Eyeshadow can help create so many different looks, and also provide contour and dimension to your eyes!
Here’s our list of top picks for the best vegan eyeshadow palettes for you to check out!
In a Hurry? Here’s Our Quick List of Top Picks
- VERONNI 12 Colors Eyeshadow Palette
- Pacifica Island Life Mineral Eyeshadow Palette
- BaeBlu 100% Natural Vegan Eyeshadow Makeup
- Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques Pressed Eyeshadow Duo
- BYS 12 Shade Matte Eyeshadow Palette Tin Collection with Mirror
- Cleof Chocolate Box Eyeshadow Palette
- Mia del Mar ‘Life Is A Fiesta’ Eyeshadow Palette
Why Eyeshadow is a Make-up Must Have
Eyeshadow has been a popular means to bringing attention to one’s eyes for centuries.
In ancient Egypt, about 12,000 years ago, kohl was invented which was used to adorn the eyes of royalty with pigment.
In ancient Greece, they would use eyeshadow in shades such as green and blue made from gemstones such as lapis lazuli and malachite.
Since then this custom has spread around the world and has become a staple in most people’s make-up kits.
Eyeshadow is a make-up must-have for many reasons such as creating dimension and contour to your eyes and making your eye color pop.
Our eyes come in many different beautiful shapes and sizes. Eyeshadow is the key to accentuating their shape and making them stand out.
Eyeshadow also is useful for creating different looks such as a polished, casual look for work or a super glamorous look for a night out.
How to Choose the Right Palette for You
Your eye color is the most important factor to consider when choosing the right eyeshadow palette to make your eyes pop!
Here are some suggestions to help you find the right palette:
- Brown – try shades such as taupe, hazelnut or chocolate on the crease and moss green, plum or champagne on the lid.
- Blue – try deeper tones such as warm brown, and rose gold, pale gold or shimmery peach to the lid; you could even try grey or silver for the smoky eye look!
- Green – shades of purple like plum, burgundy, and violet would look great, but also try soft tan or brown shades.
- Hazel – since hazel eyes are usually a combination of colors you have the option to use earth tones such as browns and golds or even shades of purple.
Watch this informative video for more tips on choosing the right eyeshadow palette for your eye color:
Next you should consider your skin tone when selecting an eyeshadow palette,
For fair skin, look for sheer colors such as taupe, cool pink or soft green for example. You’ll want to avoid grey or black such as those used to create the smoky eye.
When contouring, use a color a few shades darker than your natural skin tone so it won’t overwhelm the rest of your face.
For darker complexions, it’s best to avoid soft shades which may look faded or invisible. Instead try choosing brighter colors and warm pigmented shades.
Finally, consider your lifestyle. Are you a business person? Do you attend lots of parties or events? Are you casual 24/7?
Finding an eyeshadow palette for all of life’s events is important and you may need to keep more than one in your toolkit.
Although some of us prefer to find a neutral palette useful for any occasion.
Things to Look for That Differentiate These Products
With so many eyeshadow palettes on the market today it’s hard to know which ones to look for.
It’s important to keep in mind whatever you apply to your skin is absorbed through your pores.
Narrowing your search to only natural make up will help keep unnecessary toxins from entering your body’s system.
Specific toxins you’ll find in some eyeshadow include talc, petroleum-based oils, and paraben for example.
All of the palettes on our list are natural, vegan, and cruelty-free. This means they have only naturally-derived ingredients, and no animal byproducts or testing are involved!
The eyeshadow palettes listed here each have their own special qualities so look for the attributes right for you.
For example, some palettes have multiple colors in one, while others may be a duo or single color. A few come with their own double-ended applicators and mirrors too!
The palettes have all shimmer, all matte colors, or a combination of both!
Plus, you’ll see certain products have beneficial ingredients for moisture, waterproofing, and even anti-aging and sun protection.
Eyeshadow Application Tips
Eyeshadow application can be tricky. Most of us who are not professional make-up artists struggle when figuring out the correct method for applying eye make-up.
However, the benefit to learning the correct method will pay dividends when you are able to achieve the look you want to create and your eyes look stunning!
There are a few guidelines to follow to help you get started.
This chart illustrates the several areas of your eye when it comes to eyeshadow application such as eyelid, brow, lower lash line, crease and waterline as it’s called.
Applying primer as a first step is recommended. Then choose a color lighter than your skin tone for the inner lid and the inner half of your middle lid.
Next, use a darker color on the outer half of your middle lid. For the outer lid, make a “V” going up and into the crease.
Applying color above the crease and a highlight to your brow line will help create dimension.
The lower lash line and waterline are perhaps a forgotten area of your eye involved in eyeshadow application.
Here you can apply a shimmery color to enhance your eyes and make them appear larger.
As you can see, many steps go into proper eyeshadow application and it’s understandably overwhelming! Hopefully these tips have made it seem less daunting.
See this video to learn some splendid tricks of the trade:
7 Top Picks for Vegan Eyeshadow Palettes
From our top picks you are sure to find an eyeshadow palette that suits your needs and will help you put your best face forward!
VERONNI 12 Colors Eyeshadow Palette
No products found.VERONNI’s eyeshadow palette contains 12 different colors to help you create any look you are going for!
This eyeshadow is non-toxic and waterproof to keep it from creasing or fading while wearing.
Fine particle technology is used to create a great variety of colors you can combine for any occasion.
So whether you want a smoky eye look for a night out, or a more toned down and casual look for work, VERONNI has you covered!
If you’re looking for bronze and neutral colors to dress up or down you should definitely check this one out!
I love how versatile and customizable this palette is! Also, for the price you get a long lasting, highly-pigmented color to use for everything.
What We Like
- Long-lasting and waterproof
- Non-toxic
- Matte, metallic colors great for blending
- Nice packaging
What We Don’t Like
- Colors may not work for everyone
- Applicator brush isn’t the best
Pacifica Island Life Mineral Eyeshadow Palette
Pacifica Island Life’s eyeshadow is all you’ll need for a trendy, beautiful look!
The mix of coconut water and natural minerals makes this palette crease-free and velvety. Plus, it is talc and paraben-free!
The colors are not matte; so if you are looking for a subtle shimmery glow then this one is great for you!
Also, this is a mineral makeup and all the ingredients are vegan and non-toxic.
Mineral makeup has many benefits. It’s good for sensitive, acne-prone, or irritable skin, you’ll experience less irritation, and it’s bacteria free.
Long ago I switched to using mineral makeup exclusively for these same reasons – and it works!
Finally, the applicator is double-ended to assist you with creating the perfect look.
What We Like
- Beautiful colors
- Good for sensitive skin
- All-natural, non-toxic ingredients
What We Don’t Like
- Colors not dark enough for all skin tones
- Not suitable for people with coconut allergy
BaeBlu 100% Natural Vegan Eyeshadow Makeup
BaeBlu’s eyeshadow is all natural, non-toxic, and vegan! It comes in 18 shimmery or matte colors to choose from (the color “Bark” is featured in the photo).
You can apply this wet with a little water or liquid primer or apply it dry which I love!
All of BaeBlu’s colors are entirely plant-based and are gluten and chemical-free. They also don’t use petroleum-based oils, fillers or fragrances.
The color is buildable, highly pigmented and long-lasting! There are many different options to create any look from matte, shimmery, neutral, bright metallic, or sultry smoky.
With this eyeshadow you can achieve a variety of looks using a brush and a medium such as primer.
These looks include ultra-pigmented, buffed and blended, or even as a solid liner called the “foil effect” using the shiny metallic colors.
What We Like
- Versatile and blendable
- Good for sensitive skin; non-allergenic
- Many colors to choose from
- All natural and non-toxic
What We Don’t Like
- Colors may differ from how they are pictured
- Color may come off easily
- Too powdery when dry
Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques Pressed Eyeshadow Duo
Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques’ eyeshadow offers 12 duos of complementary hues for contouring and dimension (Cappuccino/Pearl pictured). They’re cruelty-free, non-toxic, and 100% natural!
These highly-pigmented pressed eyeshadows go on smoothly and blend well!
What makes this product so unique are the many nutrient-rich ingredients beneficial to your skin.
The zinc acts like a natural UVA and UVB protectant, while the broccoli seed is rich in vitamin A and essential fatty acids.
The orange peel wax is moisturizing and anti-microbial, and the jojoba, lecithin, and allantoin are all nourishing and anti-aging by encouraging new cell growth.
I love all the plant-derived ingredients and some are even listed as “edible plant-based oil.”
I’m sure you won’t try to eat your eyeshadow, but it’s reassuring to know the ingredients are that safe!
Also, this is also EU and Cert Clean certified so it meets very high standards! It is eco-friendly, non-GMO, and gluten free as well.
What We Like
- All-natural, plant-derived ingredients
- Nutrient-rich pressed powder
- Complementary color duos
- Non-toxic and non-allergenic
What We Don’t Like
- May fade or crease on some skin types
- May require more than one application; too light for some
- Too shimmery for some people
BYS 12 Shade Matte Eyeshadow Palette Tin Collection with Mirror
BYS’ eyeshadow palette has 12 shades to use to create looks from subtle to bold!
Everything you need is included in the tin – mirror, double-ended applicator and blender.
This is a great palette if you’re looking for matte color and versatility. With so many colors to choose from, you’re able to use your creativity to create many looks.
The palette is quite affordable, and considering it’s an all-in-one tin, you can’t go wrong!
BYS is an Australian company and pride themselves on their cruelty-free products. Their mission is to offer innovative, trendy products for everyone.
What We Like
- Long-lasting, highly-pigmented color
- Matte
- Affordable price
What We Don’t Like
- May be chalky or flaky for some
- Low quality packaging
- Color may be too light for darker skin tones
Cleof Chocolate Box Eyeshadow Palette
The Chocolate Eyeshadow Palette from Cleof Cosmetics is a fun and functional addition to any makeup collection.
There are 16 high-pigment chocolate, nude, and pink shades, including both matte and shimmering options.
The colors have cute, chocolate-themed names: Praline, Pudding, Souffle, Toffee, Mousse, Nougat, Melts, Truffle, Frosting, Fudge, Ganache, Wilton, Ruby, Biscuit, Umber, and Milk (let’s say almond milk)!
These creamy eyeshadows go on smooth and have earned rave reviews for high quality at a low price.
The palette looks like a fancy chocolate bar, and there’s even a faint chocolate smell!
Cleof Cosmetics is not Leaping Bunny certified, but the company doesn’t test on animals, and this palette is listed as vegan and cruelty-free.
What We Like
- Good price point
- Cute chocolate theme
- Creamy, smooth texture
- High-pigment shades
What We Don’t Like
- Contains talc
- Not great for sensitive eyes
- Applicators not included
- Doesn’t last all day for some skin types
Mia del Mar ‘Life Is A Fiesta’ Eyeshadow Palette
This beautiful palette of 12 feisty shades from Mia del Mar is perfect for all occasions. Inspired by the vibrant Latinx culture of Miami and paired with the finest ingredients, this is one palette you can’t afford to miss.
Life Is A Fiesta features 12 shades to carry your look from work to play, every day. Want a natural look? It’s in there. Ready to get gussied up for the weekend? You got it. Want to make an impression and experiment with bold, head-turning colors? Si, si puede!
This paraben, sulfate, phthalate, and aluminum free formula is blended with Jojoba Oil for a smooth, velvety finish which won’t flake or fail. Highly pigmented and beautifully blendable, your eyes will shine like the stars they are.
The packaging is bright and colorful and comes equipped with a very usable double-ended brush. There isn’t much lacking in this amazing product.
What We Like
- 12 shades in a complete range of colors
- Jojoba Oil for smooth, gentle application
- Double-ended brush is a real makeup tool
What We Don’t Like
- Cardboard packaging feels somewhat flimsy
- Lighter shades need primer to really pop
Top Choice for the Best Vegan Eyeshadow Palette
Our top picks have so much to offer from multiple color palettes, shimmery and matte colors, or combinations of both.
However, our top choice for the best vegan eyeshadow palette is Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques Pressed Eyeshadow Duo.
Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques gives you so much all in one eyeshadow palette! I love the complementary color combinations in the duos and the nutrient-rich ingredients.
This eyeshadow palette is unique for its all natural moisturizing, anti-aging ingredients that act like a skin treatment in an eyeshadow!
The palette is non-toxic and also provides natural UVA and UVB sun protection! Genius!
For all of these reasons, and of course all 12 of the beautiful color combinations, Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques for the win!