How to shop for an eyeshadow palette that you’ll ACTUALLY use

Jan 19, 2017

Listen, we'll be the first to admit that it's very easy to get wrapped up in the world of shiny new cosmetics.

Has anyone ever bought an eyeshadow palette purely because it was new, and exciting? Well, SAME.

Nine times out of ten, we use up the one or two colours we like, and then shove whats left of the palette in a drawer… never to be seen or heard from again.

Well, the fact of the matter is, these sets are not cheap, and we should be buying eyeshadow that we'll actually use.

That is where we come in, to give you some handy tips and tricks on how to get the most out of your glorious eyeshadow palette.

PS: you're welcome.

Consider your eye and skin colour

It is a fact that many of us don't want to accept, but unfortunately not all colours suit all skin tones. If you are on the hunt for a new eyeshadow palette, it is important to consider what shades will suit your skin, and make your eye colour pop.

According to celebrity makeup artist Dae Sik Son, "Light, neutral tones best complement cool blue eyes" while muted purples and browns are perfect for green eyes. If you have brown eyes, then Dae suggests "neutral shades like salmon and bronzy golds" to really accentuate your eyes.

Asses all the shades

Picture the scene: you're browsing eyeshadow palettes and you find one that has one specific colour you adore, so you buy it.

We're all guilty of doing this, but it is a total waste of money (and good eyeshadow). It is important to assess all of the colours in a palette before buying it, to ensure that you will use all of them.

The right tools

There is no point in having a fabulous eyeshadow palette if you don't have the right makeup brushes.

Remember, makeup is an art form, so you must use the best utensils in order to achieve the best look. Be sure that you always have a flat eyeshadow brush, a crease brush and a fluffy blending brush.

Day to night

If you want to get the most out of your new eyeshadow palette, you should ensure that it has colours you can wear during the day, and out at night.

Get a palette that can do both, that way you are guaranteed to actually use it all the time.

Use tutorials

So you've bought a gorgeous new eyeshadow palette, but you have absolutely no idea how to use half the colours. We've all been there ladies!

We seriously suggest you spend an evening watching makeup tutorials, that will show you exactly how to use all the colours in your palette. Once you know what to do, you'll find yourself really loving all your new shades.

Expensive is not always best

We cannot deny the fact that we sometimes get blinded by the glitz and the glamour of an over-the-top expensive eyeshadow palette. We buy it because the Internet tells us to. BIG mistake lovelies!

Sometimes, it is actually the cheaper, unassuming palettes that are the better choice. Don't necessarily opt for an expensive brand, have a look in your local chemist… you may be pleasantly surprised!