When it comes to building your makeup collection on a budget, few products offer as much versatility as a great drugstore neutral eyeshadow palette. With their mix of flattering warm and cool browns, dimensional shimmers, and wearable mattes, affordable neutral palettes can take you from the office to a night out. If you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck, these top 5 drugstore picks have you covered.
Maybelline The City Mini Palette in Chill Brunch Neutrals
For just $9.99, Maybelline’s City Mini palette gives you 6 warm and cool-toned neutral shades to play with. The buttersoft powder formula glides on smoothly and the pigment payoff is impressive for a drugstore brand.
You get 4 mattes ranging from the rich terracotta “Make a Latte” to the deep cool brown “Mocha on the Go.” Plus, 2 dimensional shimmers – a warm champagne and a bronze with golden flecks. While tiny, the pans are generously sized so you won’t hit pan too quickly. This petite palette is perfect for travel or throwing in your bag.
NYX Warm Neutrals Palette
For those who prefer warmer, more bronzed neutral tones, the Warm Neutrals palette from NYX is a steal at $10. This sleek palette contains 8 gorgeous matte and shimmery shades like the warm tan “Complicated,” rich terracotta “Steady Sculpt,” and intense rusty brown “Walnut.”
The buttery mattes blend like a dream while the shimmer shades give a beautiful foil-like effect on the lid. Shades like the golden shimmer “Side Hustle” make for stunning lid toppers. Plus, you get two blending brushes included in the palette. With its intense pigmentation and silky formula, it performs like a high-end palette at just a fraction of the price.
L’Oreal Paradise Enchanted Scented Eye Shadow Palette
For neutral eyeshadow with a whimsical flair, look no further than L’Oreal’s scented palette. With 10 warm and cool powder shades plus 2 baked shadows, this $14.99 palette gives you so many options for versatile looks.
The standouts are the rich bronze matte “Brownie Points,” the shimmering amber “Frappe My Soul,” and the intense black “Espresso Spoon.” But the sugared violet and sky blue shades also make for gorgeous pops on the lid or lower lash line. The shadows have a sweet cake batter scent that gives application an extra fun touch.
ColourPop Bare Necessities Palette
For gorgeous neutral matte eye looks on a budget, ColourPop’s Bare Necessities palette is a stellar option at just $12. This sleek palette contains 9 velvety-smooth mattes ranging from soft nudes to rich terracotta and deep chocolate browns.
Standouts include the warm tan “Chipper” for transition shades, the rusty rose “Motivation” for adding depth to the crease, and the intense black “Lush” for smokier looks. The formula is incredibly pigmented and blendable, especially for the affordable price point.
What sets this palette apart is the carefully curated shade selection – it gives you all the essential warm and cool-toned neutral mattes you need, nothing more and nothing less. The compact size also makes it ideal for travel or tossing in your makeup bag.
ColourPop is known for their quality affordable makeup, and the Bare Necessities palette delivers buttery smooth, long-wearing neutral matte shadows at a fraction of the cost of high-end options. It’s the perfect palette for nailing that flawless neutral glam on a budget.
Profusion Siennas Palette
If you want tons of neutral options at a crazy affordable price, check out the cult-favorite Sienna palette from Profusion. For just $6.99, you get a whopping 42 shades in matte, satin, and shimmer finishes across a range of warm and cool browns, taupes, oranges, and bronzes.
While the formula isn’t as luxe as highend palettes, the shades are surprisingly pigmented and blendable considering the incredible value. Palettes like this allow you to experiment and create endless neutral eye looks. Plus, the cute rose gold packaging gives it a “bougie on a budget” vibe.
Whether you prefer subtle day looks or full-on glam, these affordable drugstore picks give you pro-quality neutral palettes without the hefty price tag. To make the most of these budget eyeshadow formulas, be sure to use an eyeshadow primer and be patient when blending. With the right tools and techniques, you can absolutely slay an editorial-style neutral eye on a drugstore dime!
