If there’s one thing my clumsy hands get right when it comes to makeup, it’s creating a a basic eye look with neutral tones and a hint of glitter. But the holidays are here, and now isn’t the time to play it safe. Enter palettes like Jackie Aina’s Anastasia Beverly Hills collaboration, NARS’ Inferno and not to mention Naked. Matching your sparky NYE dress to your eyeshadow might seem extra but these 14 palettes are up for the challenge.
1
Soda Pop Eyeshadow Palette
amazon.com
$10.99
$8.99 (18% off)
The star of this palette is easily the pop of orange in the center, which is also a great color to build all of your makeup looks around this holiday. You can keep it simple and dust on Soda Fizz—a glitzy bronze—or Tonic—a shimmering champagne—for a soft glam look, or create a smoldering berry smokey eye with the deep russet trio of Root Beer, Cherry on Top and Cola Float.
2
Savage Black Magic Color Palette
ulta.com
$44.00
Two words: Sir John. Backstage at LaQuan Smith’s Spring 2020 runway show, Uomo Beauty’s Savage Black Magic Palette was all the makeup whisperer used to create bold, feline eyes for models. With holiday parties on the horizon, recreate Sir John’s look by swiping the twinkling sapphire Fierce and matte navy Storm across or eyes or experiment on your own using the palette’s fiery reds, silvers, or neutral hues.
3
Naked Honey Eyeshadow Palette
ulta.com
$49.00
It’s like the classic Naked range was dipped in a bowl of honey. Perfect for those who love subtle glamour, this twelve-pan palette has a mix of matte neutrals and a variety of gold glitter shades that work for metallic mastery and everyday looks alike.
4
Love Lust Disco Foil Play Cream Palette
ulta.com
$10.00
If you’re looking for six in-your-face pigmented, smooth-textured eyeshadows, NYX’s Love Lust Disco palette has you covered. Also? It’s ten dollars.
5
Bye Bye Birdie
colourpop.com
$18.00
Summer is long gone but berry hues are here to stay. The Bye, Bye Birdie palette has a beautiful buff and rose color story with endless tonal combinations. Plus, it has three super soft glitter pots—Ruffled, Gander, Emuse Me—that, like tinsel, work great as toppers.
6
JewelPop Face & Eye Palette
nordstrom.com
$59.00
Not only is this palette well-stocked with lush jewel tones, but it also features a versatile blush and highlighter hybrid to impart a natural radiance to your skin, and a sculpting powder to give you the cheekbones of your dreams—even if it’s just for a few hours.
7
Moroccan Spice Eyeshadow Palette
sephora.com
$59.00
Holiday makeup doesn’t have to be all reds and neutrals. How about a oceanic electric blue? Or a verdant forest green? Fenty Beauty’s Moroccan Spice palette has it all.
8
Inferno Eyeshadow Palette
sephora.com
$59.00
Use your fingertip to dab on the sparkly shades for maximum opacity. Then create your own disco-inspired playlist with the eyeshadow names—Turn the Beat Around, I’m So Excited, Can you Feel It—all of which reference popular songs.
9
Crystal Clear Ultimate Blockbuster Palette
ulta.com
$38.00
This expansive palette covers all the bases with a whopping 32 matte and glitter eyeshadows, three highlighter pans, and six blush contour shades.
10
Lolita Por Vida Eyeshadow Palette
sephora.com
$49.50
If the eight eyeshadows from the OG Lolita palette weren’t enough for you, here are 18 more to add to your armamentarium. At first glance, the pink shades look awfully similar, but one swipe reveals a delicate nuance.
11
Hollywood Glamour Eye Shadow Palette
amazon.com
$15.00
For a holiday travel-friendly version, this bite-sized Lorac x Rachel Zoe palette comes packed with six buttery-soft foils for easy day-to-night looks. Pair well with maxi dresses, bangles, and platform heels.
12
Anastasia Beverly Hills Jackie Aina Palette
ulta.com
$45.00
YouTube queen Jackie Aina created one of the most versatile eyeshadow and universally flattering palettes and we do not deserve her. This range of warm neutrals, silky glitters, and vibrant earth tones was formulated with darker complexions in mind—no ashy shades in sight. Guessing you’ll soon feel like Jackie, Jackie, Jackie, Jackie herself.
13
Mothership II Eyeshadow Palette – Sublime
sephora.com
$125.00
Me:
No one: ”I’m so tired of smokey eyes.”
What’s great about Mother’s Sublime palette is that it comes with smokey shades (slate, brown, flesh) and a bunch of bright tones including an emerald green, rich gold foil and a shimmery rose.
14
Eye-Conic Multi-Finish Eyeshadow Palette
sephora.com
$49.50
One swipe of this creamy, pillow-soft formula and you’ll be sold.
Assistant Editor
Nerisha is the assistant editor at ELLE.com, covering all things beauty and fashion.