Everyone loves a glamorous smokey eye or a sharp cut crease, but sometimes, especially for day to day life, you’ll want to tone it down.
But toning it down doesn’t mean adapting a boring style.
While neutral eyeshadow palettes may not seem like much at first glance, they can actually make a drastic change in your makeup routine. These nude, warm colors can help enhance your natural beauty, contouring your eye shape, and making your eye color pop.
However, picking the right neutral eyeshadow isn’t always easy. After all, you’ll want to make sure that these nude colors show through.
That’s why we’ve created this list of our top 14 picks for the best neutral eyeshadow palettes.
Top 14 Best Neutral Eyeshadow Palettes:
1. LORAC PRO Matte Eye Shadow Palette
The Lorac Pro eye shadow palette is lined with 8 neutral shades to help you look your best no matter the occasion. Lining, shading, defining – each color is designed to work with you to help achieve the glamorous eye you’re aiming for.
Each pan is designed to be ultra-pigmented so it works wet or dry. It’s infused with soothing botanicals that are gentle on your skin but don’t sacrifice any pigmentation.
It’s also versatile enough for beginners or professional makeup artists.
Note, in order to achieve its mattifying effect, this eye shadow palette does utilize talc. If you have sensitivities to talc, you may want to try a different option.
2. Anastasia Beverly Hills Eyeshadow Palette, Modern Renaissance
With a combination of shades and finishes, this eyeshadow palette goes above and beyond by delivering neutral nudes as well as pops of color. As a result, it’s highly versatile and can fit almost every look.
It comes with 14 shades, including a satin finish, two metallic finishes, and 11 matte finishes. Each one is blendable and ultra-pigmented with buildable coverage.
Looking for a makeup palette to take on the go? This palette includes a dual-ended brush for applying and blending as well as a built-in mirror.
As a result, it’s a great option if you travel option or are just looking to cut down on the size of your makeup bag.
Expert Advice: Looking for a makeup palette that goes above and beyond your eyes? Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Modern Renaissance palette also offers shades that can be used for your entire face. Some of the brighter shades can double as cheek coloring, while the warm neutral shades can act as a contour. You can even use some of the bright, metallic shades as a highlighter.
3. Too Faced Sweet Peach Eyeshadow Palette
With its rich smell, the Too Faced Sweet Peach almost seems more like fresh fruit than an eyeshadow palette. This is because each shade is infused with the antioxidant-rich essence of peaches.
There are 18 shades ranging from neutral pinks and corals to deep purples. There are a variety of finishes to help you achieve the perfect look.
Each shade has a pop of buildable pigment that blends easily for a flawless makeup look. It’s made without parabens, sulfates, gluten, and phthalates, for makeup that’s safe and gentle on your skin.
It’s important to note that, since this product is in high demand, there are fake products in circulation. Make sure to check thoroughly for any difference or mistakes in order to confirm you have an authentic palette.
4. Morphe Pro 35 Eyeshadow Palette
With 35 deeply pigmented shades, the Morphe Pro 35 palette will meet your neutral eyeshadow needs and then some. With colors ranging from nudes to neutral peaches and coral tones to rich blacks and purples, this palette is a staple in your makeup bag.
It’s versatile enough for day or night looks, and it’s easy for both beginners and professional makeup artists to use. Each shade is smudge resistant for looks that last but blends easily for photo-ready makeup.
The pans are both large and deep, so, with moderate use, it should last for a while.
There is a bit of fallout out, however, so a quality primer is recommended in order to help make sure you get as much pigment as possible.
Related: Best Eyeshadow Primers
5. Urban Decay Naked3 Eyeshadow Palette
While glamorous smokey eyes can be fun, sometimes, you just want a simple no-makeup makeup look. Whatever the occasion, with a wide variety of shades and finishes ranging from pearly nudes and satin peaches to rich mauves, this palette is perfect for all your needs.
The Urban Decay Naked3 palette feature 12 rosy-warm hues that make it one of the best neutral eyeshadow palettes for brown eyes. They enhance your eyes’ natural beauty without feeling too heavy for daily wear.
The creamy colors are designed to blend easily with bright pigment that lasts. The coverage is buildable, so you can switch a neutral day look to a smokey eye for night.
Expert Advice: In order to get the most pigment in every application, spray your brush with a setting powder first. This will dampen the brush without having a negative impact on how the color sticks. In fact, this improves the durability of your makeup by infusing setting spray into every layer.
6. Milani Soft and Sultry Eyeshadow Palette
The Milani eyeshadow palette is designed with a mix of cool iridescent neutrals and smoked out metallics shadows. Both sets of colors, which can be used together and separate, help bring out and enhance every eye color for a soft, natural appearance.
Each shade is designed to blend and build easily, with a creamy smooth texture. It combines a mixture of matte shades and metallic shades so you can experiment and create whatever neutral look your heart desires.
Related: Best Cream Eyeshadows
Milani is certified by The Leaping Bunny and doesn’t test their products on animals. As a result, you can enjoy daily wear or glamorous nights out knowing your money is helping a cause.
Please note that this product does contain talc as one of its ingredients. If you’re sensitive to talc, you may want to consider a different, talc-free option.
7. The Nubian by Juvias
Highly pigmented, all-day staying power, flawless blending capabilities – the Nubian by Juvias is everything you’d want in a neutral eyeshadow. It comes with a mixture of matte and shimmer tones for a total of 12 different shades.
One of the biggest concerns with pressed powder eye shadows is the fact that – unless they are baked or mineralized – they can only be used dry. The Nubian can be used wet or dry, however, making it extremely versatile.
Even without primer, these eyeshadow colors are designed to stay put – even on a hot summer’s day! However, for the best durability, try starting your look with a primer and ending with setting spray.
Note that most of the shades in this palette have warmer, orange/red undertones. While it’s designed for all skin tones, if you find that you prefer cooler neutrals, you may want to try a different option.
8. Colourpop Give It to Me Straight
Want to turn up the heat on your day to day neutral look? Then this is the palette for you.
Rosy neutrals, romantic mauves, rich roses – these warm neutral colors enhance your natural beauty, making one of the best neutral eyeshadow palettes for brown eyes. It comes with twelve powder shades, each one varying between shimmer and matte.
The colors are easy to apply, great for blending, and have a smooth texture. Plus, the palette is small enough that you can easily take it on the go for any touch-ups needed during the day or vacations.
Like with most powdered eyeshadows, there will be some fallout during application. However, the amount is minimal and can easily be brushed away for a flawless finish.
Colourpop is a popular brand, and the colors in this palette are designed for all skin types. If you have red hair or brown eyes, however, you may find that this palette works especially well for you.
This is because the colors in the palette are complimentary and work with your natural colors to enhance and brighten them without washing you out.
9. NYX Professional Makeup Ulitmate Eyeshadow Palette, Warm Neutrals
This professional-level makeup palette features 16 highly-pigmented shadows that glide onto lids and blend smoothly. The NYX Warm Neutrals palette features a variety of satin, matte, and shimmer shades ranging from beige to mauves to light burgundy.
As a result, this palette is versatile and can be used for creating any makeup look – including a nude day to day no-makeup makeup look.
To apply, make sure to start with a primer. A quality primer allows your eye shadow to go on smoother while also increasing its stay.
Place your main color onto your lid. Then apply deeper shades to your crease and highlights to your inner eye and brow bone for a soft, neutral look.
There is fallout present during the application, but not a concerning amount. If you’re concerned, make sure to apply your eye makeup before moving onto skin makeup.
10. Rimmel Magnif’eye Eyeshadow Palette Nude Edition
Take your neutral makeup look to the next level with the three-in-one palette. These 12 shades, which vary between shimmers, mattes, and satins, acts as an eyeshadow, a liner, and even a highlighter.
They’re crease and smear-proof and designed to last all day. Of course, to guarantee and all-day hold, you should always consider either a primer or a setting spray.
If you’re unsure about how this palette holds up to others, it won the 2018 ELLE Beauty Grand Prix in the Eyeshadow Palette Category. To make traveling and application easier, it comes with a dual-ended makeup brush.
The highly-pigmented powders go on thin to avoid cakey while not sacrifice the appearance of your makeup.
11. ETUDE Special Limited Edition Hershy Eyeshadow
This eyeshadow palette, which looks almost good enough to eat, is made to replicate a chocolate bar while meeting your neutral makeup needs. It features 6 warm brown tones, two of which are shimmery for a highlight.
The glittery, shimmery shades work best when they’ve been warmed up. As a result, you may want to consider warming these shades under your finger and then swiping it across your lid with your fingertip.
From there, you can blend it into the rest of your eye makeup look with a brush.
It’s important to note that this is a makeup palette and not actually edible. Therefore, if you have little ones at home, make sure you’re careful they don’t get ahold of this palette thinking its a snack.
12. Maybelline New York The City Mini Neutral Palette
These six super-pigmented neutral shades utilize creamy formula designed to glide along your eyelid. The result is a smooth finish, flawless blending, and easy to build pigment.
The palettes themselves are small and easy to carry along with you. Plus, if you find that you like the brand and consistency of this palette, then Maybelline also has other colors in the same line.
While the fallout is minimal, the shimmery shades can be a bit soft and crumbly. As a result, you’ll want to be cautious when applying those.
Also, this makeup palette includes talc, as well as mineral oils. If you have any sensitivities to either of these ingredients, you may want to skip out on this palette.
13. Maybelline Eyeshadow Palette, The Nudes
Neutral doesn’t have to mean boring. While this is a nude makeup palette, it also includes enough color for you to contour and highlight your eye for a sharp, fierce look, even with nude colors.
It’s designed for all skin tones, and the super-pigmented shades blend well and look great.
Note this is mostly a shimmer palette – only one color in the palette is matte.
14. Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Eyeshadow Palette, Tropical Days
Itchy eye irritations aren’t exactly the perfect topping to a killer nude look. That’s why the Physicians Formula palette is designed to be gentle and hypoallergenic so you can wear your favorite looks with little to no discomfort.
It features 12 shades, most of which are nude. However, there are a few pops of colors to turn your day-to-day neutral look into a glamours night makeup look.
It’s made with natural botanicals that help soothe your skin while you wear it, so you feel as good as you look.
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!