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My first eyeshadow palette — a Christmas gift from my parents — was massive, with rows of colorful shades I used to experiment with and figure out what worked for me and what didn't. I probably used it well past its expiration date, but saying goodbye meant saying hello to some of the best eyeshadow palettes the beauty world has to offer, and, trust me, there are many. 

But as much as I love a good eyeshadow palette, and welcome new releases with an open wallet, I'm well aware the market is saturated with all kinds of compacts and mega collections that vary widely in quality. The best palettes offer a useful range of shades for all kinds of eye looks and have rich, blendable pigments that don't produce much fallout.

Ahead, I've listed 15 of the best eyeshadow palettes you can buy in 2022. The list includes a mix of new launches and old favorites, all of which I've tested and consider elite.

Tarte's mega palette offers users 28 gorgeous Amazonian clay eyeshadows that can take you from day to night in seconds.

When I look for a master palette, I look for a grid of colors that can take me from day to night. I also look for high-quality formulas that are as highly pigmented as they are easy to blend. The Tartelette Full Bloom Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Palette checked all my boxes. It features 28 eyeshadows made with the brand's signature Amazonian clay and mineral pigments, and the shades come in a range of matte, metallic, glitter, and shimmer finishes.

Almay's 5-step eyeshadow palettes are a miniature master class in creating seamless eye looks.

These miniature palettes from Almay are iconic. They've been around for years and there's a reason they haven't been discontinued: they're brilliant. Each palette features five powder eyeshadows, and rather than organize them in a grid, the brand has mapped out where on the eye each color should be applied to assist beginners still learning how to create an eye look. Each palette also boasts its own color story based on eye color to ensure the shades you use not only work together aesthetically but also enhance your eyes.

Makeup Revolution's Reloaded Deep Dive Palette is filled with shades of blue, purple, and green that call back to the '90s.

Back in the '90s, shadows in shades of blue, purple, and green were especially popular, with celebs like Britney Spears, Tyra Banks, and Christina Aguilera rocking the trend. The look even continued into the early 2000s (see Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore for proof). So if you're looking for a palette to channel the throwback aesthetic, look no further than this compilation of blues, teals, greens, gold, and purple.

Beauty trends of the early aughts are back and booming, and Natasha Denona's eyeshadow palette has all you need for Y2K-inspired makeup looks.

If Makeup Revolution has the best '90s eyeshadow, look no further than Natasha Denona for makeup stylings reminiscent of Y2K. The early aughts were all about pastels, and the age of delicate hues is making a bold comeback in the 2020s. Natasha Denona's Pastel Eyeshadow Palette embodies the looks of the decade with its 15 shimmer pans.

No one sets up a moody eye look better than Kevyn Aucoin.

One eye look that will never go out of style is a rich, bold smokey eye and this five-pan eyeshadow palette from Kevyn Aucoin has everything you need to master a statement-making aesthetic. The selection of shadows includes matte, chrome, and satin finishes, as well as a cream foil formula with a felt-tip applicator that can be used to line, define, or be worn solo. Any way you experiment, the result will be high impact and dramatic.

Patrick Ta's newest palette is a collection of powders that are almost too pretty to use.

Patrick Ta's Major Dimensions II Rose Eyeshadow Palette is best described as simply gorgeous. The blush color story is comprised of 12 creams and pressed powders with stunning matte, shimmer, and radiant finishes to play with. For anyone who loves rosy-toned neutrals, Patrick Ta's palette will be a staple as it's a wardrobe of day-to-night hues that can be applied in a plethora of ways and for a variety of eye looks.

Dose of Colors has mastered the art of intense pigmentation, and the brand's eyeshadow palettes are no exception.

I've been a fan of Dose of Colors since the brand's initial launch in 2013 (back when its biggest claim to fame was its liquid lipsticks) and I've found the rich pigmentation of its cosmetics among the best you can find. Its powder eyeshadows are no exception, and I especially love the brand's Baked Browns series (pictured is the original palette; this is its sequel). The creamy formula blends easily and the selection of colors allows users to create any neutral eye look they can imagine.

Urban Decay's cult-favorite palette is ideal for the beauty lover who's constantly on-the-go.

Urban Decay's Naked Eyeshadow Palettes have a cult following for a reason. First, the eyeshadow formulas apply beautifully with minimal fallout, blend easily, and are buildable; second, they're vegan-friendly; and third, they're designed to cater to a wide range of skin tones. The brand's miniature muted rosy neutrals palette features six universally-flattering powders that are brand new to the NAKED family. All are comprised of velvety formulas and come compact in travel-friendly packaging.

Roen's high-shine cream shadows are perfect for any season, but they'll especially stand out in summer.

While not necessarily a seasonal quad (you can purchase it year-round), Roen Beauty's Mood 4 Ever Eye Shadow Palette is a warm color story that's perfect for summer. Complete with an ivory cream hue, a shimmering peachy-pink, sparkling maroon, and translucent shimmering taupe, each shade can be worn solo or layered together. Either way, the shine will turn heads.

This Juvia's Place eyeshadow palette has pigments specifically made for deeper complexions.

If you have a darker complexion, I beg of you not to sleep on this brand. The Warrior Palette is breathtaking, consisting of nine warm neutrals (golds, browns, and bronzes) that can take you from subtle to sultry in minutes. But act fast, because this bestseller is often sold out (luckily Juvia's Place consistently restocks). 

Let your inner artist out to play with the Morphe Fairtale Artistry collection that's full of vibrant hues.

If you live your life in full color, you'll love the Morphe X Nyane Fierce Fairytale Artistry Palette. It's full of potential for fantasy looks, with a range of shades that span from neons to pastels, all of which apply striking and bold. This palette is for makeup artists and beauty gurus who unabashedly experiment with their cosmetics and want to create enchanting eye looks.

Too Faced's Sweet Peach eyeshadows are as good as they smell.

I can't get over how good the Too Faced Sweet Peach Eyeshadow Palette smells, and neither can brand loyalists who've stuck by this eyeshadow collection since its initial launch back in 2015. This beautiful collection is a cult favorite for a reason: The compilation of 18 shades in peachy pinks, corals, bronzes, and purples is the perfect year-round palette for warm-toned eye looks.

Charlotte Tilbury's fabulous quads are a minimalist beauty guru's dream.

Quad eyeshadow palettes are underrated, and that's especially true of Charlotte Tilbury's line of four-pan compacts. They're perfect for travel, with each of the 12 palette options boasting its own theme and color story so you can choose one (or multiple) that best fits your ideal eye look. As of now, Tilbury has only introduced one all-matte palette, but don't let the shimmer shadows deter you. The crease-free formula is too good to pass up (and wildly beloved, garnering over 205,000 hearts on Sephora alone), plus it's vegan-friendly to ensure everyone can enjoy it.

Colourpop's Fade Into Hue eyeshadow palette is best summed up in two words: brilliant and bright.

I tend to shy away from palettes with blindingly vibrant shades, but if you're looking to add a lot of color to your eyeshadow collection, look no further than Colourpop's Fade Into Hue palette that's essentially a master class in bright, bold eye looks. The mega palette consists of 30 colors divided into rows of five, with each row dedicated to a color family. From sparkling metallics to pressed glitters and rich mattes, you can wear every color of the rainbow with the help of this palette.

The Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eye Shadow Palette is an oldie but a goodie.

With a combination of neutral and rich berry hues, the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eye Shadow Palette invites you to experiment with day-to-night looks. But be warned: The eyeshadows are highly pigmented, so I would advise approaching with a light hand and building color as you see fit.

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