Color is definitely the name of the game for this pressed-powder eyeshadow palette. From the colorful packaging to the mostly odd mix of shades inside these quad sets, you’re given few choices to successfully shape and shade the eye. The eyeshadows themselves have a fairly smooth, dry texture and unusually sheer application and color deposit. They blend well and the shine in each shade clings well enough. But among the many quads, the only workable ones are Baja, Bermuda, and Shanghai.
The Cargo brand eyeshadow palette aims to be an all-inclusive set for defining and grooming brows. You get three shades of brow powder, a clear wax to set brows, and a pale peach powder eyeshadow to highlight the brow bone. Also included are three very tiny tools: tweezers, a spoolie brush, and a dual-sided applicator featuring a sponge tip and a soft, angled brow brush. The brow powders have a silky texture that applies evenly, imparting sheer color so you can define brows softly and build intensity as desired. The wax works well to groom brows and keep unruly hairs in line, and the powder eyeshadow is suitable for highlighting, provided you don’t mind its slight sparkling finish. Including tools may seem convenient, but all of them are too small for daily use; full-size applicators are preferred. Overall, this is a very good set, but it misses the boat in a few crucial areas. Most women will find they use only one of the three included brow powders, but the shades you don’t use can double as sheer matte eyeshadows.
This talc-based set of four powder eyeshadows comes in a selection of neutral shades that are workable for most fair to medium skin tones. The texture is impressively smooth and application is sheer and even. The darker shades layer well for enhanced coverage and depth. Best of all, the finish is matte! The dual-sided sponge-tip applicator should be discarded, but this is a very good option if the shades appeal to you. As much as I like these shadows, the price is absurdly high for what you get.
