Don’t underestimate the power of a swipe of eyeshadow across your lids. It can change your eyes in all the right ways by making them pop and look bigger. Although there’s no right or wrong way to apply eyeshadow, the main rule of thumb is to blend. Blending helps to even out the colour and distribute the pigment across the entire lid. It also helps create a smokey effect, if you don’t want dramatic, solid colour. We’ve rounded up the amazing eyeshadow palettes on our site that are suitable for any day of the week. And the best part? You can turn the look into a night-time style too.
We love this metallic bronze eyeshadow palette from Revlon, as it has a mixture of matte and shimmer finishes. Use the lighter browns and subtle shimmer hues for your day look and layer the eye with the deeper, chocolate shadows to create intensity for night time. These colours are universal, meaning they’ll make any eye colour pop in all the right ways.
TOP TIP: Dampen your eyeshadow brush for a high-impact, pigmented look.
This year, we’re so excited to see the return of icy cool and purple tones within make-up. Specifically eyeshadow. It’s a refresh to the usual warm, earthy tones that we know and love. But what is the best way to pull off purple without looking like an amateur? The good news is purple comprises of two primary shades, red and blue, making it both a cool and warm colour. Therefore it suits the majority of skin tones and eye colours. Take the purple eyeshadow of your choice on this palette and sweep it across your eyelid from the inner to the outer corner of your lid. Go as high as the crease line. Then, blend it out using circular motions with your eyeshadow blending brush.
TOP TIP: Add a few lashings of black mascara for the final touch.
Like purple, in 2023, we’ve seen a lot of pink trending in the world of beauty. And we’re not mad about it. Pink doesn’t always mean having to go full on Barbiecore, by the way. Thankfully, there are more subtle tones to experiment with, like rose, salmon and blush. If you have brown eyes, you’ll love this palette, as it’ll make your eye colour pop the best. Use a primer on the lids beforehand to make the eyeshadow hold. Pair it with some blush on the cheeks to carry through the entire look. Use a brown mascara on the lashes instead of black, as brown and pink work beautifully together.
TOP TIP: Avoid the water line when using pink eyeshadow, as it can make it look like you have an eye infection. Instead, use it subtly on the lids. And don’t be afraid to layer.
Read more: The Nude Lipstick Shades To Suit Every Look
The classic charcoal smokey eye is known to be the ‘little black dress’ of the make-up world and it’s no wonder – this iconic eye look has been adorned by thousands of women across the globe year after year for every kind of occasion. If you have grey eyes, this look will suit you perfectly. To create a toned-down smokey eye for the office, focus on making a silky, diffused sort of eyeshadow look rather than a grungy one. Blend until you reach your desired finish and add a slight shimmer for extra effect.
TOP TIP: Pair the look with a nude lip.
The last (but certainly not least) palette on our list has the best of both worlds with its mixture of matte and iridescent hues. It has a bunch of colours to choose from, like rose, purple, gold, pink, mauve and charcoal, allowing you to create any eyeshadow look you want.
TOP TIP: Don’t be hesitant to use shimmer or glitter eyeshadow. Metallic textures are considered the most effective eyeshadow, as they’re easier to blend than matte, last longer and enhance your eye shape.
