Facebook must really love me ‘coz I’m a sucker for the ads they place in my feed. A couple of weeks ago, I saw an ad from Cargo Cosmetics, a brand I don’t buy very often for no particular reason. They were advertising a newish lipstick, Cargo HD Picture Perfect Lip Contour.
What really caught my eye was the color of the lipstick they were featuring. In fact, I sent a message to the brand as well as commented on the post, asking what color it was. Not surprisingly, they answered me fairly quickly, and told me the shade is True Red. You know me, I swoon for red lipstick.
During Labor Day weekend, Cargo had a 30% off and free shipping promotion so I decided to take a chance and buy it.
What is different about Cargo HD Lip Contour is that it hops on the contouring bandwagon by bringing contouring to lips. As if we need another thing to contour, right? But this innovative lipstick builds on the makeup artist trick of using a white highlight in the center of the lips to make them look fuller. I don’t contour my face very often, but contouring my lips with this new 2 in 1 product seemed pretty easy.
Cargo HD Lip Contour has a semi-matte lipstick on one end, and has slightly iridescent silvery shimmer powder on the other end.
The slim lipstick is very easy to apply. It literally glides on with no tugging whatsoever. The shimmer powder is dabbed on in the center of the upper and lower lips with a sponge tip applicator. Then you take your finger and blend the edges. It does give the lips a shine in the center that gives the illusion of fullness. Cool.
The lipstick itself is a pleasure to wear. It is as light as a feather. I often forget I’m wearing it. It stays put, it doesn’t migrate into or emphasize lines. IMO, it is neither drying nor hydrating.
The lipstick is highly pigmented. For me, it covers in one swipe, and because of the slim bullet, I don’t find that using a lip pencil is necessary.
It lasts for about 5 hours or so if I don’t eat anything. Sadly, oily or greasy food definitely removes the color. The shimmer doesn’t seem to last quite as long as the lipstick. But I am satisfied with the wear time overall.
To answer my own question posed in the title, I would say that this is a bit of a gimmick, though it does do what it says it does. True, you could do this yourself with your own highlighter. But it’s easier having both in one easy to use tube.
Frankly, I don’t always apply the shimmer powder because I love the lipstick shade on its own. I would say that True Red is more of a burgundy than the bright red I was expecting. Nevertheless, it’s a great fall shade. I’m glad I bought it especially on sale.
The regular price is $24, and it comes in 6 shades with pink nude, brown nude, brown red, berry, and deep wine in addition to the true red that I bought. Cargo Cosmetics is a cruelty-free brand and does not test on animals, nor does it sell in China. In addition to being sold on the Cargo website, it is sold at Kohl’s, Ulta.com, Dermstore.com, and Walgreens stores that have the expanded, upscale beauty section.
Ingredients
Lipstick: CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, MICA, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, POLYETHYLENE, EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, SILICA, NYLON-12, TOCOPHEROL , LECITHIN, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, GLYCERYL OLEATE, CITRIC ACID. MAY CONTAIN: MICA, TIN OXIDE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), CARMINE (CI 75470, D&C RED NO. 27(CI 45410), FD&C BLUE NO.1 (CI 42090), D&C RED NO.7 (CI 15850).
Highlighter: NEOPENTYL GLYCOL DICAPRYLATE/DICAPRATE, MICA, TITANIUM DIOXIDE(CI 77891),TIN OXIDE, OCTYLDODECANOL, SILICA, POLYETHYLENE, SORBITAN SESQUIOLEATE, TALC, NYLON-12, TOCOPHEROL, LECITHIN, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, GLYCERYL OLEATE, CITRIC ACID, CARMINE(CI 75470.
It IS a beautiful color, especially on you, and thank you for posting the “with” and “without” pics! It sounds like it’s worth trying, particularly if the lipstick by itself is nice to wear. I’ll check it out next time I’m shopping.
Kim, you should take a look at Pink Nude and Brown Nude, they look like your kind of shades. Such a comfortable lipstick to wear!
That color is beautiful on you, Allison. The concept does seem a bit gimmicky, but it does do what it claims, and it is quite lovely with and without the powder.
Thank you, Helen!
That’s a really interesting idea, but I might try it first with my own highlighter before committing to a purchase. It would be handy in one stick though!
I think it’s a great color on you! I see some shades I like for myself!
Thank you, Claudia! It’s a really nice lipstick formula. I think you’d enjoy it in whichever shade suits you
Very pretty on you. I have so many lipsticks I have promised myself not to buy any for a few months.
Did get my Body Shop order with the Youth Liquid Peel. Going to try it tomorrow.
Thank you, Sandy! That sounds like a smart decision. There’ll be so many new products coming out for the holiday season. But you can try the MUA trick with your own lipstick and a white highlighter crayon or powder!
Great color on you. I want to look now to see if they have a lighter shade that I’d be comfortable wearing. But it isn’t that hard to do on our own – except I get lazy.
Thank you! Definitely something I could and have done on rare occasion with my own white highlighter crayon or powder, but mostly I’m too lazy to go get it too.
Beautiful color on you! I really like the highlight effect.
Thank you!
I love this shade on you! I agree – I like that it’s an all in one product.
This can definitely be done with products I already have on hand, but there is something to be said about the convenience factor! I contour my face all the time, but I rarely do my lips, lol!
Yes, I mostly can’t be bothered to go look for a white pencil or highlighter when I’m applying my lipstick. This really is all about having the highlighter in hand
That shade is gorgeous and yes, I agree it’s definitely not true red. I’m surprised Cargo still exist, I haven’t read about them for ages.
Thank you, Shireen! Because Cargo is sold at Ulta and Kohl’s and their waterproof “Swimmables” collection has been quite successful and advertises a lot during the summer in the US, we do hear and see them here, but they are much “quieter” than other brands like TF and UD for sure.
That color looks fabulous on you–looks like it was made just for you.
Thank you, Cindy!
Such a fun lippie! I would love to try them out!
What a cool concept! A little “highlight” for your lip color. Thanks for demonstrating the with and without.
This is like identical to a MUFE product they discontinued a while back. It was one of my faves, so this makes me excited!
So glad to let you know about it!
That looks really nice on you!
Thank you!
Who knows about contour but it’s definitely a pretty color on you!
Cargo had an eye highlight duo thing like this a few years ago and I found it to be a waste of time. I do love that lipstick shade though!
I actually like the highlighted lip look, and I am always too lazy to go and find a white eye pencil or a highlighter, so it works for me!
I have to say for a shade called True Red I was expecting it to a bit more…red but this is still gorgeous! I actually like the idea of these and may try to grab one up during Ulta’s winter 20% off sale.
Definitely worth waiting for the Ulta sale, but I think the lipstick itself is so worthwhile – so lightweight! And I think the highlighting really does create an interesting effect!
The concept is pretty cool – Looks lovely on you!
Thank you!