The Best Eyeshadow Palettes for a Speedy Transformation

#VIOLETawards

Meet your costar in a quick telephone-booth transformation.

Written By Lexy Lebsack

For Awards Season 2015 VIOLET GREY is documenting Hollywood’s red-carpet necessities. The industry’s leading stars and artists will be nominating who they deem the best in various categories, from dinner clutch touch-up essentials to the most coveted facialists in town, for the #VIOLETawards series.

Looking to make a quick transformation? The real-world equivalent of a trench coat and wig lies in one of these artist-nominated shadow palettes. A simple swipe of the palest hue defines eyes, or add more intensity by applying a darker hue in the crease. More daring? Effortlessly slip into the drama category by smudging the deepest hue into the top and bottom lash line. The best compacts, selected by the artists who make up stars like Lupita Nyong’o, Kate Hudson and Rosamund Pike, below.

THE BEST EYESHADOW PALETTES

The most glamorous eyeshadow palettes, deemed the best and nominated by Hollywood’s beauty experts.

NOMINATED BY NICK BAROSE, MAKEUP ARTIST

“I love the golden, bronzy tones of this palette because the colors can go from day to night and work on many skin tones. You can use it with a wet brush to make the gold more metallic and dramatic.”

TOM FORD EYE COLOR QUAD EYESHADOW PALETTE COGNAC SABLE

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NOMINATED BY MÉLANIE INGLESSIS, MAKEUP ARTIST

“The deep, dark brown color is amazing on everyone and the nude hue is that great on its own or layered [with other colors]. Plus, the palette can be use wet or dry; simply wet the brush first to add intensity to the look.”

YVES SAINT LAURENT PURE CHROMATICS EYE SHADOW PALETTE 11

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NOMINATED BY SABRINA BEDRANI, MAKEUP ARTIST

“I’m obsessed with this palette right now because it has the perfect fall colors for day and night. You can use the shades separately or layered: The lightest hue is perfect for daytime, or add the brown and plum tones on top for evening. Then add the darkest hue for a dramatic effect.”

DIOR 5 COULEURS CUIR CANAGE

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NOMINATED BY SHANE PAISH, MAKEUP ARTIST

“The basic Dior shadow quad in Incognito and the Kevyn Aucoin Essential Eyeshadow Set, with its warm beige, deep green and black-pepper tones [No. 4], are my favorite palettes. They have great textures and tones that last and blend easily.”

KEVYN AUCOIN ESSENTIAL EYESHADOW SET NO. 4

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NOMINATED BY VIOLETTE, MAKEUP ARTIST

“I love the soft color of this palette; it has shades that are both warm and cool. The results are chic but still natural, young and fresh but still elegant and sophisticated. You can easily make up your eyes for a day look or a night look.”

GIORGIO ARMANI EYES TO KILL EYESHADOW PALETTE 6 BOUDOIR

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NOMINATED BY DOTTI, MAKEUP ARTIST

“This is a classic palette that allows you to create any look, from a sultry eye to a sheer, elegant wash of color. It covers all your bases in one step.”

BOBBI BROWN BOBBI’S BROWNS EYE PALETTE BROWNS

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NOMINATED BY BEAU NELSON, MAKEUP ARTIST

“The perfect quad for day-to-night beauty looks is Tom Ford’s palette in Golden Mink. Use the lighter shades all over the lid for day; then for evening, use the darker shade against the lash line, in the crease of the eye, and smudged into the bottom lash line.”

TOM FORD EYE COLOR QUAD EYESHADOW PALETTE GOLDEN MINK

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See the complete #VIOLETawards list of the best eyeshadow palettes and more from The Violet Files at VIOLET GREY.