CandyFuture for Lime Crime? Company Responds to Defamation

I’ve been tinkering on a post for weeks regarding the claims against cosmetic company Lime Crime, and now I’m glad I waited. For a company with a unicorn for a masthead and the brightest colored makeup around, the charges were pretty dark, and centered around LC using product from “another company” to develop their own line.

Secondary to this was the profit margin LC sought.

The following video has been released stating that the company does reformulate to create their own looks. View and you be the judge. Doe Deere, owner, states that at first she believed the rumors were being spread by haters and it did not deserve a response. When it began to trickle down to her true customer base, that is when she had to take a stand. What do you think?

What it boils down to is this: Lime Crime is accused of repackaging, but the products are raw materials.   TKB sells raw pigments and they not sold in any way, shape or form as a shelf brand. If LC chooses to directly repackage as their brand, it is in no way illegal. Not exactly creative, but not illegal.

LC is not the first company to place an exorbitant markup on product, and they won’t be the last.

Update
I haven’t yet tried Lime Crime, but here is a pretty in-depth review of the lipsticks. Reading it makes me wonder if there is yet another level that is angering people. Private labeling is a common practice in beauty. I could name a number of companies that call product their own after tweaking stock formula and slapping a new name on it. It is the nature of the beast for most, because manufacturing and distribution is very difficult otherwise. The most telling proof for me on private label was the photo of the end of the lipstick box. These items are listed as “Distributed by” but there could be a small amount of control over specified additives, colors, etc.

Private label is a perfectly acceptable practice and I bet you would be shocked to know what is in your kit or closets that is PL. Repackaging straight raw materials for eye shadow is a bit unusual though. It all leaves a weird taste in your mouth. Like when Mary Kay reps are told they own their own company, but really, they are only salespeople.