CARGO Blush in The Big Easy

CARGO Cosmetics' look may be far from those of polished brands from big cosmetics companies, but its edgy, urban image is no less appealing. Founded in 1995 by Hana Zalzal, a civil engineer and an MBA graduate, Cargo's Canadian roots has spread to 11 countries and 1,400 stores. While Cargo is widely available in some parts of the West, it is virtually impossible to find in Asia -- a fact which may contribute to its mainstream-and-niche image. (Thanks to 三 姐 for helping me purchase this in Canada.)

The box comes in silvery-bronze hue that just knocks one off in a calm, inexplicable way. There is something tantalizing about the simple font and layout. It's a visual experience not commonly seen in makeup brands.

I spot some Arabic! The Big Easy supposedly got its name for being such an easy-to-use, universal shade.

Cargo's fame shot up when it housed lip glosses in tin cans, at the time when they were almost all packaged in tube form. The great advantage of having one person fuse her business savvy and engineer's brain is some quality product and original design.

The packaging feels lightweight and sturdy, not an easy combination to achieve. The cover removes smoothly and slips right back on seamlessly with no sound produced or even a flicker of a struggle. The large round open pan makes swirling brush and picking up product breezy, one reason why Cargo blushes are a favorite of makeup artists in film sets.

The powder is so soft that some particles rise up when swirling the brush (as can be seen on the upper part of the can). It melts right on the skin like soft butter, is easy to blend, and stays on the whole day. Dare I say it takes the place of the memory of my beloved NARS blushes?

The Big Easy is a peach-pink shade, leaning more on the peach side. I'm not much enjoying scented products as of late, and I really do like that this blush is not fragranced.

It has some soft sheen to its finish. It is not too pigmented that it's hard to control or layer color, nor is it too sheer.

It is a shade that would suit many skin tones. I find it's best paired with warm or neutral looks. The finish is natural, the color is easy to build up, and it didn't cause me any breakouts. It seems this high-quality blush can do no wrong -- except that it surprised me that such industrial-looking cans contain possibly the best blushes I've come across -- which makes me adore the stark simplicity of the packaging even more.

The sticker label.

Bottom part of the carton.

Ingredients list.