ColourPop Palettes in general, but something like their Gone Matte mega palette and then any one of their many more shimmer/matte mixed palettes would be a good place to start.
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For someone really new, I’d honestly recommend 2 of the Smashbox 8 pan Cover Shot palettes – Minimalist and Punked (assuming they’re still available). They’re not overwhelming in terms of # of shadows and they are well-coordinated so that someone new to makeup would be able to come up with some wearable looks easily. There’s also a good mix of satin/matte and shimmer finishes. If UD’s original Naked palette (or Naked2) were still available, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend either one of those but as they’re a thing of the past, I think either of the 2 Smashbox ones I suggested would be a great starting point for eye looks a “newbie” wouldn’t feel foolish or outrageous wearing.
Since many newbies (or even those returning to buying makeup again after a hiatus of sorts) may find a mega sized palette to be very overwhelming, I would recommend, depending on what one can or wants to spend: Huda’s 9-pan palettes that have had positive reviews, ColourPop’s 4 to 15 pan eyeshadow palettes (again, check reviews!), or Elf Bite-size palettes. I do also agree with Mariella’s response. Some of Smashbox Cover Shot palettes are excellent! I have Punked and Rose Rocked, and both are wonderful.
Maybe it’s a more expensive and unconventional opinion, but I would recommend that person to work with a make-up artist and build a custom palette with colors that suit them and they would wear. When you are new to makeup you clearly don’t know yet what colors suit you. A makeup artist can try multiple shades on you, give you some hints on which shades to pair.
And I know it sounds complicated… but I would personally gift a teen daughter of a friend or someone I knew a MAC makeup session and a gift card for a custom made palette. I would have loved to be able to do this with my little sister.
They could also decide if they want 15 pan or a 4 pan palette. When I think of someone new to makeup it’s either someone new but excited or someone who will wear makeup occasionally and very minimal (to which a 4 pan would be ideal).
I know we live in the era of learning by YouTube. But I always recommend going to professionals when possible.
Also, go to a salon for the first brow grooming. Never let a friend or (worse) you touch them, especially as a teen. 😅
Hmmm – now that UD’s Nakeds 1 & 2 have gone (both of which were pretty foolproof for a makeup beginner to start with), it does leave quite a vacuum in the good makeup market. And it depends on whether the beginner knows if they are cool or warm toned too.
The trouble with CP is/was the inclusion of the PET glitter ingredients in their eyeshadows, which could be a serious problem for any makeup beginner to know about. However, I do think the Stone Cold Fox palette could be a good start – large yes, but at least it has a variety of shades in couple of different finishes to allow a beginner to experiment. No PET glitter in this one.
Of course, it they want to go straight to the top – ND Glam would be perfect.
I know nothing personally about pallettes because I prefer singles in their own container (MAC) no fall out color contamination, but I recently sat next to a woman whose eye makeup was perfect, of course I asked her and she pulled out this Laura Geller pallette with tons of pretty colors all round and rather small but really, really pretty.
ColourPop Lust for Dusk. It’s a 16-pan, so it’ll give a nice variety of looks without being overwhelming. It has a good balance of neutrals and brighter colors, but even the brighter colors are done in more muted versions, which would reassure a newbie who’s afraid of looking clownish.
I’d recommend a 10-pan neutral palette from Profusion. Cheap, great quality, and enough shades to play with. The travel series palettes from BH Cosmetics are great, too, and one can get a good mix of colors and neutrals if they wanted.
A neutralish 9 pan from ColourPop probably.
I’d probably recommend tartlette in Bloom but then also a ColourPop Super Shock in an ultra glitter formula for a pop on the lid like Frog or something.
Depends on there tastes. Subtle and for work only, ND’s Glam palette. Drama and lots of parties, PMG any palette or SG+Temptalia’s any palette.