The search for the best cool toned eyeshadow palette can be an arduous one. But particularly during the colder months or for paired back looks, having a tried and true cool toned palette at hand is a must.
This is especially true if you have green eyes, for example, but who doesn’t suit cool tones?
Here’s a secret: anyone can use them! So today we’ll be collecting all the best cool toned palettes out there so you don’t have to.
The 15 Best Cool Toned Eyeshadow Palettes for You:
1. LORAC PRO Matte Eye Shadow Palette
Combining botanical extracts and moisturizing mineral oil, this formula really lives up to the ‘PRO’ in LORAC PRO. It’s non-drying and wonderfully pigmented too. And beyond an ingredients standpoint? Well, this palette is just a winner all-round.
In practice, these eyeshadows have amazing staying power in more ways than one. Not only will they stay put on you throughout the day, but the pans won’t run out of product for a good long while!
Moreover, the sleek packaging we’ve come to expect from LORAC PRO is definitely here. It’s smart, pocket-sized, includes a mirror, and it’s not made of plastic so it’s better for the environment! Truly packaging made for the modern consumer.
2. JAPONESQUE Velvet Touch Eye Shadow Palette
If you’re after something that’s great for a matte smoky-eye look and feel like treating yourself, look no further than this palette.
Another solid and well-curated 8-shade option, this has a tighter range of colors that blend really well together. And with JAPONESQUE, you know you’re getting a product with innovation at its heart.
On the top row, you’ll find four lighter, brighter shades, while the bottom gives you lots of options for your crease. But you can even use the bottom four shades to fill in your brows! Feel free to experiment without any fallout or clashing in sight.
The JAPONESQUE website describes their specially developed ‘Velvet Touch’ formula as ‘buttery rich’. And when you experience how light and smooth this product feels on the skin, you’ll know why they trademarked it!
3. theBalm NUDE ‘tude Eyeshadow Palette (Naughty)
We’ve talked about this palette before when counting down the best eyeshadow palettes for brown eyes and we simply can’t resist mentioning it again!
Do you want a mixture of flattering mattes and shimmers? An in-built brush and mirror for doing your make-up on the go? And are you a fan of packaging with a sense of humor? Well, you’re in for a treat.
This varied and versatile palette from theBalm has everything you could possibly want from a nude cool toned palette. The wearable and excellently formulated shades are beginner-accessible but also provide enough quality and range for a pro to play with.
4. Milani Soft & Sultry Eyeshadow Palette
Seeking a good quality product but still want an affordable drugstore price-tag? We got you. This generous 12-pan palette from Milani might just be the one for you.
This is not a super sparkly palette, but it does have a versatile mix of mattes and metallics. Overall, there will truly be something here for every occasion – apart from maybe a disco or a fancy dress party!
Perhaps the best cool toned eyeshadow palette for those wanting a plethora of elegant looks at a good price, this color selection is very classy and understated. While this is a very neutral color story, it is well thought out and these shades all complement each other wonderfully.
5. LORAC MEGA PRO Palette
Love high quality Lorac formulas but looking for a show-stopping color selection? Look no further than this outstanding 32-pan palette. Yes, that’s right, 32! A cool-toned rainbow of possibilities!
The nudes are the start of the show here, supported by some lovely pinks, reds and grays. Not to mention the gemstone shades ‘deep teal’ and ‘indigo’ which add some royal glam to your look.
Packaging-wise, the carton itself is understated yet smart and comes with a mirror big enough to see your whole beautiful face in. Moreover, the red and burgundy colors of the carton really make the shades inside pop and catch the eye. You’ll be inspired as soon as you open it.
6. theBalm – Meet Matt(e) Nude Eyeshadow Palette
Yep, theBalm has done it again. The shade names and packaging here will make you smile even before you’ve enjoyed the eyeshadows themselves! And the eyeshadows do not disappoint.
In this easy-to-use, palm-sized carton with a little mirror to boot, you’ll find 9 shades in a well-curated color story. Offering an array of nudes, a white and a couple of grays, this palette has everything you need for a quick smoky-eye or understated work look.
Sticking to theBalm’s oft-stated “beauty in 5 minutes” ideal, this palette is great for travelling or a quick, no-nonsense routine. And the pans themselves are a great size compared to some others in this list.
7. theBalm Nude Dude Eyeshadow Palette
Okay, this is our last theBalm product, we promise! It’s not our fault they’re killing the cool-toned palette game, alright?
Another 12-pan palette with a mirror, brush, and combination of mattes and shimmers, this is comparable to the NUDE ‘tude palette, only with some added warm touches.
In addition, these formulas are triple-milled for a smoother, softer final product. As a result, you’ll get a better distribution of colour for less brushstrokes, a smoother look on the skin and a higher quality experience overall.
As with all eyeshadows from theBalm, you can rest assured that these will give you long wear and have a long lifespan. The pans might look small at first, but if anything (in this case at least) this shows how confident this company is in the color-payoff and quality of their formulas.
8. wet n wild Color Icon Eyeshadow (Nude Awakening)
Sitting tantalizingly at the lower-end of drugstore price-points, this 10-pan set is a fantastic product for beginners. And what good is a “best of” list if it’s not beginner inclusive?
Nude Awakening has both flattering mattes and subtle shimmers. That’s not exactly groundbreaking but what this palette does differently is give you larger pans for your transition shades.
It makes sense really because these versatile browns are the colors you’ll probably use the most. And in case you’re a complete novice (as we all were at one point!), the word ‘transition’ is printed on the two larger pans just to keep you right!
Again, this could very well be the best cool toned eyeshadow palette for those dipping their toes in eye makeup for the first time. If you’re looking for enough to experiment with without breaking the bank, you won’t be disappointed.
9. Urban Decay Naked3 Eyeshadow Palette
One of our favorite products from Urban Decay, this 12-pan tin (complete with mirror and double-ended brush) is flawless.
While this palette is definitely on the glam side of things, you have a mix of mattes and shimmers, and these date-friendly colors are youthful and flattering without being OTT. Moreover, you can rely on Urban Decay’s trustworthy formulas to perform beautifully.
Furthermore, this palette is free of nasties. There’s no sulfates here, no parabens, no phthalates – which have been shown to possibly cause harm – and the formulas haven’t been tested on animals.
Knowing all of this, how can you say no? That’s right: you can’t!
10. Maybelline New York The City Mini Eyeshadow Palette Makeup (Matte About Town)
Living up to the ‘mini’ in its name, this is an extremely portable little palette. The packaging is sturdy enough to live in your purse, and the nude shades inside are very complementary and easy to pair.
If you want to dazzle, you might want to look into one of the more outlandish palettes here. However, if you’re looking for a simple daily driver in an easy-to-blend powder formula, try this one out.
If you like the format and price point of this palette, you’re in luck because it comes in 11 variations! What a treat.
11. BYS Matte Eyeshadow Palette
You really don’t see enough eyeshadow palettes packaged in tins these days. They’re so cute! And not to mention durable. This will definitely survive being jostled around in your handbag.
But what about the formulas themselves? For one, they’re cruelty free which is always good. They’re also fairly well pigmented and blend well with a damp brush. Is this the best cool toned palette ever? Not really, but you get a lot for your money with this collection.
These are nice mid-range quality formulas for a mid-range price. This makes it a great choice if you’re looking for an alternative to more expensive brands like Anastasia Beverly Hills or LORAC.
12. Tarte ‘tartelette’ Amazonian Clay Matte Palette
Another great “clean beauty” option, this 12-pan palette is a real treat. As soon as you see the quality of the packaging, printed logos in the shades, and the full-size mirror, you’ll know this is something special.
Ranging from a matte-black to an ivory, all these colors are here for a reason and have a distinct feel to one another. Unlike with some cheaper palettes, you won’t end up confusing one shade for another on your lid!
Being matte-only, this palette isn’t for creating full-glam looks. However, for 90% of occasions you won’t need shimmers! Which is something to keep in mind. And some people don’t even like them!
So if that sounds like you, treat yourself to this palette. You won’t be disappointed.
13. Honest Beauty Everything Eyeshadow Palette
If it’s something more mid-range but jazzy you’re looking for, check out this cute little number from Jessica Alba’s skin-friendly Honest Beauty.
The colors in this 10-color carton stand out because they offer something a little more than your usual cool nude selection. Along with a white, a black and some skin-tones, you’ll find a dark purple and sumptuous shimmery gold.
Moreover, the overall package is very compact for the versatility it offers. This makes it a great gift or stocking filler – or of course a treat for yourself! Combo-wise, this selection offers some of the best cool toned eyeshadows that do things a little differently.
Making the black shade pan bigger is something we have to applaud too. Giving us more of that shade is a great excuse to use it as a smoky, blendable eyeliner. So don’t worry if you drop your eyeliner and can’t find it for a week!
(Not that we’d know anything about that…)
14. Physician’s Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eyeshadow Palette (Nude)
Another great product for beginners, this 9-shade set offers just enough shimmer for a night-time look but is demure enough to use during the day.
If you have sensitive skin, you’ll love these formulas. While they’re not the most pigmented on the market, they are hypoallergenic and have decent staying power. And if you’re still figuring out what works for you make-up wise, sometimes that’s all you need!
Keep in mind that there technically aren’t any mattes here. But if you’re worried about looking like a glitterball, don’t let that put you off! These are soft shimmers that you have the choice to build and layer if you want them to really shine.
We particularly recommend this palette if you’re a fan of creating “no-makeup looks” as these shades are strong enough to compliment your face but subtle enough to be paired down and look effortlessly fresh-faced.
15. Coastal Scents Revealed Smoky Eyeshadow Palette
If you’re a smoky-eye queen but want to be able to create many types of smoky-eye, this is the palette for you. With 20 cool toned eyeshadows to choose from, the possibilities are almost endless!
From the subtle and sultry, to the bold and even gothic, there’s room for a plethora of looks in here. In particular, this is a great dupe for the Naked3 palette from Urban Decay that we mentioned earlier. However, it stands well on its own as a great product.
In the best cool toned eyeshadow palette awards, this one isn’t number one, but it definitely wins on value for money.
Joan S. Wilson is a lifelong makeup and skincare enthusiast. She used to work as a makeup artist for 5 years. Joan is always curious and wants to learn more when it comes to makeup and skincare. She tries her best to make other people’s skin health better. This is why Joan is so passionate about writing articles on beauty topics. She always looks for products that are high-quality, dermatologist-tested, and does that it says on the label. In every article, she shares her knowledge to make your life healthier and happier!