10 Of The Best: Affordable Eyeshadow Palettes

Eyeshadow can be expensive to say the least… especially when you want serious colour pay off, broad shade range and high quality texture.

But, the good news is that brands are now offering better quality products for a fraction of the price, so you don’t have to break the bank when it comes to your beauty regimen.

We’ve done the hard work for you and rounded up the 10 best affordable eyeshadow palettes on the market right now.

ColourPop Not A Box Of Chocolates Eyeshadow Palette

As much as we love chowing down on a box of chocolates, we appreciate the rich brown tones of this chocolate-inspired eyeshadow palette much more. The eyeshadows in this 12-pan compact are highly pigmented and blend like butter. Plus, with a mix of matte, metallic, matte sparkle and pearlescent glitter formulas on offer, the possible eye looks are endless.

$24 at ColourPop Cosmetics

Revolution Reloaded Palette Seduction

Revolution Beauty makes some of the best dupes of our favourite eyeshadow palettes (like the Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam and Huda Beauty’s nine-pan palettes), and the brand’s collaborations (like Game Of Thrones and Clueless) are always epic. But they also produce some of the best quality eyeshadows you can find at drugstore prices, like this warm neutral eyeshadow palette, that includes creamy soft mattes and pigmented shimmer shades too.

$12 at Priceline

Max Factor Colour X-Pert Eye Palette

This eyeshadow palette is probably unlike anything you’ve tried before; it boasts a powder to cream formula that enhances colour saturation and makes the eyeshadows easier to blend (even with your fingers). It’s available in four different colour palettes, but ‘Crushed Blooms’ is our favourite.

$14.97 at Priceline

Revlon ColorStay Day To Night Eyeshadow Quad

We say: This eyeshadow quad from Revlon may be a certified classic piece of makeup, but the formula has been updated to meet modern needs. The hybrid eyeshadow applies like a buttery-soft powder and has the staying power and colour pay-off of a rich cream eyeshadow.

You say: “The colours are beautiful, they are great for everyday wear if you are after a natural look… the evening shade is quite glittery [though]. They last quite well through the day. The little applicator makes it really easy to use, [and] it is small enough to fit in [your] handbag if you need a quick fix on the [go].”

Want to read more? Read Revlon ColorStay Day to Night Eyeshadow Quad reviews here…

$26.95 at Priceline

Rimmel London ScandalEyes 5-Pan Palette

We say: This five-pan eyeshadow palette promises crease-proof and smudge-proof all day long. Plus, the powder formula can be used dry or wet allowing you to customise your eye look. The palette is available in five wearable colourways, but we tend to reach for the ‘Sunset Bronze’ palette the most.

Want to read more? Read Rimmel London Scandaleyes 5 Pan Palette reviews here…

$14.95 at Priceline

Australis Dream of Me Eyeshadow Palette

After it’s recent rebrand, Australis has been producing some of our favourite budget-friendly cosmetics (if you haven’t tried the brand’s Lip Glaze yet, you’re missing out). The brand’s ‘Dream Of Me’ eyeshadow palette provides the perfect combination of wearable daytime shades and daring metallics for the evening. We think this Australis customer said it best: “such a beautiful palette with soft dewy tones, perfect for dreamy summer looks.”

$21.95 at Australis

Milani Gilded Mini Eyeshadow Palette

This pressed pigment eyeshadow palette delivers rich colour opacity and a buttery-soft blend with minimal fall-out. It offers a robust collection of matte shades in neutral tones, which makes it our ride or die during the week. “This mini palette is a great everyday palette. I use this often when I travel or after the gym for quick eye makeup look or touch up,” said one Milani customer.

$21.99 at Priceline

Morphe M2 12-Pan Ready for Anything Eyeshadow Palette

This versatile 12-pan eyeshadow palette is packed with a mix of matte and shimmer finish eyeshadows that blend easily, but can also be built up and layered too. We tend to reach for the ‘Wallflower’ colourway because it creates eye looks that work for both day and night, but if you’re a bit more daring then the bright ‘Social Butterfly’ palette might be more to your tastes.

$23 at MECCA

MECCA MAX Mini Mix Eyeshadow Palette

This rosey-hued eyeshadow palette is a great way to update your neutral eyeshadow collection without getting too crazy (unfortunately, we can’t completely throw the office dress code standards out the window). But a wash of peachy nude eyeshadow over the lids, and a pop of pink champagne shimmer on the inner corner, and everyone’s happy.

$20 at MECCA

Sephora Collection Color Shifter Eye Palette

Sephora Collection offers a range of pocket-size eyeshadow palettes that we love, but this ‘Unlimited Mauve’ palette with lilac undertones is hands down our favourite. The palette contains a mixture of silky matte and shimmer shades, as well as a topper shade that contains light-reflecting glitter micro-particles.

$27 at Sephora

What’s your go-to eyeshadow palette?

Main image credit: Getty