The 9 Best Eyeshadow Palettes of 2022

If you’re not head over heels in love with your eyeshadow palette, I promise you: You just haven’t found the right one. Because when you discover the best eyeshadow palette, no shade will go untouched, no look is out of the question, and no loose pigments or pots are necessary. But as is true with most categories in the beauty world, it’s easy to get blinded by pretty packaging and 40,000 options. When you *really* get into the eye makeup of it all, though, you’ll notice that the best eyeshadow palettes should check a handful of non-negotiable boxes. Celebrity makeup artist Ashlee Glazer tells Marie Claire that she asks herself the following questions before investing: “Does it have a variety of colors to be used for more than one function? Is there a medium blending tone and a glitter? Is there a popular, everyday shade I’ll always reach for?” 

While there are plenty of 12-plus pan palettes for anyone who likes to switch up their status quo, four shades is really all you need. “A perfect palette has a medium or bright-toned lid color, a rich, deep tone for definition or liner, a blending shade that is a combination of the first two, and something with a sparkly finish or frosty tone to highlight or add a pop,” says Glazer. Of course, there’s no such thing as having too many eyeshadow palettes, so we’re all for purchasing in bulk—or giving your collection a refresh. FYI: Eyeshadow palettes typically expire every year or two.