9 Pastel Eyeshadow Palettes You Can Wear All Year Round

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By Cortney Clift
Published on December 30, 2020
Close-up of different shades of pastel eyeshadows on white background
Close-up of different shades of pastel eyeshadows on white background

When you think “springtime,” pastel shades may be the first thing to come to mind, but these soft colors can actually work flawlessly all year round. Not too bright but still fun and playful, pastels are a delicate way to add a pop of color to just about any makeup look.

One of the best ways to experiment with pastel eyeshadows is to reach into your makeup collection for an eyeshadow palette. With a range of colors and a mix of shimmery and matte shades, palettes allow you to use colors individually or experiment with a fully pastel eye look.

Continue reading below to discover nine of our favorite pastel eyeshadow palettes. Whether you're looking for a palette packed with warm shades, wintery tones, or a fair amount of neutrals, you'll definitely want to add one of these beauty products to your makeup stash ASAP.

Meet the Expert

Lauren Berlingeri is a makeup artist based in New Jersey who has worked with various luxury makeup brands and high-end salons. She has done hair and makeup for weddings and events such as New York Fashion Week, New York Bridal Fashion Week, commercial shoots, and television shows including Say Yes to the Dress.

1. IBY BEAUTY Enlighten Eyeshadow Palette

IBY BEAUTY Enlighten Eyeshadow Palette
IBY BEAUTY Enlighten Eyeshadow Palette

With a mix of 20 ultra-pigmented pastel shades, the opportunities here are almost endless. Shift the shades you use as the seasons progress—swiping on pastels in the winter and spring and opting for the more vibrant colors in the summer—or use different shades in the same color family to create a smooth, monochromatic look.

"I love that this palette has so many diverse colors," one Ipster says. "This is my go-to when I'm traveling and don't want to bring a bunch of things just to get the colors I would like. Plus, the amount of pigment is perfect."

2. REALHER I Feel Beautiful Eyeshadow Palette

REALHER I Feel Beautiful Eyeshadow Palette
REALHER I Feel Beautiful Eyeshadow Palette

Pastels, meet neutrals. If you love a low-key eye look or if you're just starting to warm up to the pastel beauty trend, you’ll want to try this palette with nine classic shades you can sport every single day. This collection of eyeshadows also features four different finishes (matte, shimmer, sheen, and metallic), making it suitable for any occasion. Apply the light, barely-there shimmer shades to brighten up the eye area, or use the dramatic plum tones to create the foundation for a soft smoky eye.

"These aren't shades I would've picked on my own but I love them," says Ipster DianaK1106. "They're incredibly smooth and highly pigmented with very little fallout."

3. BUXOM COSMETICS NEW! Customizable Eyeshadow Bar Palette - Curated by Christen Dominique

BUXOM COSMETICS NEW! Customizable Eyeshadow Bar Palette - Curated by Christen Dominique
BUXOM COSMETICS NEW! Customizable Eyeshadow Bar Palette - Curated by Christen Dominique

BUXOM COSMETICS teamed up with beauty personality and #IPSYStylist Christen Dominique to create a collection of six shades that mix and match beautifully—and this gorgeous palette reminds us of a field of tulips. While most of the shades are highly pigmented neutrals, this palette also includes two iridescent pastel shades in lilac and green.

"I always use matte shadows in the crease first and add a pop shimmer on the lid," says Lauren Berlingeri. "If you are using a purple shimmer like this one, you can also highlight the inner corner of your eye with a lighter shadow to create a pop."

"These colors are super pretty and purple and green go together very well," says Ipster SierraStar. Another exclaims, "These shadows are to die for!!"

4. DOMINIQUE COSMETICS Sweater Weather Eyeshadow Palette

DOMINIQUE COSMETICS Sweater Weather Eyeshadow Palette
DOMINIQUE COSMETICS Sweater Weather Eyeshadow Palette

This collection of cozy shades is designed to be worn throughout the winter months and beyond. In lieu of shimmery shades, you'll find six fully matte colors that are anything but dull. Romantic pinks and purples are paired with neutral taupes and warm browns to create eye makeup looks that are rich and playful at the same time.

"Perfect shades for winter," says Ipster agaubert06. "The colors went on smoothly and looked vibrant."

5. VIOLET VOSS Coral Pop Eyeshadow Palette

VIOLET VOSS Coral Pop Eyeshadow Palette
VIOLET VOSS Coral Pop Eyeshadow Palette

While this stunning palette can certainly work for all skin tones, the vibrant coral shades will look particularly striking on those with warm undertones and those with olive and deep skin tones. Try using the matte shades Coral Pop and Pretty Peach as your all-over lid shades for big bursts of color.

To really make these shades stand out, Berlingeri says, "Before applying shadow I would take a lighter concealer and apply all over the lid wherever you are applying eyeshadow. This will smooth the eye and create a flawless base for your shadow." After you've blended out your all-over color, try softening things up just a touch by using the shimmery pink or one of the cool neutral colors as your highlight.

"The coral shade is worth every bit of the palette," one Ipster writes. "Everything else is super neutral so you really can’t go wrong!"

6. ESTATE COSMETICS ESTATE COSMETICS X Bailey Sarian Venice Fling Eyeshadow Palette

ESTATE COSMETICS ESTATE COSMETICS X Bailey Sarian Venice Fling Eyeshadow Palette
ESTATE COSMETICS ESTATE COSMETICS X Bailey Sarian Venice Fling Eyeshadow Palette

This super glamorous mix of nine vibrant matte and shimmer shades is a foolproof way to instantly brighten up your makeup routine. Each powder eyeshadow features a creamy texture that's both blendable and buildable, allowing for as much or as little pigmentation as you'd like. Use the pastel-hued neutrals for a low-key look and or instantly glam it up by blending in a touch of the bold purple or gold.

"LOVE these colors," says autumnojoi01. "Highly pigmented and stays on well. This is definitely my favorite shadow palette that I have received this far. It’s the only shadow I’ve been wearing since receiving it."

7. HUDA BEAUTY Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette

HUDA BEAUTY Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette in Topaz
HUDA BEAUTY Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette in Topaz

Warm things up with this orange and red palette that features a variety of shimmery, matte, bold, and pastel colors. Intimidated by red eyeshadows? Don't be! Orange and red shades can work on a wide range of skin tones and eye colors. The matte, rusty reds in this palette are ideal for making green and blue eyes glow, the lighter pinks and golds will look fab on fair skin, and the beaming orange will look absolutely stunning on dark skin tones.

One Ipster describes this palette as "pigmented and buttery." Another says, "What an amazing palette. I fell in love right from the get-go. The pigmentation is amazing and they are sooo blendable. Definitely my new favorite palette."

8. CITY COLOR COSMETICS Ooh La La Eyeshadow Palette

CITY COLOR COSMETICS Ooh La La Eyeshadow Palette
CITY COLOR COSMETICS Ooh La La Eyeshadow Palette

Raise your hand if you have a hard time committing to just one eyeshadow shade. Luckily, with the mix of colors in this collection, you don’t have to. Swipe on the deep browns to create a smoky eye, apply one of the pastel shades solo for a sweet, simple eye makeup look, or blend the purples together to create an edgy monochromatic look in minutes.

When working with bold colors like this, Berlingeri says it's important to create balance in the overall look. "If there’s a color you are trying to show off, I would make sure that’s the one thing you pop," she says. "Let’s say you have a green eyeshadow that’s bold that you want to draw attention to, I would then use a neutral lip, and a neutral-colored blush. This way your eyeshadow is the focus and your makeup won’t clash."

9. SMASHBOX COSMETICS Cover Shot Eye Palette

SMASHBOX COSMETICS Cover Shot Eye Palette in Prism
SMASHBOX COSMETICS Cover Shot Eye Palette in Prism

These six glittery and buttery shades are giving us serious inspo for rocking color in winter. For a simple but striking look, try swiping on one of the duochrome white shades and topping it with winged eyeliner, a simple swipe of mascara, and a dramatic dark lip. For a bit more color, blend the lilac and plum shades together for bright, pastel makeup that still feels seasonal. Bonus: All these shades are cruelty-free, so you can feel good about making them your new go-tos.

"This is my go-to palette. I wear it almost every day! Absolutely love it," says Ipster Melomaniac85.

Want in on all the IPSY Glam Bag fun? Take our Beauty Quiz now to get started. Already an Ipster? Refer your friends to earn points, which you can use toward products. Either way, don’t forget to check us out on Instagram and Twitter @IPSY.

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