Quad Goals: Six neutral eyeshadow quads that do your thinking for you
As much as we love palettes with 40 gorgeous colors to play with, the truth is we don’t all have the time and patience to create eye looks using it. Maybe you're a makeup newbie just learning how to blend properly, or a beauty junkie who puts on her face while on the go. Either way, you might not always want to be confronted with too many choices!
Eyeshadow quads make application so much easier. They are also easy to pack, which is part of what makes them so popular. But just as bigger palettes would have a dud shade or two, not all quads are created equal. So, we’ve come up with our picks to help you out on your next shopping trip. They range from budget to luxury, but they all have some things in common — they are pigmented, easy to blend, and will make eyeshadow application less of a complicated routine.
These neutral quads can work with different types of makeup looks, and they are your best bet for keeping things office-friendly. They may look conservative but they are certainly not boring!
Daiso Eyeshadow Quad (P88 at Daiso stores)
We’ve raved about this super-cheap quad before and with good reason — this Daiso eyeshadow quad is perfect for those on a budget but are looking for quality. It feels dubious to expect a lot from something with this price but you’ll be glad to know its silky texture lends to its blendability.
Happy Skin All Eyes on Hue Eyeshadow Palette (P1,299 at Happy Skin boutiques and Zalora)
The shades may not look exciting but it wins as a foolproof kit you can use from day to night. It even has an application guide for people who are new to eyeshadow. Nonetheless, long-time beauty lovers will appreciate how this quad can take a look from pretty to vampy in just a few strokes.
Lunasol Skin Modeling Eyes in Beige Beige (P3,000~ at Rustan's Beauty)
The colors in this quad is a clear case of They’re The Same But Different. Upon closer inspection though, the gorgeous beiges, golds, and peaches work so well to complement Filipina brown eyes. The soft hues paired with the warm brown create such a subtle highlighting effect on the eyes which is great for day time, and can be smoked out to create a more dramatic effect for special occasions.
Avon True Color Eyeshadow Quads (P399 from Avon representatives and Zalora)
If you think your eyes are your best feature, you should definitely call attention to them with pops of color! And we're not talking about any wild, all-the-colors-of-the-rainbow type of makeup here - you can definitely still have fun with your look without using anything too bright or complicated.
Avon constantly comes out with cohesively-themed quads such as the ones pictured above. These eyeshadows are buildable, blendable, and great for those who love color. They even carry shades which will still look great even when worn alone.
Revlon Colorstay 16-Hour Eyeshadow in Siren (P550 at department stores)
Smokey eye looks don’t have to be complicated. In fact, you can just use four colors to create the perfect vixen eyes. Other palettes in the Colorstay line look great too, which come in other great combinations that are easy to work with and can be amped up with a base.
MAC Eyeshadow Quads (available in MAC counters in Rustan's)
If you’re miffed about limited edition releases by MAC, you don’t have to worry because you can actually create your own quad! The MAC Maleficent Eyeshadow quad features dark, sultry shades and the most lustrous gold that are "repromotes", which means they're actually available as single shadows from the existing line up. Of course, these shadows pack a punch, perfect for when you’re feelin’ like a bad witch.
Do you use eyeshadow quads? What are the best ones you've tried so far?
