Bright, Rainbow Eyeshadow Palettes That Are Actually Awesome + Application Tips & Tricks

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Why is a standout, colorful eyeshadow palette so hard for brands to create? Certain colors, purples, for instance, aren’t generally easy to perfect. This is mostly due to the fact that purple is a hard shade to naturally come by and then you have to make it work for makeup. This Reddit thread goes into more detail.

It’s also important to keep in mind that these bright, vivid colors might not be safe for you to put on your eyes. You should always proceed with caution when using makeup that is marked as “unsafe for use on the eyes” – whether it’s a bold color, a glitter… anything. Brands are legally bound to put this warning on their packaging if so needed. Always read the fine print and check the ingredients!

With so many of these bright, rainbow eye palettes being hit or miss I thought it’d be a good idea to do a roundup of some that are highly rated and immensely popular (as well as hopefully around for a while for all to enjoy). At the bottom of this post, I also listed some tips and tricks for wearing bright eye makeup.

13 Bright, Rainbow Eyeshadow Palettes That Are Actually Awesome + Application Tips & Tricks

(products shown above, listed alphabetically)

BH Cosmetics Trendy in Tokyo 16 Color Shadow Palette ($16.00)

Coloured Raine Vivid Pigment Palette ($45.00)

Colourpop She’s a Rainbow Shadow Palette ($40.00)
code 5BLUSHINGNOIR gives you $5 off! (exclusions apply)

Danessa Myricks Beauty Waterproof Cream Palette ($36.00)

Juvia’s Place Warrior III Eyeshadow Palette ($20.00)

Juvia’s Place Zulu Eyeshadow Palette ($20.00)

Lime Crime Venus Vivid Pressed Powder Palette ($38.00)

MAC Art Library Eye Palette ($48.00)

Melt Cosmetics Radioactive Pressed Pigment Palette ($48.00)

Sugarpill Capsule Collection – Pink Edition ($42.00)

UOMA Beauty Carnival Black Magic Color Palette ($44.00)

Violet Voss Bright Vibes Neon Pressed Pigment Palette ($30.00)

Viseart Editorial Brights Eye Shadow Palette ($80.00)

Tips for wearing bright eyeshadow:

Use a white or a black matte eyeshadow primer as a base. This will add vibrancy to your color and transform your look, especially if you’re going bold! Keep in mind the black base is best for darker colors. A white base is usually the base of choice for brighter looks. Try NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil (in Milk or Black Bean) or ELF Putty Eye Primer (in White or Black).

Use eyeliner as a base. Do you have a shadow that is patchy but you absolutely love the shade and don’t want to alter it? Find a coordinating, waterproof eyeliner color that closely matches your eyeshadow. Use your eyeliner as a base then apply the shadow over top. Keep in mind, this will not be as easy to blend but at least you can be more precise if you’re using more than one shade or are going for a different type of effect. Try Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils – they have every color of the rainbow!

Press, don’t blend. Sometimes (not always) colorful shadows get patchy when you blend them. To combat this, press the color onto where you’d like it using a dense brush and then blend the edges lightly with a clean brush.

You need good eyeshadow brushes. These aren’t always the most expensive, but it is a good idea to invest in a few that you know will kick all the butt when you have no time to mess around. Quite a few of my brushes are from Colourpop and I’ve had the most luck with them across the board.

For good quality, affordable makeup brushes, I recommend those from Colourpop, Sonia Kashuk, Real Techniques, Ecotools, ELF, and Wet n’ Wild.

Some mid-level options, price-wise, are those from PIXI Beauty, IT Cosmetics, and Luxie Beauty.

If you’re okay with spending a bit more, check out brushes from Wayne Goss, Sonia G, and Smith Cosmetics.

Be aware of the difference between shades marked as “eyeshadow” and those marked as “pressed pigment”. Powder products marketed as “pressed pigment” are generally not eye-safe and should be used as directed. Now, like me, I’m sure most of you are going to apply to the eyes anyway. I urge you to do so with caution and if any irritation occurs wash it off of your eyes immediately and discontinue use.