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Cooler months don’t just equal a wardrobe change—our makeup also tends to shift from bright pinks and corals to moody plums, soft browns and olives—particularly when it comes to eyeshadow. The best warm eyeshadow palettes will take your autumn/winter look to the next level. Whether you love pairing softly shaded nude hues, like the ones found in the Natasha Denona I Need a Nude eyeshadow palette, $69, with your favorite fuzzy sweater or prefer to embrace the chill with a bold, shimmery eye (see: the Pat McGrath Mothership X Moolight Seduction eyeshadow palette, $128), these little treasure troves of color will give you the most bang for your buck. We consulted with two professional makeup artists to narrow down a list of the latest and greatest warm eyeshadow palettes from 30 to 15 that will have your eyes ready to mesmerize.
The Best Warm Eyeshadow Palettes at a Glance
Meet the Experts
What Are Warm Eyeshadow Colors?
Come fall, Orlowska gravitates toward taupe browns, coppers and sage greens, using neutral matte shadows as a base and adding a touch of shimmer on top to brighten up the eye contour.
Carr, meanwhile, is a fan of deep purples, like burgundy and plum, navy, rich oranges and browns (think chestnut, crimson red and maroons). She echoes Orlowska’s call for coppers for a festive shine.
Which is the Best Professional Eyeshadow Palette?
For a contoured, sculpted fall look made from mindful ingredients, Carr loves to use the Patrick Ta Major Dimension III eyeshadow palette ($70). Orlowska turns to the Cle De Peau eye color quad ($55) in Beach Pebbles or Sundried Driftwood, which she says are very easy to blend, give a flawless natural depth to the eye and can be mixed in with your favorite warm colors. See more on both palettes in the list below.
How We Chose the Best Warm Eyeshadow Palettes
In addition to consulting our two expert makeup artists on their favorite warm palettes, we tested out several ourselves (see our honest critiques below). We also expanded our search to include the highest-rated options that addressed a multitude of needs for all eye looks and occasions. After all, one woman’s treasured shade profile (nude vs bold) or finish (shimmer, matte, cream) will be relegated to the back of another’s beauty bag. Below, 15 you’ll definitely want to keep near the front.
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This versatile palette is the ultimate contour for your eyes, making it Carr’s top pick for warm palettes. She suggests using the two cream bases to sculpt your peepers and create “major dimension” and sweeping on the powders to take your look from an upgraded everyday face to one that’s event-worthy. Reviewers also say the cream shadows can be used as an eyeliner with the right brush ($18), giving you even more options.
This quad eyeshadow palette is like jewelry for the eyes—and consider us dazzled. That’s because it was actually designed to emulate the jewel tones of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel’s Byzantine jewelry collection, from the vibrant shades of green and burgundy to the hammered gold packaging, which is meant to evoke the look of a gold bracelet. Blending elements of both experts’ recommended colors of greens (albeit in a more emerald tone) and crimson, it also reminds us of another color scheme: the changing leaves of autumn.
We can’t honestly say we ever hoped we’d find an eyeshadow palette that smelled like our favorite indulgent breakfast, but now that it exists, we don’t know how we lived without it. This fun, (limited-edition!) maple syrup pancake-scent infused eyeshadow palette isn’t just about the scent, however (though one reviewer likened it to “glory”)—the shades deliver as well. “The shadows are very pigmented, easy to blend and the shimmers are just so gorgeous and easy to use.”
It’s a review that’s exactly on par with our experience of the brand’s recent Pop-Tarts palette ($27), which features eight buttery-warm shades and blends like a dream (it’s quickly becoming our go-to). Considering that this palette has even more shades to love (18!), including Carr’s recommended purple hues, we can’t wait to try it.
Skincare doesn’t stop at your moisturizer—at least not when you’ve got this eyeshadow palette on deck. This “buttery and blendable” group of shadows is crafted with natural cucumber extract that the brand claims will soothe the sensitive skin above and around eyes. According to Kosas, it’s also made without 2,700 different ingredients typically found in makeup, including parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde and more.
While we can’t say our eyelids felt much different after trying it, the shadow does sweep on incredibly smoothly. Despite reviews that say otherwise, we also found that it packed a punch as far as pigment was concerned (though to be fair, we tested it on über-fair skin). The shade also makes a difference: Hint is pretty tough to see, as it’s meant to be a neutral base, but Peek and Gaze offer a lot more bang for your buck. Our only complaint is that this palette definitely leans more on the matte side (there wasn’t as much shimmer as we might have liked in the Strip hue), and can actually be quite difficult to remove (though we suppose this could also be a pro when considering longevity and wear).
When a nude palette feels a little too pumpkin-spice basic, this limited-edition holiday find is sure to kick your fall look up a notch. Sure, it has your autumnal “warm suedes,” “deep chocolate browns” and “molten champagnes,” but they’re balanced out by a set of more sparkly pinks and lilacs, making for a nice overall selection. After trying it, we like that the colors are highly buildable—you won’t have any “Mimi from Drew Carey” moments, regardless of how dark the colors look in the palette, since you can make it as light or as dark as you choose. In fact, some of the lighter metallics may actually be *too* subtle for those with more fair skin tones without quite a few passes over the lid. The results are uniquely pretty, but not over-the-top, and while there is some fallout from the glitter, we think it’s worth the cleanup.
If you don’t want to break the bank on your eyeshadow (especially if you’re stepping out of your comfort zone), Milani is one of the better budget brands we’ve used. (The gilded eyeshadow stick, $11, is a daily obsession.) This palette will let you try something (or 15 somethings) new for just $20, and reviewers say it performs the way we’ve come to expect from the brand, which is like a high-end equivalent—even for those who have sensitive eyes. The bright and light-reflective colors within are highly pigmented and super smooth, according to Ultra reviewers, and the color family makes it ideal for autumn.
This palette takes it back to basics with 15 go-with-anything hues you can use every day of the year—particularly those taupe browns and neutrals that Orlowska loves so much. We love that it includes both shimmery and matte finishes, so you can amp up your look or dial it down, and reviewers say “these shades blend like a dream,” so you know that your look will be flawless, even if you have an accidental smudge. It’s also cruelty-free, meaning the finished product is not tested on animals.
If you have a makeup-loving sister or pal who deserves an extra-special present this fall, look no further. From the collectible packaging they’ll want to leave out on display (even when it’s not in use), to the velvet mattes and astral shimmers, this palette is a gasp-worthy gift. At $128, it’s on the more expensive side, but reviewers say “these eyeshadows are just amazing. Pricey but worth it for the amazing looks they can produce,” and we have to agree—particularly when it comes to those ultra-warm terracottas and deep plums on the left.
When you want to make a beauty statement, this highly color-saturated palette will do the trick. It includes 12 dark and bold shades that range from deeply jewel toned shimmers to show-stopping metallics for a multitude of occasion-worthy eye combos. They’ve also got a texture worthy of their heart-stopping color, per one reviewer, who writes, “The shades are so buttery and pigment is 11/10. Obsessed.” Same!
For every pomade shadow this unique palette contains, there’s a coordinating contouring powder to go with it, making for a genius two-in-one design. Reviewers call its largely brown, gray and green color wheel “so versatile,” offering “every nude and neutral and basic” you’ll need for a warmed-up face. Better still, it’s formulated with upsalite, a chemical material that’s used to control oils and smooth texture. (Read: a dream for gals with oily lids).
Urban Decay palettes are legendary, and odds are, most makeup devotees have owned one at some point or another. Naked3 is the brand’s latest, and if reviews are any indicator, it doesn’t disappoint, with “buttery-smooth” mattes and highly blendable hues. We’re particularly drawn to the chestnut shades, which are right in line with Carr’s seasonal recs (and perfect for making green or hazel eyes pop, per Byrdie). The included brush is double-ended for precise application, too, which means you’ll be set to create your perfect eye, even while traveling.
For those overcast days when only glitter will do, you’ll want this palette in your arsenal: Gloom won’t stand a chance. That’s because the holographic, chunky sparkles in these shades can be applied with your fingers (no glitter glue required), and according to reviews, will “last all day.” While it’s perfect for the holidays, we won’t judge should you want to pull it out on a random Tuesday, just because.
For an on-the-go eyeshadow palette, these vibrant duos can’t be beat. We love playing with the four different finishes (you can choose from matte leather, metal foil, sparkling luster and gloss vinyl) to create customized looks, and options range from Orlowska’s recommended sage green to shimmery warm rusts and golds. And, since these shadows are created with clean, vegan ingredients, they’re less likely to cause irritation, no matter how sparkly the shade.
We’re big fans of Essence’s Princess Lash mascara ($5), and from the looks of this warm, Marrakesh-inspired palette chock-full of spicy colors, it’s another win for the brand. Fans say the formula is highly pigmented and lasts all day, and it’s cruelty-free and vegan besides. Wrote one happy buyer: “For the price honestly you can’t beat it! It rivals my high-end palettes.”
Orlowska’s pick makes our list for its refillable design, versatility and overall can’t-be-beat quality. The shades in these quads are meant to be used together to create a seamless eye look, but can be used individually as well. The makeup guru’s two favorite colorways, Beach Pebbles and Sundried Driftwood, are perfect for creating a neutral fall eye, but we also love some of the more bold blues and greens to create more unexpected looks as well.
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