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Buy Side from WSJ is a reviews and recommendations team, independent of The Wall Street Journal newsroom. We might earn a commission from links in this content. Learn more. 35colors eyeshadow
Beauty lovers, cosmetics-counter newbies and even young ones who love to play dress-up in the mirror can get behind a good makeup gift set. Often these are the type of pampering product people just don’t buy for themselves, making them an always-welcome gift. We asked professional makeup artists which sets they reach for when creating picture-perfect looks. They provided a treasure trove of palettes, tools and glamorous grab-bags to help you and your loved ones get their glow on.
Los Angeles-based makeup and special effects artist Katie Machaiek loves this Clinique set because it has a great mix of all things lippy. Whether you’re looking for “a nice sheer pop of color” from the two shades of Almost Lipstick or something bolder from the Chubby Stick Intense, you’ll be able to find it in this set of eight lipsticks, balms and glosses. It offers a “large range of hues that compliment many skin tones, Machaiek says, including the brand’s popular Black Honey Almost Lipstick , which Machaiek keeps in constant rotation in her own beauty regimen.
For the teen who loves for their pout to glisten and gleam, Tracie Turner, the New Orleans-based makeup artist behind the Face by Trace studio, recommends the Fenty Beauty Glossy Posse . The three high-shine glosses are “trendy among younger makeup enthusiasts because they create the effect of juicy lips with an intense shine and a moisturizing feel,” Turner says. (We found the consistency to be on the thicker side; definitely for those who want their gloss to command attention.) She adds that the colors are suitable for both everyday wear and dressed-up occasions and often uses the Cream Color Drip Lip in Fenty Glow on her bridal clients. The set consists of a cream-finish coral, a tingling clear lip plumper and a pink shimmery shade you can layer or wear on its own.
If you’d like to give the gift of beauty but aren’t quite sure where to start, Los Angeles-based editorial makeup artist Kate Kats praises this set from Nars as a can’t-miss option because it’s well-suited for a variety of skin tones and skin types. She notes that it’s as handy for professional gigs as it is for everyday use. It comes with a full-size lip balm, mini pressed powder blush and a petite blush brush. In particular, Kats is a fan of the balm, with its “rosy gold color and moisturizing effect,” which makes it a must-have in her bag during the colder, drier months.
Shopping for an eco-conscious beauty lover? Kristen Arnett , a makeup artist, educator and image consultant in Tucson, Ariz., suggests these vegan, multi-use crayons for eyes, lips and cheeks, which are packaged in recyclable cardboard plastic-free cases. She applauds their ease of use: “These are crayons, so play and don’t be afraid to use your fingers to blend and mix (just don’t store them in a hot car)!” She says the sticks work well for a variety of skin tones, blend and layer seamlessly and last on the skin. She says they’re great for young users who want a light, simple look, but are also “fabulous for the over-40 set because they look more radiant and dewy than powdery cosmetics.”
This mini eyeshadow stick set is a staple in Turner’s professional kit and she highly recommends it when teaching makeup classes because the sticks “glide seamlessly onto the lids—just one or two swipes, then blend with your finger,” and they “stay crease-free and transfer-resistant” in her experience. Turner also likes that the petite tubes are travel-friendly. “If you stash one of these sets in your purse, you will always be ready for that unexpected business meeting, happy hour, dinner with a client and even a surprise date night,” she says. “It is the ultimate cheat code to creating a fast and effortless makeup look.”
Here’s one for the bold beauties in your life. Full glam aficionados “can’t get enough of Pat McGrath,” says Los Angeles-based makeup artist Jazzmene Vitte . The brand “offers extremely vibrant and pigmented colors throughout [the] line.” This eye and cheek palette comes with nine eyeshadows in metallic, shimmer and matte finishes, which Vitte says have a velvety finish that allows for flawless blending, as well as two blush shades. She recommends the shadows for creating fun, creative looks, especially if you’re into a pop of color. And for those aiming for something tamer, she points out the “blush options in the palette are the perfect shades of pink and coral for any soft look.”
Sometimes a practical gift will be the most appreciated. Beauty Blender’s makeup sponges are Machaiek’s go-to for applying and blending foundation and concealer, so this is a set that your giftee can use everyday. “Don’t be fooled by cheaper, similar style sponges,” she says, “these last a long time, have the best bounce and hold product well.” The set comes with a sponge, a travel-friendly carrying case (“to protect any product transfer from the [sponge] into your makeup bag and vice versa”), as well as a solid cleanser that she assures works not only on the sponge, but your other makeup brushes, too. Her pro tip: “Make sure to wet the Beauty Blender first and squeeze out the excess water before applying [makeup]. It makes the Blender much spongier and helps create a smooth application.”
“If you are a person who loves to glow, this palette is for you,” says Turner. Her specialty is creating “radiant soft glam looks” for her clients and she uses this palette to help achieve that look. She finds that the four highlighter powders, each embossed with the luxe Dior logo, have an ultra-fine texture that can be used alone or blended together for a custom shade, “starting from a natural, healthy look, building to an intense radiance.”
Kats thinks this trio of mini cream color sticks is the key to success for those who want to achieve a radiant look that’s, above all, quick . Using just your fingertips, you can blend in the contour to define your cheekbones, add blush to the apples of your cheeks and finish up with highlighter at the top of the cheekbones. She says the travel-size sticks leave the skin looking dewy and moisturized, perfect for someone who’s new to using makeup, wears it sparingly or favors a barely-there aesthetic.
Here’s a stocking stuffer that’ll earn you Brownie points from your favorite Gen-Zer. Turner points out that Morphe Cosmetics is known for collaborations with beauty influencers and TikTok stars, and because of this, “many of their products are trendy among teens and tweens.” Her gifting pick is this multitasker palette , which comes with stackable matte and shimmer shades—including an eyeshadow, blush, lip tint and sparkly multi-use balm, all of which are blendable and buildable. “The formulas are versatile” and can be applied “with your fingers or with a brush.” She adds that, since the colors are on the softer side, it’s also age-appropriate for tweens.
Vitte chose this set (which includes all full-size products) as a best bet for makeup minimalists. What impressed her about Ilia’s Shades of You was the finish of its Super Serum Skin Tint . “I love anything that’s going to allow the skin to continue to look like skin,” she says of its natural finish, also praising the tint’s protective SPF formulation and inclusive shade range. “It leaves you looking very hydrated, making it a good choice for drier skin.” Also included in the gift is a multi-stick for cheeks and lips, a buff brush for blending, and mascara—all your “less is more” loved one will need for their makeup routine.
“I love Urban Decay because they have great colors and lots of pigment,” says Machaiek. And with eyeshadows named “Blast,” “Partay” and “Happy Trap,” it’s no wonder this set of two palettes is her selection for “the perfect base for creating a bold party look.” To her, the travel-friendly mini cases are fun and practical, since they’re “easy to toss into a small makeup kit and perfect for on-the-go touch-ups.” One pro tip: She suggests applying the eyeshadow as the first step of your makeup routine, so you can “easily clean any transfer without messing up all your hard work applying foundation and concealer.”
When it’s time for a makeup kit makeover, Turner’s pick is this set , which includes five brushes: one designed to apply fluffy powder, as well as foundation, eyeshadow, crease color and concealer brushes. “They’re sleek and the bristles are soft and durable,” she says, adding that “the handles are made of metal but are lightweight and easy to control.” Plus, there’s an organizer pouch for storing your brushes, allowing you to stash them in a bag and dash, or keep your vanity tidy.
Help them stand out at their next soirée with this set that’s a favorite of Vitte. She describes its two full-size, shimmer liquid eyeshadows as “heaven on earth” because “they’re so creamy and long-wearing, don’t clump or crease and they’re so easy to apply, even for a beginner.” To use, you just need a “little tap on the lid with your finger and you’re good to go,” Vitte says. The limited-edition pouch also comes with a mini lipstick and a full-size mascara, but she’s dubbed the eye tints as the MVPs here “for making your eyes the statement piece to your look all day long.”
Eyeshadow Palettes By Taryn Mohrman , Korin Miller