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
Showing posts with label mineral makeup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mineral makeup. Show all posts
3.05.2010
11.28.2009
Black Friday/ Cyber Monday Weekend Sale
EXPIRED!
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!)
11.27.2009
New Black Friday/ Cyber Monday Sales items!
EXPIRED!
EXPIRED
Now with your $40 or more purchase you get your choice of:
EXPIREDNow with your $40 or more purchase you get your choice of:
Large Kabuki Brush
OR
Large Translucent Veil
OR
Eye Shadow Brush and Concealer Brush!
Let me know what you choose at checkout!
9.01.2009
Giveaway and Contest Winners Announced!
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!
4.21.2009
A Couple of Tips When Purchasing Mineral Makeup
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!
3.31.2009
Fashion Show Makeup
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:
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.
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!
2.08.2009
Is Mineral Makeup Really Natural?
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.
*****************************************
I hope I've cleared up any questions, if not let me know and I'll keep going!
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.
*****************************************
I hope I've cleared up any questions, if not let me know and I'll keep going!
11.15.2008
New Christmas Kits are Here!!
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!!
9.14.2008
Holidays!
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.
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.
9.07.2008
Anyone that knows me....
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.
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.
7.09.2008
Is Blogging Narcissistic?
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!
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!
4.12.2008
What's New?
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!
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!
4.21.2007
Glue Moo.. Alternative Uses for Mineral Makeup!
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
2.15.2007
Mineral Makeup Woes From Customers Files
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!!
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!!
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