Cargo Blu_Ray High Definition Mattifier Review
Cargo’s new Blu_Ray High Definition collection is supposed to perfect the beauty woes of actors subject to the pore-revealing rigors of HD video. That means that it also should work pretty well for the average makeup moxie…right?
Because Cargo’s “designed-for-HD” makeup smacks of masterful marketing, I decided to put the collection’s High Definition Mattifier to the test.
With its promises to refine pores, minimize lines, and mattify skin, Blu_Ray High Definition Mattifier definitely sounds like my kind of product. But does it work?
Yes, and it delivers instant gratification. While this liquid mattifier can be used over or under your makeup, I particularly like using this gel as a primer before applying my foundation.
A little of this gel smoothed over bare (or freshly moisturized) skin immediately blurs pores and fine lines while refining the skin’s texture for smoother foundation application.
Furthermore, this mattifier staves off the oilies for hours without looking the least bit chalky.
Such mattifying power, however, comes at a price. Though HD Mattifier’s perfecting abilities are addictive enough that you’ll want to apply it everywhere, this gel will emphasize any dry areas and make them appear flakey.
That means that those with combo skin will want to confine use of this product to shiny areas while dry skin types will probably want to look elsewhere for a skin primer.
But for those who deal with very oily skin and enlarged pores, I highly recommend this stuff.
High Definition Mattifier is available for $24 from Sephora.
Has anyone else tried Cargo Blu Ray High Definition Mattifier yet? What do you think of it?
DISCUSSION:
37 comments so far...
1 Quynh // Mar 1, 2008 at 2:41 pm
That’s so cheap for such a good(so it seems) primer/mattifier!
2 sarahPUFFY! // Mar 1, 2008 at 5:10 pm
I’ve been looking for a review on this FOREVER. As a combo skinned maven, I find that sometimes, my Sally Hansen doesn’t do it for the dry spots…or the oily ones.
And honestly, $24 isn’t bad AT ALL for a primer. I’ve seen prices a lot worse. Thanks for the post!
3 Jazmin // Mar 3, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Hey Quynh! Thanks for bringing up the price of this primer…it is a pretty good deal!
And saraPUFFY! You’re so welcome! And thanks for bringing up the Sally Hansen primer…I didn’t even realize that they made one! Will def. have to try it ; )
4 sarahPUFFY! // Mar 4, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Oh yeah, I’ve been wanted to put up a review of the Sally Hansen for AGES. Its not bad, but I know that once it gets warm again, I’m pretty much effed. NOTHING can stand up to this Louisiana heat!
5 Jazmin // Mar 4, 2008 at 2:01 pm
I think I’ve got you beat with the Las Vegas heat that I’ve got to deal with…but it’s that crazy Louisiana humidity that will melt your makeup every time!
But the plus side is that all that humidity is supposed to be good for your skin ; )
6 sarahPUFFY! // Mar 4, 2008 at 4:54 pm
oh yeah - no matter how much prepping and priming and powdering I do, the word FAIL is still etched into my forehead! I think I’m gonna keep it simple for the rest of the week, my skin is looking icky, hahaha.
7 Jazmin // Mar 4, 2008 at 5:51 pm
LOL, yeah sometimes skin just needs a break…especially when you’re testing all kinds of stuff on yourself.
That’s a big reason why I don’t review too many skin care products. Skin can freak out if it has too many new product introduced to it at once.
8 sarahPUFFY! // Mar 5, 2008 at 7:30 pm
oh yeah, its bad. I did do a hardcore facial mask to help it out [you will hate me for this]: mint masque, neutrogena blackhead scrub, st. ives scrub, and clean and clear’s blemish treatment!
how naughty of me ;-;
it worked heaps though!
9 Jazmin // Mar 6, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Wow, you used all that stuff in one day?! lol, I can’t believe your skin isn’t totally rebelling.
And I would never hate you!! You could commit all the skin care sins in the world (lol) and I would still love my little moxie puff ; )
10 stacy // Mar 7, 2008 at 7:32 am
Hi!! I’m new to this and just wanted to know how much of this product to put on…Thanks!!
11 Jazmin // Mar 7, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Hi Stacy, thanks for the question!
A little of this product goes a pretty long way — a pea-sized amount is about all you’ll need if you want to use it on your entire face.
If you plan to only use it on shiny areas like your T-zone, all you need is about half that amount (maybe even less).
You can also experiment with wearing more of this mattifier in order to get even more of a skin-perfecting effect…you’ll know when you’ve applied too much because it will start to get a little powdery (just brush off the powdery stuff with your fingers and you should be good to go ; )
Hope that helps!
12 stacy // Mar 10, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Thank you!!
13 Jazmin // Mar 10, 2008 at 3:20 pm
You’re welcome! Have fun!
14 sarahPUFFY! // Mar 12, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Moxie Puff! That’s a new one to add to my Bible Of Nicknames!
And I am officially on the hunt for this stuff. I’ll have to wait for the Elizabeth Arden Intervene foundation, but since my Revlon Custom Creations is so good, I don’t mind that much at all! I wonder if Dillards carries it…man, I hope so! If not, I’ll have to settle for Mac’s Prep and Prime. ;-;
15 sarahPUFFY! // Mar 12, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Damn, they don’t have it - but I DID find Shiseido’s The Makeup Pre-Makeup Cream SPF 15. I didn’ even know Dillards carried Shiseido [or Prescriptives! You shoulda seen my face], so I’m gonna give this a shot instead!
Man, I really can’t wait to try Shiseido Suncare Sun Protection Stick Foundation [SPF 35! Killer!] and Shiseido Refreshing Sun Protection Spray For Body/Hair, with SPF 16. I AM SO FREAKIN EXCITED. ^. ^ !!!
16 Jazmin // Mar 13, 2008 at 7:44 am
oooh, I didn’t realize Dillard’s carried Shiseido, either!
lol, you are such a makeup junkie…it’s awesome! I’ll definitely have to look into that Shiseido foundation, too ; ) And I can’t wait to hear what you think of it!
P.S. — Do you have a Sephora nearby (for the Cargo mattifier) and an Ulta (for the Intervene — which is good stuff btw ; )?
17 sarahPUFFY! // Mar 13, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Dillard’s has the Intervene, which like, made my life. We don’t have any kind of Sephora or Ulta here - we have a place at the Louisiana Boardwalk called Pretty Cosmetics that carries Cargo [I TOTALLY forgot about them], so I’ll have to check there too!
The pitfalls of being a makeup junkie, is being too poor to afford it all! But damn it, I sure can dream.
18 Jazmin // Mar 13, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Yeah, I know, being a makeup junkie is an expensive habit, lol.
But someday, darling, when you’re rich and uber successful (and you strike me as the kind of girl who will be), you can buy alllll the makeup you want ; )
19 sarahPUFFY! // Mar 13, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Oh god, one can only dream…I’d love to be a makeup artist, so if I can ever get into that, I’d be a happy camper. Speaking of camp, I’ve been thinking of going to a camp for the disabled as a counselor! They pay well, and I love working with people. I think it’ll be a month well spent [espesically if I can get new brushes! oh yeahhh]!
20 Jazmin // Mar 13, 2008 at 6:11 pm
omg you should do BOTH — if your heart is telling you to be a makeup artist, do it, do it, do it!!
And you should def. do the camp counselor thing…what an awesome opportunity! You’re so sweet and bubbly, it sounds like you’d be great at it! (and nothin’ like getting new makeup brushes — soooo worth it ; )
21 sarahPUFFY! // Mar 13, 2008 at 7:41 pm
It SO is. I’ve got my heart set on Centenary College [I'm a choir girl, they have the best choir in the states!], and I want to get a formal education, but I know it’ll be hard doing that and attending seminars for makeup artistry as well.
My only thing about being a camp counselor is that I cuss like a damn sailor. I’d foul their ears if they caught me at the wrong moment, haha. I’m excited about it, though! Especially since I need a new powder brush hella bad. ;-; !
22 Jazmin // Mar 14, 2008 at 6:02 am
wow, you sing too? That’s so cool! And I’m a big supporter of the whole college experience thing…especially if it’s something that you want to do.
No matter what you end up doing with your career, you just learn so much in college…and not just all the educational stuff (though that’s important too ; ), but you also learn so much about life and people…and partying, lol
Seriously though, you should totally go for it. What year are you in school?
LOL, and as for the cussing thing, you better start practicing now, so you don’t scandalize your campers!
23 sarahPUFFY! // Mar 14, 2008 at 9:10 am
Yes, I’m a choir nerd! I could be better, but I blend well with other voices so I’m happy! And man, being in high school has taught me MORE than enough about life and people. Right now I’m a junior, so I have one more year left! Anddd tomorrow I’m going to the Academic Rally [go go American History!], that’s gonna be fun stuff!
And you’re right, I should…but taking away bad words is like, taking away Aquafina…I wont be human ! ;-;
24 Jazmin // Mar 14, 2008 at 12:07 pm
lol, yeah, you’re so right. High school teaches you a ton of stuff about life…though I don’t think it’s as fun as college (as least it wasn’t for me : )
You and that Aquafina! You don’t have to stop cursing…you just have to be able to switch it on and off for those times when you’re supposed to be a non-cursing human : )
25 sarahPUFFY! // Mar 14, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Bahhh, you have no idea how many times my teachers have been like “SAYRAH!” cos I’ve said something I shouldn’t have. I swear, I just can’t help it! [no pun intended!]
And aquafina = Jesus. Apparently, their hydrating spray is even better than MAC’s Fix+. Scorrrre! :)
26 Jazmin // Mar 15, 2008 at 6:48 pm
LOL, I landed in detention a couple times in high school for cursing.
I’ll have to try out the new Aquafina stuff…where have you been buying it from?
27 sarahPUFFY! // Mar 16, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Aquafina is available exclusively to Walmart! Its where all the nice skin care products are at. I bought all of my stuff during a super sale, but I really don’t find the prices to be unreasonable.
oh, and my skin has totally improved! I took your advice, went on about my business wearing makeup, and washed my face as usual. I’m happy to look semi-normal again!
28 Jazmin // Mar 16, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Ahh, Walmart, the emporium o’ beauty : )
That’s right, I remember now that that’s where I got my Aquafina lipgloss (that, unfortunately, my chihuahua ended up getting ahold of, lol).
And yay for semi-normal skin!
29 sarahPUFFY! // Mar 22, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Ooo, that’s harsh. My beau’s gram got me two trio packs of the lip oil, and maybe three trio packs of lip balm. Then mum gave me her HUGE tube of her lip oil [she wanted to feel cool with her trio packs, haha]. I have a full stash of the stuff. :]
Oh, and my skin is back to normal! I’m happy to look average again. Oh, and in my quest to look “sunkissed,” I got some Bonnebell bronzer gel [Tarte just seemed so far away]. Its pretty good, and it didn’t make me break out, which was a super plus. I wish I had picked it up sooner.
30 Nikki // Mar 25, 2008 at 6:19 am
so this primer out of everything is the best? I am in a wedding on Saturday and I am always have shine.. I really wanted to send you a picture of me to see what you think of the base? it is Mac studio fix and I look so shinny.. help.. aww. I feel so sad because when i go to the stores for help they just try to sell and sell… and I never know if they are telling the truth. lol thanks for your help
31 Jazmin // Mar 26, 2008 at 11:42 am
sarahPUFFY! Nice on the stash…a girl can never have enough lippies around ; )
And I’m so glad to hear that your skin’s back to normal! lol, and you finally gave into your bronzerlust!
Hi Nikki — I totally understand how frustrating it can be when sales people try to give you the hard sell and you’re not sure what to believe!
Out of the primers/mattifiers that I’ve tried (Becca, Smashbox, Tarte, Bare Escentuals, Cosmedicine, and probably some others ; ), I really love this Cargo blu_ray mattifier because it does the best job of both controlling oil and making your skin appear smoother.
If you’re not too concerned about the texture of your skin (i.e. hiding pores and fine lines), you might also want to consider Cosmedicine Medi-Matte…it also does a great job of absorbing oil and controlling shine.
Another product that you can use to help control shine is Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil…it’s one of my favorites because it absorbs oil, but still leaves your skin looking natural and not powdery (super important for all those wedding pics ; )
Also, be sure to get yourself some powder-free facial blotting papers (like the ones made by Clean & Clear). If you’re getting shiny, gently blot off the oil with one of the papers. It should get rid of the oil while leaving your makeup intact…plus, they’re super quick and easy since you don’t need a mirror to use them.
Feel free to send me your photo and I’ll try to offer you whatever advice I can, but I really hope these tips help and that you feel gorgeous on Saturday and have a fab time!
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