Just when I thought my makeup couldn't get any more minimal on an everyday basis, I've gone and fallen back in love with wearing eyeshadow - multiple shades from palettes, actually. I've still been having issues when wearing my contacts for too long, and I've found eyeshadow adds some much-needed definition to my eyes. My prescription is so strong that my glasses make my eyes look super tiny, so I much prefer wearing them with a bit of extra eye makeup.
The palette that brought about this resurgence of love for eyeshadow is aptly named - the Anastasia Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette (review). This was massively hyped when it came out last year, and for good reason. Anastasia has my favorite eyeshadow formula - they absolutely do not budge or fade throughout the day, and though they're powdery in the pan, they blend beautifully. I love the shade range in the Modern Renaissance Palette, as I'm quite drawn to more pink tones.
Another I've been dipping into a lot lately, as it's quite convenient for on-the-go, is the bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 8.0 Palette in The Bare Neutrals. I had never used bareMinerals's eyeshadows before getting this palette, and they're quite lovely. They're not as intensely pigmented as ABH, but the end result is softer, and it's more foolproof. I definitely think this was a conscious choice given bareMinerals's penchant for more natural/minimal makeup. There are four variations of this palette, and they're all beautiful.
Another great pick for travel/on-the-go are the NARS Duo Eyeshadows. I have the Kalahari duo, and it's the perfect pair of rosy brown shades. These are my favorite kinds of colors for my eyeshadow, so this one's a no-brainer for me. The formula is lovely and pigmented, and it's easy to create a wash of shimmer or a more built-up look.
Speaking of shimmer, my number one favorite just has to be the Tom Ford Eyeshadow Quad in Nude Dip. This is the most chic example of shimmer I've ever used - it makes the eyelids look dewy, without, of course, having any sort of grease. The shadows are soft and velvety and impart a beautiful subtle look to the eyes. This is always my go-to for special occasions.
If I had to choose one palette to use for the rest of my life though, I'd probably pick the Tarte Tartelette In Bloom Clay Eyeshadow Palette (review). I love that there's a mix of shimmers and mattes and warm and cool tones. It's probably one of the most versatile neutral palettes in my collection. I love the formula in the Tartelette palettes - they're buttery smooth and pigmented. They don't exactly blend themselves, but it's still easy to create a beautiful look for an eyeshadow-novice like me.
What are your favorite eyeshadow palettes? I'm tempted to get the new ABH Subculture palette, what are your thoughts?