I've never owned expensive/quality eyeshadow. What should I buy?

[CremeDeSudo]

Just that. My favourite MaxFactor liquid eyeshadown is increasingly harder to find, I'm nearly 37 and I pay out for good quality stuff for everything else, why not eyeshadow?

What should be my first purchase?

I find that silvers/greys/blues suit me best. (This is partly why I haven't bothered, I struggle to find pallets where I feel like I'd use the colours)

I ummed and ahhed about this a few years ago as I wasnt a big eyeshadow user vut then bought the UD Naked palette (no 3 for me personally) & it's one of the best things Ive ever bought. When I use it I get asked whether I've had my makeup "done"

I was the same. Only had cheap eyeshadows but high end mascara/concealer etc.
The UD pallets are lovely but the quality is not worth the cost. I find most of it ends up in my eye bags.
After trying many I declare the YSL quads to be the best around. Soft. Long lasting. No fall out at all. Two small amazing applicators and a mirror. Just gorgeous. They’ve got a nice one on offer:
www.yslbeauty.co.uk/makeup/eyes/eye-shadow/couture-variation/WW-22402YSL.html?dwvar_WW-22402YSL_color=04%20Underground

i would visit a MAC counter, so many finishes and formulas its actually mad.

my personal favourite is "quarry" a lovely matte mid toned pink/taupe brown.

You might be better off buying singles from mac.

I'm not overly convinced by expensive eyeshadow. Having had and got rid of the urban decay naked 2 and used other "high end" palettes I still reach for my makeup revolution pallettes more. The colour pay off is good and the price means I can experiment more with different colours.

Lancôme

I agree with Mac - so much choice.

An eye primer can make even cheaper shadows last longer and look more vibrant. Urban Decay one is the best.

A friend of mine bought me the Naked 3 palette a few years ago. I've barely used anything else since.

Make up Revolution reminded me of MUA that you can also get in Superdrug - they have copies of the UD Naked palettes. The pay off isn’t quite as good but they’re a fraction of the price. Sleek is great but they’re very colourful.

If it is liquid you are after then you can't go wrong with Stilla or Mac

Mac mac mac

Not MAC pots though. They dry up.

I do t get the Mac love for eye shadow if I’m honest. It doesn’t last as well as my make up revolution eyeshadow which still looks great at the end of the day although neither crease in my kids which is a bonus.

Mac, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Makeup Geek, Huda.

I have to say though, for the price, Makeup Revolution palettes really are excellent.

Stila or Bare Minerals palettes are my most used. I have lots, but those are the ones I use the most

Another vote for the Urban Decay palette, perhaps one of the mini ones first. There’s one with the usual nude/beige/browns but also has a silvery/blue shade in it too. Can’t remember the palette number.

ABH is great quality but there may be a lot of colours you won’t use in the palette. Either that or you’ll love it so much you’ll experiment more. You won’t be able to go back to use cheaper, chalky eye makeup again though, be warned!

Becca

You will find it at space NK I don't think it's widely sold

I really like the Lily Lilo palettes.

Urban Decay naked are nice or if you want to be super fancy get an Anastasia Beverley Hills one. The modern renaissance is the classic or the new soft glam is equally lovely. Huda Beauty also do lovely little ones in different colour themes to match your style and eye colour.

I'm a sucker for a palette but there's always at least one shade I don't use. Best ever eyeshadow is Chantecaille but it's £££, sadly.

Problem with suggesting pallettes is that if the op is after silver's greys and blues these just aren't that trendy so are few and far between however cooler tones do seem to be creeping in a bit more now.

The naked smoky pallete would probably have fit the bill op but it's discontinued. You may still be able to find it some places online though.

Laura Mercier Eye Caviar Sticks as a base and LM shadow swept across with a good brush (I rate the Superdrug B range) - that stays put on my eyes ALL DAY. You can buy in Space NK and currently fifteen quid off a sixty pound spend. This looks like it'd be a really useful palette www.spacenk.com/uk/en_GB/makeup/sets-palettes/eye/extreme-neutrals-eye-palette-MUK200017235.html

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer is also fab as base - just give it a few moments to set.

Makeup Geek do individual eyeshadows so you can choose the exact shades you want, and get a Z palette which is magnetic to put them in. It does work, out a bit,more expensive than a palette, but because you, know you will use them all its more cost effective really.

www.beautybay.com/makeup/makeupgeek/eyeshadowpan/

Quite a few have sold out at the moment, but there are still lots of cool shades available.

Sorry for random commas there!

Wow lots of replies thank you all! Will have a look online this evening and try and get to some counters. That YSL that's on offer looks like it has a good selection of colours for me.

I just don't feel the browns/pinks/warm shades etc suit me at all. Pinks in particular make me look ill! I love experimenting with brighter colours (blues, purples, smokey eyes mainly) but only when I'm going out really which sadly Is very rare these days, but I'm yet to feel ok about a nude! Maybe i should get to MAC sooner rather than later...

The best eyeshadow palette I have is from NARS. Beautiful colours, great texture. I also love Laura Mercier caviar sticks. I prefer to buy single shades, I find in palettes there are always a couple I don't use.