There’s a certain saying: the eyes do the talking. And such is made easier with a helping hand from some sublime eyeshadow application. Fortunately, this season serves up an enticing variety of eyeshadow palettes that make the job that much more pleasurable. Indeed, the best eyeshadow palettes have in common the following: an exquisite curation of shades, as well as a smooth finish which makes application as effortless as its staying power is lasting.
Amid our current favourites: an autumn-inspired collection of colour from Dior, its shades instantly evoking the cosiness of fall; a Pillow Talk palette that continues the reign of Charlotte Tilbury’s hyper-popular pink lip shade; an array of beautiful bronzes from Fenty Beauty that can also illuminate your cheeks and collar bones; a mixed-finish palette from iconic style maven Olivia Palermo, inspired by her jet-setting lifestyle; and a curation of Nars’ most enduringly popular shadow tones, your guarantee for fail-proof stunning with shadows.
Indeed, while mascara may elongate and eyeliner defines, there’s nothing like a good shadow to transform your eye make-up look in full. Read on for more detail on the cornucopia of colours we’re collecting now, with our round-up of this season’s best eyeshadow palettes below:
1 / 5
Dior 5 Couleurs Couture Eyeshadow Palette in 889 Reflexion
Dior’s buttery-smooth shadows are a delight to swatch and shade. If you’re over basic neutrals or exotic hues, it’s time to dress your lids in the burnished tones of autumn. Dior’s palette of autumnal tones revolves around an intense burgundy hue, accented by a lustrous beige, striking orange bronze, rosewood and golden-brown shade. Whether used solo or harmonised together, they create the perfect tonal or smoky eye.
Dior 5 Couleurs Couture Eyeshadow Palette in 889 Reflexion, $113, available at Dior
2 / 5
Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette of Pops Eyeshadow Palette in Pillow Talk
Every decade, a new standout shade tightens its grip on our consciousness—think Clinique’s rich berry-toned Black Honey in the ’90s, Nars’ flattering Orgasm in the 2000s and now Pillow Talk by Charlotte Tilbury. In fact, three Pillow Talk-related beauty products are sold every minute. This palette featuring Tilbury’s bestselling nude-pink eye promises to shimmer and delight with accents of vivid rose and peachy bronze shades. Pearl pigments deliver rich colour as the luminous lustre of the shadows lend a touch of mischief and romance to the eyes.
Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette of Pops Eyeshadow Palette in Pillow Talk, $90, available at Sephora
3 / 5
Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’R Face + Eye Bronzer & Highlighter Palette
Versatility is the name of the game with this palette. While technically a bronze- and-highlight combo, you’ll get more mileage with this multifunctional palette. These light, buildable powders lend definition and dimension to the eyes as well as cheeks and clavicles, making colouring and contouring a breeze. To get the most out of this palette, always apply lighter shades first and follow up with deeper tones for added intensity.
Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’R Face + Eye Bronzer & Highlighter Palette, $75, available at Sephora
4 / 5
Olivia Palermo Eyeshadow Palette in O’Naturel
Has the allure of 2000s style icon Olivia Palermo ever waned? Not for us. Known for her sophisticated, pulled-together look whatever the occasion, O’Naturel boasts six finely milled shadows in a mix of matte, satin and shimmer finishes with hues inspired by her travels.
Olivia Palermo Eyeshadow Palette in O’Naturel, US$58.53, available at Net-a-Porter
5 / 5
Nars Summer Unrated Eyeshadow Palette
Sixteen alluring shades provide endless ways to unleash your creativity. Nars’ bestselling favourites, from bronzy Laguna to peachy pink Orgasm, have come together with complementary matte neutrals and exotic pink hues to give you one blockbuster palette. The palette boasts a selection of pigmented shadows in matte, shimmer and, if you’re after that extra pop, glitter finishes.
Nars Summer Unrated Eyeshadow Palette, $90, available at Sephora
