It all started with those enticing jumbo tins of lip gloss. I first encountered Cargo in a small salon in Santa Cruz and instantly got hooked on Bora Bora. Cargo is an innovator in the beauty industry – celeb-designed lipstick, the high-def blu_ray line, and eco-chic cosmetics in the form of Plant Love. In these economically unsound times, I’m putting some Cargo in my makeup bag to brighten things up.

Historically, makeup sales have served as an unofficial barometer of hard times. The New York Times recalls that women bought lipstick to keep a little bit of luxury in their lives during the Great Depression. Our current recession is affecting so many – even Lindsay Lohan couldn’t hold a job with Ugly Betty – and though we are all searching for ways to cut corners, makeup can be a little pick-me-up to tide us over. Lipstick might not be your thing, but makeup does offer an affordable form of retail therapy. Here are some gorgeous, modernized, non-lipstick options from Cargo.

Plant Love Natural Origin

Yearn for the ideals from the Age of Aquarius? Plant Love takes a whimsical and fun approach to doing good with natural origin ingredients. Even the packaging is 100% plant-derived and recycled.

I love me some mineral foundation. I know a lot of people prefer to skip it altogether, but it’s so different from liquid. Natural Origin Loose Powder Foundation, $30, offers a finish that is beautifully blended into skin. The result is skin that appears natural, even-toned, and soft. It does not include bismuth which can be an irritant for some skin types.

With the abundance of glosses out there, Natural Origin Lipgloss, $20, is a strong contender. The consistency provides the right level of thickness, not goopy but not barely-hanging-on either. The high-impact glitter in the tube translates to lovely shine when worn. And it also uses 100% natural origin ingredients. My pick: a sparkly gold named Sunflower. I can’t help but feel a little lighter.

Bright Eyes – If You Seek Something Sleek

I never quite knew how to use eye highlighters but EyeLighter, $17, makes it easy. One end is shimmer for inner corners (a trick that’s so hot with celebs), and the other is matte for the outer corners and lower lash lines. Plus, it has anti-oxidant darling Vitamin E going for it to give your eyes a little bit of a treat while brightening those pretty peepers. This stuff is the real deal – I haven’t found the right shade or shimmer level in regular shadows.

The super slim Wet/Dry Eyelining Palette, $32, has eight glorious colors. Yes, glorious. I love the variety of colors and the rich tone in each – charcoal with silver sparkles, navy, black, peacock blue, glinty bronze brown, purple, grey with sparkles, and brown. When applied dry, the colors are very subtle. Wet, the intensity of the colors play out more. Pro: mirror in the ergonomic compact. Con: doesn’t come with a brush. Pro: with a wet brush, it sort of feels like you’re water painting.

What's your comfort makeup?

Photo source: Sephora.com