High definition TV (HD TV) has totally changed the entertainment makeup industry — no more hiding behind the camera, relying on low resolution TV to smooth out fine lines and blur away imperfections. Now, thanks to HD TV, the difference between good and bad TV makeup has become more apparent than ever before.
Earlier this year, to meet the demands of HD TV and to take advantage of the move to high definition, cosmetics company Cargo released the Blu Ray collection (as in Sony’s Blu-Ray HD disc format). The five-piece collection was specifically designed to conceal skin imperfections while maintaining a natural look both on and off camera.
Why Powder?
Worn on top of foundation, pressed powder evens skin tone and reduces the look of fine lines while restoring skin’s natural appearance.
Why Blu Ray?
Cargo infused Blu Ray with softening agents, like optical blurring and photochromatic pigments, which, according to the company, reduce the look of fine lines, minimize flaws and cover imperfections in a variety of lighting conditions.
And photography — particularly good photography — is all about lighting. According to Cargo, Blu Ray works particularly well when you think you might be photographed, like at a prom or wedding, or even if you don’t expect to have your picture taken but want that same soft, natural look.
I’ve been using Blu Ray Pressed Powder for about a week now, and while I haven’t found myself being photographed or filmed for any TV shows yet (LOL!), I’ve been pleased with the results.
Texture
The first thing I noticed about the Pressed Powder was how soft and fine the texture felt when I swiped my finger across the pan. It’s a little softer than usual for a pressed powder.
Color
It comes in just a single shade, the color of which varies depending on application. When applied lightly with a fluffy powder blush, it appears colorless and translucent (diffuses light; semi-transparent) on my skin; however, when I apply a heavier coat with a kabuki brush, the powder takes on a slightly yellow tone.
Other off-yellow powders have tended to make my skin look sallow, but Pressed Powder doesn’t. Cargo seems to have found the right amount of yellow to balance out the pink areas around my chin and nose.
Coverage
When applied by itself with a fluffy powder brush, a light dusting of Pressed Powder all over my face offers light coverage. It doesn’t even out my skin tone as well as MAC Select Powder does (which is more heavily tinted), but it does cut down the shine and mellow out the look of pores and fine lines a little better than MAC Select Powder does.
The slightly heavier coverage achieved with a kabuki brush does an even better job of softening the look of fine lines and pores and reducing redness around my nose and chin, and even when I really tried to pack it on, Pressed Powder never caked or appeared overly heavy.
Oil Control
Blu Ray offers average oil control. I have oily-dry combo skin, and when I wore it by itself I noticed that my forehead and nose took on some shine after about three hours of wear. If you have super oily skin, you might want to use a primer under your foundation before topping it off with Blu Ray powder.
The line does include a primer, called High Definition Mattifier. I haven’t tried it, but I’m guessing that since the Blu Ray products were designed to be used in conjunction with each other, it would be a good one to try.
Pressed Powder and Photography
Blu Ray Pressed Powder photographs well in both flash and non-flash photography. I’ve noticed that sometimes with flash photographs that certain powders will reflect too much light, leaving skin too shiny and greasy looking in snapshots. Other powders will look too matte in photos, with skin looking flat and unnatural. Pressed Powder gets the mixture of pigments just right, delivering a glowy, natural look in photographs with or without flash.
Here I’m wearing Laura Mercier Oil-Free Foundation Primer, Chanel Teint Innocence Compact Foundation in 50 Natural and Cargo Blu Ray Pressed Powder.
Cargo Blu Ray Pressed Powder
Price: $30
Use: To even out skin tone and reduce the look of fine lines
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B+/A-
What’s up, ladies? How’s the weekend coming along? I’m having a feng shui freakout right now because of the piles of paper on my desk. I put off straightening it out for too long and suddenly snapped this morning. I can’t seem to get control of the mess. I just want to throw everything away!
Deep breaths… safe place, safe place… Counting backward from 10… 9…8…
Hope you’re having a good weekend.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Hey Karen! You look so great in that picture! Could you tell me what specific fluffy brush you used?
I have the blu ray kit from sephora, and I bought the newer peach highlighter as well. I think the original highlighter is my fave of the products – it is AWESOME.
My weekend is going so well – I got a new laptop so I’m setting it up, which is super fun for me 🙂
Good luck with your organizing! Just think how great it will be once you’re done!
Hi Tiffany,
I used a Sonia Kashuk powder brush. I love it because it’s affordable and the bristles are really soft. If you’d like to read the review I did earlier this year here it is.
Sonia Kashuk Powder Brush Review
I will def. have to get my hands on that highlighter. I am a sucker for good highlighting powders. What do you think of the primer, btw?
How exciting that you’re getting a new computer! What did you get? (Right now I’m lusting over the MAC book air!).
The organizing is coming along slowly but surely. 🙂 I’m about halfway there!
hey girlie,
thanks, I will check out that brush for sure. I have been using the powder with my MAC 187 which just doesn’t seem ideal.
the primer is okay – but I kinda feel like I don’t really need a primer and like it’s just an extra step, you know? But it has a really cool feel to it (kinda powdery?), and it’s not clear, it’s tinted, which is different from other primers I have tried.
I got an hp dv4 and it is shiny and pretty 🙂
hey karen! curious to try this, although i’m afraid it might be a gimmick. i need my powders to be yellow-based, because i’m ivory-fair and not a nice healthy pink fair (i.e. i look like a sheet of slightly yellowed paper), so it would be curious to see how this would turn out on my skin.
Hi Tiffany,
It’s a great brush! One thing though — if you get any of the Sonia brushes be sure to get the ones with the black handles. They are a bit more $, but the hairs are much softer than the white handled brushes.
Yeah, I hear ya regarding the primer for every day wear. I do like to have it around for special occasions.
Yay! I love new pretty technology, especially if it’s fast. 🙂
Hi Ines,
I’m guessing this would probably work for you. Have you ever used Paul & Joe face products? I’ve used the foundation in and the powder in the past and remember both having *lots* of yellow.
Hope you’re having a good Sunday! I’m not ready for the weekend to end…
I’m liking the Blu Ray powder for an After Work touch up item – seems to even things out well and cut the greasies enough when I can’t redo a full face.
Has anyone tried the blush? Curious as it seems sparkly and I’m not a real shimmery blush girl.
Another great powder – MUFE HD loose powder. That same finish but in a more translucent powder.
I have heard so much about this HD line. I cant wait to try it. Thank you for the review. You do look very pretty in the pic
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Just one shade? That seems a bit problematic. I love the concept, but the perfect powder on you may be too dark for me. Even MAC blotting powder has several different shades. Perhaps this is a magical powder?
I use the set as well. Agree, the powder is nice esp to cover the larger pores off of my nose. I use a sponge to apply, since I found that with brushes a lot of the particles seem just to fly off, a waste in my view. The blush is very nice, not at all shimmery, just gives a nice flush–srta like Benefit Dandelion on me. The Mattifier, however, is AWESOME, superior to the Smashbox Photofinish esp since it controls oil better. I am stocking 3 at the moment 😀
Everything is HD these days, first was MUFE with their HD line and now Cargo. The powder does look wonderful on you so keep on practicing girl, you may end up in the next Batman movie 🙂
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Karen’s on Batman! Oooo…she might keep Christian Bale in hiding and not sharing!
Btw, do you by change know whether HD makeup good for oily skin? I heard it only works for dry to normal skin.
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Hi Chris,
Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. It doesn’t cake, which is nice…
I haven’t tried the MUFE HD loose powder. Do you use it with a primer?
Hi Indian Girl,
Thanks! I hope you try it and like it. 🙂 Have a good week!
Hi Tekoa,
It’s yellow, but not heavily pigmented. Or maybe it is magic!
Didja ever decide on a flavor for your wedding cake? I watched this show on TV this morning on wedding cakes. It featured different cake shops in the US and talked about the process of creating a cake. I’m kind of a baking geek so I thought it was neat.
Hi Martha,
Girl! If you’ve got three then I bet it’s pretty darn great! Have you used the lipgloss or the mascara?
Hi Dao,
Ha! I wish! Tabs could be a co-star.
Kryolan also has an HD line, but I haven’t tried it yet. Have you used any HD products?
Hi Pia,
LOL, you know I’d share him with ya’ll!
🙂
I wouldn’t be surprised if that was true. I found Blu Ray powder has just “okay” with oil-control power when used without a primer or a mattifier. Have you ever used MAC Invisible Set? That stuff is *fab* for oil control.
MAC Invisible Set? Never heard of that before! Would certainly check that out. Hope the MA here know what it is. Collection here is terrible. MAC here just got out of the Naughty Nautical era and just stepped into Cult of Cherry, except, instead of displaying CoC products, the store put up CoC dupes, i.e. diva lipstick and some brownish slimshines. Totally lame.
Girrl- you look AWESOME!!!
*runs off to buy the lot*
Hi Karen,
I was wondering if you know what’s the difference between the MUFE HD line and Cargo’s Blu-Ray?
You look mighty fine in that picture.
I’ve just had a minimal minimal make-up week. Sevilla in october is still 32° Celcius so I was very happy to see nearly no smudging of my Stila Major Major Lash mascara 🙂
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Hi Pia,
It’s a loose, translucent powder from the MAC Pro line. Here’s a link to a review I did on it awhile back. 🙂
MAC Invisible Set Review
Hi Sammie,
Thanks, hon! 🙂
Hi Karen B.,
Thanks girlie! How have you been? Has school started up again for you?
Karen, I got the whole shebang when Sephora was offering them as a set 😀
I’m not really a gloss girl, esp if it comes in a pot, so I gave that away. I’m also not into mascara, lashes are fine as it is, often going without and even needing to de-curl …in short, am not the best to judge mascara, but I use it sometimes.
Pia, my skin is oily, the mattifier’s great for oil control, the powder is not. Combined, they’re good 😀
I reviewed the primer on my blog a while back. Its worth the money. BUY IT. Why? Cause well…YOU NEED IT. :]
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