To me, a good nude eyeshadow palette is the beauty equivalent of the perfect camel knit from Toteme or The Row—it’s completely timeless, an absolute staple and compliments any look. So, you can see why pretty much every makeup artist has one in their kit.
Whether you’re wanting to create one of this year’s biggest makeup trends, or simply want to add a little bit of oomph to your eye makeup look, the right palette will cover your every need far more effectively than a single eyeshadow stick might. But how do you go about choosing the best one? That’s where we come in.
Team Who What Wear UK have been busy putting some of the most popular nude eyeshadow palettes to the test to see which ones live up to expectations. Not only that, but I’ve taken it upon myself to reach out to the experts to find out how to create the perfect nude eyeshadow look. So, what are you waiting for? Keep on scrolling for the info…
What Colours to Look for in a Nude Eyeshadow Palette
First things first, it’s important to think about what neutral colours you want in your eyeshadow palette. “Nude shadows need to compliment your individual skin tone,” explains Dominic Skinner, director of makeup artistry at M.A.C. “If you have a more rosy or rich undertone, then look for a palette that has warm shades like mahogany, corals, and coppers. Whereas if you have a golden or caramel undertone then a palette with more sandy and ochre shades would be better.”
Do Nude Eyeshadows Suit All Skin Tones?
The great thing about nude eyeshadows is that they suit everyone. “Nude shadows suit all skin tones,” says Skinner. “This is because they compliment the wearer’s skin tones to enhance the natural features.”
(Image credit: Who What Wear UK)
Team Who What Wear UK have been busy putting the best nude eyeshadow palettes to the test.
How to Take a Nude Eyeshadow Look From Day to Night
Once you have your perfect nude eyeshadow palette, you might be curious on how to take your eye makeup look from day to night. “Nude eyeshadow looks are always so flattering and easily adaptable, so taking your nude eye look from day to night is simple” says Skinner. “I like to start by taking a slightly deeper shade than what I used originally, and lightly sweep it around the lash line. Then, with an angled brush, work a darker shade along the upper lash line and slightly extend it out like an eyeliner. The best thing is, by using powder, it doesn’t have to be precise so you can do it in a rush or on the go.”
To get the most from your eye look, utilise the best eyeshadow primers for longevity and optimum pigment pay off, and finish up with a few coats of a great mascara.
The Best Nude Eyeshadow Palettes, Tried & Tested by Editors
1. M.A.C Connect In Colour Unfiltered Nudes
Mac
Connect in Colour Eye Palette Unfiltered Nudes
Number of shades: 12
Best for: A range of matte and shimmery looks
First up is this palette from Mac. With 12 neutral, warm-toned shades to choose from and a mix of matte, shimmer, glitter and metallic finishes, it quite literally has everything you need for any neutral eye makeup look. It is the brand’s most pigmented eyeshadow palette yet (it has up to 25% more pigment than previous palettes from the brand) and each shadow has the most gorgeous, silky texture.
“This palette looks and feels so expensive, and it’s very robust so I know I could travel with it and it would get to the destination in one piece,” says Who What Wear UK deputy editor, Maxine Eggenberger. “Although some of the colours are a bit too shimmery for my liking, these eyeshadows really perform. They are very pigmented but also buildable depending on how intense you want your eyeshadow to look. They blend together beautifully too. When testing, there was absolutely no fall out (something I experience with almost every other eyeshadow I’ve tried) and the shadows were long-lasting too (I wore mine from 8am until 9pm and the shadow didn’t budge). I totally get the hype around Mac palettes, I just need to find my perfect colourway.”
For
- Robust packaging
- Lots of shades and finishes to choose from
- Pigmented
- Long-lasting
Against
- The warm-toned hues might not be for everyone
2. Dior Backstage Eye Palette Warm Neutrals
Dior
Backstage Eye Palette Warm Neutrals
Number of shades: 9
Best for: A warm-toned eye makeup look
If you fancy a little bit of luxury, you can’t go wrong with this palette from Dior. Another great option for those of you who love warm-toned shades, it comes with nine neutral eyeshadows in both matte and shimmery finishes. The pigmented hues are a dream to apply and blend easily for a soft, diffused makeup look.
“Apart from a few experiments at uni and the occasional work shoot, I have never worn eyeshadow,” says Who What Wear UK managing editor, Poppy Nash. “Rarely do I use anything other than my 6 favourite makeup products, so it’s safe to say that I went into this review process feeling very skeptical. However, I was pleasantly surprised. This Dior palette is beautiful, and I was delighted with my finished makeup look. If I am going to try a new makeup product, it has to be neutral, and the shades in this palette were perfect for me.
“I used the matte, nude option along with a little bit of the white shimmery shade to awaken the eye area. There is also a lovely light gold shade that I’m looking forward to trying at the weekend, as well as some bronze hues that would work really well for a smokey eye look. Another plus was that the shadows were easy to apply and blend, and left me with a natural look that I could wear every day. I applied the product at 7:30am and by 6pm it was still there.
“While I was really pleased with how the shades looked on my skin tone, I know that some of my colleagues in the US feel that the shades aren’t that noticeable on darker skin tones, which is disappointing. The only other downside is that it would be nice if the palette came with a little brush to apply the product with. However, the palette itself is lovely and every detail has been considered, right down to the Dior logo embossed onto each eyeshadow. All in all, I’m really delighted with this and now consider myself a full eyeshadow convert.”
For
- Perfect size to put in your handbag
- Easy to blend
- Long-lasting
Against
- Would be nice if it came with an eyeshadow brush
- Shades might not work for all skin tones
3. Urban Decay Naked Basics 2 Palette
Urban Decay
Naked Basics 2 Palette
Number of shades: 6
Best for: A cool-toned eye makeup look
If cool tones are more your thing, this palette from Urban Decay might be the one for you. The original Naked palette is somewhat of an iconic beauty product, but the Naked Basics 2 Palette is an underrated gem. Not only is it small enough to pop in your handbag, but it comes with six cool-toned shades that can create everything from a subtle, everyday look to a statement smokey eye. It’s worth noting that it does only come with matte finishes, so if shimmers are what you’re after, you might prefer a different palette in this roundup.
“As someone whose complexion errs on the paler side, yet is always prone to bouts of redness in my T-zone, I’ve always found myself overcompensating with warmer tones when doing my eyeshadow. This all changed when Urban Decay’s Naked 2 Basics Palette slid across my desk,” says Who What Wear UK SEO writer, Ava Gilchrist. “The shades ranged from pale ivory to a warm grey and taupe brown, which the brand posits as ‘contouring neutral eyeshadows for creating the ultimate smokey eye’. This is great for occasions when you want to inject a little drama, but for a soft neutral you can wear to the office, I found myself using the lightest three colours on offer. The matte pink shade, titled ‘Stark’, was a nice nude and created an even tone on my lid, with the subtle rose finish correcting and warming the appearance of redness and veins. ‘Frisk’, a light cement, did provide some depth, but I wouldn’t agree that it’s the decisive transitional shade the brand supposes it to be.
“I found the darkest shades to be the most difficult to use, but this could be because of my novice-level eyeshadow skills. I used a tried-and-true blending brush, yet I found there was spillage and fallout even when picking up the shadow. I think I prefer my cream eyeshadows for one-and-done ease—especially on days when I’m in the office. But if I have a bit more time up my sleeve on nights out, I’ll certainly reach for this palette for added dimension and drama.”
For
- A good range of cool-toned shades
- Easy to take on the go
Against
- Might experience some fallout
- Not as easy to blend as cream eyeshadow
4. Morphe 35O Supernatural Glow Artistry Palette
Morphe
35O Supernatural Glow Artistry Palette
Number of shades: 35
Best for: A huge range of shades
Morphe palettes are seriously worth the hype. They contain a huge range of shades, making them great value for money, and the silky soft formulas blend like a dream. This particular palette comes with 35 neutral hues including matte, shimmer and glitter finishes.
“I am not an eyeshadow palette person at all. I think I own two. Most days I’m eyeshadow-less or, if I do want to make an effort, I smudge a single cream eyeshadow over my lids without too much thought,” says Who What Wear UK beauty director, Shannon Lawlor. “Earlier this year, I decided to clear out all of my neglected palettes and whittled it down to two: one is a small quad that I take away when I’m travelling and this gigantic one from Morphe. I only wear neutral tones, so it’s needless to say both palettes comprise of nudes, browns, golds and blacks for when I want a smokey look. The reason this Morphe one survived the cull is because it is, without question, the most versatile eyeshadow palette in existence. There are likely thousands of looks I could create with the various shades, and every single one of them is wearable.
“Despite its size, it’s the first product I reach for on days when I actually fancy taking some more time with my eye look. The formulas are buttery, easy to blend and totally foolproof for those who, like me, don’t have an artistic bone in their body. On the flipside, I know countless makeup artists who carry this palette in their kits at all times. I will, genuinely, never get rid of it.”
For
- More affordable than other palettes
- Huge range of shades
- Buttery formula
5. Fenty Beauty Snap Shadows Deep Neutrals
Fenty Beauty
Snap Shadows Mix & Match Eyeshadow Palette Deep Neutrals
Number of shades: 6
Best for: Taking on the go
In contrast to the palette above, this one from Fenty Beauty is great for taking on the go. The portable case comes with six highly pigmented shades in both matte and shimmery finishes. The intense colour payoff is impressive, but what’s even more impressive is the fact that you can snap two palettes in different colourways together if you feel like you want more options.
“I love the fact that you can purchase this Fenty palette in four different colourways, including a cool option, a deep option and even a peach-toned palette for those warm hues,” says Who What Wear UK junior beauty editor, Grace Lindsay. “This particular one comes with the most gorgeous, deep neutral hues and the colour pay off is out of this world. Because the pay off is so impressive, blending these shadows out can be a little harder, but nothing that a good eyeshadow brush can’t fix.
“Although my palette has gotten a little messy over time, when applying the eyeshadows I never notice any fallout. Instead, I am left with a statement, neutral eyeshadow look that always earns me compliments. Although it’s not a palette I reach for on an everyday basis, when I am wanting to spend a little more time on my makeup, this is my go-to.”
For
- Portable palette
- Impressive colour pay off
- No fallout
Against
- Can be a little harder to blend
6. Charlotte Tilbury Super Nudes Easy Eye Palette
Charlotte Tilbury
Super Nudes Easy Eye Palette
Number of shades: 6
Best for: A matte eyeshadow look
If you like a matte finish, you need to know about this eyeshadow palette from Charlotte Tilbury, It features a range of satin-matte shadows in both cool and warm tones, so it’s ideal for creating a range of looks. Yes, there are no shimmery shades, but it’s a great option for everyday. Not only does it have cool and warm tones, but it also has both super light and super dark shades so you can make your eye makeup as intense or subtle as you want.
“I have a love-hate relationship with powder eyeshadow palettes,” says Who What Wear UK analyst, Sophie Cookson. “I tend to go for creamy eyeshadows as I like how buildable they are, however I was excited to try the Charlotte Tilbury Super Nudes Easy Eye Palette as I wanted to create a subtle smokey eye.
“I experimented with the ‘day’ shades over a number of days to test the durability of the product. I found that it lasted well throughout the first half of the day, but by late afternoon I could see that it had faded slightly. If you wanted all day (or all night) coverage I’d recommend applying the Nars Eyeshadow Primer so that it stays in place. The shadows themselves are easily buildable, and although the darkest shade is the most pigmented, it can be softened with an eyeshadow brush.
“The price point is more on the expensive side but it has shades for both day and night so you get two looks in one!”
For
- Comes with cool and warm-toned shadows
- Pigmented
- Buildable
Against
- A little more expensive for the size
- Can fade throughout the day
7. Makeup By Mario Master Mattes® The Neutrals Eyeshadow
Makeup By Mario
Master Mattes® The Neutrals Eyeshadow
Number of shades: 12
Best for: A ’90s eye makeup look
Last but by no means least, say hello to the Master Mattes® palette from Makeup By Mario. With 12 matte shades in a range of cool tones, this is the palette to get your hands on if you want to create a ’90s eye makeup look. In true Makeup By Mario fashion, each hue can be used to shape and sculpt the eyes, and the creamy, longwearing formulas make doing this feel oh so easy.
“My biggest gripe with eyeshadow palettes is that although there are several warm-toned neutral palettes around, it’s hard to find one that focuses exclusively on cool-toned neutrals, which I find suits my skin tone so much better,” says Who What Wear UK beauty editor, Eleanor Vousden. “After years of searching, my search came to an end after discovering this Makeup By Mario palette, and I can honestly say I’ll be buying this eyeshadow palette for life.
“Mario Dedivanovic was inspired by ‘90s neutral tones and I can honestly say that I reach for most of the shades in the palette on the regular. From soft ecru and cool-toned beiges to muted chocolate, sand and greige, every single shade is wearable and can be worn as a soft veil of colour on the lids, or layered and blended with additional shades for soft sculpting. Most days, I reach for a wash of colour from one of the top four shades and blend one of the cool-toned browns through the eyelid crease to define my eyes, or apply a touch on the outer corner to mimic a smoked-out wing. You don’t need to be an MUA to use this palette, however. The shades are buttery soft, easy to blend and apply with just the right amount of pigment to create simple everyday eye makeup looks to smokey eyes. They’re really long-wearing, too.”
For
- A great range of matte, cool-toned shades
- Long-wearing
- Easy to blend
Against
- Expensive
- Not the best choice if you like shimmery or warm-toned shades
