This six-colour palette from one of the most highly respected brands in the business is designed so you can sculpt, shape and highlight to your heart’s content. The ultra smooth formulas are just what you’d expect from MAC, and there are three shades for contouring plus a trio of highlighters. 

It’s the perfect beauty kit to pack in your carry-on when heading away for a long weekend, as the versatile powders can be used on the eyelids and cheeks as well as other parts of the face. Define your contours, lend drama to your eyes and you’re good to go once you’ve added a slick of lipstick and a flick of mascara to complete the look. 

4. Jeffree Star Orgy eyeshadow palette

Is the Jeffree Star Orgy eyeshadow palette the only one you’ll ever need? Quite possibly – and its sleek looks are surely enough to drive your desire to call it your own. Each individual eyeshadow bears the impression of a star, and colour depths range from the ultra pale I’m Shy to the almost-black Glory Hole.

It’s a covetable collection, including subtle pinks like Silk Robe and Fluffer as well as deep, dark, cocoa-like hues of Invitation Only and Orgy, and warm caramels such as Top and Craving Chocolate. 

5. Makeup by Mario Master Mattes eyeshadow palette 

This brand is the brainchild of esteemed make-up artist Mario Dedivanovic, and the Master Mattes eyeshadow palette offers a range of silky eyeshadows that will complement every skin tone. With soft neutrals, subtle and strong browns and deepest black, these shades can be used to add colour, definition and drama to the eyes, cheeks and face. 

The creamy texture makes them a cinch to blend, and thanks to superior pigments it’s easy to create a look that will stay in place all day long.

6. P Louise Read All About It palette

If you’re the sort of beauty fan who loves to be spoiled for choice, then you’ll adore the Read All About It palette from P Louise. With 36 highly pigmented shades, you may never need to buy another shade of eyeshadow.

This selection also goes way beyond the pale and darker neutrals to include attractive hues like a sparkling purple, several glamorous metallics and a choice of eye-catching oranges so you can truly stand out. From an 80s aesthetic to an up-to-the-minute vibe, this is ideal for fashionistas who love to experiment with their look. 

7. Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Eye Filter

It’s a pretty bold claim, yet is backed by one of the most respected names in the beauty industry. The Hollywood Flawless Eye Filter palette is designed to work just like a camera filter, so every user can look just as good close-up as they do when posting digitally-enhanced images on Insta.

Three options are available: Star Auro, Diva Lights or Eyes of a Star. Although there are subtle differences between them, all three include four pigment-rich shades with a gentle shimmer for creating a seamless, glamorous look every time.  

8. Urban Decay Naked Cyber

Urban Decay offers some of the best make-up palettes to buy and the Naked Cyber collection of eyeshadows is no exception. The name reveals all – the desirable dozen includes all sorts of hues from barely-there nudes to a shimmering, iridescent shade called YSK.

This Urban Decay palette is vegan-friendly and covers all bases, from classic neutrals to glittering hues with metallic and dual-toned shades. You could use no other eyeshadow palette for a year and not get bored, especially when the formulas are so blendable – not to mention downright covetable. 

9. NARS Climax eyeshadow palette

As usual, NARS delivers the goods with the Climax eyeshadow palette. The nine shades offer  an intriguing and eclectic mix of colours, from a sparkling silvery shade to matte nude, purple and moss hues.

From bronze-like Passion Play or glimmering Envious to the smoky, suede-like Public Eye, buy this and we guarantee you’ll be Hooked (that’s a rich, dramatic shade ideal for parties, by the way).

10. Victoria Beckham Beauty Smokey Eye Brick

If you want to carry the most stylish looking palette around then the Victoria Beckham Beauty range is worth more than a mere glance. It’s all about performance too, with the formulas including only the latest, cleanest skincare ingredients.

The creamy, dreamy eyeshadows are in fact designed so there’s no need for application brushes or hours of blending – you can simply smooth them directly onto your skin after stroking a finger across the top of your desired shade.

Now your new make-up palette is on its way to you, it’s time to experiment with the new looks you can create. If you’re keen to learn some new techniques, or just get the most out of your new make-up ahead of a  special occasion, why not enlist the help of talented make-up artists? They can come to your home, hotel or office and work their make-up magic!

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