I put compact eyeshadow palettes to the test – celebrity brand’s matte shades were patchy

EYESHADOW palettes got me through uni, but then I settled into a make-up routine and stopped using them.

But there’s now a new generation of compact palettes, so I put three to the test.

BUDGET – NYX Professional Makeup Ultimate Shadow Palette, £15.99, cultbeauty.co.uk

NYX

The neutral shades are slightly more pigmented and easier to apply than the vivid brights, which take some building up[/caption]

NYX Professional Makeup is one of my favourite high-street brands.

I still remember the day they launched in the UK when I was a teen.

There’s a generous 16 shades in each of the four variations of this palette, which means each one comes in at just under a pound – great value.

Each has matte, shimmer and glitter shadows, making it incredibly versatile.

The neutral shades are slightly more pigmented and easier to apply than the vivid brights, which take some building up and don’t wear as long, but that is reflected in the price.

MID-RANGE – Fenty Beauty Snap Shadows, £24, harveynichols.com

Fenty

I found the matte shadows quite patchy and the glitter in the shimmer shadows was chunky[/caption]

This is the smallest set of the three tested, which makes it great for travel or switching up your make-up while you are on the go.

But it also contains the fewest shades, with just six to choose from inside the compact – although I think that’s plenty for the average person, especially given there are both matte and glittery shades.

There are also ten different colour varieties to choose from, so you can pick one tailored to the shades you’ll use.

Unfortunately, I found the matte shadows quite patchy and the glitter in the shimmer shadows was chunky.

This means it takes a lot of time and patience to apply them effectively.

LUXURY – Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Palette Of Beautifying Eye Trends, £49, charlottetilbury.com

I’m pretty sure Charlotte Tilbury would account for the largest share of my make-up collection.

There are six variations to choose from, including bright purples, pinks and blues, as well as warm and cool neutrals in matte and shimmer finishes.

Sensual sunset is my favourite, with its super-pigmented warm orange and brown hues that blend out easily and make my eyes look brighter.

It contains everything I could ever need, and is my new go-to.