I find I reach for 10-15 shade palettes the most. There’s usually enough variety in finish, color, and depth that I can use it as a standalone palette. Alternatively, I like quads as an accent or way to extend a larger palette.
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I prefer nothing more than 20. Over that it’s uninteresting to me. I love singles, quads and quints lately. I cannot be bothered with palettes!
I’d say 8 to 12 is about perfect. The Smashbox 8 pan palettes (like Minimalist and Smokey) are a great size and great for travel (travel? what is THAT???) and if a small palette is well curated for your own needs, that can be a perfect size. The original Naked palette (and a few of its offspring) was 12 shades, I think, and it too was perfect – not to large as to be unwieldy and with streamlined packaging. Of course, some of the Chanel and Dior 4 and 5 pan palettes are so well co-ordinated that they too are just perfect.
For me it’s not the amount but the kind of shades. I need a light color preferably close to my skin color for blending and initial lay down. A medium shade for the crease, dark shade for depth and A shade for the lid. I prefer to have a really sparkly light color too for the inner eye ,brow bone highlight but I can use a face highlight for that.
I love to have a couple of crease shades so my ideal palette would be 6 I guess but I’m adept at mixing colors also.
Personally 6-12. But I do have many larger palettes, which I love too.
I struggle with quads for some reason, likely why I only have one I can think of.
Nine to twelve shades is my sweet spot for a palette. Any more than that I tend to get overwhelmed. Any less than that and it’s hard for me to get inspired, depending on the palette and shades.
12-15 pans (Norvina, Extreme Effects, CP Flutter By, Triochrome) or 4-5 (Fleur Fantasia and Iconic Illumination, Tom Ford Badass, Retro and Star minis). There’s definitely a pattern to my favorites and favorites-to-admire-from-afar.
My favourite are 4 to 8 pans: you can have a full look, they are perfect as well if you travel, and you can actually finish them!
The 12-15 pans eyeshadow palettes are also my first options. Enough shades to have variety and basic colors, but not so many shades it becomes overwhelming. Perfect since I don’t want to use multiple platforms.
Because I already have so many eyeshadow palettes, lately I’m drawn towards quads and quints way more than before. However, I still tend to actually purchase 10-15 pan palettes for whatever reason. I suppose it’s due to the convenience factor of having all or most shades I’m going to use all in one place.
I’m with you Nancy- exactly my thoughts as well!
For me, it’s more about having a cohesive color story. I used to get overwhelmed with more than 2-4 colors, but as I’ve gained experience, I like larger palettes with a variety of options (still rarely use more than 4 colors in a particular look). I’ve been surprised by how much I like Colourpop’s Stone Cold Fox, and how easy it is to put looks together that way. On the other hand, I was recently thinking of decluttering my Natasha Denona Mini Retro because it’s not a one and done palette for me. I need a lighter cream shade to put down for a base color, and a slightly darker color to line and define. I’m not a fan of having to combine multiple palettes. For the ease of travel and storage, I do prefer somewhere around 8-12 colors.
I have waffled on Fox since its issue. So many times the dupes for the only shades I like in a reviewed palette are in Fox. I need it like a biblical plague, but know I will cave. The Retro mini is the only ND I have and have nearly hit pan on the greenies. Gray/green will get me every time. Totally shocked at how that could happen, when I barely wear m/u any more and it violated my ‘no new brands!’
I’ve waffled too on Stone Cold Fox. I’m tempted once I found out its organized by columns. But it still seems too big.
I like 4-8 shades. Otherwise I end up feeling overwhelmed.
I think my favorite is a well-curated 12-pan or maybe 15-pan. But similar to Erica, I don’t own anything over 20–I find it too overwhelming, usually bulky, and I end up not reaching for it. I also have been enjoying singles and trios/quads/quints (for an already coordinated for me eye look) lately as well!
Five- to 20-pan palettes work well for me. I like to have options for several looks. I’m not into giant palettes with 30+ shades, though. They’re unwieldy and overwhelming.
Never use palettes, only singles!
If it is a cohesive palette I prefer nine shades. That should be just enough to be able to make some pretty looks.
A premade palette? I would say around 12. Traveling isn’t really part of my life right now, but I’d say that’s the right amount to create some cool looks if the color story is versatile.
Honestly though, it’s rare I creaete a look these days using one premade palette. I rely on my custom palettes a lot.
The number of shades I prefer in an eyeshadow palette ranges from 4 – 15 – as long as there are waaay more shimmers than mattes. Generally I do prefer around 8 -12 to provide choices. Having said that, some of CT’s, Dior’s and Chanel’s quads and quints are just perfect – The Rebel 2020, Tisse D’ Automne and Bonne Etoile.
I like 4 – 20, then I have a good selection to pull from.
Hi Christine
When can we expect your eyeshadow palettes colab with Sydney Grace to be released?
Love xx
Still waiting on a date <3
At least 9 I like to have a good variety as I am not a 1-2 shade wearer 🙂
Ditto to you Christine on the 10 to 15 shadow palettes. I like having some room to chose combinations and 5 and under is too limiting for me. Extremely rare (like almost never) to I buy quads.