Best Eyeshadow Palettes for Beginners 2025: Expert-Approved Picks
July 17, 2025
Overview
Embark on your eyeshadow journey with the best palettes for beginners in 2025! This expert-approved guide breaks down the essential eyeshadow palettes, offering curated selections perfect for those new to eye makeup. Discover easy-to-blend formulas, versatile color stories, and application tips to create stunning looks, from natural everyday enhancements to more dramatic evening styles. We've researched and tested countless palettes to bring you the ultimate beginner-friendly eyeshadow recommendations, helping you master the art of eye makeup with confidence and ease. Get ready to elevate your beauty routine with the perfect palette for your skill level.
Our picks
The Best Neutral Palette for Everyday Beginners: Bare Necessities Eyeshadow Palette by ColourPop, $35.00
The Easiest Eyeshadow Palette for Seamless Blending: Perfect 10 Eyeshadow Palette, $10.00
The Most Affordable Beginner Eyeshadow Palette Under $30: Bite-Size Eyeshadow, $3.00
The Best Eyeshadow Palette with Step-by-Step Tutorials: Nude Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette, $32.00
The Best Palette for Versatile Finishes: Matte to Glitter: Ultimate Shadow Palette, $20.00
The Most Beginner-Friendly Eyeshadow Palette Formula: Maybelline The Blushed Nudes Eyeshadow Palette, $11.98
Neutral Eyeshadow Palettes for Everyday Looks
Perfect for beginners, these palettes offer versatile, easy-to-wear shades for daily use.
7
Listful
Score
Soft Glam II Mini Eyeshadow Palette by Anastasia Beverly Hills
$29.00
Perfect for the everyday eye makeup enthusiast, the Soft Glam II Mini Eyeshadow Palette by Anastasia Beverly Hills impressed us with its buttery soft textures and ease of blendability. While it earned a 7/10 in our testing, we noted some fallout and packaging concerns. Ideal for travel and versatile looks, this palette shines for both day and evening styles but mind the flaking.
The Good
• The eyeshadows are buttery soft and easy to blend.
• The palette is compact and travel-friendly.
The Bad
• The eyeshadows have a tendency to flake and cause fallout.
• The packaging material tends to get dirty easily.
Blendability: true / Color Payoff: true / Versatility: Day Looks,Evening Looks,Special Occasions / Fallout: true
5
Listful
Score
Maybelline The Blushed Nudes Eyeshadow Palette
$11.98
Maybelline's The Blushed Nudes Eyeshadow Palette scored 5/10 in our review, offering a versatile range suitable for day and evening. Despite its affordable price and easy blending, limited matte options and fading issues may challenge beginners. Enhanced by compact packaging, it's decent for travel but may require layering for lighter shades.
The Good
• The palette offers a versatile range of 12 shades suitable for both day and night looks.
• The eyeshadows blend easily, allowing for smooth application and seamless transitions between colors.
• The compact and travel-friendly packaging makes it convenient for on-the-go use.
The Bad
• Some users report that the lighter shades lack pigmentation and require multiple layers for color payoff.
• The palette contains only one matte shade, limiting options for those preferring matte finishes.
• Some users experience creasing and fading after a few hours without a primer.
Blendability: true / Color Payoff: false / Versatility: Day Looks,Evening Looks / Fallout: false
7.5
Listful
Score
Bare Necessities Eyeshadow Palette by ColourPop
$35.00
Rated 7.5/10, the Bare Necessities Eyeshadow Palette by ColourPop impresses with its range of neutral shades in warm and cool tones. Our review praises its blendability yet notes a struggle with keeping the powdery matte shades tidy. For those appreciating versatile looks, it's a strong contender that may not appeal to every glitter admirer.
The Good
• The palette offers a versatile range of neutral shades suitable for various looks.
• The palette includes both warm and cool tones, catering to different preferences.
The Bad
• The matte shadows are powdery, making the palette hard to keep clean.
• Some shades have micro shimmers that may not appeal to everyone.
Blendability: true / Color Payoff: true / Versatility: Day Looks,Evening Looks,Special Occasions / Fallout: true
7
Listful
Score
Nude Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette
$32.00
The Nude Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette is compact and travel-friendly with highly pigmented shades that are perfect for creating long-lasting looks. Scoring 7/10, our review noted that some colors might blend out to appear similar, but the overall payoff is impressive. Be mindful of the initial chemical smell reported by some users, but the rich color intensity makes it a worthwhile contender for versatile styling.
The Good
• Highly pigmented colors that are long-lasting.
• The palette is compact and travel-friendly.
The Bad
• Some shades may blend out to look very similar to one another.
• Some users reported a strong chemical smell upon opening.
Blendability: true / Color Payoff: true / Versatility: Day Looks,Evening Looks,Special Occasions / Fallout: false
9
Listful
Score
Everyday Faves Eyeshadow Palette
$20.00
The Everyday Faves Eyeshadow Palette shines with its buttery texture and smooth blending, making it our top pick for beginners, marked by a 9/10 score. We found that its versatile range of neutral shades suits both everyday wear and more dramatic smoky looks, though some lighter shades may require more layers. Despite occasional packaging issues, it offers excellent value for its price, perfect for those building their makeup arsenal.
The Good
• The palette offers a versatile range of neutral shades suitable for both everyday wear and smoky looks.
• The eyeshadows blend smoothly and have a buttery texture, making application easy for beginners.
• The palette is affordably priced, offering good value for the quality and variety of shades provided.
The Bad
• Some users report that certain shades, particularly the lighter and shimmery ones, lack pigmentation.
• A few users have experienced issues with the packaging, finding it difficult to open or less durable.
• Some users have noted that the eyeshadows may not last all day without a primer, leading to fading.
Blendability: true / Color Payoff: true / Versatility: Day Looks,Evening Looks / Fallout: false
Eyeshadow Palettes with Beginner-Friendly Formulas
Discover palettes with smooth, blendable formulas and minimal fallout for easy application.
6.5
Listful
Score
Perfect 10 Eyeshadow Palette
$10.00
For those seeking affordability without sacrificing a wide color range, the Perfect 10 Eyeshadow Palette by e.l.f Cosmetics serves as a budget-friendly option. Despite its 6.5/10 score, this palette features ultra-pigmented matte and shimmer shades, suitable for any occasion. Our experience suggests some shades may require layering due to blending issues, but its diverse range still offers great versatility.
The Good
• The palette offers a versatile range of ultra-pigmented matte and shimmer shades suitable for various looks.
The Bad
• Some users report that the eyeshadows are not very blendable.
• Certain shades may lack pigmentation, requiring multiple applications for desired intensity.
Blendability: false / Color Payoff: true / Versatility: Day Looks,Evening Looks / Fallout: false
8
Listful
Score
Honest Beauty Eyeshadow Palette
$41.53
The Honest Beauty Eyeshadow Palette delivers blendable, long-lasting performance, earning an impressive 8/10 score in our review. Featuring a versatile range of matte, shimmer, and satin finishes, it is perfect for any occasion. Although some shades showed pigmentation inconsistency, we found the overall experience smooth and suitable for both day and evening looks.
The Good
• The palette offers a versatile range of matte, shimmer, and satin finishes.
• The formula is smooth and blendable, allowing for easy application.
• The eyeshadows have good longevity, staying put without creasing or fading.
The Bad
• Some users report inconsistency in pigmentation across different shades.
• Certain shades may have minimal fallout during application.
• The palette's color selection may not suit all skin tones.
Blendability: true / Color Payoff: true / Versatility: Day Looks,Evening Looks,Special Occasions / Fallout: true
8
Listful
Score
Bite-Size Eyeshadow
$3.00
Earning an impressive 8/10 score, the Bite-Size Eyeshadow from e.l.f Cosmetics delivers excellent pigmentation and blendability at a steal for $3. In our experience, despite minor issues with shimmer fade and limited shades, it’s a compact option perfect for versatile day or evening looks. Its affordable appeal makes it a delightful addition for beginners.
The Good
• Highly pigmented shades that blend easily.
• Compact and travel-friendly packaging.
• Affordable price point.
The Bad
• Some shimmer shades may experience fallout during application.
• Limited shade variety in each palette.
• Shimmer shades may fade over time without primer.
Blendability: true / Color Payoff: true / Versatility: Day Looks,Evening Looks / Fallout: true
6
Listful
Score
Ultimate Shadow Palette
$20.00
The Ultimate Shadow Palette by NYX offers an impressive variety of textures, from mattes to metallics, although we found the blending experience challenging, resulting in a 6/10 score. Despite its good pigmentation, the shadows tended to blend away during application, with notable fallout. If enjoying a pretty color variety alongside patience is your style, this palette delivers vibrant looks for both day and evening.
The Good
• The palette offers a variety of textures ranging from matte to satin, shimmer and metallic.
• The pigmentation of these eyeshadows is good.
• The color variety looks pretty.
The Bad
• Blending was a bit troublesome since these colored 'blended away' and there is substantial fallout.
• The light colours don’t really stand out well.
• I wish these shadows performed better.
Blendability: false / Color Payoff: true / Versatility: Day Looks,Evening Looks / Fallout: true
Budget-Friendly Eyeshadow Palettes Under $30
Affordable options that don't compromise on quality, offering great value for beginners.
6
Listful
Score
Highly Pigmented Eyeshadow Palette
$8.99
Despite its affordability, the Highly Pigmented Eyeshadow Palette presents vibrant colors but received a 6/10 due to removal difficulties. It offers bright pigmentation across a wide color range, suitable for bold looks. However, beginners should be aware of the formula's long-lasting nature, which might require extra effort when removing.
The Good
• The palette offers a wide range of vibrant and highly pigmented colors.
The Bad
• Some users reported that the eyeshadows can be difficult to remove due to their long-lasting formula.
Blendability: true / Color Payoff: true / Versatility: Day Looks,Evening Looks,Special Occasions / Fallout: false
7.5
Listful
Score
Morphe 35C Palette
$25.00
The Morphe 35C Palette showcases a versatile selection of shades suitable for both day and night looks, making it a reliable choice at $25. In our review, we appreciated its blendability, although some shades required layering for full intensity, resulting in a 7.5/10 score. Despite occasional fallout, the palette's adaptability and the ability to create diverse styles make it a valuable addition to any beginner's collection.
The Good
• The palette offers a versatile range of shades suitable for both everyday and evening looks.
The Bad
• Some shades have minimal fallout, which can be managed with careful application.
• Certain shades may lack pigmentation, requiring multiple layers for desired intensity.
Blendability: true / Color Payoff: true / Versatility: Day Looks,Evening Looks,Special Occasions / Fallout: true
7
Listful
Score
Revlon ColorStay Eyeshadow Quad - Addictive
$9.99
Revlon’s ColorStay Eyeshadow Quad in 'Addictive' is a budget-friendly choice that delivers decent longevity and blendability, scoring 7/10. We found it ideal for a range of looks, though some users noted limited pigmentation, particularly in lighter shades. While the included applicator may fall short, the quad's ability to resist creasing and stay put throughout the day makes it a practical entry-level option.
The Good
• The palette offers a good range of shades that will suit any color type.
• The eyeshadows are long-lasting and do not crease or smudge.
The Bad
• Some users find the pigmentation lacking, especially in the lighter shades.
• The included applicator is of low quality and not very useful.
Blendability: true / Color Payoff: false / Versatility: Day Looks,Evening Looks / Fallout: false
Eyeshadow Palettes with Detailed Tutorials
Palettes that include guides and tutorials to help you learn eyeshadow techniques.
9.5
Listful
Score
Celestial Chic Eyeshadow Palette
$15.73
The Celestial Chic Eyeshadow Palette is our top-rated choice, earning a 9.5/10 for its impressive color payoff and smooth blendability. Perfect for both day and night looks, this palette dazzles with 15 versatile shades. While durable, the packaging could be sturdier, and you might want to consider personal skin tone match for the cool smoky hues.
The Good
• The palette offers a versatile range of 15 shades suitable for both day and night looks.
• The eyeshadows are buttery smooth and blend seamlessly, even with less expensive brushes.
• The pigmentation is impressive, providing vibrant color payoff.
The Bad
• Some users may find the cool smoky tones less suitable for warmer skin tones.
• The palette lacks a mirror, which could be inconvenient for on-the-go application.
• The packaging is not as sturdy as some might prefer, potentially affecting durability.
Blendability: true / Color Payoff: true / Versatility: Day Looks,Evening Looks / Fallout: false
5.5
Listful
Score
InfraRed Eyeshadow Palette
$59.00
In our testing, the InfraRed Eyeshadow Palette scored 5.5/10, highlighting its struggles with pigmentation and longevity. Offering a versatile mix of matte and shimmer shades, it serves various looks but fades quickly, detracting from its higher price point value. While potential for creativity exists, the performance may not satisfy all wearers.
The Good
• The palette offers a versatile range of both matte and shimmer shades, suitable for various looks.
The Bad
• Some users have reported issues with pigmentation and longevity, noting that colors may fade quickly.
Blendability: true / Color Payoff: true / Versatility: Day Looks,Evening Looks,Special Occasions / Fallout: false
6.5
Listful
Score
Warm 88 Eye Shadow Palette
$24.99
The Warm 88 Eye Shadow Palette offers an extensive range of warm shades, perfect for crafting diverse looks for any occasion. While its compact design makes it ideal for travel, during our testing we found the shadows to be a bit chalky with less pigmentation, earning it a score of 6.5/10. Beginners might find the small pans and fallout challenging, but its variety remains a highlight for those experimenting with different warm tones.
The Good
• The palette offers a wide range of warm shades suitable for various looks.
• The compact size makes it convenient for travel and storage.
The Bad
• Some users report that the eyeshadows can be chalky and lack pigmentation.
• The eyeshadow pans are small, which may be inconvenient for some users.
Blendability: true / Color Payoff: false / Versatility: Day Looks,Evening Looks,Special Occasions / Fallout: true
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