11 Ways to Build Your Own Palette @ ColourPop
ColourPop 24-Pan Palette
Every time ColourPop has run a Build Your Own Palette promotion, I think about posting some options for those who look at the palettes but have trouble putting their own together, as it’s something I’ve done in the past, usually in quads; see: Anastasia (Part 2), Coloured Raine, ColourPop (Part Two), MAC, and Make Up For Ever). It’s actually quite a challenge to create a cohesive 24-pan palette! Part of that struggle comes from gaps in the permanent shade range (more colorful mattes are desperately needed, but there are actually holes in the neutral range, too). I’d try and be so dissatisfied with where my idea was going and scrap it entirely.
Last time (about a month or so ago), I decided to give it a go and really worked my way through it, and now, they’re running the deal again (I don’t know how long the promo will last), though the current pricing is reflective of some recent price increases that have happened to some products in ColourPop’s line-up, so a 24-pan palette is now $50 (used to be $44). You can also get a 12-pan palette for $30 (price is unchanged, but these are apparently out of stock) or mix with cheek colors with single eyeshadows (prices vary based on your mix!).
Initially, my thinking was to create four, “six-pan” mini-palettes within the larger palette (I’ve shared that below as well) but ultimately started with all of my favorite ColourPop eyeshadows, then whittled those picks down to 24. I started to play around with arrangements to try and make sense out of what I had chosen. The end result was rather satisfying, because it felt like it embodied how I feel about makeup (give me all the color! shimmer! color combos!), included only quality shades (no putting one in that fit the scheme, even if it was so-so in performance), and should encourage creativity (it did so for me when I tried to use the two of the secondary octets that I felt were the “hardest” to use cohesively).
Many readers have enjoyed my makeup look inspiration posts, which showcase “quads” of color. If you’re familiar with those, you’ll know that my philosophy is to specifically exclude brow bone and transition shades as they tend to relate to skin tone. For me, I think about the “core” colors of a look, because it is easier to pair that core quad of colors with your personal go-to shades for your skin tone. I wanted to arrange and create a palette that spoke to this philosophy and how I personally see color combinations. In a way, if you come away from looking at the palette (even in just photos) and can see all of the core quad combos pop out at you, then that’s exactly what I wanted to achieve.
Some of the combinations are easier to try than others, and the ones that are more challenging are there on purpose because I love playing with makeup and color combinations. My favorite part about trying out an eyeshadow palette is coming up with different looks from it (if I can) to see how versatile and nuanced the palette is. If you feel like it’s hard to mix and cool and warm tones, one of my favorite tricks is to use a lighter, brighter shimmery shade between then, e.g. a copper eyeshadow on the inner lid, gold on the center of the lid, and navy blue on the outer lid. You can also visualize the colors coming together vertically, horizontally, sextets, octets, or even as duos.
If you’ve ever created your own palette (with any brand’s singles), I’d love to see what you put together and/or hear about your choices and how you selected your shades!
ColourPop 24-Pan Palette
ColourPop 12-Pan Palette
ColourPop 12-Pan Palette
ColourPop 12-Pan Palette
ColourPop 6-Pan Palette
ColourPop 6-Pan Palette
Sun & Surf
ColourPop 6-Pan Palette
Stunning, absolutely stunning Christine. I think if I were to start my makeup collection over again, I would focus more on the high quality singles that are around nowadays, rather than waste my money on palettes (apart from a a few staples) and quads/quints that contain shades I just don’t use.
These are such good ideas. The only problem with Colour Pop is that they delete shades far too quickly.
Thank you, Genevieve!
Yes, ColourPop’s biggest flaw is that they discontinue things so quickly!!
This is why I like the Bobbi Brown empty palettes and design my own.
The issue I have with Colourpop – and I LOVE their shades – is I hit pan way to quickly and I’m not using that much! The Bobbi Brown eyeshadow are workhorses and still going strong after two years. Plus I can pop them out and interchange in the palette.
Wow!! I’m soooo inspired by this guide! And the eye looks you created are amazing! I will definately try out some of the combinations.
I have purchased 3 of these built-my-own palettes when they were still $44 and I tried to pick up anything I didn’t have a Colourpop dupe/repeat. The way I use them is to categorize all shadows into colors and neutrals. Then I make sure to randomly chose at least 12 of the colorful ones and some neutral ones and then force myself (I used to be very timid about colors) to use the set of shadows for 2 to 4 weeks. Usually, I figure out new ways to use colors that I use less often. And I record the combination when I’m having a good makeup day. Now I would say I have way more colors in my comfort zone.
That is a really cool way to do it, Li! I love that you tried to challenge yourself and succeeded in doing so!
This was SUPER helpful, Christine. I love the quality of so many CP pressed shadows, and the BYOP deal is hard to pass up. But I get overwhelmed by a big palette like this and don’t know what to do with it.
Thank you!
I get overwhelmed, too, and I feel like I know the line well! I think I’m always torn about how cohesive/themed it should be – do we want all 24 shades to make sense? are we just trying to take advantage of getting the most for our money?
I love the colors you chose and how you thought about the arrangement and color schemes! My favorite “six-pan” is Supernova Stunner and Sun and Surf!
Thank you, Taylor! 🙂
I’m thinking about making a custom palette filled with some of the colour combinations you’ve posted on Instagram as well as few colours that seem to be lacking in my current stash (I’ve been wanting to play with some yellows for a while now). Hopefully having this shipped to Canada isn’t going to create too much of an issue!
Fingers crossed, Linda!
Well, I have placed my order; unfortunately I had to make it a 16 shadow/2 cheek palette, as they consider each shadow a separate item, and for some reason there is a limit of 20 items in one order when shipping to Canada. Oh, well, on the bright side, it does give me a chance to try out a highlighter and a bronzer. Now to wait and see how much duty they charge me at the border!
But I think I did a good job choosing shades that I have no dupes for and that were inspired by some of your combinations!
Oh, that is such a strange limit! I will send them a note about that, since I wonder if they realize how the two don’t work together.
Hope you love your palette, Linda, and that duties aren’t too painful!
I love what you’ve done here, but it’s so freaking enabling ?
Pfft, I am sure you have enough singles that you could rearrange into some of these combos 😉
What a nice selection of Shades! Unfortunately, coluorpop Is only a remote Dream here ?? why??? I would like ti create a georgious custom palette, like your, Christine… However, many thanks for the post. I’ll take It as a suggestions about how ti mix togheter different palettes I already own, to achieve more differents look that the ones I create if I use only One palette at time
I’m so glad you’re going to try some of the combos using what you have!
This is a thing of absolute beauty Christine!
Thank you, Hannah!
I remember UD’s first Vice palette being one of the few things I had seen that worked both down and across, but you have blown that paltry dream out of the water! If I had $50 to spare right now I would be copying all this directly onto the ColourPop site (I’d probably even get doubles of the ones I already own so I can use your grouping without sacrificing my own).
(You get extra bonus points for use of the word tertiary! I mostly know it from Star Trek Voyager and 7 of 9.)
Thank you, Reka! That means a lot since this has been a struggle for me in the past, but I’m really happy with how it ended up working out!
Your palette also works really well when grouped diagonally. And in three pan triangles. I usually look at all my palettes and find shapes that make good color combos. Four pan diamonds are great too.
Thank you for pointing out those shapes, too, Holly!
Though I won’t be purchasing anything from them in a while I’m (almost) certain, I TRULY appreciate this! Thank you so very much Christine,a s you provide us with SOOOOO many ideas color wise. Supernova Stunner and Symphony of Sextets are my favs!
Wow, you’re a beauty scientist, Christine! Love the amount of thought you put into this!
Thank you, Samantha!
Wow, Christine, this is impressive. I’m a little too methodical with makeup and, as a result, I,..kind of hate my selection of singles. I know! I chose them – individually! How could I hate them? As I mentioned, I just thought too much about it. I went through a mental checklist of what I *should* get. So I got a warm brown transition, neutral brown transition…. when I saw a pinky brown transition, I thought “oh I need that” – “and a gray brown transition I guess” when I saw that. Repeat for mattes, colorful mattes, neutral shimmers, glittery shimmers… I got what “made sense” for what I like without anyy consideration for the actual looks because. I don’t know, I guess I thought I’d have one mega palette that could create any look? Truthfully, I didn’t really think. In short, I like your approach much better ahaha thank you for providing me with some much needed ideas.