Hey Dolls & Guys,

This is an open letter from me to you, on how NOT to be duped this season when making some online cosmetics and makeup purchases.

Long story short, a YouTube video popped into my Google Reader about a company (which shall remain unnamed, unless you email me specifically for the link). This video was their rebuttal to people defaming their products. Simple enough, right? Happens ALL the time. So really and truly this isn’t a big deal because that’s what happens on the Internet.

Haters are a way of life…except when you type “[Company X] repackaged” into Google and pages upon pages of product reviews start showing up.

That’s the purpose of this post, to tell you about suppliers, how to spot a fakes etc.

So what did I find out?

First of all, there are a few companies out there that produce mineral makeup:-

TKB Trading

(wholesaler -- does NOT
sell finished eye shadows!)

You might want to check out companies like Coastal Scents who will sell you 92 mica shadows, to do your bidding with. Better yet the people at Coastal Scents will tell you HOW to make your own mineral makeup by breaking it down in to Ingredient Categories for you to purchase your stuff from. They are another popular wholesaler.

Before you buy any makeup from Etsy, or any other “homegrown” mineral makeup brand, I highly recommend that you visit these three websites and compare/contrast what you are seeing.

Why buy a pretty repackaged brand, when you can get the SAME thing cheaper, custom make your own and get it directly from the supplier for a fraction of the cost?

There is a trend going around that basically, a company pops up, purchases from TKB adds some shimmer, or extra black oxide, or simply doesn’t do anything to the original shade at all — they repackage it and sell it at a 600% markup.

• NOT a Call out Against the Indie Makeup Movement

Now, before, we take this any further. This is NOT a call out or an anti-Indie, homegrown makeup movement post. If you recall, I have reviewed some of these brands on my blog and loved them. I Touch Roses is one of them. So keep that in mind. This post is not meant to be anti-Indie anything.

• Know Who Repackages and Who Doesn’t
  

For example, someone who comes clean about repackaging, but also mixes their own customs shades, is a company called Beauty from the Earth.  BFTE tells you on their website, up front and center that, yes they do repackage, but they also custom make some of their own shades. They are one of the few being transparent. No harm, no foul.

• How Much $$$$ Will it Cost You?

So what the hell does that mean?

That means, that while you are spending $12-$16 USD for an eyeshadow from one of these companies, you could be getting a pure pigment from MAC Cosmetics or Urban Decay or a similar NAME BRAND, mixed by PROFESSIONALS for CHEAPER.

How did I figure that out?

If you’re spending, $12.00 USD for a 0.07oz jar of one of these “homegrown” mineral companies, that equates to over $170.00 USD per ounce of eyeshadow. When it works out, MAC for example, is around $74.00 USD per ounce.

I bet you were out there thinking MAC was a luxury brand and too expensive, so you thought you would do with the “homegrown” stuff.

Jessica Allison’s Beauty Blog said it best.

Basically, I’m not saying go buy MAC or Chanel or Urban Decay or anything else.

What I am saying is when you go to a website, look at what ingredients they are using to make the makeup they are selling to you. Does it look identical to a wholesaler? What about the color, does it, again, look identical to a wholesaler?

If it does, and the website is charging something like $12.00 for 0.09oz for the shadow — you are better off going elsewhere.

• Think Before You Buy

Think about it.

Don’t take my word for it, don’t take JA’s word for it. I’ve never tested out any of the brands on JA’s blog above except MAC. I’m just saying think about the information that is out there and do what you will with what is being given to you.

Educate yourself.

• Understanding Colours

I’m not saying this doesn’t happen all the time. It’s actually quite common. My mom goes to these professional conventions every year and she’s always coming home with samples. Trade companies go to these seminars and sell the product to salons telling them they can easily print the salon name on it. Then TA-DA! You have your own brand.

There is no copyright on color. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve chosen not to buy the latest fad of makeup because guess what? I already had it, just from another brand. Even then, a lot of major brands are guilty of copying themselves and barely realizing it. For example, I fell in total and complete love with the MAC Loves Barbie Collection. Guess what? I was less in love with Heatherette or Hello Kitty because, besides MAC Loves Barbie, I’ve seen those colours before…or something VERY similar from MAC themselves.

So it is common and something you should be aware of before you go makeup crazy and buy it because it’s some awesome fad.

If you are buying Indie makeup — ask them about it. Ask them about their products. These companies are typically not hobbies and are run as real businesses by real people.

They are there to help you and answer your questions.

So ask. If they respond honestly and try to help you — that’s a good sign.

• How Do They Do It?

Below are two example of how colours are honestly made. You can see a real and honest company who makes their stuff from scratch called Aromaleigh below and then you can also see how TKB helps people make their own stuff too.

Also, keep in mind, that just like Aromaleigh says, there is lot that you need to know before deciding to become a makeup manufacturer. That’s why she puts that up front in her video to know that it’s not just about mixing pigments to make a shadow. Knowing some chemistry will help you too!

Check these good ones out:-

From TKB Trading

From Aromaleigh

From Morgana Minerals
Someone sent this to me to show you how legit people make their own vegan lipsticks!

In my same set of hours reading one article after another (I felt like a grown up Nancy Drew) I came across a movement called Mineral Mutiny that was started to support Indie Mineral Makeup/Cosmetics brands that actually *do* make they own stuff and don’t just repackage. It another place worth checking out before you make any purchases.

They update with who is a legit and honest company aka who is safe to buy from in terms of no repackaging and making their own stuff.

This is a great help to anyone who is interested in purchasing mineral makeup and doesn’t know where to start.

• We all love eBay. So how To Spot Fake MAC Cosmetics Products?

I put this in here because MAC is one of the companies that gets the most fakes being sold on eBay. It’s like a disease. So if you wanted to know how to spot fakes — here you go.

PIGMENTS:-

1. MAC’s pigments go for about $19 a jar. If you’re getting it on eBay for less than $10 (even then), I would be worried. Supply and demand folks.
2. Is there a protective hard plastic cover over the pigment jar? If there isn’t, that’s fishy. (on top of the hard FLAT [aka no inverted cone] lid, there are numbers stamped on top)
3. Read descriptions, “like MAC” or “similar to MAC” does NOT make it MAC Cosmetics.
4. Original boxes. Does it have one?
5. Quality. When you put on the MAC pigment does it come off? Is it a little tough to blend “out” (i.e.) get rid of or lighten)? If it is, it’s MAC. Their pigments are concentrated.

PACKAGING:-

1. ALL of MAC’s products come with a barcode UPC code printed at the bottom of the box. Look for it. It’s not a sticker.
2. ALL of MAC’s products come with a box that is slightly matte in finish. Black boxes, white boxes, brown boxes, special edition boxes…it’s part of their colour ‘branding.’ Learn it.
3. The names of the shade is written at the bottom.
4. A##, B##  is a serial number.
5. BOTH the shade name and the serial number are at the bottom of EVERY single product.
6. There is a small circle sticker, in black, on the top right-hand corner of each box with the NAME of the product.
7. On the actual compact, at the bottom, there is a small amount of lettering that is raised.

EYE SHADOWS:-

1. Always a black sticker at the bottom, with the “finish” on it (i.e) Veluxe Pearl, Satin etc.)
2. Fake MAC eyeshadow pods are typically THICKER. Why? Because you can flip them open like a regular compact and there is a little sponge on the inside. Real MAC shadows don’t come like that…ever. Products and accessories are ALWAYS separate.
3. The shadow itself is inlaid. It’s set down into the pod. Fakes — they’re a  bit raised or just laid on top. <———- Look at the HINGES on the back. Single = REAL. Double = FAKE. Rounded Hinges = REAL. Square Hinges = FAKE.

MOST OF ALL:-

1. Just ask the seller for more pictures of the actual product, if no box is available. If they are real — they’ll send them to you, details and all.

• Be Safe

Take a look at the Cosmetics Database here. Know who had harmful products in their cosmetics and who doesn’t.

Phyrra, from the Fresco Phyrra blog, sent me a link to a guide she put together on how to buy Mineral Makeup. It’s a guest post on the blog Painted Ladies. Take a read here.

Also, Phyrra, has a list on her blog of people that she knows who make their own stuff. It doesn’t hurt to read it, here.

Words to be wise:-

Before making any online purchasing from an Indie or Lesser Known Brand (i.e.) not Chanel, Urban Decay, MAC, NARS etc.) type in “[Company X] repackaged” into Google and take the time to read what you find.

Don’t be scared or put off by Mineral Makeup or “homegrown” companies. NOTHING is wrong with them. Like I said, one of my favourite brands of makeup, that I reviewed on this blog, is I Touch Roses.

Just know what you are buying before you do. Just because it’s a Brand Name doesn’t make it amazing and just because it’s an Indie label doesn’t make it bad. Weigh the options yourself and understand what you are looking at/trying to buy.

Be a smart

recessionista

fashonista!

–

Sasha Muradali runs the ‘Little Pink Book’ and has been a makeup artist with MAC Cosmetics since 2004 in Florida. She has over 10-years experience in professional makeup. If you live in South Florida and are looking to hire a makeup artist, or if you just want some makeup advice, send her your inquires here.

Copyright © 2009 SashaH. Muradali. All Rights Reserved.