II’ve never really felt confident applying makeup in a way that made my face look flawless. After turning 50, I decided to be more adventurous with my makeup and began researching techniques on YouTube. I’ll admit, I’ve become a bit obsessed with beauty videos. YouTube has become an incredible resource for product reviews and step-by-step tutorials on makeup application.
After hearing repeated recommendations from my favorite beauty gurus, I tested several eyeshadow palettes that work beautifully on mature skin. Below are eight of my favorites—five high-end, two drugstore options, and one available exclusively online, along with the reasons they’ve earned a spot in my collection.
(Be sure to use an eye primer before applying eyeshadow. For recommendations, see my blog post **“Best Eye Shadow Primers for Mature Eyes.”)*
My Favorite Eyeshadow Palettes for Mature Eyes
1. Too Faced Stardust by Vegas Nay Palette
(Available at Ulta and Sephora)
This palette features vibrant, highly pigmented shades with very little fallout. The shadows are smooth, creamy, and apply flawlessly. It includes a mix of matte and shimmery finishes, making it versatile for both day and evening looks.
2. Lorac Mega PRO Palette 2
(Holiday 2015 exclusive, available at Ulta)
This palette offers an excellent assortment of colors with impressive pigment payoff. There is a bit more fallout than some others, so tapping your brush before application is key. It includes both matte and shimmery shades.
3. Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette
(Available at Ulta and Sephora)
Let’s face it, Urban Decay palettes are consistently high quality. These shadows are creamy, blend beautifully, and are richly pigmented. While there is some fallout, the results are worth it. The palette includes a balanced mix of matte and shimmery shades.
4. Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Contour Palette
(Available at Sephora and the Kat Von D website)
This all-matte palette offers a stunning combination of warm and cool tones that work across seasons and styles. The shadows are highly pigmented, blend effortlessly, and are excellent for defining and contouring the eyes.
5. In theBalm of Your Hand Palette by theBalm
(Holiday 2015, available at Kohl’s and kohls.com)
TheBalm is known for its high-quality products, and this palette is no exception. It’s especially unique because it includes a curated selection of their best items—blushes, eyeshadows, a highlighter, and two lip products, making it a complete makeup solution in one palette.
6. Coastal Scents Revealed Palette
(Available online)
Often considered a dupe for the Urban Decay Naked palette, this option offers great color payoff at a fraction of the price. While there is noticeable fallout, tapping your brush before application helps. At around $10 compared to the Naked palette’s $54 price tag, it’s an excellent value.
7. MUA Professional Makeup Academy Palettes
(Available online and at CVS Pharmacy)
Since CVS stores aren’t available in Colorado, I purchase these online. For just $12, these palettes deliver outstanding quality. There are three versions available, each offering a wide range of richly pigmented shades that blend easily with minimal fallout. The quality truly exceeds the price point.
8. NYX Butt Naked & Butt Naked Underneath It All Palettes
(Available at select Target stores and Ulta)
These are my go-to palettes for travel. While the packaging is a bit bulky, they include everything you need, eyeshadows, blushes, highlighters, and bronzers—to create multiple looks. The pigmentation is slightly softer than some of the others, but with a bit of layering, the results are beautiful.
