When it comes to eyeshadow, neutral palettes are the workhorses of any makeup collection. With their versatile shades of warm browns, cool taupes, and dimensional shimmers, neutral palettes can take you from the office to a night out with just a few swipes of color. They’re also incredibly flattering across a wide range of skin tones and ages. If you’re looking to invest in a high-quality neutral eye palette, these top 5 picks are sure to become staples in your routine.
Naked 3 Palette by Urban Decay
While the original Naked Palette may be discontinued, Urban Decay’s Naked3 Palette has stepped up to take its place as the brand’s premier neutral eyeshadow palette. This gorgeous rose-toned palette contains 12 pigment-rich shades ranging from warm browns to shimmering rosegold metallics.
Standout shades include the versatile pale nude “Strange,” the satiny rose-pink “Limit,” and the incredibly shimmery taupe “Buzz.” The Naked3 shadows have an ultra-velvety texture that blends like a dream for flawless neutral eye looks.
What really sets this palette apart is its unique rose-toned color scheme that flatters almost any skin tone. You can create soft, everyday looks with the lighter matte shades or amp it up with sultry hues like the smoky burgundy “Darkside” or bronzed “Mugshot.” The rosy undertones give neutral looks a fresh, youthful vibe.
While the original Naked Palette is no longer in production, the Naked3 makes for an excellent replacement as well as a complement to the other palettes in Urban Decay’s Naked range. At $54, it’s an investment, but one that any neutral eyeshadow fan will use until the last shimmery champagne shade.
Soft Glam Palette by Anastasia Beverly Hills
With 14 ultra-pigmented mattes and shimmers, the Soft Glam Palette from Anastasia Beverly Hills is a neutral lover’s dream come true. The warm-toned mid-tone browns like “Rustic,” “Burnt Orange,” and “Cyprus Umber” are stunning in the crease, while rich metallics like “Tempera” and “Noir” make for gorgeous lid and smokey eye shades.
What sets this palette apart is the amazing color payoff and blendability of the shadows. The mattes are luxuriously smooth and highly pigmented, making it easy to build intense crease colors. And the shimmers give an otherworldly, diamond-like glow on the lids.
From daytime neutral mattes to high-impact glam with the shimmers, this palette truly has it all. Plus, it includes a dual-ended brush so you’re ready to apply looks right out of the palette. This high-quality palette is a splurge at around $45, but the buttery textures and incredible color payoff make it worth every penny for eyeshadow enthusiasts.
Tartelette In Bloom Clay Palette by Tarte
For those who prefer cool-toned neutrals, the Tartelette In Bloom palette from Tarte is an absolute beauty. Filled with 12 Amazonian clay-infused shadows in a mix of mattes, lusters, and shimmers, this sleek palette has everything you need for creating sultry neutral looks with a refreshing, modern spin.
Standout shades include the plummy-taupe matte “Rebel,” the shimmery pewter “Smokeshow,” and the intense black “Charcoal Sketch.” But it also includes gorgeous neutrals like the warm brown matte “Natural Beauty” and the shimmery champagne “Firefighter” that pull everything together. The formula adheres beautifully to lids and lasts all day without fading or creasing.
As an added bonus, the Tartelette In Bloom palette is vegan, cruelty-free, and free of parabens and phthalates. The cute purple packaging with embossed flowers also gives it a luxe vibe. At around $45, it’s a mid-range splurge, but well worth it for cool-toned eyeshadow fans!
Neutral Matte Palette by Viseart
For those who prefer their neutral eyeshadows without any shimmers or frills, the Neutral Matte Palette from Viseart is sure to satisfy. This sleek palette contains 12 ultra-pigmented matte shades ranging from light neutral tones to deep, sultry hues.
Standout shades include the warm terracotta “Burnt,” the cool-toned rosy taupe “Rosaire,” and the intense espresso brown “Chestnut.” The buttery matte formula adheres beautifully to lids without looking dry or chalky. The shades blend effortlessly, making it easy to create gorgeous neutral eye looks from soft and natural to full-on smokey glam.
What really sets this palette apart is the superior quality of the eyeshadow formulas. The ultra-fine, silky texture provides intense color payoff with just a simple swipe. And the matte shades last all day without fading or creasing.
While the Viseart Neutral Matte Palette lacks the cute packaging gimmicks of the discontinued Chocolate Bar palette, it more than makes up for it with performance. At $80, it’s definitely a splurge – but one that eyeshadow aficionados won’t regret. The sleek packaging, generous pan sizes, and superior blendability make this a true investment piece that will last you for years.
Nude Obsessions Palette by Huda Beauty
As a replacement for the discontinued Rose Nude Palette, Huda Beauty’s Nude Obsessions Palette is a gorgeous neutral option. This compact palette contains 9 creamy powder mattes and shimmers in flattering warm nude tones.
The standout shades are the terracotta matte “Butter Knife,” the metallic rose gold shimmer “Cinnamon Sticks,” and the rich bronze pearl “Chocolate Truffle.” The formula is incredibly smooth and blendable, allowing you to create seamless neutral eye looks.
What sets this palette apart is its versatility and portable size. You can use it for an all-matte understated nude eye, or amp it up with the intense shimmer shades. The mini size also makes it ideal for travel.
While not as extensive as the original Rose Nude palette, the Nude Obsessions still packs a punch with its high-quality formulas and curated shade selection. At $29, it’s also quite affordable compared to other high-end options on this list. For stunning neutral looks on-the-go, this sleek palette delivers.
The palette comes in light, medium, and rich to match most skin tones.
With any of these top-rated, high-quality neutral palettes in your collection, you’ll have no trouble mastering sophisticated, infinitely wearable eye makeup looks for every occasion. The key is investing in high-end formulas with superior color payoff and blendability.
While the sticker price on most of these palettes may seem steep, you’re paying for palettes packed with over a dozen highly-pigmented shadows that apply smoothly, last all day, and are easy to combine into endless looks. Cheap palettes tend to be under-pigmented, patchy, and fade quickly – which is frustrating when you’re trying to achieve Instagram-ready glam.
To make the most of your neutral eyeshadow palette, always start with an eye primer or concealer base to increase pigment adhesion and staying power. Use fluffy brushes to build up crease and transition shades, then pack intense lid colors on with a flat synthetic brush. Finish by blending the edges with a clean fluffy brush for a seamless finish.
Don’t be afraid to experiment and have fun combining different shades and textures from your palette! The versatility of these high-quality neutral palettes is what makes them so valuable in creating both everyday wearable looks and full glam. With the right tools and application, you can take your makeup looks from subtle to sizzling with these top-rated picks.
