If you want to amp up your makeup, an eyeshadow does the job. Luckily, these beauty products are accessible in drugstores, so you can experiment with affordable eyeshadow palettes that allow you to try trendy makeup looks. These are applied to the eyelids to add depth and dimension to the eyes. They're a staple in your makeup arsenal, especially when you want to emphasize your eyes.
However, it can be overwhelming to browse through all the options in the market. But don't worry; we've curated a buying guide with comments and tips from beauty professional Elaine Ganuelas and listed our top picks of the best drugstore eyeshadow palettes that will surely level up your makeup game!
Quick List - Top Drugstore Eyeshadow Palettes
Maybelline
Let Your Eyes Do the Talking With This Shimmery Palette
Ever Bilena Pro
A Beginner-Friendly Eyeshadow Palette That's Suitable for All Skin Tones
Elaine Ganuelas has been living and breathing the life of all things beauty since childhood. What once started as her passion became her career in 2006. Now she does makeup, hairstyling, image consultation (yes, makeovers), personal shopping, consumer research, and reviews.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
Eyeshadows come in different shades and finishes, and knowing your makeup needs will help you trim down your choices. To help you with this, we've compiled a list of pointers below.
Discover the art of creating captivating looks by seamlessly blending and pairing different colors and finishes. When you're browsing through the drugstore aisles, keep an eye out for eyeshadow palettes that boast a vibrant array of colors, from rich jewel tones to soft neutrals, and a variety of finishes like dazzling shimmers and velvety mattes. This ensures that you have the perfect shades and finishes to enhance your eyes and complement any outfit.
When selecting a drugstore eyeshadow palette, it's important to consider a few key shades. Look for a light color like ivory or champagne to highlight the inner corners and brow bone, adding brightness and dimension.
Then, opt for a versatile brown shade to create depth in the crease, define the outer corners, or use it as eyeliner. Additionally, choose a transition shade, a couple of shades darker than your skin tone, to achieve seamless blending between lighter and darker shadows, ensuring a flawless eye look.
A versatile drugstore eyeshadow palette should feature a pop of black, perfect for adding intensity and depth to your eye makeup. This shade can be used to create a smoky eye, line your eyes, or deepen the outer corners for a more dramatic effect.
The palette should also offer a selection of vibrant colors, such as blues, purples, greens, metallics, and shimmers, that allow you to unleash your creativity, experiment with various looks, and add pops of color to both statement and everyday makeup styles.
Many shade combinations are available now, so people are more open to playing with colors. While neutrals will always be present, punchy or bright colors in shimmery textures are easy to work with and are blendable.
The undertone is the subtle tone beneath the surface of your skin, regardless of whether it is light, medium, or dark in color. Thus, consider whether you have a cool, warm, or neutral undertone. For cool undertones, look for palettes featuring cool-toned shades like purples, blues, and grays.
On the other hand, warm undertones can benefit from warm-toned shades such as browns, coppers, and oranges. Meanwhile, individuals with neutral undertones have the flexibility to experiment with a wide range of shades. Of course, it's essential to trust your preferences and explore different colors to discover what makes you feel confident and beautiful.
Most Filipinas have warm to neutral skin colors. Apart from skin tones, eye and hair color are factors that need to be considered in choosing a palette.
So as not to clash with your eyes, skin, and hair, neutral palettes with ample matte and shimmery shades of brown, beiges, and champagne are the safest bet. Those with black or brown hair and brown eyes would look great in neutral hues or opt for colors like greens, purples, and navy blues.
Matte shadows provide a non-reflective and seamless finish, perfect for creating a classic everyday look that transitions effortlessly from day to night. They enhance natural features without overpowering them, allowing for an understated elegance that's suitable for any occasion.
On the other hand, satin shadows strike a perfect balance between matte and shimmer, offering a smooth sheen finish that adds a subtle glow without the intensity of full-on shimmer. They are also suitable for both daytime and evening looks, providing a natural yet radiant look that enhances your overall appearance.
Matte shadows blur out lines, making them a great base color for a more defined and polished eye look. These are also great for everyday makeup when you only want or need a subtle flush of color on the eyes.
Eyeshadows with shimmery finishes can enhance or add a subtle pop to a neutral eye look. They also have a safer formula if you want to try out bolder or brighter colors.
On the other hand, metallics are the best for sporting a foiled look; most come in silver, gold, and copper shades. The not-so-makeup-shy can also opt for more colorful shades to make a statement eye.
When it comes to applying eyeshadow, having the right tools can make all the difference. Many eyeshadow palettes come with dual-ended applicators that simplify the application process. The brush end creates precise lines, allows for seamless transitions between colors, and helps achieve a well-blended look. On the other hand, the sponge or small brush end is great for applying and smudging eyeshadow, giving a smoky effect with intense and deep colors.
In addition to quality applicators, eyeshadow palettes with a built-in mirror offer convenience. These palettes are especially useful for on-the-go application, as they allow for quick touch-ups wherever you may be. With a built-in mirror, you can ensure that your eye makeup remains flawless throughout the day.
A mirror and an applicator, for sure, are plus points for convenience. However, be wary of some sponge tip applicators. Most sponge tip applicators that drugstore eyeshadow palettes come with could be quite harsh on the skin because of their rough texture. I suggest applying the eyeshadow with your fingers instead to not irritate the eyelids.
The ideal eyeshadow palette size varies based on individual needs and preferences. A smaller palette with 4-6 colors is ideal for beginners or those who prefer simplicity. When choosing a quad palette, prioritize simplicity and versatility. Select a light shade for a base or highlight, a medium shade for the main color, a dark shade for depth, and an accent shade for variation.
We suggest going for neutral options for everyday use and slightly dramatic shades that are easy to blend. Conversely, a medium-sized palette with 12-16 colors offers more versatility. Makeup enthusiasts may prefer larger palettes with 20+ shades. Ultimately, choose a palette that aligns with your needs and budget.
With a lot of beauty companies releasing palettes almost every week, it's easy to be overwhelmed or tempted because of hype or because the packaging is simply attractive. Ask yourself how much effort or commitment you can allot for a palette to be used before it goes bad. A trio to a quad is a good start. An assortment of light and dark browns in mattes and shimmery finishes is also recommended.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | Details | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Finish | Undertone | No. of Shades | Inclusions | |||||
1 | Maybelline City Mini Palette|5th Avenue Sunset | ![]() | Let Your Eyes Do the Talking With This Shimmery Palette | Shimmer | Warm and Neutral Undertones | 6 | Dual-Ended Applicator | |
2 | Ever Bilena Pro Eyeconic 6 Shades Eyeshadow|Jackpot | ![]() | A Beginner-Friendly Eyeshadow Palette That's Suitable for All Skin Tones | Matte and Shimmer | Warm and Neutral Undertones | 6 | Dual-Ended Sponge Applicator | |
3 | Careline Shadow Palette|Color Paradise | ![]() | Has Playful and Vibrant Hues That Can Make Heads Turn | Shimmer and Metallic | Cool, Warm, and Neutral Undertones | 12 | Dual-Ended Sponge Applicator | |
4 | Squad Cosmetics SquadLet|Sneaky | ![]() | A Mini Eyeshadow Palette That's Perfect for Makeup Newbies | Matte and Shimmer | Warm and Neutral Undertones | 4 | None | |
5 | blk cosmetics Daydream Eyeshadow Palette|Clay | ![]() | A Pocket-Sized Neutral Palette for Easy Touch-Ups | Matte and Shimmer | Warm and Neutral Undertones | 4 | None | |
6 | Vice Cosmetics Wonder Woman Justice Eyeshadow Palette | ![]() | Unleash Your Creativity With a Palette Crafted for Bold and Vibrant Eye Looks | Matte and Metallic | Warm, Cool, and Neutral Undertones | 9 | None | |
7 | Ever Bilena Ultimatte Eyeshadow Palette | ![]() | A Versatile Matte Eyeshadow Palette You Can Use for Everyday Makeup | Matte | Warm and Neutral Undertones | 12 | None | |
8 | Revlon ColorStay Looks Book Eyeshadow Palette|Enigma | ![]() | Highly Pigmented and Long-Lasting Eyeshadows for Any Makeup Style | Matte, Satin, Shimmer, and Metallic | Cool and Neutral Undertones | 8 | None | |
9 | BYS Cosmetics Horizontal Eyeshadow|Sunkissed | ![]() | Your Go-To Compact Eyeshadow With Applicator for Flawless, Natural Looks | Matte and Shimmer | Warm and Neutral Undertones | 5 | Dual-Ended Applicator | |
10 | Nichido Sakura Eyeshadow Palette | ![]() | Transition From Day-to-Night With Matte and Shimmery Finishes | Matte and Shimmer | Cool, Warm, and Neutral Undertones | 6 | None |
For those who are fond of shimmery eyeshadows, you will enjoy playing around with this palette! It offers 6 shades that will make your eyes pop, so whether you want a subtle daytime look or sultry nighttime makeup, this product will help you achieve it. It's intensely pigmented, too, so it has long staying power and glides effortlessly on your lids.
There are various positive reviews for this palette including how blendable and buildable the formula is, which helps a lot with mixing and matching the shades. They also suggest applying a subtle matte eyeshadow before adding a shimmery one to upgrade your eye makeup look.
Finish | Shimmer |
---|---|
Undertone | Warm and Neutral Undertones |
No. of Shades | 6 |
Inclusions | Dual-Ended Applicator |
Finish | Matte and Shimmer |
---|---|
Undertone | Warm and Neutral Undertones |
No. of Shades | 6 |
Inclusions | Dual-Ended Sponge Applicator |
If you want a versatile palette for different eye makeup looks, this 12-color palette comes in shades ranging from fiery reds, oranges, and yellows to deep blues, purples, and greens to suit your mood and unleash your inner playful spirit. Whether you prefer a natural, everyday look or a bold, dramatic effect, this palette has you covered, especially with its combination of matte and shimmer finishes.
Users praise its exceptional formulationーit's smooth, easily blendable, and pigmented. They also noticed that there's minimal fallout when applied, and even without a primer, the colors last a long time. An applicator is included in the package as well, making it easier to apply eye makeup on the go.
Finish | Shimmer and Metallic |
---|---|
Undertone | Cool, Warm, and Neutral Undertones |
No. of Shades | 12 |
Inclusions | Dual-Ended Sponge Applicator |
Finish | Matte and Shimmer |
---|---|
Undertone | Warm and Neutral Undertones |
No. of Shades | 4 |
Inclusions | None |
Featuring four neutral shades in two versatile formulations—powder and cream—this eyeshadow palette is perfect for your everyday makeup look. These shades offer natural, well-pigmented colors for daily use. The compact design also makes it easy to carry and ideal for quick touch-ups throughout the day.
Additionally, the brand takes pride in using a formula free from parabens, phthalates, SLS, SLES, dyes, alcohol, artificial silicone, and artificial fragrances. This ensures a lightweight, breathable feel on the skin, making it especially suitable for those with sensitivities. Users appreciate its long-lasting staying power, even for those with oily skin.
Finish | Matte and Shimmer |
---|---|
Undertone | Warm and Neutral Undertones |
No. of Shades | 4 |
Inclusions | None |
Users expressed that the colors are very pigmented and long-lasting, and it glides smoothly for effortless blending. It also doesn't have that "chalkiness" that most affordable eyeshadows have. If you have oily skin, reviewers suggest applying an oil-control eye primer beforehand to make the eye shadow last longer.
Finish | Matte and Metallic |
---|---|
Undertone | Warm, Cool, and Neutral Undertones |
No. of Shades | 9 |
Inclusions | None |
Most reviews mention that the palette is a good choice for beginners and pros alike as it helps effortlessly create stunning daily eye looks for school and work. The shadows are also very pigmented, plus you can definitely use each of the eyeshadow colors!
Finish | Matte |
---|---|
Undertone | Warm and Neutral Undertones |
No. of Shades | 12 |
Inclusions | None |
The Revlon ColorStay Looks Book Eyeshadow Palette features a well-crafted color scheme to suit your desired look for the day. The Enigma palette consists of 8 shades ranging from purple and pink to beige hues in shimmer, satin, matte, and metallic finishes. This versatile selection allows you to create different looks in so many ways!
Some of its notable qualities include its highly-pigmented and long-lasting formula, which can stay on your lids for up to 24 hours. Additionally, the palette is housed in a compact, travel-friendly container that you can quickly slip into your glam kit! According to reviews, a single swipe of this eyeshadow goes a long way, instantly infusing your eyelids with vibrant color.
Finish | Matte, Satin, Shimmer, and Metallic |
---|---|
Undertone | Cool and Neutral Undertones |
No. of Shades | 8 |
Inclusions | None |
Achieve a flawless, natural makeup look with this compact eyeshadow palette from BYS Cosmetics! It comes in a range of colors, from light to dark neutral shades, which you can also use to add an eyeliner effect to your eye makeup look. Its lightweight formula blends effortlessly, and it's convenient to use.
Finish | Matte and Shimmer |
---|---|
Undertone | Warm and Neutral Undertones |
No. of Shades | 5 |
Inclusions | Dual-Ended Applicator |
Finish | Matte and Shimmer |
---|---|
Undertone | Cool, Warm, and Neutral Undertones |
No. of Shades | 6 |
Inclusions | None |
To determine your undertone, you can examine the color of your veins. If your veins appear greenish, you have a warm undertone, and shades like golds, reds, rust, and oranges will enhance your skin's warm tone.
However, if you have bluish or purplish veins, you have a cool undertone, and colors such as blue, purple, green, gray, and blue-green will complement your complexion. Neutral undertones, where the veins and undertones match the skin tone, allow for versatility with both warm and cool shades.
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by Beauty Professional, Elaine Ganuelas.
Yes, definitely! Cream- and liquid-type eyeshadows have a shorter shelf life than powder ones. You will notice a change in texture or pigment, or if it feels or looks crumbly, it's time for it to go. One way to lengthen the shelf life of your shadows is by sanitizing them every after use.
Yes! Shimmery beiges, champagne, or sometimes even rose gold can be used below the brow bone, nose, and on top of the cheeks as highlighter.
One to two brushes would suffice for beginners and can definitely grow in number depending on your makeup needs.
Don't underestimate the power of eye makeup! Aside from highlighting your eyes, it completes your overall look and enhances your makeup. Plus, you can use it to create a variety of looks for different occasions. Check out these eye makeup products, ranging from mascara to liquid eyeliners, that can help you achieve that extra oomph!
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Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Maybelline|City Mini Palette|5th Avenue Sunset
No. 2: Ever Bilena Pro|Eyeconic 6 Shades Eyeshadow|Jackpot
No. 3: Careline|Shadow Palette|Color Paradise
No. 4: Squad Cosmetics|SquadLet|Sneaky
No. 5: blk cosmetics|Daydream Eyeshadow Palette|Clay
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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