Eyeshadow palettes merit careful investment. Though they drastically reduce the cost per shadow compared with buying an individual eyeshadow, and are easier to store and use, they have their problems. Namely, almost no one, with the exception of professional make-up artists, ever really uses all of the shades in their palette. This isn’t necessarily a problem, but if you find yourself leaving a large proportion of the shades in your eyeshadow palette unused, then it isn’t worth the money. Consider a palette an investment purchase similar to a good coat or a pair of boots, and opt for the colours you know you will actually wear.
Huda Beauty Obsessions Palette (€28 at Brown Thomas Beauty Lounge)
The Obsessions Palettes from Huda Beauty are intensely pigmented, and come in a beautiful range of colour ways and finishes. For a more traditional range of shades, try the Smokey Obsessions Palette. For something a bit more daring but intensely beautiful, opt for the Coral Obsessions palette.
MAC Aaliyah Haughton Eyeshadow x 9 Palette (€33.50 at Brown Thomas)
This limited edition palette pairs earthy tones in various finishes with pink and purple hues which will give an eye a bit of life and interest. This palette is particularly excellent for brown and green eyes.
Zoeva Nude Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette (€36.50 at Arnotts)
The Nude Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette is arguably the only nude palette you’ll ever reasonably need, but every palette enthusiast knows that to be irrelevant. This palette works for both deep and pale skins, both warm and cool undertones. It is an ideal gift, in that it works for almost everyone.
Huda Beauty Desert Dusk Palette (€65 at Brown Thomas Beauty Lounge)
Huda Beauty is widely celebrated for its palettes for a reason. This enormous Desert Dusk Palette features 18 incredibly powerfully pigmented shades. With eight mattes, six pressed pearl shadows, three metallic duo-chromes and one intense glitter, this palette contains every finish for day or evening. If you don’t like warm tones, however, this won’t be for you.
Rimmel Magnif'Eyes Eyeshadow Palette in Spice (€10.50)
For a more affordable palette featuring the sort of warm tones in Huda Beauty’s Desert Dusk Palette, try the Rimmel Magnif’Eyes Palette in Spice. These tones tend to work best with a tan, or an olive or deep complexion. With its sunset tones, it works perfectly for summer evenings. They will offset blue and green eyes beautifully.
Urban Decay Beached Palette (€34 at Debenhams)
Blue eyeshadow is difficult to wear. However, there is no denying that Kim Kardashian has brought it crashing back into fashion. If you’re going to wear it, do it with conviction, and avoid hints of insipid, watercolour-evoking, diluted blue. Choose an azure or royal blue, and really go for it. The beached palette contains two blue shades, along with a range of warmer nudes which, when run through the crease of the eye, will make the blue eyeshadow much more interesting and wearable.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Palette (€48.25 at beautybay.com)
This is the sort of palette that it almost hurts to use, because using it entails blemishing its beauty. Blemish away, however, to discover the intense, buttery pigment. The Soft Glam palette lives up to its name – champagne, pink and gold shadows along with browns and rusty shades give you the option of versatility and the creation of a classically glamorous make-up.
