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Best Drugstore Eyeshadow Palettes

Updated July 2023
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Maybelline The Nudes
Maybelline
The Nudes
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Best for Everyday Use
Bottom Line

The nude shades and quality pigmentation will have you reaching for this palette daily.

Pros

A healthy mix of matte and shimmer shades. Highly pigmented color that is easily blendable. Little to no fallout. A few of the shades work well for filling in eyebrows. Perfect palette for creating natural looks.

Cons

Shimmer shades tend to crease without eyeshadow primer.

Best Bang for the Buck
Covergirl Trunaked Nudes
Covergirl
truNAKED Nudes
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Bargain Pick
Bottom Line

A mix of easy-to-wear matte and shimmer shades at a price your wallet will love.

Pros

Available in 3 color schemes: Nudes, Goldens, and Jewels. The 8-pan palette sits at a considerably low price point. Goes on light, but is easily buildable to create a range of subtle to dramatic looks. Shimmer and matte shades have almost no fallout.

Cons

You will need primer and setting spray to help this shadow last all day.

NYX Ultimate Shadow Palette
NYX
Ultimate Shadow Palette
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Best Color Payoff
Bottom Line

Create a range of bright and bold looks with these highly pigmented and unique colors.

Pros

The ultimate palette available in 3 complementary color schemes: The Brights, Cool Neutrals, and Smokey & High. Quality color pay-off. Pigmented shades that still blend easily. Stays in place for hours even without primer.

Cons

You may experience some fallout with this palette.

L.A. Girl Beauty Brick Nudes, Neutral Palette, .42 oz.
L.A. Girl
Beauty Brick Nudes, Neutral Palette, .42 oz.
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Natural Look
Bottom Line

This range helps you mix the proper tone to match your skin.

Pros

You can experiment with natural looks and play around with other accents with the small but versatile palette of well-pigmented, matte and shimmer colors. People love how easy it is to achieve desired results.

Cons

Some wish there were more palettes available.

Rechoo 99 Color Eyeshadow Rainbow Palette; Glitter, Matte, and Neutral Colors
Rechoo
99 Color Eyeshadow Rainbow Palette; Glitter, Matte, and Neutral Colors
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A Rainbow of Colors
Bottom Line

This long-lasting eyeshadow achieves practically any color shade you can dream of, with 99 colors.

Pros

This colorful palette is great for cosplay and similar makeup-heavy hobbies. The shades work on more than just your eyes. It's a cruelty-free formula that doesn't weigh your face down with crusted makeup shells.

Cons

Some find that it irritates their skin. Don't get it unless you plan to use a lot of colors.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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Playing around with different eyeshadow colors and styles is a fun way to express yourself, but forking out $50.00 - $70.00 for a new palette can be a little overwhelming. Luckily, there are a number of drugstore brand eyeshadow palettes that are on-par, or sometimes better than the high-end options, for a fraction of the price. The only real difference between the $50.00 and the $8.00 palettes is packaging. High-end pallets are often heavy-duty with a clasp and a mirror – features you won’t always get with a cheaper option. Drugstore palettes have the quality shadows that expert makeup lovers appreciate, but often include instructions and brushes ideal for beginners to get the looks they want.