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12 Best Nude Eyeshadow Palettes

The perfect neutral matches for every eye color.

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Nude eyeshadow palettes are like the little black dress of makeup, a must in anyone's cosmetics wardrobe: timeless and guaranteed to flatter and make you look pulled-together.

These neutral palettes allow you to experiment with a variety of neutral eyeshadow shades, from light creams to medium beiges and browns to dark charcoals, in different finishes like matte, satin, and shimmer — without the risk of super bold or bright shades that may go unused. Apply single shades individually, wear multiple hues at once to create a dimensional eye makeup look or mix them to create custom colors.

Here, Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab experts share the best nude and neutral eyeshadow palettes for any eye color (brown, blue, green, hazel), preference (even pink!), and use, from everyday to nights out. These picks include options from Ulta, Sephora and more.

1
Best Overall

Urban Decay Naked2 Basics Eyeshadow Palette

Naked2 Basics Eyeshadow Palette

Pros

  • Six matte finish shades
  • Easy to blend

Cons

    Urban Decay's collection of Naked neutral eyeshadow palettes has earned icon status as best-in-class, including among GH Beauty Lab experts. This kit of six matte finish shadows "are beautiful neutral shades that work well together or on their own," says GH Beauty Lab Chemist Danusia Wnek. GH Beauty Assistant Katie Berohn is also a longtime fan: "I would recommend this to anyone— it is the perfect matte palette for day to day use."

    2
    Best Value

    Maybelline New York The City Mini Eyeshadow Palette in Matte About Town

    The City Mini Eyeshadow Palette in Matte About Town

    Pros

    • Six matte finish shades
    • Good color range
    • Quality formulas
    • Affordable

    Cons

      This Maybelline mini eyeshadow palette is almost unbeatable in price, at a little more than $1 per shadow. "The quality is amazing for the value, with silky formulas and rich colors," GH's beauty director says. "It also contains a great range of neutrals for different skin tones and looks." Plus, the small size fits perfectly in most bags.

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      3
      Best Everyday Nude Eyeshadow Palette

      Revlon ColorStay 16 Hour Eyeshadow Quad in Addictive

      On Sale
      ColorStay 16 Hour Eyeshadow Quad in Addictive
      Now 22% Off
      Credit: Revlon

      Pros

      • Long-lasting
      • Non-irritating

      Cons

        You can't go wrong with this Revlon neutral eyeshadow quad for every day, a GH Beauty Award winner for long-lasting color. The mix of matte and satin cream, taupe and brown shades are foolproof, and GH Beauty Lab testing found that they stay in place even through workouts, plus didn't irritate eyes. "It stayed fresh-looking no matter how hard I tried to wreck it," a tester said.

        4
        Best Beige Nude Eyeshadow Palette

        Dior Backstage Eyeshadow Palette in Warm Neutrals

        Backstage Eyeshadow Palette in Warm Neutrals

        Pros

        • Eight matte and shimmer shades, including beiges
        • Includes eyeshadow primer

        Cons

        • Pricey

        Choose from an array of beige tones in this luxe Dior palette, which contains eight matte and satin eyeshadows, plus an eyeshadow primer. "The colors look high-end and sophisticated," a Sephora reviewer notes. "You can create a day or night look."

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        5
        Best Nude Eyeshadow Palette for Green Eyes

        L’Oréal Paris Paradise Enchanted Scented Eyeshadow Palette

        On Sale
        Paradise Enchanted Scented Eyeshadow Palette
        Now 35% Off
        Credit: L'Oreal Paris

        Pros

        • 12 matte and shimmer shades
        • Peach undertones flatter green eyes
        • Bargain-priced

        Cons

          Bring out green eyes with a nude eyeshadow palette that has peachy-pink undertones, like this one from L’Oréal Paris. The compact comes with an impressive range of 12 shades, which comes out to less than $1 per eyeshadow. "They blend and layer like a dream," an Amazon reviewer says.

          6
          Best Pink Neutral Eyeshadow Palette

          Charlotte Tilbury Bigger Brighter Eyes Palette

          Bigger Brighter Eyes Palette

          Pros

          • Four satin and shimmer shades
          • Illuminates eyes

          Cons

          • Pricey

          If you prefer your nude shadow palettes with hint of rosy pink, this Charlotte Tilbury quad is for you. A favorite of GH's beauty director, the rose gold satin and shimmer shades "really do brighten your eyes, just as the name says," she reports.

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          7
          Best Nude Eyeshadow Palette for Brown Eyes

          CoverGirl TruNaked Eyeshadow Palette in Roses

          On Sale
          TruNaked Eyeshadow Palette in Roses

          Pros

          • Eight satin and shimmer shades
          • Mauve-purple undertones complement brown eyes
          • Affordably-priced

          Cons

            Purple-mauve shades like those in this bargain CoverGirl eyeshadow palette make brown eyes pop. The eight satin and matte colors function as neutrals with a cool-toned twist. "My eyes look beautiful and I get a lot of compliments," an Amazon reviewer reported.

            8
            Best Professional Nude Eyeshadow Palette

            LORAC PRO Palette Artist Edition Meraki

            PRO Palette Artist Edition Meraki

            Pros

            • Large range of 25 matte and shimmer shades
            • Colors for all skin tones

            Cons

              LORAC's eyeshadow palette, from the makeup artist-created brand, delivers true pro quality, shade selection and quantity, with a wide range of 25 neutral matte and shimmer colors, from light cream to dark charcoal. "The sophisticated colors are good for day or night and there’s something for all skin tones," Berohn says.

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              9
              Best Neutral Eyeshadow Palette for Blue Eyes

              PYT Beauty No BS Eyeshadow Palette

              Editor’s Choice
              No BS Eyeshadow Palette
              Credit: PYT Beauty

              Pros

              • Eight matte and shimmer shades
              • Bronze tones flatter blue eyes
              • Buildable and lasting

              Cons

                Berohn is a fan of PYT Beauty's eight shade matte and shimmer eyeshadow palette for her blue eyes, thanks to hints of bronze. "The colors are wearable, buildable and stay all day long," she says. "I actually used the entire thing, which never happens with palettes."

                10
                Best Nude Eyeshadow Palette for Hazel Eyes

                Almay Intense I-Color Enhancing Eyeshadow Palette in Hazel Eyes

                On Sale
                Intense I-Color Enhancing Eyeshadow Palette in Hazel Eyes

                Pros

                • Five matte and shimmer shades
                • Bargain price

                Cons

                • May produce some color fallout

                Formulated specifically to flatter hazel eyes, Almay's affordable eyeshadow palette comes with three neutral shades plus two pops of blue-green color. "These colors really made my eyes pop," an Amazon reviewer marveled.

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                11
                Best Shimmer Nude Eyeshadow Palette

                Physicians Formula Extreme Shimmer Shadow Nude Palette

                Extreme Shimmer Shadow Nude Palette
                Now 31% Off
                Credit: Physicians Formula

                Pros

                • Six shimmer shades
                • Brush applicator included
                • Luminous look

                Cons

                  Nudes don't have to be basic: Physicians Formula's eyeshadow palette is packed with six sparkling shades for eye-catching impact. "It gives my eyes so much glow!" an Ulta reviewer raved.

                  12
                  Best Nude Eyeshadow Palette for Dark Skin

                  Juvia's Place The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette

                  The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette
                  Now 19% Off
                  Credit: Juvia's Place

                  Pros

                  • Six matte and shimmer shades
                  • Richly pigmented to flatter dark skin tones
                  • Good value

                  Cons

                    This neutral eyeshadow palette in a range of six rich matte and shimmer brown-based shades from Juvia's Place was created for deeper skin tones. "The colors and pigmentation are amazing!" an Ulta reviewer exclaimed.

                    Headshot of April Franzino
                    April Franzino
                    Senior Beauty & Style Director

                    April (she/her) is the senior beauty and style director at Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman's Day. She has over 15 years of experience under her belt, starting her career as an assistant beauty editor at GH in 2007, and working in the beauty departments of SELF and Fitness magazines.

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