Cargo Cosmetics Venice Enchantment Eyeshadow Palette Review, Swatches

Cargo Cosmetics' Summer palette, Summer in the City, reviewed here, was a big hit with me, with its antique gold and bronze shimmers. Naturally, I wanted their Autumn '15 release, the Venice Enchantment eyeshadow palette, featuring 12 Venetian tapestry-inspired shades. This, along with IT Cosmetics Romantics (all mattes), reviewed here, and Lancome Auda[City], reviewed here, is one of my top three favourite palettes for Fall 2015. Find out why.

Scroll down for the review and swatches of the Cargo Cosmetics Venice Enchantment Eyeshadow Palette.

Packaging of the Cargo Cosmetics Venice Enchantment Eyeshadow Palette

More than one brand has a Venice-themed release this Fall (I'm looking at you, OPI). Despite the name, the packaging does not feature gondolas or the Venetian cityscape, or even the Lion of St Mark. The palette itself is made of cardboard and has a folding lid with magnetic closure. Apart from the eyeshadows, you also get a double-ended brush (shader and smudger ends) and a black pencil liner. The shader end of the brush is good. All the shade names are Italy/Venice-inspired.

Formula, pigmentation and staying power of the Cargo Cosmetics Venice Enchantment Eyeshadow Palette

The formula is very similar to Cargo's Summer in the City, but is far superior to Shanghai Nights, which was drier and had more fallout. All these are more or less shimmery, so, predictably, there is some powder fallout especially with the paler shades. Mask and Bridge had the most fallout. Nothing is too shimmery or glittery enough to make it to the Edward Cullen Sparkle Fest. Some shades have sparse shimmer that does not show up on the skin - Carnival , Palazzo and Rialto.
Pigmentation is brilliant, though. Not one sheer; not one dud. It was such a joy to behold the colour-pickup on the brush each time, and to find that the colour payoff on the skin was equally good.
I have no complaints about staying power and did not notice creasing. Disclaimer: I always apply primer on my eyes but only swatch on bare skin.

Swatches of Cargo Cosmetics Venice Enchantment Eyeshadow Palette

From left, row 1: Canal (very close to my skintone), Magic, Carnival, Murano (anyone else thinking of millefiori at that?), Gondola, Mask (applies less peachy than it looks in pan)
Row 2: Gilded, Rialto, Lido, Lagoon, Bridge, Palazzo.
Natural light, outdoors. Bare skin, no primer.

I have already posted a makeup look using this palette here. Do check it out so you know how the shadows perform in situ. 

Verdict and where to buy Cargo Cosmetics Venice Enchantment Eyeshadow Palette

Cargo Cosmetics Venice Enchantment Eyeshadow Palette is definitely one of the best palettes released this Fall. I love that the neutrals are versatile and burnished gold, rose-, orange- and burgundy- based rather than brown-based, and they all perform beautifully on the skin. I can use all the shades in this palette and don't even have a favourite shade, for once. The palette does lack a black eyeshadow, but I have enough palettes with those. Cargo's palettes have all been different from each other so far. I cannot wait to see what they come up with for Spring/Summer 2016.
At $34, this is one palette that you will not regret purchasing. You can buy the Venice Enchantment palette here - worldwide shipping free. Summer in the City is still available here. Venice Enchantment (and other Cargo products) is also available from their website and on Kohl's here.

What palettes are you loving right now? Tell me in the Disqus comments widget below.

Affiliate Links