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Our number one pick is Urban Decay's Naked3 Palette as it has flattering soft pinks and browns, great color payoff, and comes with a double-sided eyeshadow brush. Read on for the rest of our 10 best nude eyeshadow palettes and check out our buying guide, which was checked for accuracy by a makeup artist, for detailed information to help you make a confident choice!
Natalya is a professional makeup artist based in Los Angeles and has been trying new products to find what is best for each individual's skin tone and type. She is self-taught but wanted to further her education, and she went to a makeup school in Los Angeles to learn the ins and outs of makeup. She has tried many makeup brands and products and can proudly say she has found some of the best and longest-wearing products. As a freelance makeup artist, she wants her clients not to worry about their makeup not lasting as long as they need it to.
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
When it comes to nude eyeshadow palettes, one product does not suit all. From the color family, to the finishes, to the potential irritants it may contain, there are many factors to consider before purchasing an eyeshadow palette.
The most dramatic eyeshadow colors for those with blue eyes include coppers and oranges. For those with grey or hazel eyes, jewel toned shades such as emerald greens and ruby reds will emphasize any complex color patterns in your eyes. Green eyes match well with golds and red tints. Finally, those with brown eyes might look towards warm browns, purples, and blues for emphasis.
Neutral tones are most natural for daytime looks which would include a brown, taupe, warm brown, deep brown, and black. Neutral colors work best for most skin tones. For darker skin tones, a warm reddish-brown will give balance to an out-of-balance eye. Adding a highlight draws attention to an area by pulling that area forward.
Another vital aspect to consider is the finish and pigmentation of the eyeshadows. Typically, eyeshadows come in matte, shimmer, duo-chrome, metallic, satin, and glitter finishes.
The most common eyeshadow finishes are matte, shimmer, and satin. These can create both natural and bold looks. To add glam and dimension to an otherwise simple look, look out for duo-chrome, metallic, and glitter shadows. Just because you're looking at a nude palette doesn't mean that the shadows will all be dull or flat!
Most palettes include a variety of shadows with different finishes, which make them more versatile. However, you can find products that only have one type of finish, like an entirely matte palette.
Most eyeshadows worked with are neutral tones for a clean beauty look. There are multiple shades in an eyeshadow palette to create a neutral look to a dramatic look. Neutral eye shadows can range from pale yellows to black shadows. How these shadows are applied can change and enhance the eyes.
Eyeshadow can be layered and blended with whatever shades you are going for. You should build up colors giving a dimension to the final look. You want to work from lightest to darkest. Color combinations can start with a soft cream color for the brow bone and an apricot shade for the lid to add highlight. A medium brown in the crease can add dimension.
For your desired look, know these points to achieve the right look for the right event. Highlights pull, shadows push. Matte colors tend to absorb light. Iridescent colors reflect light. Build layers in small increments and blend, blend, blend.
Pigmentation refers to the intensity of an eyeshadow's color, which ranges from little to a ton of color payoff. Generally, pigmented eyeshadows are preferred since it can be challenging to layer up a sheer shadow, and rich pigmentation often indicates a higher quality product.
Sheer shades can be easier to work with if you’re applying makeup quickly because small mistakes or uneven application will be less noticeable. However, as they focus on lighter color payoff, these sheer colors can wash out or not even show up on dark skin tones.
If you are trying to identify an eyeshadow palette's pigmentation, look for photos of swatches on multiple skin tones, and see how they wear on the model. Reviewers also will include photos of the eyeshadow on themselves, providing more points of comparison.
When you do your makeup, do you often reach for the same four shades or do you prefer to have options?
As tempting as a 20-shade nude palette may be, if you're just looking for a palette to quickly apply makeup in the morning before work, some more adventurous shades might sit unused.
If this is you, a palette with four to eight shades will do. That way, you can easily keep your most used colors with you in your makeup bag. We recommend making sure there’s at least one shade close to your skin tone, one lighter color for blending and highlighting, and one darker color for adding depth.
Larger palettes offer versatility. If you are a makeup artist or someone who wants to experiment with makeup in general, buying a palette with 20 or even 30 eyeshadows gives you many choices to create an extensive range of day, night, and day-to-night looks with just the one palette.
Buying a palette with a variety of colors can offer versatility in facial applications as well. A brown that is too dark for your skin tone can double as an eyeliner or eyebrow tint instead. A shimmery white that is too sheer to use on your eyes can wear as a natural looking highlight.
Some products come with tools that make application easier. You may appreciate having a built-in mirror, especially if you’re taking the palette on the go. It’s also worth looking at the packaging to see if it has functional details, like a magnetic or snap closure. After all, you don’t want a palette popping open inside a suitcase or drawer!
You can find palettes that include makeup brushes, or application tips like a chart that indicates where each shade should be placed on your eyelid.
Sometimes the extra feature comes from the eyeshadows themselves. Some nude palettes include a single bold color, offering more dramatic color combinations. For example, adding a splash of purple in the outer corners of your eye can transition your daytime makeup into an evening look.
If you find yourself reaching for the same shades for blending or highlighting, you might run out of those colors before you’ve even made a dent in the other eyeshadows. While palettes sometimes use the same size eyeshadow pan for each color, it’s becoming more popular to include larger pans of staple shades.
So, take a look at the size of the eyeshadows and see what colors, if any, come in larger pans.
Glitter is always a fun option, but some eyeshadows contain glitter that's not safe to be used on your eyelids. Large plastic glitter could end up scratching your eyes, so it's a good idea to check the product information if you spot any shadows with chunky glitter.
Some eyeshadows also use pigments that can be irritating. Those pigments, like carmine, are usually used for red-toned shades, so they are easier to avoid when shopping for nude palettes. But it's a good idea to check the product description if you have very sensitive skin.
Additionally, it's wise to read through the ingredient list to see if there are any potential irritants. For example, some brands add fragrance to eyeshadows. Check if the product contains "parfum" if your skin is fragrance-sensitive.
If you’re vegan or concerned about animal testing, check the product information and ingredients. Some companies aren’t cruelty-free, and eyeshadows can contain animal-based shimmers or pigments. For example, carmine is a pigment made from beetles, and guanine is a shimmer made from fish scales.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Urban Decay Naked3 Palette | $34.50 High Mid | Best for Creating Naturally Rosy Looks | ||
2 | Juvia's Place The Nubian Eyeshadow Palette | $14.00 Low Mid | Best All-Browns and Tans Eyeshadow Palette | ||
3 | Huda Beauty | $29.00 Mid | Best Rosy Nude Palette in 3 Choices for All Complexions | ||
4 | Colourpop Bare Necessities | $34.00 High Mid | Best Large Palette With a True Black | ||
5 | Lorac | $39.00 High Mid | Best Shimmer and Glitter-Heavy Nude Palette | ||
6 | wet n wild Color Icon Nude Awakening Eyeshadow Palette | $4.63 Low | Best Pocket-Sized Nude Eyeshadow Palette | ||
7 | Morphe 35OM Nature Glow Matte Eyeshadow Palette | $26.00 Mid | Best Complete Collection of Warm Matte Nudes | ||
8 | Tarte Tartelette In Bloom Clay Eyeshadow Palette | $42.00 High Mid | Best Everyday Palette for Lighter Skintones | ||
9 | NARS Voyageur Eyeshadow Palette Mini | $32.00 Mid | Best Mini Nude Eyeshadow Palette | ||
10 | Maybelline Nudes of New York Eyeshadow Palette | $11.98 Low Mid | Best Neutral-Tone Drugstore Eyeshadow Palette |
Pros:
Cons:
Focusing on rosy colors, the Naked3 palette from Urban Decay is perfect for creating soft looks that can still be built up for more drama. The range of pinks, mauves, and browns is neutral enough to wear every day, with a diverse range of lighter shades to create office-friendly looks. For added drama, you can add sparkly black or shimmery bronze.
Some reviewers wished more matte shades were included, and others experienced fallout with some of the shadows. However, reviewers of all skin tones raved about how versatile, pigmented, and flattering this palette is. Plus, they liked that the included brush is well-made and can be stored inside the palette.
Pros:
Cons:
The Nubian Eyeshadow Palette was designed for use with all skin tones, which is why it sticks to a color focus of tans, browns, and golds in a variety of finishes. This way you can always create a natural looking eye look. This palette would also work great as a base palette for makeup artists, complementing other palettes with more daring and bold colors.
A few reviewers found that they needed to build up the shadows for better pigmentation, but most reviewers agreed that this palette has colors that are very wearable and easy to blend. Many were particularly fond of the shimmer and metallic shades.
Pros:
Cons:
This Nude Rich palette is intensely pigmented with pinks, browns, and metallic shades so that it can create an everyday, rosy look on those with dark to deep dark skintones. Check out the two other color variations for light to medium complexions, and find exactly the right one for you.
One note that reviewers pointed out with this palette is that the eyeshadows contain a faint chemical smell. Otherwise, reviewers love the mix of colors and finishes on this palette, saying the limited eyeshadow range makes it very beginner-friendly.
Pros:
Cons:
A wide variety of finishes, colors, and undertones, plus subtle pops of purple, bronze, and gold for a touch of glam, offer you endless looks. The creams and tans work well as a lid or transition color! Try using the darker tones to create a nude smokey eye. And, since there is such a variety of colors, this palette suits all skin tones.
Some reviewers caution about traveling with this case, as the pans can easily fall out of the case and cause a mess. But, when it comes to the eyeshadows themselves, many said that they enjoyed how smooth and pigmented they are.
Pros:
Cons:
Although Lorac's PRO Palette Noir has 'black' in its name, it isn't an overwhelmingly gloomy nude palette. The inclusion of two rows of shimmer and glitter shades can help add a lightness to your eye looks which, coupled with the pigmented matte brown shades, will create both everyday looks and party looks.
One big concern some reviewers brought up is that, since the glitter shadows are so soft and buildable, they easily break, so be careful if you intend to travel with this palette. Otherwise, reviewers enjoyed how creamy these shadows are and how well-curated the colors are. They were able to create a variety of eyeshadow looks with ease.
Pros:
Cons:
When it comes to quickly applying makeup on the go, a smaller, more controllable palette will ease your routine. This palette from wet n wild features an updated eyeshadow formula that promises creamy application that, combined with the variety of finishes the shades come in, will offer you a ton of flexibility despite its small size.
Some reviewers noted that the shadows have to be built up in order to create a more dramatic look. However, many reviewers found this ideal for everyday makeup looks. They said that the pigmentation and wear time is respectable and suggest using an eye primer for extra longevity.
Pros:
Cons:
This palette from Morphe is an updated version of their old favorite, the 35OM Nature Glow Palette. It's even more versatile with its inclusion of new peachy shades that can help lighten a brow bone or highlight the inner corner of your eyes. Plus, while the palette focuses on shades with warm undertones, there are also a few cool and neutral colors.
Some warned beginners way from this palette, as they found the matte eyeshadows to be chalky and difficult to apply. But overall, reviewers enjoyed being able to make many different looks with just one palette. They noted that the pigmented eyeshadows apply smoothly and blend easily, too. Plus, most didn't experience any fallout!
Pros:
Cons:
Tarte is known for creating eyeshadow formulas that are long-lasting and creamy, and this neutral toned palette is no exception. Full of white, brown, and pink mattes and shimmers, this palette is perfect for those who mainly dabble in natural, everyday makeup looks. To get started, try using four shades from a single horizontal row to create a simple, yet beautiful look.
Some reviewers found the colors to be challenging to apply, especially on medium to dark skintones. However, most reviewers loved how flattering the colors are! They said that this is their go-to palette for creating easy, everyday looks.
Pros:
Cons:
This sleek palette from NARS is designed to be miniature but substantial, perfect for those who are on the go but still want to create impeccable eye looks. It contains four shimmers and two mattes in flattering shades of tan and brown. Use the mattes with one shimmer for a simple daytime look, or utilize a few glittering shades for something more dramatic.
Some reviewers were disappointed by the weaker color payoff of the shimmer eyeshadows. However, most reviewers loved this palette's portable size and versatility. It's perfect for those who want something easy and quick to use.
Pros:
Cons:
This palette offers neutral shades that are basic enough to be used for natural makeup, but it also includes colors like gold and mauve for added interest. There are also four extra large pans for high-use shades, ensuring that you never run out of shadows unequally.
A few reviewers felt that the eyeshadows didn't last very long without some kind of primer or base. However, many reviewers expressed that this palette performs just as well as more expensive options! They also appreciated the curation of colors, noting that the variety of finishes and undertones makes it super versatile.
My go-to natural shadow palette will forever be the Anastasia Soft Glam Palette. I have now gone through two of these palettes because it works for any eye shape and any skin tone. This palette has neutral colors to wear a soft glam during the day or a dramatic look for a night out. There are nine matte shade and five shimmer shades to choose from.
These are easily blendable shadows and you won't have a problem with fallout. I have every single eyeshadow palette from Anastasia and if that says anything.... I definitely have a love for these products. I love how smooth they blend and how the pigment applies on the eye. I use these shadows on everyone including myself.
In addition to checking our buying guide for accuracy, Natalya took the time to answer some commonly asked questions about eyeshadow palettes.
"Since eyeshadow palettes are generally powders, they tend to have a longer shelf life. A powder eyeshadow can last anywhere from two to three years. Liquid and cream shadows will have a shorter shelf life due to the oils that can break down over time. Cream shadows can last anywhere from three months to two years."
Natalya added, "You want to keep your eyeshadows protected and in their best condition. If shadows are exposed to bacteria, moisture, heat, freezing air, or dry air, this can factor into the shelf life. If a shadow is expired, you will start to notice that the color does not apply as normal, has a smell, or even can grow mold.
Be sure to check the expiration dates so you do not have a bad experience when doing your makeup. The eye is a delicate place, so be sure to check the dates and take care of your products."
"Spraying your eyeshadow palettes with 99 percent alcohol is the best way to sanitize and clean the product. Since it is a powder formula, you want to take a tissue and wipe or scrape the top layer lightly and then spray with 99 percent alcohol and let dry before closing the packaging," Natalya told us.
"If you start to notice that fall out in the packaging is building up around shadows, you can wipe around the product with a disinfectant wipe. I like to use the 'Wet Ones' wipes to clean up the packaging to keep it looking clean."
Interested in seeing other color stories for your eye looks? Check out Amazon's list of bestselling eyeshadows to change up your makeup kit.
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary, as well as extra tips and advice. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
No. 1: Urban Decay|Naked3 Palette
No. 2: Juvia's Place |The Nubian Eyeshadow Palette
No. 3: Huda Beauty|
No. 4: Colourpop|Bare Necessities
No. 5: Lorac|
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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