Pink Quartz Minerals Makeup ~~~~~~~~ Individually Crafted Beauty

Is that really handmade makeup?

2011-07-24T10:56:00.005-05:00

Hi everyone!
I'm still here, just a lot of personal stuff going on.
I did want to post about the current rash of non-handmade makeup sellers getting caught out in their deceptions, and also the makeup sellers selling non-approved ingredients as eye shadow.

I just got finished watching a video from a makeup seller on how she makes custom eye shadow. I laughed! She basically dumped various ingredients into a little container and shook it up. That is the most unprofessional thing I've ever seen, yet people just are gushing over how cool it is and all that. Not only that, but it makes it look like anyone can just mix stuff together and voila! they have makeup. It is deceptive(unless you are buying prepackaged makeup and sticking your own label OVER the wholesalers label) as there is much more involved than that.

First, anyone really making their own makeup actually measures and/or weighs every single thing. Also it is written down (I learned this the hard way) in a safe place so THE RECIPE CAN BE DUPLICATED!!!
What happens if all the "samples" she sends to customers are a big hit? By not measuring and not writing down the recipe she cannot accurately duplicate the shade. It's hard enough to dupe something WITH the recipe due to the variations that can occur in the ingredients themselves.

Secondly, she uses a "base" she adds to all her shadows. Huh? Every one of my shadows has a different recipe. I don't have a standard base to add colored mica to, because each mica reacts differently to different ingredients. Also, adding a matte base to a sparkle will dull out the sparkle to varying degrees, and you can't add a sparkle base to a matte... I really don't understand this at all.

Lastly, taking a look at one of her additional videos, her "lab" is part of her kids playroom. I make my own makeup and am appalled by this. When mixing, there are so many minerals floating around that are not to be breathed in that it is a health hazard to her children playing there. Not to mention how unsanitary children can be (sticky, dirty hands, etc) in direct contact with the ingredients for makeup.

Although this just touches on some issues brought up by this sellers videos, again there is a factor of common sense that people need to employ when watching junk such as this. Remember it is your skin and your health!

Black Friday Holiday Mineral Makeup Sale

2010-11-15T11:42:00.003-06:00

Special Black Friday dealio!

With any Gift Certificate purchase you will receive free eye shadow of your choice!

$10 GC purchase- you get 1 FREE Medium (1 g) Eye Shadow your choice
$25 GC purchase- you get 2 FREE Medium (1 g) Eye Shadow your choice
$30 GC purchase- you get 3 FREE Medium (1 g) Eye Shadow your choice
$50 GC purchase- you get 5 FREE Medium (1 g) Eye Shadow your choice

Purchase a Christmas or Holiday gift for someone and get eye shadows for yourself!

limited time offer

I Don't Run Out of Makeup - Substitutions and Ethics

2010-07-13T18:54:00.005-05:00

I don't run out. And I don't substitute a different shade because I "ran out".

You know why? Because I make it myself. So unless my suppliers discontinue something I need to make what you want (in which case I'll discontinue the color/item myself) you can be sure you'll get exactly what you ordered.

I've been getting a LOT of correspondence lately asking me to "please don't substitute any shades". Upon further investigation, apparently it's all too common a practice for some individual handmade makeup companies to get an order and if they don't have something "in stock" they will substitute something else.

Huh? I really don't see how this is possible if indeed the company/person is making the cosmetics themselves. And further, why wouldn't they contact the customer up front before substituting in the rare instance they ran out of a supply they needed, and ASK the customer if they want to sub or wait?

Etsy.com customers seem to be hardest hit by this substitution thing according to my email. It's not usual or common or even very ethical to get something, on purpose, that is substituted for what you actually ordered. So rest assured when you place an order with Pink Quartz Minerals you will get what you order, no worries.

Makeup Brush Care and Cleaning

2010-05-15T12:44:00.002-05:00

Makeup Brush Care and Cleaning

Do you have a vegan brush or are thinking about getting one, but not sure how to care for it?

Vegan brushes are different than natural hair brushes as they are made with synthetic materials and not animal hair. In my experience they are equal to, if not better than, animal hair brushes. They do not shed or break off like animal hair, they are easy to clean, and they retain their softness over time. (My own brush is 4 years old and still soft and works wonderfully!)

To clean a vegan brush use anti-bacterial dish soap. This will remove bacteria from the brush that may be on there from facial oils, transferred from hands, etc.
Simply put a drop or two of dish soap into a coffee cup or shallow glass and add about 1 1/2" of warm (not hot) water, just so it doesn't go past the bristles into the metal handle. Swirl around the brush really well but gently, dump, add more water, and keep going until the water is clear.

With a Kabuki brush you can gently squeeze the bristles out and gently shape with your hand. With eye shadow, concealer, powder and other brushes refrain from squeezing the bristles if possible.

Put the brush with the bristles pointing downward to dry so any water drains out and not into the handle. If too much water gets into the handle the bristles could fall out as they are glued into the handle.
You can wash it as often as it gets dirty. You can actually feel when the brush has too much makeup packed in it, it doesn't glide across your skin as easily. I wash my Kabuki about every 2-3 weeks and I use it daily. The large Kabuki brushes take about 24 hours to air dry, the others easily dry overnight.

(an exerpt from my newsletter! Let me know your email address and I'll put you on the newsletter list. This time, the coupon was for a free Translucent Veil- don't miss the next coupon!)

Why I do What I do - A Mineral Makeup Maker's Main Mission

2010-04-02T11:12:00.006-05:00

Ok, so after some recent back and forth with a blogger, I realized I don't clearly state what it is I do and why I do it.

I make makeup. Yes, that's what I do. Full time.
What is different about mine? Some people don't think of it as a good difference. I don't use many chemical/mineral/organic add ins, fillers, or color boosters. Why not? I have SUPER sensitive eyes, and many of those ingredients make my eyes itchy and irritated. So I don't use them. Everything I make is with a combination of only 7 ingredients. Safe, non-irritating, non-itchy (to me specifically). If it bothers my eyes or my skin, I don't continue making it.

In the micas available for makeup formulators to use in their products (many of which are used as-is by many sellers) can be a lot of these *other* ingredients.
For example- a lovely mica from TKB Trading known as one of the "duochrome" series called Periwinkle Blue, and used as-is as color changing micas by many places and also used as a mica ingredient in many shadows, also contains an ingredient I don't use.

Although a lot of places just say "mica" for this periwinkle blue color, you will note that the item has mica as ONE part of the ingredients, but there are other ingredients in the mica.
Ingredients in Periwinkle Blue mica:
Mica 77019
Titanium Dioxide 77891
Iron Oxide 77491
Ferric Ferrocyanide 77510

I don't use Ferric Ferrocyanide in my makeup. Why? Because it irritates my eyes. And I can get a good blue from ultramarines, which do not irritate my eyes.

But do you think it is ethical and fair for a company to just state "mica" as this ingredient in their shadow? Or should they indeed state the 4 ingredients?? Many companies will NOT disclose the 4 ingredients, will state "mica" as this ingredient, and how would you know the difference?

Now I don't have all of the brightest and most vibrant colors available, the reason being I don't use the micas that contain the following ingredients as part of their makeup:
Ferric Ferrocyanide
Boron Nitride
Carmine (non-vegan made from crushed insects and organic)
Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate
Silica
(glycidoxphenol) propane/
bisaminomethylnorbornane copolymer
Boron Glow
Talc
Cornstarch(organic)
Silk Powder(organic)
Pashmica
Rice Powder(organic)
Methicone
Magnesium Myristate

I'm not saying these ingredients are horrible, or that your eyes will fall out if you use a shadow that contains them, I'm saying that I do not use them because either they irritate my eyes, are non-vegan, or are organic and can break down over time- so the makeup then would have an expiration date (that should be on the pkg if a formulator uses the organics)

If you'll investigate, you'll see many of the available "micas" contain one or more of those ingredients- so you won't see products made with those micas in my line.

You also won't have to worry about eye irritation or itchiness. And you'll know that the ingredients stated are the ONLY ingredients you'll find in my makeup.

So, my mission is simple. Make cosmetics that contain only 7 mineral ingredients, are non-itchy and non-irritating, and full and complete disclosure of ingredients.

And that is what I do!

Tax Time and Big BOGO sale!

2010-03-05T22:09:00.002-06:00

Ok, not my favorite time of year, but I got my taxes done and...

SALE time!

Buy one get one FREE on select items in my Etsy shop! Take a look, one has over $150.00 of FREE makeup!!

http://tinyurl.com/y9xj8ae

Thank you!

2009-12-01T06:51:00.003-06:00

Thank you everyone for making my Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend sale a BIG hit!

Cyber Monday Sale!

2009-11-30T05:25:00.002-06:00

EXPIRED!
Cyber Monday Sale!

Purchase over $50 and get a FREE large Translucent Veil and a FREE wet/dry eye shadow foiling brush (a $33 Value!)

New Cyber Monday Black Friday Weekend Sale Deal

2009-11-29T09:43:00.003-06:00

EXPIRED! EXPIRED!

Black Friday / Cyber Monday weekend sales changing all weekend!

Current sale: Purchase any large bronzer, get a FREE vegan powder brush!

Black Friday/ Cyber Monday Weekend Sale

2009-11-28T20:30:00.005-06:00

EXPIRED! EXPIRED!

Watch for Black Friday/ Cyber Monday weekend sales changing all weekend!

Current sale: Purchase 2 large eye shadows, get a FREE vegan eye shadow brush ($12.00 value!)

Saturday Sale!

2009-11-28T07:15:00.004-06:00

EXPIRED!!!EXPIRED!

To continue the sales weekend

Purchase a large size foundation and get a large Translucent Veil FREE!!

New Black Friday/ Cyber Monday Sales items!

2009-11-27T21:02:00.004-06:00

EXPIRED!

EXPIRED
Now with your $40 or more purchase you get your choice of:

Large Kabuki Brush

Large Translucent Veil

Eye Shadow Brush and Concealer Brush!

Let me know what you choose at checkout!

Black Friday Makeup Sale!

2009-11-27T06:13:00.004-06:00

EXPIRED!

It's here and it's 6am, and I'm already done with my shopping!!

Now here is your chance to do yours!

First up is a FREE full size vegan kabuki brush with a purchase of $40 or more! Just go shop on my website- no coupon needed!

Black Friday and Cyber Monday SALE

2009-11-22T19:42:00.004-06:00

Yes, I'm going to have a Black Friday through Cyber Monday sale! After being pushed down and nearly trampled, and my ankle being severely injured while shopping on Black Friday a few years back, I now shop online. To encourage others to shop online safely, I'm having a sale!

You will have to wait until 12:01 on Black Friday, and go to my website www.pinkquartzminerals.com to see what the sale is! Sales will change throughout the weekend, so stop back often to grab all the great deals!

Custom Lipstick Balms are Here!

2009-10-28T05:09:00.004-05:00

Added to my arsenal of kick-butt products, now you can customize your own lipstick!!

I don't know anyone else that does this- but now you can pick your own color, flavor and name on the label!!

It's such a fun Christmas or Holiday gift for someone special!

Lip Lockers are Here and in Woman's World Magazine!

2009-09-18T00:35:00.003-05:00

Lip Lockers, the brand new product I developed after extensive research and not finding anything like it out there, is now a featured coupon in Woman's World Magazine!

Lip Lockers are a set of 3 lip balms and an unbreakable mirror, all of which are magnetic, so they stick right to a locker, refrigerator, or almost any metal object! No more searching for lip balms, they are stuck right there!

They come in 5 different flavor sets and are a great gift! Don't forget to pick up a Woman's World magazine on newsstands Sept. 28th (subscribers get them starting Sept 15th) and use the coupon code for 20% your Lip Lockers!

Giveaway and Contest Winners Announced!

2009-09-01T00:55:00.003-05:00

Congratulations!

Here are the winners!

For the Facebook Fan page entry, the winner of $50 of Pink Quartz Minerals makeup is
Stephanie C.!

For the Giveaway, the winner of $50 of Pink Quartz Minerals makeup is
Brandi B.!

For the Contest, the winner of $50 of Pink Quartz Minerals makeup is
Libby V.!
And........ everyone else that sent in a picture will get a free eye shadow of your choice! (See girls, it pays to send in a pic! )

Thank you to everyone who entered, keep watching for new contests in September!

ANOTHER way to Win Free Makeup!

2009-08-21T03:38:00.003-05:00

Yes, I'm adding to the lovely free makeup giveaways!

All you have to do to enter is become a fan on Facebook!

Link is there ---------------------->

Easy!! :) You can win $50 of free makeup, and don't forget to enter the other 2 giveaways below!

This contest ends Sept 1st and is a worldwide contest!

Win Pink Quartz Minerals Makeup Free Giveaway!

2009-08-05T23:39:00.005-05:00

Win Pink Quartz Minerals Makeup!

Yes, you have 2 chances to win!

For the Giveaway, all you have to do is email me at pinkquartzminerals@yahoo.com and tell me why you should win!

For the Contest, just email me a photo of yourself wearing Pink Quartz Minerals makeup and you are automatically entered! It can be a full face pic, or just eyes!

Both prizes will be over $50 in free mineral cosmetics and lip balm!

The contest ends September 1st.

This is a worldwide contest! :)

Beauty and the Best

2009-07-28T02:27:00.003-05:00

Ok, did you read that as Beauty and the Beast? It's not a typo, just the subject of this blog posting.

I've been asked what I think is the best makeup out there. Well, I think mine is. If I didn't think so, I wouldn't be making it! That said, I've been asked what I think about different kinds of foundation, powder, liquid, pressed, etc.

I will be discussing various foundations in VivaLaModa magazine's September issue. I've been contributing to this fabulous online zine for a few months. Ainhoa, the editor and creator of this fabulous online fashion and beauty magazine is a wonderful person, and super creative!

Check out some of VivaLaModa's recent issues!

Click here to check out my article on makeup for deep set eyes.

Click here to see my article on enchanting eye makeup.

Feel free to page through the issues, you'll find tons of affordable designer made fashions too!

Happy 4th!

2009-07-04T14:45:00.001-05:00

Have a wonderful holiday!

What is IN that Stuff? Ingredients Lies and Omissions

2009-06-07T13:34:00.002-05:00

As I've said before, you really have to be careful when reading ingredients.

BUT how are you supposed to know when a makeup seller is outright LYING about their ingredients? You wouldn't, unless you are educated in different materials.

For example, there are some makeup sellers that state in every single item listing that the ingredients are mica, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, maybe kaolin clay too. In fact, I've seen makeup sellers on Etsy in particular that state these are their ONLY ingredients.

Well, that is simply not true. If the micas they were using were pure mica (nothing else coating them) that could possibly be true, but in fact they are not using pure micas. All they (or you) have to do is check the labels on the micas to find out what REALLY is in there.

I'm really getting tired of all the lying going on over at Etsy. Saying they've been making makeup for 10 years or whatever, copying other people's listings and saying they are the only ones making that, disrespecting other sellers by saying how anyone selling makeup for higher prices must be ripping people off, and outright lying, LYING to customers about ingredients. That is just unacceptable.

Let's show a fantastic example. Have you seen listings for Duochrome colors? Or color-changing shades? Most of the color changing shades are in fact duochromes- not all of them are but there are some that can be nothing else but.

Let's see here- one seller is reselling TKB's Planetary sampler and saying, and I quote "Ingredients: Mica,titanium dioxide, iron oxide, kaolin clay"

Um.. did you forget a few things? First off, there is no kaolin clay in any of these colors. There is, however, added things: SILICA, TIN OXIDE, ... heck, go check yourself!

You want a WHOLE TEASPOON of each shade? Go and get it, in fact you can buy everything in certain "sellers" shops here:

http://www.tkbtrading.com/item.php?item_id=529&category_id=12

Sellers who are not actually making their own makeup will get really upset about this post. I expect it, in fact it's already happened over my previous posts. For some reason the fact that I want to educate people, as well as I can't stand seeing people being ripped off by dishonest sellers- those things tend to upset the very (re)sellers I am talking about.

This is sad. If those (re)sellers want to resell makeup, heck they can do it anywhere else on the internet they want to, not a problem. But when they infiltrate the Etsy, ArtFire, Handmade Fusion and other HANDMADE sites, they should expect that sooner or later someone is going to speak up. Someone who actually makes their own makeup. Someone that gets tired of having to clean up resellers messes all the time. Someone who gets tired of coming up with a new and unique product and/or packaging method, only to be copied over and over and over. On handmade sites. How sad.

Pure Micas and Titanium Dioxide Free Makeup - Myth or Fact?

2009-05-08T12:06:00.006-05:00

As promised, I'm going to talk about "pure" micas and titanium dixoide free shadows.

Now, most small mineral makeup companies are purchasing their base micas from just a handful of secondary wholesalers, who purchase from an even smaller pool of wholesalers. Unless you are willing and able to purchase micas by the kilo for each color, you are going to be buying from a secondary wholesaler.

Most, if not all of these colored "pure" micas are coated with titanium dioxide and/or other ingredients such as Carmine, Ferric Ferrocyanide, Silica, Manganese Violet and other coatings. Pure mica is translucent, so is not colored.

Just as soap bubbles don't have their own color, neither does pure mica. We see the colors due to the light interference through the titanium dioxide coating the mica base. The thicker or thinner the coating creates different colors.

I only use titanium coated and transparent micas in my makeup. You won't find carmine, ferric ferrocyanide, silica, boron nitrate, manganese violet, magnesum stearate or other such ingredients in my makeup. Yes it makes it more difficult to achieve certain shades - how much easier it would be to buy the mica with these other things in it! But I love the challenge and really love having only 7 mineral ingredients in any and all of my loose powder products.

So unless a mineral makeup seller can prove they are purchasing pure transparent mica and adding only the "other" ingredients, then the micas they are using are probably made with a titanium dioxide coating. So- nope, not titanium free. And it's quite cost prohibative to purchase only micas without titanium dioxide, and doing this will really limit your color selection.

I have yet to see a makeup seller with a full range of titanium dioxide free shades. It's just not cost effective, and is highly unlikely with the easy availability of titanium coated micas.

Pink Quartz Minerals shadows are almost all titanium coated micas, which is why under ingredients you will see Mica, Titanium Dioxide. I do make a few matte shades with transparent mica and iron oxides, but generally add titanium dioxide to it for it's opaque and adhesion properties.

That said, in addition to my previous article talking about "cheap" makeup sellers, I'd like to point out that many makeup resellers are purchasing colored micas from wholesalers and selling them as eye shadows as is. I've found that doing this severely affects the staying power of the micas. They need to be mixed with other ingredients to adhere properly and stay on all day. Many of the new rainbow color sets with bright colors are indeed colored micas sold as purchased from the wholesaler. If you compare shops or companies offering this rainbow collection, you'll notice that they generally all look like exactly the same colors. That's because they are, they are not altered from what the wholesaler sells. So indeed, not handmade, just repackaged. They are very popular, and it's much cheaper to just repot these colored micas, but to achieve a quality product that lasts all day a makeup seller really needs to add additional ingredients, and that ability comes with experience in formulating.

So, if you don't mind that your seller may not be telling you the truth (titanium free) or is just reselling wholesale colored micas, then you may be happy with the low cost "eye shadow" you are purchasing. Just don't expect it to last very long.

A Couple of Tips When Purchasing Mineral Makeup

2009-04-21T04:32:00.007-05:00

Wow. There sure are a lot of different companies selling mineral makeup. What should you look for and how should you choose?

Easy. Buy mine! :)

Ok, sure I'd like everyone to purchase mine, I think it's the best. But I'll try to put my bias aside and give you a few general tips on what to look for.

#1. Ingredients. Definitely the number one factor to look at. Mineral makeup does not need to be made with a ton of chemicals and fillers in it. BUT pure mica is not eye shadow. Snap. More on this next blog post.

You need to know what exactly is in the makeup you are looking at. There should be full disclosure of ingredients on each item, or each section of a website. They should be right out there in your face, not something you have to Google to find hidden away on some obscure web page.

If the ingredients listing isn't obvious, or just isn't there, RED FLAG! run, don't walk away. Most often those companies have chemicals/fillers/lake dyes/and other unneeded ingredients. That, or they are resellers and truly don't know what is in the makeup they are selling. Be especially investigative on "handmade" venues. The person that is selling it is supposed to be the one making it, and I can only speak for myself on this but they should be proud of what they create and want people to know what is inside those little jars. Of course, if they are reselling and just slapping stuff on their site willy-nilly, they won't have time to actually list or even care about their ingredients.

#2. Know your allergens. This goes along with #1 in that if you are or might be allergic to certain things, make sure you know those things are not in the makeup you are going to purchase. Ask the seller, or company, beforehand. Most legitimate companies are happy to help you out by letting you know which if any products they make might cause an allergic reaction. But the primary responsibility is yours to do the asking! As with all bath and body and beauty products, you need to do a little patch test because the possibility of a reaction is always there.

I stopped selling animal hair brushes for this very reason. Although touted by big companies as the BEST brushes for mineral makeup, I beg to differ. They are, in fact, the cheapest brushes- which is why big companies sell them, more $$$. I'm not saying they are horrible, but I am saying I have heard and seen many, many people that say they cannot use mineral makeup- and come to find out once they started using synthetic brushes, their breakouts and rashes completely disappeared. Allergic to the brush, not the makeup itself. But you won't see this information on any of the big companies sites.

#3. Organic? Vegan? Who cares? Well, a lot of people actually do care, if you're not one of them you can skip right to #4 though! :)

Let me say again- ingredients. These are a few of the things that so-called vegan companies put into their makeup, and they are not vegan:

Carmine (red color made from ground up beetles)

Beeswax

Lanolin (derived from sheep)

Silk powder

Now, the above products are organic (of, produced by, or found in plants or animals) but not vegan. So be aware of what is in the makeup! All my makeup, brushes, lip products are all 100% vegan.

#4. Custom colors. Yes, I said it. You don't expect a big business to do custom work without a big price tag, so we'll leave them out of this point. Small companies have not only the ability to make custom colors, but that is generally their niche market. If you come across a company that is very small or even just one person (like yours truly!) then don't be afraid to ask for a custom shade of foundation, blush, bronzer, eye shadow, etc. if you don't see what you want in their line. Most small companies are happy to oblige and if they are anything like me they may just add your custom shade to their line! If they say they "can't" or "don't do that", RED FLAG! run, don't walk away! That means they are not making their own (and you are at risk because they don't know what is in what they are selling) or they just don't care enough to be bothered. Is that who you want to buy your makeup from?

Now, this does not include color matching. Making a color from scratch is quite different, and usually for the seasoned manufacturer, a much easier task than color matching another companies makeup. There are companies that do this, by the way, even if you don't know about it. In fact, most small manufacturers count on this part of their business to recruit customers away from big companies. They also color match other companies discontinued products, etc. The point here is, expect to pay for the color matching service as it is usually more time consuming and involved then small companies can afford without charging for it.

#5. Use your common sense. Obvious, right? Not always. Cheaper is sometimes better, but dollar store prices usually mean cheap chemical ingredients. For example, some of the big companies use a mining by-product called bismuth oxychloride. This makes the makeup shiny, quite a few people are allergic or reactive to it, and it costs just a few bucks per TON. Yes, you heard that right. This ingredient, in my opinion, is a cheap filler and not necessary in mineral makeup. You want shiny? Micas do the trick for that.

Back to the cost.. there is a fine line between being competitive, and getting paid for your knowledge and hard work. Many smaller companies charge a few bucks a jar, and most if not all of them are reselling makeup they purchased in bulk from a wholesaler. I would like to pay a fair price for anything I purchase, especially from a small business where I know they have a personal stake in each and every item that goes out their door. I trust that they are charging a fair amount so they can pay themselves and stay in business! I also know instinctively if it's TOO cheap, if they have a sale on all the time, etc, that they are not personally invested in the product or in their business. How can they be? There is no point in selling something at a loss if you are trying to grow your business. And if I do a comparison of a handful of companies that make similar items, usually the higher the price the better the quality. Not always- but in general that means the items are either using higher quality ingredients, or more time is taken in the creation of each item, or both.

So, I'm going to stop at 5 for now. What are some things you should you look for? Ingredients listed, potential allergens, custom colors, price, and if you are vegan then vegan ingredients and brushes. I hope this helped a bit with your shopping!

Color Shots are HERE!!!!!

2009-04-04T14:46:00.003-05:00

Color Shots!

Isn't that the coolest name for samples you've ever heard?

My friend Melissa came up with that, and it's great! (Thanks!)

My new Color Shots are proving to be VERY popular. They are tiny 1" high snap tubes with enough eye shadow/eyeliner for 1-5 uses. They are set up in kits (more to come) and also include either a vegan eyeliner brush or a vegan eye shadow brush. The brush fits right into the tube.

I am still behind with my charts, so will introduce my uncharted colors this way! It's the easy way to get all 170+ eye shadow and eyeliner colors in one spot!

Fashion Show Makeup

2009-03-31T21:17:00.005-05:00

On Thursday March 26th, I headed up to Nicky's in De Pere Wisconsin for a fashion show. This fashion show was featuring clothing by Refab, which makes Eco Apparel. What is that, you ask? Check out this link to their Etsy shop for more information:

Refab

I wasn't just there to see the clothing, I was there to do the model's makeup, and also do a little retailing. 50% of all proceeds went to the Golden House. Golden House provides shelter and services for women and children affected by domestic violence. So it was a great cause!

I had a wonderful time, and wanted to share a few pictures of the gorgeous models who so graciously allowed me to do their makeup.

And, here is Cassie making a nice face at me for taking her pic!

Is Mineral Makeup Really Natural?

2009-02-08T23:50:00.004-06:00

Is it?

Recently I had a question posed to me:
...This is what i read recently:"Iron Oxides, and similar mineral pigments are not, by FDA standards, "Natural", because they are not directly from plants or animals. Instead, they come from minerals. While considered "natural" by consumers, cosmetic-grade pigments are all man-made in order to meet FDA approval" ... is this true?

My answer was this:
The correct term for minerals is inorganic. My personal opinion is, I wonder how minerals from the earth are not considered natural? Rocks are not natural? They are formed by nature, certainly not man made.

"Natural" is currently a hot marketing term used by nearly every cosmetic company out there, and it's a term designed to enlighten consumers- in that sense it is a good thing, as proven by your own willingness to research. On the other hand, since it is just that, a marketing term, it is again the old adage, buyer beware. Yes, the minerals used in makeup are processed to filter out impurities, just as everything else must be that is manufactured for human use.

For example, Titanium dioxide occurs in nature as the well-known naturally occurring minerals rutile, anatase and brookite. It is chemically processed to remove impurities to be considered cosmetic grade. Cosmetic grade titanium dioxide is used for makeup, and titanium dioxide is used for many other purposes such as paints, coatings, plastics, papers, inks, foods, medicines as well as most toothpastes. It is considered safe by the FDA.There are many "minerals" used in makeup that are indeed completely man-made, or manufactured in labs.

The mineral Lapis Lazuli was used in ancient times as a blue colorant. Due to the rarity of this stone, the colorant substitute Ultramarine Blue is generally manufactured in labs using iron-free kaolin, or some other kind of pure clay, anhydrous Na2SO4; anhydrous Na2CO3; powdered sulfur; and powdered charcoal or relatively ash-free coal, or colophony in lumps. So even this "man-made" colorant has its basis in minerals (clay, coal).

Iron Oxides are made from iron ore, however you are correct in that iron oxides made for cosmetic use must be produced synthetically in order to avoid the inclusion of ferrous or ferric oxides, and impurities normally found in naturally occurring iron oxides. So although actual iron ore could be used, the FDA is ensuring our makeup is safer by requiring the use of lab-made iron oxides.

This means it is not as bad as you may think using man-made "minerals" in makeup manufacturing. Minerals are not organic- that is plant and animal products. Although those are chemically processed as well, they have their origins in plants and animals. They have fantastic properties and uses, however organic materials break down and can harbor bacteria unless chemical preservatives are added.

That said, there are many mineral makeup mfg's that do also use organic materials in their makeup. I do not use organics because using the minerals alone, as long as kept dry cannot harbor bacterias, will not go bad or have a shelf life. I've found that makeup containing organic materials always contains preservative chemicals by their very nature, so that one is applying extra chemicals to one's skin by using those products.

One other aspect you may want to keep in mind during your research is at this point, companies calling their products mineral makeup are unregulated. Part of that is the fact that all they must do is incorporate a tiny amount of actual minerals in their products to call them that. I refer to it as sprinkling a handful of minerals in a big vat of chemicals. If you check the labels on products, especially in department and drug stores, there may be a slew of ingredients and the last one is "May contain: mica, titanium dioxide, zinc oxides". The reason a lot of those companies do that is the chemicals are cheap, the minerals much more expensive to include in their makeup- which means less profit for them.

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I hope I've cleared up any questions, if not let me know and I'll keep going!

SOAP!!!!

2009-02-05T15:59:00.003-06:00

I have to admit it. I'm a soap fanatic. I love soaps, and I love trying new ones from different sellers. I'm embarassed to say how many soaps I've purchased from Etsy- WAY too many for one person, good thing I give a lot away as gifts.

Let me show you some of my fabulous finds, in no particular order!

I wasn't sure about this Ropewalk Amber Ale soap from desertmaidenbath.etsy.com
but I love it so much I've even used it as shampoo!

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These are hilarious, but my nephews thought they were AWESOME! By anniepoo.etsy.com these army man soaps are too fun!

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Fresh from dsoaper.etsy.com , I purchase these goat milk soaps by the 8 pack for my father and sister who adore them!

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From FrostFishCoveSoaps.etsy.com , the Pineapple Cilantro was magnificent! I love that they have vegan soap as well!

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From TwinDreamCreations.etsy.com I purchased these fun soaps with spiders in them, the kids loved them and washed extra hard to get to the spiders faster! Tricky!

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For my son who breaks out with eczema, I purchase these boo-boo soaps made with neem, tea tree oil and oatmeal. It soothes his skin and lessens the redness and itch. These were made by TerraScents.etsy.com

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I purchased the Black Raspberry soap from morganstreet.etsy.com , but look at this scrumptious looking soap!

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I have to say I haven't bought a soap from this shop southpacificbody.etsy.com that I didn't adore. I love all of them! Next on my personal list looks like it could be Asian Plum

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I also keep coming back to savor.etsy.com , it's so fun to try out all her new items, and she seems to always have new ones! I'm pretty sure this is my next purchase:

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The newest I've tried is Strawberry Champagne by soapdeli.etsy.com
I have to say I love it, it is long lasting and smells divine!

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I've tried others as well, but there are quite a few no longer in business on Etsy, and some have decided to try their hand at other things.

If you are a soaper and I haven't tried yours yet, don't worry, I'm getting there!!

I don't need - want - wear - bother with- Foundation

2009-01-15T17:40:00.002-06:00

Have you ever heard this? Or said it yourself?
Let me ask you this: have you ever seen a model that doesn't wear it? Even the most lovely models need a little cover up or to even out their complexions.

Take another look at my foundation. I have formulated it not to completely blot out your skin, but to enhance your natural complexion! It is lightweight, in fact most women say they forget they put it on. The minerals even out your skin tone, and cover light imperfections.

Dry skin? By all means moisturize before using my foundation. Be sure to blot any excess moisturizer before applying foundation. Yes, mineral makeup can be slightly drying due to its powdered form, but a good moisturizer should take care of any potential drying. My Translucent Veil is specially formulated to reflect light away from fine lines and wrinkles, as well as set your makeup.

Oily skin? You will love the way my foundation and veil together combat the oil slick look you so often get with liquid foundation (yes- even oil free formulas).

Acne prone skin? Against convential advice, I recommend sleeping in my foundation. Let me explain why: Acne is caused by bacteria. Now there is bacteria everywhere- smoke, fog, fingertips, it's even floating in the air! Any bacteria that settles onto your skin is a potential for a breakout.
What Pink Quartz Minerals foundation does is create a protective barrier between your clean skin and bacteria. You'll find as less bacteria reaches your face, less acne appears.
I say- sleep in it. Do you know what is on your pillowcase? Oils from your skin, hair, bacterias, etc. and as you sleep you are grinding that into your facial skin. Have you ever noticed people with acne on their faces usually have one side worse than the other? That is usually the side they sleep on.
As long as you apply my foundation to clean skin you are good to go!

I don't put any unnecessary chemicals or fillers in my makeup so there is little chance of allergies. It's super easy to apply with a kabuki brush, it literally takes a minute or two to apply your foundation for the day!

California + Family = WIN!!!

2008-12-18T20:25:00.005-06:00

Just returned from a week long vacation with my family, in California. The weather was gorgeous most of the time, though the evenings cooled off due to an Arctic front that moved in. But it was much nicer than the snowy frozen tundra of Wisconsin!

I have 3 brothers and 2 sisters, and we all flew or drove in to my youngest brother's Cali house. It's funny how much I didn't realize that I missed them, until we were all together again. Now I'm a little sad as we've all gone back to our homes and normal lives.

Here's a pic of one of my adorable nephews giving us a private concert!

Here's one of my son and his new California look- and his new skateboard!

We had a blast (my son wanted to stay there!) but alas, we had to come home.

CONGRATS CONTEST WINNERS!!!!!

2008-12-01T18:04:00.002-06:00

Thank you EVERYONE for participating in the contest! There were literally hundreds of entries!

The Grand Prize winner of over $200.00 of Pink Quartz Minerals makeup is.......

Shannon Y. of California!

Runner up winners:
Choice of any soap from Savor ( http://www.savor.etsy.com) is Liz C. of Iowa!

Beer Cozy from Pandys (http://www.pandys.etsy.com) is Rebecca H. of Indiana!

Gorgeous Cameo Brooch from The Ebon Swan (http://www.theebonswan.etsy.com) is Wendy H. of Massachusetts!

Lovely blue and white cosmetic case from Eclipse (http://www.eclipse.etsy.com) is Patty S. of Massachusetts!

Hair Therapy from Tamaras Herbes (http://www.tamarasherbes.etsy.com) is Paul M. of Texas!

Peppermint Foot Cream from Right as Rain Creations (http://www.rightasraincreations.etsy.com) is Rosalind A. from Washington!

3 Pack of Votives from Gabriel's Aunt (http://www.gabrielsaunt.etsy.com) is Holly R. of California!

Choice of Scent Diffuser and 1 oz. jar of Boo Boo Cream from Terra Scents (http://www.terrascents.etsy.com) is Kerri M. of Canada!

Fairy Print by My Veiled Ego (http://www.myveiledego.etsy.com) is Jennifer G. of Pennsylvania!

Basket of Soaps by Good Karma Soaps (http://www.goodkarmasoaps.etsy.com) is Jean Z. of Ohio!

Pink and white cosmetic case from Eclipse (http://www.eclipse.etsy.com) is Jordan S. of Florida!

Thank you all so very much, and thanks to my friends for donating the runner up prizes!
~Doree

New Christmas Kits are Here!!

2008-11-15T13:46:00.004-06:00

You Have to see these!!

Here are 3 of my Ornamental Eyes Kits, and more to come:

These kits are all one of a kind, and you get the ornament with them! What great gifts!

Here is another new kit- you can pick any 4 samples you like to be in this one!

Don't you just LOVE the Holidays!!

NO Sparkle for the next 40 years??????

2008-11-07T15:44:00.003-06:00

Preposterous!!

I for one do not follow the unwritten "rule" that over 40's have to stop wearing sparkle and shimmer.

The general consensus is that it accentuates wrinkles.

Well, I'm 44 and I don't think I'm going to stop wearing sparkles for the next 40 years! Guess what? I do have lines and wrinkles. I don't think makeup is going to change that fact. I call them earned wisdom marks.

I think as well, that artful application of sparkles and shimmers will enhance beauty, not call attention to things we don't want it to.

I don't wear bright blue sparkle eye shadow anymore, true enough, but I adore the dark browns, blues, greens and grays with gold, silver, and iridescent sparkles in them. And honestly I think certain shadows add that extra little glow or sparkle to my eyes that maybe after 44 years is dulling a bit.

So, are you going to let "them" tell you what to wear?

I'm not!

Air Car!!!

2008-11-03T11:48:00.004-06:00

Did you see these??

They run on air, and a splash of either salad oil, alcohol, or a pint of gasoline! Plans are in the works to sell the technology to manufacturers in the U.S.

I want one. They will cost around $20,000.

They run on compressed air. And it's not new technology according to the article. How funny our car mfg's haven't developed these. Hmm.
According to the article, "On highways, the CAV can cruise at interstate speeds for nearly 800 miles with a small motor that compresses outside air to keep the tank filled. "

WOW!!!

Biggest Contest Ever!! $200.00 of Mineral Makeup plus Incredible Runner-up Prizes!

2008-10-13T22:54:00.007-05:00

UPDATE:
CONTEST IS OVER!!!
SEE POST FOR WINNERS!

You heard it! This is the biggest contest I've ever run. It's so simple to enter, simply purchase anything from my Etsy store or my Website.

Every item purchased counts as a separate entry, buy 10 items, get entered 10 times!

The Grand Prize winner will receive over $200.00 worth of Pink Quartz Minerals Makeup!

There will also be a number of runner-up prizes from some high quality handmade shop owners. You can expect to see prizes like soap from Savor, a beer quilt from Pandys, Hair Therapy from Tamara's Herbes, May Queen cameo brooch from The Ebon Swan, Peppermint foot cream from Right as Rain Creations, a 3 pack of exquisitely scented votive candles from Gabriel's Aunt, cosmetic case from Eclipse Creations, Healing balm and diffuser from Terra Scents and a gorgeous 8 x 10 Fairy print from My Veiled Ego. Each of these shops I have purchased from personally, so can attest to the ultra high quality of their products, and excellent attention to detail. Their customer service is superb, and I am thrilled they have consented to contribute prizes (which I want to keep myself!).

The drawing will hopefully be broadcast live, if not it will be on YouTube. I'm planning on reading the names of all the entries as they are put into the hat, and drawing the winners live on the spot!

You have until December 1st to enter, and the drawing will be shortly after that. What great Holiday gifts these prizes will make!!

Too soon for Holiday kits?

2008-10-06T15:24:00.000-05:00

I'm making the best holiday makeup kits ever!

But when is too soon to put them up? I would like people to have a chance to check them all out, but I don't want to jump the gun so they look old come holiday time.

Dilemma. Hmm.

What do you think?

Makeup Contest WINNERS!!!

2008-10-02T19:12:00.001-05:00

Everyone sent in such fabulous ideas, it was REALLY hard to pick just 2 winners, so I went ahead and picked 4!

I want to tell you what the winning ideas are, but you'll have to wait and see when I have them all ready for sale!

The winners are:
Katie G.
Kelly M.
Eva F.
Amy D.
(I have sent an email to all of you!)

Thanks for participating in my contest!

Holidays!

2008-09-14T12:36:00.000-05:00

Here they come!

I'm gearing up with some special kits just for the holidays. I'm working on Halloween kits right now, those should be up early in the week.

I'm also working on sweet little Christmas kits. I want to have a range of prices, from stocking stuffers to entire kits.

I'm also thinking of having a Shadow of the Month Club. As you know I'm constantly making new colors, in trying to match a color yesterday I came up with 4 others that I really like! I'm up to somewhere in the 150-160 color range now!

So I'm thinking, would that be something you are interested in? Say something like pay xx$ and get a brand new shadow once a month, or even once a week for you hardcore shadow lovers!

Let me know your thoughts.

Anyone that knows me....

2008-09-07T03:52:00.000-05:00

also knows that I'm very innovative and come up with new sets, packaging and ideas all the time. What you may not know is why I do it.

First, like any business, you have to stay new, fresh, and on top of the market trends. Now, I confess I don't look around like I used to when I first started, as industry trends don't always directly relate to my customer base. But I do like to keep up with what is innovative.

That being said, I generally come up with ideas in the middle of the night, or while doing something else. I'm really feeling pressured lately, as being the top makeup seller on Etsy comes with a lot of great things such as getting to know so many wonderful people, but it has its down side.

Since mineral makeup in general has taken the makeup world by storm, there are literally hundreds of new companies opening daily. On Etsy it's not as bad as that, but there are many new ones each week. To be competitive on Etsy you must have a top quality product, great packaging, and superb customer service. There are many sellers there that have cheaper prices than I do, however by making my own makeup from scratch and developing each and every recipe I have, I understand the costs involved, including time. I also sell wholesale to salons and spas, so must keep my prices in range with that aspect of my business vs. the retail side.

One problem I'm running into over and over is not only resellers (people who buy pre-made makeup from a wholesaler and put their own label on it) but makeup sellers who watch what I do and copy me.

Now, the average person that isn't familiar with mineral makeup will not know the difference between my makeup and someone elses. That's understandable, as you have to actually use it to know the difference. So the sellers who are copying me are not only copying my kits, descriptions, etc, but are at times actually laying out their products in the exact same way I am. I believe this is to "fool" the customers into thinking all makeup is the same, so they will shop by price rather than another way.

I understand that is how business works. I understand there are knock-offs of things, for example designer handbags, and they are rampant and easy to get.

But that doesn't make it right.

And I thought things would be better on Etsy, as they are the online leaders in all things handmade.

But it's not. For example, not long ago I had a call out on my Etsy shop announcement for my customers to model for me. It worked out great, and I have some gorgeous models wearing my makeup on my shop photos. It's worked so well, in fact, I noted a few other sellers have followed suit and called out for their customers to model for them. This will lead to, once again, sellers copying my marketing techniques. In fact, a few have already done so.

Very sad that these supposed creative individuals cannot come up with anything on their own. They are and will copy my best ideas over and over. The good part is it pushes me to come up with even more innovative ideas. The bad part is, they just copy them. And copy. And copy.

I know imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but it doesn't make it right.

Lollishops.com - I'm In!

2008-08-10T17:37:00.000-05:00

I have been waiting for Lollishops.com for a long, long time!

It is made up of everything I love, Victorian, Romantic, Frou Frou, Ornate lovely girly items!

I applied and was accepted, and I couldn't be more thrilled! It's scheduled to be opening around Halloween, and I can't wait!

Win Free Makeup!

2008-08-06T22:51:00.000-05:00

You can easily win free makeup!

Come up with the most innovative, creative concepts in one or both of the following catagories, and you will win a custom kit of makeup!

Catagories:
1. Halloween makeup kit (vampire? frankenstein? c'mon get creative!)

2. Christmas/Holiday makeup kit - what would you like in a gift kit to give for the holidays?

Winner will be chosen September 30th!

Email all suggestions to:
freemakeup@yahoo.com

I'm an Artist! (In my own mind)

2008-07-13T23:33:00.000-05:00

I've always secretly wanted to be a brooding artist, complete with beret, sitting in the countryside, easel in front of me, and painting.

I'm not.

The mixing and blending of colors to create new and lovely eye shadows is the closest I get.

Until now!! I'm painting my boring makeup brush handles, and creating one of a kind tools for makeup application. People seem to like/appreciate my "impressionistic" art on the handles, which I lovingly sand, paint, glaze and seal one at a time.

The brush shown, (now sold!) is my favorite to date. Check my shop for more brushes.

Is Blogging Narcissistic?

2008-07-09T11:28:00.000-05:00

Is it?

I think so, which is why I haven't blogged much. How many times can one say their product is fabulous?

Maybe it's from growing up where I did and when I did, but one of the worst things at that time was "being full of yourself". So, although humility wasn't spoken of directly, it was indirectly all the time.

Hence, my reluctance to blog. Even looking back at the few times I did blog, it's faintly embarassing, like one of those kids who tries so hard to act cool, but everyone knows they are not.

Don't get me wrong, I believe in my makeup, it's the finest product out there in my own opinion- it's just these traces of childhood "you're getting too big for your britches" thoughts linger.

So I think I will start featuring other products and items I love and believe in too, just to even things out and appease my inner child!

What's New?

2008-04-12T02:22:00.000-05:00

Sampler kits for Hazel eyes, that's what's new! I listed a fun sparkly kit and an everyday matte kit in my etsy shop here !

These sampler kits are VERY popular! People appreciate being able to try out new makeup colors at a reasonable price. Plus, each kit has 5 jars with eye shadow that will last.. probably too long! In fact, a lot of people that purchased them last year tell me they haven't run out yet. Maybe I should make them smaller? :)

I also have kits for brown, blue and green eyes in my shop. Check them out!

Check out my Slide Show!

2008-04-12T02:20:00.000-05:00

Big News!

2008-01-04T02:44:00.001-06:00

UPDATE:
The search engines are picking up my business name, so I've decided to stick with Pink Quartz Minerals. Plus, I love it.

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Pink Quartz Minerals.. I love my name, but it's hard to spell and hard for people to find on the web.

So, I will be changing my business name in the next few months. Same high quality makeup plus some great new kits I'm getting together!

Stay tuned for updates!

Fun Colors for Brown Green and Blue Eyes!

2007-09-23T00:22:00.000-05:00

I've been making eye shadows specifically designed for your eye color! Some are contrasting, some complementary, but all are fabulous!

Check out my shop at pinkquartzminerals.etsy.com for all my sample kits!

Pink Quartz Minerals Makeup Now in Salons!

2007-07-18T22:51:00.001-05:00

A fantastic thing has been happening lately! Pink Quartz Minerals is now in fine salons in Ohio and Florida! Response has been terrific!

We've been focusing on private label mineral makeup- and salons are responding! Who wouldn't want fine quality mineral makeup in their salon, with their OWN name on it? This is really helping in creating the colors, etc! When customers ask for a certain color, the salon can respond by saying they can get it, and we'll have the color made, packaged and to the salon within DAYS, not weeks! We're never "out of stock" and nothing is "backordered" because we are proactive and make certain we have all the ingredients on hand to make product!!

Want it in your favorite salon? Email pinkquartzminerals@yahoo.com and let us know!!

Glue Moo.. Alternative Uses for Mineral Makeup!

2007-04-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

Today I won a contest sponsered by WIST-Etsy, the Wisconsin Street Team of Etsy, another place I list my mineral makeup! I was flabbergasted, because there were so many stunning and creative entries!

I used a makeup brush and painted a cow face with glue onto plastic. Then I sprinkled some Pink Quartz Minerals makeup (namely Jet Black eyeliner and Pearl White eye shadow) onto the glue.

After tapping off the excess, this is what it looks like!

Do you think they were just trying to make me feel good? I mean, other entries were sooo great!

Check out the other entries at http://wist-etsy.blogspot.com/2007/04/cows-and-cow-colors-contest-update.htm

Mineral Makeup Woes From Customers Files

2007-02-15T00:43:00.000-06:00

OK, in my last post I stated some of my own problems with mineral makeup.
Here is one that is very common as well.

Q. I have a problem with the ID mineral makeup I bought. It makes my face look, well, shiny. I HATE that! Can you help?

A. Of course! Pink Quartz Minerals makeup foundation is NOT shiny! It is COMPLETELY matte! It will NOT make your face shimmery or shiny at all. The "other" brands contain chemicals and substances that add a definate shine to your face. Ours does not. So, the simple answer is purchase Pink Quartz Minerals makeup ( website www.pinkquartzminerals.com and also www.pinkquartzminerals.etsy.com) and you will see a complete difference in how ours looks compared to theirs!!

Well? I've Tried 'em all, now I make my own!

2007-02-12T02:59:00.001-06:00

I've tried just about every kind of mineral makeup on the market (Jane I, ID Bare Ess., Cory, ... the list goes on). I've had the following problems:

Itchy face
Too dry
Too oily
Bad coverage
Blotchy
Wipes off too easy
Pores too big

So, after a lot of research, trial and error, I've made my own!
Introducing Pink Quartz Minerals makeup. I use only 6 ingredients for some foundations, 4 or 5 for others (depending on colors). Less for blush, eye shadows and mineral veil.
Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc & Iron Oxides, some have Ultramrine Blue and Kaolin Clay.

This feels great, no itch! I have combination skin and acne, and it's not too dry or oily! It covers great (I've found if you don't have the right color makeup it doesn't cover right. Experiment!)
No blotch, doesn't wipe off too easily, and minimizes, not enlarges my pores. Of course, using Translucent Veil is what really perfects the look!

http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping

The BEST part is since I sleep in it, it has actually nearly cured my acne. I get an occassional blemish now and then, but compared to my face full... this is fantastic!