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The Best Neutral Eyeshadow Palettes for Easy, Effortless Everyday Makeup
We hit pan on all of these.
As an eyeshadow minimalist, I can’t stand buying a giant palette only for the ultra-colorful and glittery eyeshadow shades to sit untouched. No matter how hard I try to spice up my eye makeup, the light browns and soft, pale pinks are always the first to dwindle down. Now, I just stick to a neutral palette filled with shades I’ll actually wear on the daily. Sure, a pop of color can be fun and playful, but it’s just not my everyday makeup vibe. I like swiping on one or two shades and feeling put together enough to move on to mascara.
The best neutral eyeshadow palettes do all the heavy lifting for you. They’re versatile for a quick five-minute face in the morning, but still buildable for a sultry evening look. They make it almost impossible to mess up—a blessing if you’re blending with your fingers in an Uber (me) or lacking in the makeup skills department (also me).
Ahead, the best neutral eyeshadow palettes for any eye color and any level of glam, according to Cosmo editors.
One Cosmo editor says: "I love using a neutral palette that leans slightly pink or purple to let my green eyes stand out, and this Charlotte Tilbury one does exactly that. The palette's shimmer pink shade is ideal for everyday wear on its own, and you can amp your eyes up with maroon and glitters for a full glam look. It also comes in a few other neutral options that lean more brown and green, so you can choose which shades best suit your eyes. Not to mention, these shadows also have an impressive wear time—I can go from morning 'til night without creasing or flaking."—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Shades | 4 |
| Finishes | 1 (shimmer) |
One Cosmo editor says: "Although these palettes look extremely simple, they include some of the softest, most blendable shadows I’ve ever worked with as a beauty editor. The mattes are velvety and smooth—not chalky at all. I typically apply the creamy shade all over my eyelid, then buff the medium brown into my crease. But I’ve also went all-in with the dark brown to smudge out a liner and get a smokey eye."—BG
Features at a Glance
| Shades | 4 |
| Finishes | 4 (velvety-matte, satin, shimmer, and metallic) |
One Cosmo editor says: "I have a lot of makeup, so I keep the bulk of everything in drawers and then a small selection of my go-to everyday products in a drawer at my desk. The only eyeshadow palette that lives in this drawer is this matte one from Makeup By Mario. It contains the perfect selection of neutral and cool shades to create hundreds of looks. Most days, I just dust on a light shade and blend it into my crease. But I also use this for liner, smoking out the outer corner, cut creases, and so much more."—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Shades | 12 |
| Finishes | 1 (matte) |
One Cosmo editor says: "While I rarely wear eyeshadow, if I do, I'm reaching for Make Up Forever's Mini Artist Palettes. Each color is creamy and pigmented, and they work just as well with a brush as they do with my finger (I'm guilty of just smudging a little onto each eyelid, but honestly, the product is so good you can get away with just a single rough swipe of color). And it's the perfect size to fit in my toiletry bag."—HANNAH OH, SHOPPING EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Shades | 6 |
| Finishes | 2 (matte and shimmer) |
One Cosmo editor says: "Eyeshadow has been part of my daily routine for over a decade. I stick to neutral and warm browns—they’ve always worked best with my dark brown eyes and slim eye shape. This PUR palette has been a go-to since it launched a few years ago. It includes six shades—a mix of matte, shimmer, and metallic hues—that blend effortlessly and are super easy to work with. Honestly, it’s the one I reach for both for casual daytime looks and when I want to build things up for a more glam moment."—MEG UY, ASSOCIATE SHOPPING EDITOR
Features at a Glance
| Shades | 6 |
One Cosmo editor says: "If you want one simple shadow to do the trick, Merit's Solo Shadow has you covered with a slew of neutral shades. It applies like a cream, and gives me that soft, lived-in matte look without ever feeling chalky. On lazy days, this plus a coat of mascara is all I need. It's an unfailing shadow for those of us who aren't the most skilled when it comes to eye makeup."—JH
Features at a Glance
| Shades | 8 different options |
| Finishes | 1 (matte) |
One Cosmo editor says: "Coolest palette ever: This contains a mixture of powders and pomades (a slightly denser version of a cream) that you can use all over your face. So while it might look like a standard neutral eyeshadow palette, it’s fab for shaping my eyebrows, contouring my cheekbones, highlighting my under eyes, and even lining my lips. I’ve used this countless ways (and cleaned out a lot of extra products in my drawers since I only need this)."—BG
Features at a Glance
| Shades | 10 |
| Finishes | 1 (matte) |
One Cosmo editor says: "Ever since these launched, I’ve used one of them at least once a week. I can easily do a quick, simple eye with the mattes. But what I really love are the glittery shimmers. The sparkles are extra fine, so they give a sheer, wet-look to my eyes that is so luxe and chic. Often times, I’ll just swipe that one shade all over my lids with my finger, then smudge the deep-brown matte on my lower lashline. Bonus points for the prettiest packaging ever, ever, ever, btw."—BG
Features at a Glance
| Shades | 4 |
| Finishes | 3 (matte, shimmer, satin) |
Why Trust Cosmopolitan
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan where she writes about the best makeup products and trends. For this story, she, along with team Cosmo, tested dozens of neutral eyeshadow palettes and selected their favorites best on longevity, shades, and value.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
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