Has the increase in pre-made palettes impacted your interest in eyeshadow singles?

I don’t think it’s changed how interested I am singles — singles make me happy, and they are often the best of what eyeshadow has to offer, but palettes are infinitely more popular with the larger community so I would prioritize reviewing a new palette over singles!

— Christine

16 Comments

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Mariella Avatar

Is there an increase? I guess it hasn’t really registered with me personally as there are so many (especially some of the really bright smaller ones – quads of all yellow, all pink, all shades of aqua) that don’t appeal at all so they almost literally don’t “register”. I have so much eyeshadow already (singles and palettes) that there is so little I need or even want, with a very few exceptions – a couple of singles from Sydney Grace that I’ve hankered after for a few years (Troops, Commission, Herky Bird, Cadet, Tiara….I guess I could go on and on).

DG Avatar

To be honest, I never really bought singles. I had a couple singles when I was in high school – I bought them for prom! – and I think I made one duo from MAC eyeshadows. I just never used them, and I was too indecisive to figure out which ones I wanted!

Then, at the end of last year, I bought about 10 clionadh multichromes.

So, technically, I now own singles? Though I bought so many I basically made a multichrome palette…

Lesley Avatar

Now that I have determined that colors tend to look the same on my eyes even if they are not dupes, premade palettes(other than On The
Horizon light, arriving Tuesday) tend not to interest me so I am looking to singles when I want something new.

Zia Avatar

I wasn’t really aware there was an increase -unless it’s more just because there’s a general increase in makeup in general. I feel like every time I’m on instagram I’m getting ads for new makeup companies, now from all over the world.

I’ve definitely bought more singles this past year, though I still have bought palettes. Being more interested in the indie community though, buying singles seems more common and is so much fun. Even if there were to be a lot of palettes out I’m interested in, I don’t think it would influence my interest in singles.

Genevieve Avatar

I think that over the past decade or so pre made palettes of all sizes have become better quality (when I think of UD of old) and all the other brands that have followed suit. I also think, it’s safe to say, that the overly large palettes have had their day.
The trend toward more carefully curated quads, quints and palettes of between 8 – 15 shades are more popular now and the range of shades that have been introduced is more nuanced to varied colour stories, which has also made them popular if those shades suit you.
The role of singles continues to be also popular to provide customers with the one colour that is missing from their stash and to sample a new brand’s products – like SG, CP (of old), JD Glow, Terra Moons etc.
Generally I prefer premade palettes above singles, but I have continued to purchase singles here and there when the shade intrigues me.

Susan Avatar

Not in the least. There are only a couple of formulas that don’t irritate my eyes :
1. Viseart but their prices are too high.
2. Sydney Grace which accounts for 95% of my small collection.
I bought some Makeup Geek but have yet to try them.

Audrey Avatar

I get overwhelmed picking single shadows from so many choices so I prefer a premade palette – smaller more curated quads/palettes like Charlotte Tilbury are what I use daily for work/when I’m in a hurry. Large palletes give me anxiety sometimes with so many choices l but I have several that I like to use when I have more time to get ready and can experiment with them.

Z Avatar

Probably. I’m sick of ‘all in one!’ palettes, heavy pinks, rainbow palettes, etc… So I simply don’t buy those; but being a makeup collector that just turns my focus to things I *do* like – like gorgeous multi-dimensional shadows and teal shades that are always my weakness.

Ginny Avatar

I have never had great luck with palettes. Even ones I think will be every day go-tos end up being a bunch of stuff I don’t need. The right eyeshadow single can do it all for me and I have some beloved ones. I can say that there are brands out there that don’t make singles that I wish did (Viseart for one).

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