My Current Must Have Makeup Palettes

ByCordelia

My Current Must Have Eyeshadow Palettes

These are my current must have Makeup palettes. They’re the ones I’m enjoying playing with right now – either on myself or on friends when they ask me to do their makeup.

My Current Must Have Makeup Palettes

Maleficent Eyeshadow Tutorial
Etude Palette with Sugarpill

I used the Saucebox Etude Palette with Sugarpill Cosmetics for my Maleficent Movie Poster Tutorial.

Saucebox Almond Look with the Etude Palette
Wearing the Etude Palette

This is me wearing the Saucebox Etude Palette.

Saucebox Etude Palette
The Etude palette is a fantastic neutral mattes palette. It’s made up of 8 HUGE eyeshadow pans. The colors can be used to contour the cheeks and fill in the eyebrows in addition to being worn as eyeshadows. I particularly love the mix of colors because the pigmentation is amazing and they’re so easy to work with. The eyeshadow pans can be switched out with Sugarpill’s so you can mix and match with your eyeshadow shades.

Urban Decay Pulp Fiction Palette Tutorial
Wearing the Pulp Fiction Palette

Wearing the Pulp Fiction Palette. See my tutorial.

Urban Decay Pulp Fiction Palette
Because I love just about everything Urban Decay, this is on my list. It’s a nice alternative to the Naked Basics palette, which you know is a long time favorite of mine. It’s not quite as good of a deal as the Naked Basics (NB is 6 full size eyeshadows for $29 and this is 5 eyeshadows for $34). It’s a mix of mattes and satins. Many readers have let me know that they like this better than Naked Basics because of the deeper shades. I think both are nice.

Urban Decay Electric Palette Tutorial Gonzo Urban Thrash Fringe
Wearing the Electric Palette

Wearing the Electric Palette. See the tutorial.

Urban Decay Electric Palette
You knew this was coming. I was so excited over this being released. It’s so much fun! It has 10 pretty shades. I love all the bright colors. The packaging is unbeatable. It’s beautiful and if wearing all the brights at once are too much for you, pair the Electric Palette with the Etude, the Pulp Fiction, or the Naked Basics. This one’s all shimmer, baby.

Too Faced Cat Eyes Palette Tutorial
Wearing the Cat Eyes Palette

Wearing the Cat Eyes Palette. See the tutorial.

Too Faced Cat Eyes Palette
For creating a beautiful and dark purple eye, the Cat Eyes is great. It has 9 shades. It’s such a versatile palette. To see its versatility in action across a multitude of skintones, check out the Makeup Wars Cat Eyes Looks and Tutorials. We’ve got 13 to choose from. This palette has almost all shimmery shades.

NARS Smokey Divinity Tutorial
Wearing the NARS Smoky kit and Kat Von D Gothica
NARS Smokey Divinity Tutorial
NARS Smokey Eyes Kit

Wearing the Nars Smokey Eye Kit and Kat Von D Gothica. See the tutorial.

NARS Smokey Eye Kit
This kit captivated me because of Mekong. I think Mekong is stunning with my eyes. I love the look I put together with this palette. It’s only 3 shades. The middle shade can be used to fill in brows in a pinch, however I used it in the look above to blend out the crease.. I think this may be the look I end up wearing to my cousin’s wedding in September.

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette Tutorial
Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette Tutorial

Wearing the UD Naked Basics Palette.  See the Tutorial.

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette
This palette has been one that I’ve reached for daily when I wear makeup. I use Walk of Shame as my base shade in nearly every eyeshadow look. My Naked Basics palette tutorial has been one of my most all time popular posts. This palette is PERFECT for dressing up brights. Because I have hooded eyes, I prefer shimmery or glittery shades on my lid (and sometimes my lower lid). I then like to use mattes to contour and create a crease on my lower browbone to add dimension to my eye shape. This palette has been perfect for doing that for years for me.

Wearing Afterparty and Bulletproof
Wearing Afterparty and Bulletproof

Wearing Afterparty and Bulletproof. See the tutorial.

Wearing Tako and Bulletproof, along with UD and Colour Pop
Wearing Tako and Bulletproof, along with UD and Colour Pop

Wearing Tako and Bulletproof, along with UD and Colour Pop. See the tutorial.

Wearing Sugarpill Tako, Bulletproof, Lumi and Afterparty. See the tutorial
Wearing Sugarpill Tako, Bulletproof, Lumi and Afterparty. See the tutorial

Wearing Tako, Bulletproof, Lumi and Afterparty. See the tutorial.

Sugarpill Cold Heart Palette
No post like this would be complete without listing a Sugarpill palette! I have almost every single color that Sugarpill has put out, but the 4 colors I reach for the most are from the Cold Heart Palette. It’s made up of Poison Plum (purple), Afterparty (bright turquoise blue), Bulletproof (black) and Tako (white). I like to use Tako as a base shade. Bulletproof is great for shading the eyes, lining, tightlining my eyes, darkening the roots of my lashes, and setting cream or gel products or smoking them out. Poison Plum is one of my all time favorite purples and Afterparty is a favorite turquoise blue of mine. You know how much I love teal and purple. The Cold Heart palette is no longer available but each color is available individually. Poison Plum is the only non-vegan shade from the palette. Bulletproof, Tako and Afterparty are vegan.

Sugarpill still offers several palettes including the Sweetheart Palette (Dollipop, Afterparty, Midori, Tako), Burning Heart Palette (Poison Plum, Love+, Buttercupcake and Flamepoint), Heart Breaker Palette (Mochi, Acidberry, Velocity and 2AM), and the Cold Chemistry Palette (Soot & Stars, Elemental Chaos, Subterranean and Diamond Eyes). The palettes are an amazing value. They’re worth $48 and you’re only paying $34. My second most reached for Sugarpill palette is the Heart Breaker because of Velocity and Acidberry. I love those two.

What are your current must-have eyeshadow palettes?

 

Cordelia Frost is the creative force behind Phyrra, a treasure trove for cruelty-free indie and goth makeup enthusiasts. She's the author of the game-changing 'Hooded Eyes Makeup Manual' a must-read for hooded eyes makeup.

Cordelia's world is a kaleidoscope of alternative beauty, gothic fashion, and life-enhancing tips, making every visit to Phyrra a journey into a more colorful and inspired self.

53 Comments

  1. I really should get the sugar pill palette I’ve been putting off since… well, since Sugarpill launched, actually… >_> But right now, mine are an eclectic mix. UD Ammo, Electric, Naked 3 & (of all things) BH Cosmetics Brazil palette. If they don’t introduce a Naked Basics 3, I’ll probably end up with Naked Basics. I look better in warm shades. But electric – I wear it all because, duh. ^_^

  5. I have none of them. I’d really like to try the Too Faced Cat Eye palette. You’ve come up with some great looks with this.

  8. OMG, they all look so great on you! I have the Naked Basics palette that I bought quite a while ago, and I still haven’t opened it. I must!

    1. I emailed UD about that earlier today because a bunch of palettes were showing up on their vegan page. I’m waiting to hear back from them, but I was surprised to see that the 3 UD palettes were listed on their website on the vegan page.

      I updated my post to remove the vegan info.

  25. Fabulous picks! I’m really loving that NARS palette, but the rest are also fantastic.

  26. OMG I LOVE the look you did with the NARS smoky palette, stunning!!! My newest love is also the TF Cat Eyes palette.

    1. I’ll have to check out the e.l.f. Texas palette. I always thought Naked2 would not look good on me, which is why I skipped it.

  29. Great list! My current must-haves: Too Faced Chocolate Bar, UD Electric palette, IT Cosmetics Naturally Pretty. I have four new Sleek Makeup palettes to play with, I can’t wait!

      1. OH YES! It smells yummy! I have that one too! It is a must have for sure!!! 😀 😀 😀

  31. My favorites right now are UD Naked Basics; UD Electric Palette, Too Faced Chocolate Bar, e.l.f. 50-piece Makeup Artist Palette, bhCosmetics Forever Glam. I really need to get that Cat Eyes palette!

  32. All these looks are so gorgeous! The Electric palette is vegan? OMG! I was sure it had carmine in one or two of the colours so I’d decided not to buy it. Also, I am so dying over the Etude palette… one of the colours (of course the one I like most) has carmine in it – dang it! I love palette as there are always a couple of colours I think I wouldn’t necessarily buy as individuals and I always end up being surprised by liking those specific colours. I also love palettes for travelling!

    1. Sorry for any confusion, the Electric Palette, the Pulp Fiction Palette and the Naked Basics palette were showing up on the UD Vegan page. I emailed UD to ask about it but haven’t heard back with more info yet. Since they removed it from that page I’m going to assume it’s not vegan.

      1. Oh, no problem, I was sure your dupe post laid out vegan dupes, which is why I thought it wasn’t vegan – nevermind as I’d already started making a list of the dupes I wanted based on that post!

  33. The Nars Smokey eye is still my favorite look here. I love the purple too. But you really got me with the last look. Just beautiful. Lovely photo too whoever took it. It reminds me of The Ice Queen, a book I loved when I was a child. I have the Naked Basics Palette, and Electric Palette too. I love the colors!!! My current “must haves” would be my new Tarte Rainforest After Dark Palette, any of my Tarte eye palettes, my Smashbox Ultimate Mega Palette because it has everything in it, Smashbox Smoke Box Palette in the purples, Urban Decay Smoked palette, and the Fun, Feminine, and Dangerous palettes, and I love all the Naked palettes too! Also like the Bare Essentials Ready Convertible palette! So many I love……….

      1. Well, you do an awesome job! They are beautiful shots! Portfolio material in my opinion! 🙂 The Smashbox Smokebox in the purples is a nice one! Lots of deep, rich purple! You’ll love it! The book I mentioned above was The Snow Queen, I believe, not the ice queen. I don’t know what it was I loved about that book but I did! 😀 😀 😀

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