Making Eyes- Cargo Eye Shadow Palettes - Ten Thousand Islands

Keeping the theme of beautiful things, I've been completely obsessed lately with the under-hyped Ten Thousand Islands eyeshadow palette from Cargo. It's supposed to be a limited edition, but it's been around since 2006 and is still available from Sephora, so maybe we're lucky and it'll stick around in the regular collection. It's definitely worth it. The quality is excellent. Fine milled, long lasting powder that stays in place and remain true to color for a full day.

You know how it works with palettes: several coordinating colors, something bright for highlighting, something dark for lining, something blue...

It all works together perfectly. You can't go wrong with the neutrals in this set. I wear the light ecru and the taupish chocolate day in, day out. The colors are buildable and make just as good of a classy evening look that has just a little shimmer and a whole lot of chic.

Surprisingly enough, the most challenging color in this palette for me is the charcoal. It's dark and very pigmented. Since I'm not a fan of raccoon eyes I use it sparingly and only for evenings. The light silver has more than a little sage green in it. It works well on my skin. I swipe it very lightly on my lower lid, for a pop out effect. I use the blue the same way. It's not a loud color and is easy to blend with the neutrals. I suspect that someone with a cool, pale skin can still make it work if she's careful not to pile it up. As far as I'm considered, this is one of the most versatile compacts I own.

I bought my palette from Sephora Union Square in NYC. It's also available online. $28.

Images: Sephora and Starlight Records.

Here's something to tide us over while waiting for Bobbi Brown's Metallics: Cargo has several new eye palettes. What I like about them is the combinations of pretty neutrals with one or two high octane colors which, if used just right, can take your look into the realms of "wow!".

My method, which I use for all va-va-voom colors, is to use the boldest color just as an eye liner, adding a hint of brightness to an otherwise tame look. I draw a medium width line with a thin, stiff-bristled angled brush and blend it into the neutral color I use on the crease.

Out of this bunch, my favorite is Mozambique. Cargo are always making beautiful teal shadows. The aquamarine one here would blend beautifully with the more delicate quartz and sand.

In the Shadows

The coming fall is a great season for eye shadow. Everyone is talking about shadows and from the look of it, it seems that everyone is also buying them. The chocolate Bobbi Brown palette has been talked about everywhere, but there are other beautiful options out there. The question is: Do I really need more eye shadows?



I might need a good highlighter under my brow, but as I've mentioned, they are hard to find. Especially non-shimmery ones. I like this trio from Stila. the one in the picture is Forest Clove, but there are two other trios, all look lovely, but the light ones are all shimmery, and until I actually try them on I can't tell if they even show on my skin.


Cargo's Ten Thousand Islands is gorgeous, and has everal optional looks- warm and cold. I love this blue, but I vowed to turn it down a notch for the upcoming season, and I do worry that I'm reaching a certain age that vibrant colors might no longer be apropriate. But it is so beautiful...
I love the slate and silver. These colors do look good on me and might be the thing for an evening look. The ecru and chocolate might be redundant, considering the Bobbi palette.


Looking at this limited edition Smashbox Quad I'm questioning my resolve about bold color. I love the teal, though I'm not sure how well it works with the other colors when it's actually on one's face. Probably as a liner. Can it be considered a fall color/look? Probably not, especially with the yellow gold. This one is something I know that can work on my skin, but I'm uncertain about the whole look for the season. It's more summery, and I already have Chanel's Gold Rush quad.

Looking at all this, I think that I should be looking for a duo compact, definitely not a palette. Hopefully, something interesting would pop out in a month, just in time for the season. Right now, it looks like slim picking.