Gone are the days of buying a single eyeshadow. Now, it’s all about the eyeshadow palette and beauty brands are responding in a big way. The best eyeshadow palettes not only feature an array of gorgeous, highly-pigmented shades that look good solo or layered together, but the packaging has to be on point as do the application accessories like the brush and the mirror.

When did eyeshadow palettes become such a big deal? It’s nearly impossible to pinpoint the exact moment, but brands like Urban Decay and Laura Gellar have been instrumental in making eyeshadow palettes such hot commodities. Not only do their best eyeshadow palettes sell out time and time again, but they have a cult following that isn’t shy about vocalizing their desire for more.

As the popularity has grown, more and more brands are adding eyeshadow palettes to their repertoire and interest shows no signs of waning. In fact, the more eyeshadow palettes beauty brands put out, the more eyeshadow palettes beauty-lovers seem to want.

Given just how many eyeshadow palettes are available in the market today, it can feel a little overwhelming trying to find the one that’s right for you. Our advice? Take an honest look at the colors included and think about how many of them you’ll truly use and how often. For example, “nude” palettes are so popular because the eyeshadows included tend to be versatile and universally-flattering; whether you’re fair or dark, headed to work or a night out, neutral eyeshadows can be worn pretty much anywhere. On the flip side, there are other eyeshadow palettes that feature more daring shades like blues and purples. If you tend to rock these bold colors like these frequently, then take the plunge on a more electric palette. Whatever palette you choose, be sure to experiment with the eyeshadows on their own and together. The beauty of an eyeshadow palette is that you can create multi-dimensional eye makeup looks that you couldn’t really achieve with a single eyeshadow.

Ready to treat yourself to one of the best eyeshadow palettes? Great. Here’s our last piece of advice–prepared to be hooked! Eyeshadow palettes are like good potato chips–you can’t have just one!