Copper Glow Luxe Eye and Cheek Palette, £58
Bobbi Brown
A glamorous mix of molten metallics and sunset tones, in a party-ready clutch style compact. Buy it.
Ambient Lighting Edit Unlocked Palette, £7
Hourglass
Hourglass’ signature ‘ambient lighting’ palette builds diffused, multi-dimensional colour for a soft-focus filter effect. Buy it.
Naughty Nude Eyeshadow Palette, £58
Huda Beauty
A dramatic palette of high-shine glitters and smouldering matte finishes that can be layered together for just the right level of impact. Buy it.
Pillow Talk Dreams, £43
Charlotte Tilbury
Velvety, imminently wearable and with just enough shimmer to feel party ready, this flattering palette will see you from day to night and beyond. Buy it.
Rising Star Palette, £47
Nars
The high-pigment in these Nars blushes may seem a little daunting, but the feather-light texture makes them a dream to blend and easy to build for a pop of festive colour. Buy it.
Colour Correcting Palette, £8.40
NYX
Not just a concealer compact, this hard-working palette corrects, conceals and contours, evening out skin tone and camouflaging imperfections. Buy it.
All Over Diamond Bomb, £34
Fenty Beauty
As the name suggests, this trio of highlighters have a high-wattage finish. Apply to cheekbones, eyelids, shoulders or décolleté – the jelly-like powder melts into skin for a show-stopping sparkle. Buy it.
Cream Rouge Palette, £18
Pixi X Louise Roe
A great palette if you want to road-test new shades without committing to a full size. This lip and cheek compact from Pixi, in collaboration with influencer, Louise Roe contains 25 shades to dabble in till you find your signature hue. Buy it.
Pro Lip Palette in Modern Browns, £32
MAC
Browns are making a comeback – this six-shade palette from MAC contains a mix of flattering neutrals in a range of satin, matte and frost finishes. Buy it.
Cream Contour Kit, £11.99
Sleek MakeUP
Easy to blend and build, this velvet-smooth contour kit from Sleek MakeUP can be used to sculpt, define and enhance – all at a great high-street price. Buy it.
Hyper Real Glow Palette, £36
MAC
Recommended for deeper skin tones, the super-creamy formula makes them a dream to blend, with ultra-reflective, luminous payoff for radiant shimmer. Buy it.
Smoky Eye Brick, £50
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Switch up your classic cool brown/black smoky eye for Victoria Beckham’s Tweed palette in warm, spicy tones. Start with caramel and layer up as bold as you dare, with a deep oxblood plum and chocolate brown for a surprisingly flattering, softer evening look. Buy it.
5 Tips For Choosing A Palette
Look for refillable compacts to reduce waste. Trish McEvoy does a fantastic, versatile palette that can be filled with a bespoke mix of colours, meaning no shade is left unloved.
Think about when and where you are going to use your palette. Don’t be seduced by bold colours and glitter if you’re only going to wear them at the office party once a year. Look at all the shades included and think, will I wear them? Also consider size and practicality. If it doesn’t fit in your make-up bag, will you really use it?
Palettes are a great learning tool for make-up newbies as many will come with step-by-step tips on how to contour or build a smoky eye with the colours included. Great for fool-proof party looks.
Concealer palettes actually represent brilliant value for money as you can customise the perfect skin tone match all year round as your skin changes with the seasons.
Find a palette that flatters your colouring, from your eyes to your skin tone. If shopping in person, hold the palette beside your face and look in the mirror. Does it brighten and compliment? If unsure, stick to warm neutrals, or soft metallics which tend to flatter every skin tone.
By Lydia Mansi
December 2022
