The 11 Best Eye Shadow Palettes, According to ELLE.com Editors

 "All I need in this life of sin is the Shu Uemura x La Maison du Chocolat palette. Heavenly, chocolate-y scent aside (and trust me, the smell is intoxicating), this perfect mix of matte and metallic shadows is all you need to take any makeup look from natural to dramatic. The deep berry shade helps to create a sultry Smokey eye while a swipe of that gorgeous gold foil shade gives you an Instagram-ready finish."— Nerisha Penrose, Associate Editor 

"I read somewhere that women are found to be more attractive with darker eyelids… I can't seem to find the article and it's possible I completely made it up, but I think about this "fact" every time I get ready (while cringing). I searched high and low for the 'my eyelids but better' shade of taupey-brownish-black, and found it in M.A.C In The Flesh palette (bottom row, third from the right). The added bonus was that I had 14 other colors I can play with, which keeps me in my nude-toned comfort zone." — Justine Carreron, Market Editor 

"I’m a Pat McGrath stan. Everything she does turns to gold, with an iridescent sheen of rubies and opals. The price is pretty steep, but it’s worth it because the quality and colors are insane. Each one, especially the metallics, are super pigmented and go on smoothly like a powdery gel. Aptly named ‘Mothership,’ the colors are what you’d wear to an alien Studio 54 party. It’s Grace Jones as an eyeshadow palette." —  Justine Carreron, Market Editor 

"I have pretty dark brown eyes, so when I do wear eyeshadow to work or out, I like a more subtle brown, pink, or cream color. This palette takes good care of that, plus has plenty of darker options for when I want a more dramatic eye to wear out. The color goes and stays on nicely, especially when paired with a nice primer."— Alyssa Bailey, News Editor 

"Eye shadow isn't part of my regular routine, so if I'm spending the time on it I want it to matter. As such, I love a range of purple hues—I have green eyes and this is the color family that really makes them pop. The deepest plum color works as a liner, the middle two to ombre on the lid itself, and the lighter hue works as a highlighter on the brow bone."— Leah Melby Clinton, Director of Branded Content

"Eye shadow isn't an 'always' product for me, so whatever palette I keep needs to be versatile and approachable. The complementary colors of this quad (Tisse Camelia) are easy for me to understand and give a few options. I can layer them all for a smoky effect or just go with the pretty light pink or the spot of ivory in the corners of my eyes. The eggplant base of the dark color also makes my green eyes look greener than a brown or black would." — Leah Melby Clinton, Director of Branded Content

"Eye shadow is one of those makeup items that has always perplexed me—I still am not sure how to use it. But for my wedding, makeup artist Nina Park steered me toward this palette and I loved it. The colors are elegant and understated, and work all together or separately. More often than not I just use the darkest shade as a liner and the lightest as a highlighter. Fingers are the correct way to apply this stuff right."— Leah Chernikoff, Executive Director

"I am pretentious, so I love it when a product has a French word in it. Additionally, this NYX palette really is great for smoky eye looks—the shadows are very fine and perfectly blendable. The white shadow confused me at first, but then I realized you can blend it with other shades: I like mixing it with the bronze for a Bambi-er vibe."— Estelle Tang, Senior Editor

Tom Ford makeup artist Allan Aponte once used this palette to do a smoky eye and I’ve never looked back. I almost didn’t wash my face that night because I loved how sultry my makeup looked. Palettes can get a little over the top—who really needs 50 shades in one?—but this combination of four shades is the perfect mix to wear everyday and for formal events. I used to use black for smoky but realized it was too harsh. Brown is more subtle and sexy. —Kristina Rodulfo, Senior Beauty Editor

"I use this palette literally every day of my life because the colors are easy to work with and come with simple instructions (bless Charlotte Tilbury!) on where to apply. The neutral colors are daytime friendly but can be amped up for night, which is perfect for any after-work plans I run into. Plus, it includes blush, bronzer, and highlighter, which double as additional eyeshadow colors." — Ariana Yaptangco, Social Media Editor 

"I wear this palette everyday without fail. I know what you're thinking, 'Orange eyeshadow on a workday?!' This orange is super subtle and blends naturally with the color of my eyelids. I put a bit of the shimmery cream under the brow bones and I'm ready to conquer the world. Chanel's palette is always in my bag and in my heart." — Chloe Hall, Special Projects Editor and Producer 

"Smashbox's Full Exposure Palette is my go-to when it comes to crafting a going out look. The deep brown shades create the perfect smoky eye and I can add a bit of silver or gold when I'm feeling adventurous. It's super easy-to-blend and compliments my brown eyes. It's also very subtle so I don't look like a stranger when I walk out the front door. My trick is to use a pinky tip's worth of the light cream in the corner of my eyes to make them pop!" — Chloe Hall, Special Projects Editor and Producer