I am an eyeshadow palette junkie, not that I can create YouTube -worthy looks every day, but something about the thought that goes into creating a palette inspires me. For this countdown, I will be considering only pre-made palettes.

Here are my top 5 palettes purely based on usability, versatility, performance, and color scheme.

5. Zoeva Caramel Melange l $27

A relatively newer palette in my arsenal and for that matter ranked at number 5 is this inexpensive 10 pan palette from Zoeva. This palette is on par with most high-end palettes, shadows are very blendable, pigmented and long wearing.The color selection varies from Wax Paper (brow bone highlight), Alchemy/Start soft/Finish Sensual/Aftertaste/Universal Delight (crease shades), 182c/Liquid Centre/Almost Burnt/Edible Gem (lid shades) that would enable you to create different looks.

4. ABH Master Palette by Mario l $45 l Link

The much raved, LE, ABH Master Palette by Mario by Mario Dedivanovic, Kim Kardashian's makeup artist. Much like Mario's style, the palette has a lot of shimmers and very muted ones at that. The palette offers a wide variety of muted, toned down shades. The only downside? There is something lacking in this palette, probably a dark matte shade. It is difficult to get a wide range of looks as most colors look alike. The shadows are buttery soft, blends really well and are very pigmented.

3. Too Faced Peanut Butter and Jelly l $36 l Link

This palette was initially launched as a limited edition product, inspired by the colors of Peanut Butter and Jelly. The product broke the internet and Too Faced was forced to bring it back in 2016 fall. This palette comes in a tin like packaging making it a sturdy travel companion. The palette consists of 9 shades, Peanut Butter and Nuts About U are the perfect crease shades for tan skin, Bananas and Peanut Brittle as the lid shades. Jelly (purple with glitter) brings in the much-needed color to the otherwise muted palette.

2. MUG X Manny MUA l $45 l Link

Love him, hate him, but you just can't ignore him. This was a limited edition collaboration between MUG and Manny MUA which became a runaway hit and for all the right reasons. This palette is very well thought through, considering all the colors suits people from fair to medium-tan skin tone. Also, the right mix of matte and shimmers makes it a complete palette. This palette has everything from browns to pinks to duo chrome to fiery red, making it a 10/10 palette.

1. ABH Shadow Couture World Traveler l $30 l Link

My No.1 palette for 2 years in a row. This palette was my first encounter with ABH eyeshadows and what can I say, the quality of the shadow is amazing, the color selection varies from matte, pressed glitter, shimmer, to satin. Be a neutral look or a colorful look, this palette can do it all. Sadly, this was a limited edition palette. Morocco and Fudge (also available as individual pans) are my JAM and pink champagne is my favorite eyeshadow of ALL-TIME!

So these are my top 5 picks? What are yours?

Manny MUA MakeupGeek Palette Review

When this palette released, the whole online world went into a tizzy with the MUG website crashing and people taking onto social media to vent out their frustration on not being able to purchase the palette. Unaware of the craze, I was chilling on the beaches of Bali. When I came back from the vacation, I received a pre-order mail from MUG, I registered for pre-booking and a week later, I received a link for buying the same. I received the palette a month later, but MUG customer care kept updating me on the shipping status on a periodic basis (Kudos to awesome Customer Care!).

The palette is currently available in stock on MUG website. You can purchase it from here.
And if you don't know who Manny MUA is, watch his videos here.

Cost

$45 (9*1.8 gm) +$9 (Shipping) 

Total Value

8 Normal shadows + 1 foiled shadow

• 8*6 = $48 
• 1*10 = $10

$58 + charges for the cardboard palette

Packaging

• The whole collection is inspired by constellations and stars, and the palette itself contains 9 shades including 3 existing MUG shades. 

• The outer cover is all black-silver cardboard packaging with a hologram moon and shooting stars imprinted on top.
• Behind, a small description of the palette and Manny's message is printed.
• Housed inside is a cardboard packaging that has MUG logo engraved in rose gold (I am digging the new logo and new look of MUG)

• The names of all the eye shadows are listed on the backside.
• As you open the packaging, one side has a good quality mirror.

Shades

Leaning to neutral warm, the palette contains 1 foiled eyeshadow; 1 duo chrome eyeshadow; 5 matte eyeshadows; 2 shimmery/sheen eyeshadows.

Swatches

Artemis: A shimmery white with yellow undertones.

Beaches and Cream (Existing): A matte peachy shade crease shade.

Luna: Rose with a golden sheen (Foiled shadow). 

Cosmopolitan (Existing): A true rose gold with a shimmery finish.

Sora: A mid-tone brown with peachy undertone and a matte finish.

Frappe (Existing):  A mid-tone brown with red undertone and a matte finish.

Insomnia (Existing in pigment): A brown-red base and teal overlay in a duo chrome finish.

Mars: A matte burgundy red.

Aphrodite: A matte warm chocolate brown.

Performance

• Sora and Frappe failed to show up on my skin , and I had to add multiple layers for the colors to show up. 
• Matte shades are buttery in texture and hence they do kick up some powder.
• Mars stains the brushes and eyelids a little bit.
• All the shades are extremely smooth and easy to blend.
• Some shades have a gritty feeling when I dipped my fingers for swatching.
• Wears for 6-7 hours without creasing. PS: I have extremely oily lids.
• Shades like Cosmopolitan and Insomnia are very pigmented.

Look

Shades Used

• 0>1>2>3 on crease
• 4 on outer v
• 5 on lids

After 6 hours of wear!

So, are you planning to purchase this palette?