25 Holiday Palettes That Are Almost Too Pretty to Use

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No matter how many palettes we acquire, we never have enough. There's just something so magical about them — they look so pristine when they're brand new, and they house endless gorgeous possibilities. Even better, they just look like a perfect present as soon as you open them — especially the festive compacts launched for the holidays. The allure of leather-bound packaging and glittery details are simply irresistible.
Whether you're looking for
flawlessly chiseled cheeks or the ultimate smoky eye, we found the most beautiful palettes you'll want to snag ASAP. Don't delay! Most of these items are limited edition. But trust us, they're worth the splurge.

Giorgio Armani Luxe Is More Palette

Giorgio Armani Luxe Is More Palette

This oversize palette ($140) holds 10 stunning shadows in elegant neutral tones in the top pan. Lift it up to reveal pressed powder and two foundation shades that you can use to hide blemishes and under-eye circles or sculpt your cheekbones.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Self-Made Eye Shadow Palette

Anastasia Beverly Hills Self-Made Eye Shadow Palette

If you have a friend whose dream is to be an Instagram-famous makeup artist, gift her with this palette ($35). Among the more common bronze and rose gold shadows are a bright purple, sea foam, and butter yellow that she'll use to carve out a double-tap-worthy cut crease.

Stila A Whole Lot of Love Set

Stila A Whole Lot of Love Set

We adore this face palette from Stila. ($59) It holds nearly everything you need for a complete look: 20 shadows in a variety of shades and finishes, four flattering blushes, and a tube of Huge mascara (one of our favorites). It's all tucked in a sweet love-letter-inspired compact.

Lancome My French Noel Palette

Lancome My French Noel Palette

Trés chic! This Lancome palette ($65) holds one matte and five sparkling shadows, but we're especially obsessed with the festive lip trio. A base and two matte reds are hidden under a glimmering golden door to keep the creamy formulas protected from powdery fallout.

Olivia Palermo x Ciaté London The Smoldering Eye Palette

Olivia Palermo x Ciaté London The Smoldering Eye Palette

The suede finish on the nine shadows in this faux-leather-bound compact ($39) makes them completely addictive. They feel like creams but blend flawlessly like powders with unparalleled pigment payoff.

Kevyn Aucoin The Contour Book The Art of Sculpting and Defining Volume II

Kevyn Aucoin The Contour Book The Art of Sculpting and Defining Volume II

The legendary makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin not only inspired us to pursue a career in beauty, but was also the first person to teach us what contouring is. This travel-size palette ($65) has two cream and two powder formulas for sculpting and highlighting as well as four shadows to define your eyes. It's all packaged with a helpful guide explaining how to chisel your complexion to perfection.

Smashbox 25th Anniversary Lip Palette

Smashbox 25th Anniversary Lip Palette

If you're looking to expand their lip color collection, this is an excellent place to start. Smashbox's limited-edition palette ($75) holds 25 of the brand's bestselling hues, but if you use the included brush to custom mix your own shade, the possibilities are endless.

MAC Cosmetics Enchanted Eve Cool Face Palette

MAC Cosmetics Enchanted Eve Cool Face Palette

Cool-complected beauties will fawn over this funky-fabulous palette from MAC Cosmetics ($50). The eye, lip, and cheek shades will complement her skin tone, but the electric case will fetch compliments when she pulls it out for touch-ups at a party.

POP Beauty Insta-Eye Palette

POP Beauty Insta-Eye Palette

The four shades in this slim palette ($12) are richly pigmented and perfectly color-coordinated, so beauty pros and newbies alike will be able to craft an immaculate smoky eye in seconds.

Dior Nude Palette For Eyes & Lips

Dior Nude Palette For Eyes & Lips

It's hard to figure out what the best part of this Dior palette ($62) is. It has a tiny door hiding the lip colors, so no eye shadow pigments will mar their surfaces. The product is wrapped in a gorgeous leathery compact that looks like it could be a clutch (complete with zipper!). But we think the most impressive feature is the colors — the flattering nude shadows and punchy pink lipsticks would be stunning on all complexions, all year round.

Urban Decay Vice4

Urban Decay Vice4

Urban Decay junkies will obsess over the latest Vice palette ($60), which contains 20 shadows in jewel tones, neutrals, and smoky hues. The iridescent compact comes housed in a chic makeup bag, which you can stash your favorite travel-sized goodies in when you visit your family over the holidays.

See swatches of this palette on three different skin tones.

Nars x Steven Klein One Shocking Moment Cheek Palette

Nars x Steven Klein One Shocking Moment Cheek Palette

We're obsessed with Nars Cosmetics' cheek colors — they're highly pigmented and finely milled, and they come in a wide variety of shades. Now the brand has launched a palette ($69) featuring seven essential colors, including four blushes, a bronzer, and a contouring duo. The cover is emblazoned with iconic photographer Steven Klein's edgy images.

Yves Saint Laurent Kiss & Love Edition Complete Makeup Palette

Yves Saint Laurent Kiss & Love Edition Complete Makeup Palette

The haute label's holiday palette ($95) looks like a gorgeously gilded pocket notebook. Open it to reveal four eye shadows (in festive metallic hues!), two lip colors, and a soft coral blush. Plus, the cheeky lip packaging will put you in a flirty mood.

Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca Remix Eyeshadow Palette

Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca Remix Eyeshadow Palette

Any makeup-lover who finds herself envious of a peacock's bright colors needs this Kat Von D palette ($59) in her stash. The huge, record-sleeve-shaped packaging is stuffed with 18 vibrant, intensely pigmented shadows and six neutral shades. Use it as an opportunity to finally test out an electric blue or orange eye shadow look.

See swatches of this palette on three different skin tones.

Bobbi Brown Deluxe Eye and Cheek Palette

Bobbi Brown Deluxe Eye and Cheek Palette

The versatility of this cheek and eye palette from Bobbi Brown ($85) makes it a staple in any beauty bag. The eight matte and metallic shadows quickly transform a look from day to night — just bump up your neutrals with a bit of shimmer. And the generously sized pans of blush will last for ages.

Benefit Cosmetics Real Cheeky Party Holiday Blush Palette

Benefit Cosmetics Real Cheeky Party Holiday Blush Palette

Contouring fanatics will flip for Benefit's cheek palette ($42). You'll get five of the brand's bestselling formulas (including Hoola bronzer!), its glowy Watt's Up highlighter, and a liner/mascara duo. This gift is a whole face worth of makeup in a portable, punchy case.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Style Eye-Con No. 20 Plush Eyeshadow

Marc Jacobs Beauty Style Eye-Con No. 20 Plush Eyeshadow

This luxe, oversize shadow palette ($99) is packed with 20 shades — 18 of them new! — in a wide range of finishes and textures. And since the case looks like an artist's palette, you may feel inspired to do some unexpected face painting, such as a two-toned or ombré eye.

Make Up For Ever 15 Artist Shadow Palette

Make Up For Ever 15 Artist Shadow Palette

Wrapped in a glittery orange case, the shadows in the Make Up For Ever palette ($59) are arranged in vertical trios to make creating the perfect shadow look simple. Neutral, colorful, or smoky, it's up to you — or get creative and mix up your favorite shades.

Too Faced Le Grand Palais

Too Faced Le Grand Palais

Too Faced's pretty set ($58) looks like the beauty version of a Parisian dollhouse. Open the box and unfold the side to reveal a precious pop-up apartment (love that little dress stand and Sephora bag!). If that weren't cute enough, you'll find 18 eye colors, four cheek colors, lip gloss, shadow primer, and a mascara — everything you need for a gorgeous holiday glow.

Guerlain Eye and Blush Palette

Guerlain Eye and Blush Palette

The swanky golden compact of Guerlain's palette ($90) is sure to garner oohs and ahhs when you slip it out of your holiday clutch. The five shadows and four blushes add an iridescent glow to lids and cheeks.

Sephora Color Wonderland Neutral and Vivid Eyeshadow Palette

Sephora Color Wonderland Neutral and Vivid Eyeshadow Palette

This year's iteration of Sephora's blockbuster palette ($59) is overflowing with 78 — seriously! — shadows and two eye pencils. Neutral shadows are on the left of the compact while colorful hues are on the right, and the larger pans feature more versatile shades (so you won't run out of them).

Tarte Light of the Party Collector's Makeup Case

Tarte Light of the Party Collector's Makeup Case

If the 24 blendable shadows in Tarte's sequin-studded palette ($59) aren't enough to make you run screaming to Sephora, the removable travel-sized compact will be. In addition to mascara and a high-quality double-ended shadow brush, you'll get an extra six eye hues and three cheek contouring colors that you can take with you on the go.

Laura Mercier Sleek and Chic Eye Colour Palette

Laura Mercier Sleek and Chic Eye Colour Palette

The gleaming tortoiseshell compact of Laura Mercier's shadow set ($55) teases at the sultry shades inside. Mix and match the 12 shimmery, metallic, and matte colors to create the ultimate smoky eye.

Lorac Mega PRO Palette 2

Lorac Mega PRO Palette 2

Every shadow color you could ever need is crammed into this 32-pan palette from Lorac ($59). The powder formulas are so rich, they're practically creamy, and they blend into skin with ease. The ultraskinny compact tucks easily into an overnight bag for easy packing.

See swatches of this palette on three different skin tones.

Nonie Creme Colour Prevails Social Butterfly Palette

Nonie Creme Colour Prevails Social Butterfly Palette

All eight shimmery nude shades in this limited-edition palette from Nonie Creme ($19) would look glam accompanying an LBD and a bold red lip. The set features thumb holes (just like a real artist's palette), making application even easier — especially when you're playing glam squad for your friends!

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