Eyeshadow Palettes | 2016 Editor's Favorites
The last four months (or so) of each year are heavy on palettes that it is easy to forget about the other palettes that were released in the beginning of the year, so it’s always fun to go through my reviews and remember just how good products could get during the year.
What were your favorites?
ColourPop Studio 1400 Super Shock Shadow Set ($18.00 for 0.28 oz.) includes four cream eyeshadows. You can also purchase the shades individually if...
ColourPop Studio 1400 Super Shock Shadow Set ($18.00 for 0.28 oz.) includes four cream eyeshadows. You can also purchase the shades individually if...
ColourPop Midnight Super Shock Shadow ($20.00 for 0.28 oz. or $5.00 for each 0.07 oz. shade) is a collection of four Super Shock Shadows that can be...
ColourPop Midnight Super Shock Shadow ($20.00 for 0.28 oz. or $5.00 for each 0.07 oz. shade) is a collection of four Super Shock Shadows that can be...
Viseart Cashmere Theory Palette ($45.00 for 0.42 oz.) is a subdued set of neutral tones with three matte and three...
Viseart Cashmere Theory Palette ($45.00 for 0.42 oz.) is a subdued set of neutral tones with three matte and three...
Tom Ford Honeymoon Eyeshadow Quad ($80.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a warm-toned set of shades with a more frosted/metallic finish. All four shades performed...
Tom Ford Honeymoon Eyeshadow Quad ($80.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a warm-toned set of shades with a more frosted/metallic finish. All four shades performed...
Viseart Bijoux Royal (09) Eyeshadow Palette ($80.00 for 0.84 oz.) is a set of 12 shimmery eyeshadows in muted jewel tones. The quality was consistent...
Viseart Bijoux Royal (09) Eyeshadow Palette ($80.00 for 0.84 oz.) is a set of 12 shimmery eyeshadows in muted jewel tones. The quality was consistent...
Viseart Boheme Dream Eyeshadow Palette ($80.00 for 0.84 oz.) is a new, limited edition palette for summer that...
Viseart Boheme Dream Eyeshadow Palette ($80.00 for 0.84 oz.) is a new, limited edition palette for summer that...
Chanel Codes Subtils (278) Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow Quad ($61.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a new, limited edition palette for spring. The...
Chanel Codes Subtils (278) Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow Quad ($61.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a new, limited edition palette for spring. The...
BH Cosmetics Foil Eyes Eyeshadow Palette ($19.00 for 1.58 oz.) contains 28, metallic eyeshadows. I picked this up a couple of months ago, because it...
BH Cosmetics Foil Eyes Eyeshadow Palette ($19.00 for 1.58 oz.) contains 28, metallic eyeshadows. I picked this up a couple of months ago, because it...
Anastasia Master Palette by Mario Eyeshadow Palette ($45.00 for 0.30 oz.) contains twelve eyeshadows housed in a...
Anastasia Master Palette by Mario Eyeshadow Palette ($45.00 for 0.30 oz.) contains twelve eyeshadows housed in a...
Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Eye Palette ($95.00 for 0.25 oz.) contains six, shimmery eyeshadows that feature a wet/dry powder formula. I think if...
Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Eye Palette ($95.00 for 0.25 oz.) contains six, shimmery eyeshadows that feature a wet/dry powder formula. I think if...
Chanel Empreinte du Desert Eyeshadow Quad ($65.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a warm, bronzy set of shades with a pop of warmer green. There was something about...
Chanel Empreinte du Desert Eyeshadow Quad ($65.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a warm, bronzy set of shades with a pop of warmer green. There was something about...
Urban Decay Afterdark Eyeshadow Palette ($49.00 for 0.60 oz.) contains ten shimmery eyeshadows from white gold to deep navy. There are three "cult...
Urban Decay Afterdark Eyeshadow Palette ($49.00 for 0.60 oz.) contains ten shimmery eyeshadows from white gold to deep navy. There are three "cult...
The Estee Edit Gritty & Glow Magnetic Eye & Face Palette ($58.00 for 1.62 oz.) includes six eyeshadows and six...
The Estee Edit Gritty & Glow Magnetic Eye & Face Palette ($58.00 for 1.62 oz.) includes six eyeshadows and six...
Anastasia Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette ($42.00 for 0.28 oz.) includes 14 eyeshadows that come in a mix of warmer neutrals and pops of...
Anastasia Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette ($42.00 for 0.28 oz.) includes 14 eyeshadows that come in a mix of warmer neutrals and pops of...
Kat Von D MetalMatte Eyeshadow Palette ($60.00 for 1.32 oz.) includes 22 eyeshadows in a slim--but...
Kat Von D MetalMatte Eyeshadow Palette ($60.00 for 1.32 oz.) includes 22 eyeshadows in a slim--but...
Clarins Rosewood (02) Eyeshadow Palette ($43.00 for 0.20 oz.) is a sultry set of smoky, mauve shades housed in a gold-hued compact. If the name sounds...
Clarins Rosewood (02) Eyeshadow Palette ($43.00 for 0.20 oz.) is a sultry set of smoky, mauve shades housed in a gold-hued compact. If the name sounds...
I see quads count as palettes, which is nice to know. My faves for this year – Clarins (03) Brown quad, Viseart Cashmere Colour Theory, Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons (not sure if it was released in last year but I got it in 2016), the ABH Mario palette and, of course….wait for it….you gotta know it’s CHANEL EMPREINTE DU DESERT!!!! I haven’t even looked at the new Chanel quads yet but I can’t imagine that either of them would top this quad. I do really like the Gritty & Glow palette(s) but don’t find myself reaching for it/them on a daily basis…I use the shadow palette more on the weekends, when I’m putting on makeup “just for me” and I also have the time to dabble and, as I’m not working, I don’t have to worry if the look is a bit too dark or intense.
Oh dear – how could I omit the small but might Tartlette Tease palette. It’s so unassuming and there’s no hub-bub attached to it so I guess I forgot all about it but it really is a nice little thing and very handy for a “grab and go” palette if we’re going somewhere last-minute.
Tartelette Tease is a little gem.
Cashmere is such an easy-to-wear set of shades! I love traveling with that one.
I’m glad that ColourPop has had such a good year! Their shadows played a big part in a lot of my go-to looks in 2016.
They have had some awesome shades this year!
My shoppaholic status is confirmed. I have 5 of these! Not that I regret buying any of them, but still. Plus, one above is still on my wishlist. I’m thinking February? A little worried that they are about to DC it. No longer on Nordies anymore. So I had better grab it!
Which is the one on your wish list still, Nancy?
Tom Ford Honeymoon! But every time I’m ready to go through with it, I talk myself out of it by telling myself: “C’mon now, you already have the same colors just about in Vice 3!” alternating with: “But you *know* his will be much better quality!”. Yep, I have these internal discussions with myself!
My top vote is is for KVD MetalMatte! She took some of the hardest matte colors on earth to get right and paired them with shimmers in the incredible Metal Crush formula, all in a huge palette with loads of product that’s an absolute steal at $60, could be palette of the decade! Runner up is ABH Modern Renaissance, it’s the palette that launched a hundred copycats and the red/orange shadow trend. When so many brands were sticking to the same old safe neutrals, she issued this very gutsy palette, with red and orange shadows and tricky mattes, but she pulled it off from a color and formula standpoint.
I loved a lot of things about the MetalMatte! I think I would have preferred it to be shorter, though 😉
Well, I have to say, I have no problems finding MetalMatte in my ever growing pile of palettes —-it’s a palette that stands out, both figuratively and literally 😉 and maybe that’s what KVD intended 🙂
Katherine T., those are my top two picks, as well.
LimeCrime beat ABH to the punch (in terms of burnt orange and reds) by several years, actually.
Rosewood is still on my to be considered list. I bought the MUFE holiday one and I thought the NARS blush/shadow dual intensity one was pretty good. I know most people complained about the MUFE having too many repeat shades, but that’s why I got it cause I’d missed out on the last few!
Yeah, I think the MUFE palette is good if you didn’t have the repeats – still good quality!
It was good to see a mixture of shades winning the top titles – colourful, neutral and burgundy leaning palettes from a variety of brands. I was hoping that Lorac’s Rose Gold Mixed Metals would make it in there as that is pretty good too.
It was close – the only reason I omitted Rose Gold from the list was that I had reviewed it last year (when it originally launched), so my “review” this year was largely just verifying it was the same as before!
Ladies, esp Miss Christine, you are/are not making this too easy, devil or angel? Being nye and having great fun with these 16 lists (it really WAS a great year, wasn’t it? For m/u anyway.). Some awesome cps were missed and still available, so I ordered 1400 (already got Donna for an eponymous xmas gift), dopey, Bardot, the sweet set with koosh et all, and aphrodisiac, for a light neutral. Just got some storage for cp, too. CP is creeping up on me! Wearing a mixed tape/tang/Brady eye today probably set the mood. CP not only has a great color selection, but they’re so easy to apply, and budget friendly. How many wins is that? Thanks for putting CP on my radar.
ColourPop is easy to recommend – they don’t get everything right, but they do a lot of things well, if not very well.
I really am pleased with my purchases of ABH Mario and Modern Ren , and TF Peach palettes. I gifted (but kinda want another) UD Afterdark. But my very fave of the year is TF Honeymoon. Its a go to for me.
Honeymoon was a gorgeous combo!
Excellent choices. Loved Mario, Modern Renaissance, Victoria Beckham’s shadows and highlighter, and the Estée Lauder Edit rocked big time. Biggest surprise is how great a palette it is. And Tom Ford Honeymoon is sublime. Will have to check some of the others.
I was really surprised at the Estee Edit palette – I did NOT think it was going to be great!
Oops. Forgot. Actually, yes the Viseart Theory palettes are wonderful as well, although I prefer the other two more. I can’t do Colour Pop eye or lip products as they burn like crazy. They’re so pigmented and nice, but I’m allergic to something in them unfortunately. I want to check out the Chanel Spring 2017 shades.
Oh no, Missy! 🙁 That really sucks!
I’m sorry to see that Chanel 268 Candeur et Expérience didn’t make the list. I can’t wear these colors, but I can sure appreciate them on others — like you! Your entire look with these shadows was truly a WOW for me. Personally, I think Candeur was the most haute couture eyeshadow palette I’ve seen in a long, long time. You paired it with 58 Rouge Vie and 320 Rouge Profond, and the whole look was absolute perfection — as in drop-dead, stop-and-stare striking! Best look of the year by light years, imho.
Thanks, Anne! I’m glad you liked the look.
What a beautiful list! You know eyeshadow palettes are my drug of choice. I think I’d be happy to own any of these palettes. I have KVD Metal Matte (my pick for #1 of the year), ABH Modern Renaissance (close second), and Foil Eyes, and I think they all deserve their places on this list. I just ordered Afterdark today. 🙂
For myself, UD Moondust was the best right after the KVD MM and ABH MR. I realize a lot of people didn’t like that it wasn’t just a “wear and go” palette, but I think it’s a sensational glitter/topper palette. When applied correctly, the shadows are breathtaking.
I’m was really shocked how much I love UD Naked Smoky, after I had proclaimed it basic and boring when it was first released. Some friends convinced me to buy it when everyone had it for $27, and the blue- and purple- tinged grays and taupes are perfection with my greenish-eyes and fair skin. No muddiness at all. So I would put it on my best list without hesitation. (Boy, am I eating crow on this one.)
I forgot to put my favorite neutral palette of the year! UD x Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette. The ultimate pin-up palette with a couple pops of color. Perfection for the pale-skinned. I love this palette so hard.
I’m happy the Naked Smoky palette turned out to be a winner for you, Rachel! Do you often use it alone or pair it with other shades?
Usually alone, though I also have been pairing it with some beautiful lavender-tinted taupes from Notoriously Morbid, and sometimes I pull in some extra mattes from UD Ultimate Basics.
Goooooosh I really shouldn’t be seeing this, haha, this is making me greeeeedy! LOVE the Modern Renaissance palette. And I agree, the Victoria Beckham Estée Lauder palette is also very good.
MR was great!
The Mario Palette, Metal Matte, Sweet Peach the second coming, and Modern Renaissance all made their way into my collection. I do not regret a single one.
Awesome palettes you bought, Debbie!