25 Holiday Palettes That Are Almost Too Pretty to Use

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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'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.

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.

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).

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.

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.