Best eyeshadow palettes

Start here: Fade Into Hue — a 30-pan palette with mattes, shimmers, sparkle mattes and a few glitters, so it covers everyday neutrals and bolder looks in one place. It's the highest-rated of the bunch by a wide margin, which is why it's my pick for a first or only palette.

Who the others suit:

• BASIC CANVAS PALETTE — 24 wearable nude, brown, pink and orange shades; the safe choice if you want soft, everyday looks and nothing loud.
• BLENDS ARTISTRY PALETTE — 40 shades with rainbow colour; for someone who already has neutrals and wants to play.
• Makeup By Mario Master Mattes — all-matte, so it's for people who skip shimmer entirely.
• Nars Quad in Laguna — a small, compact quad for travel or a single polished look.
• Mac Connect In Colour in Unfiltered Nudes — a tidy nude edit if you prefer a curated set over a big one.
• Profusion 10 Color and Maybelline Shadow Blocks — cheap, compact starters; ratings are decent but not stellar.

One thing to weigh: big palettes mean more shades you may never touch, while quads and 10-pans are easier to finish.