Pages Menu
TwitterRssFacebook
Categories Menu

Posted by on Nov 4, 2009 in Uncategorized | 13 comments

CandyFuture for Lime Crime? Company Responds to Defamation

wp_candyfuture570
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.

Share
Read More

Posted by on Nov 3, 2009 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Gaga at Ace Awards

gaga_aceawards_sydcurryhairbillybmakeupHair by Syd Curry. Look at that fabulous flame of cotton candyishness.  And even behind the veil you can tell that is a billy b eye.  The two continue their tradition of touring with the stars and are in NY/Europe with G.

Share
Read More

Posted by on Nov 2, 2009 in Uncategorized | 5 comments

Nail Trends: Reverse French in Purple

We’ve officially hit holiday season, which means we can start having even more fun with our nails .  Today we’re looking at a mix of the hottest trends of the season: matte, reverse French, glitter, the color purple

Matte Reverse French in Orly Purple Velvet

orly_puplevelvet09_solessence

Matte nail polishes made a showing at NY Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week last spring (for fall) and again last month for Spring 2010. If you haven’t put your hand into the anti-shine movement, at the very least you need to know the trend is extending into next season. Common complaints for matte include low durability, flat colors and difficult applications.  Orly solves those problems with:

  • A good formulation.  They also offer a matte bonder to help adhesion.
  • Appealing colors. The collection is small, but the purple and blue are quite pretty. The black does fall into the flat, but works.  I think companies need to stop equating “matte” to mean “black”.  Matte works so much better with fresh colors.
  • Again, this goes back to good formulation.  The Orly polish goes on fairly smoothly and has a slow dry down.  True to matte though, it is a bit unforgiving, so you need a steady hand and apply evenly.  If you are having a very tough time, you can apply a matte top coat.  I only had Essie’s Matte About You which does help with any ridging that may occur.  There is no top coat in the nail pictured.

Orly supplied Purple Velvet and I was smitten the moment I tried it.  The look is very true to the bottle color.  I put this look together showing a Reverse French manicure with Purple Velvet.  Ways you can alter the look:

  • The moon can be left blank or another solid color used for work. If you have a little more freedom, you can fill the moon area with a glitter polish as I have done.  I used a mixture of Sally Hansen Xtreme wear #11 Strobe Light and #24 Shooting Star.  These are very dense glitter polishes and fill in the space well.
  • It is hard to tell in the photo, but I also lightly pulled the glitter polish brush across the tip, which creates a faux French, a bit of a finish.  Skip if you don’t need bling.
  • If you want to switch things up, add a glossy top coat. It deepens the color and creates a near hologram with the glitter.

Matte Reverse French in OPI Merry Midnight

opi_merrymidnight09_solessence

Oh. Mah. Goodness. Merry Midnight is part of OPI’s holiday collection, and it is a stunner. This deep purple base is filled with bitty flecks of blue, and thick flecks of red. Applying, it is a crap shoot how much sparkle you get on each nail, but the red just makes this pop. I would have been happy if they had added even more. This look is the same reverse French, with Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear #11 Strobe Light. Worn with a very shiny top coat it just sparkles. Worn with a matte top coat produces a very interesting look – it magnifies the flecks.  Note: Merry Midnight can take up to five coats to achieve true opaqueness.  But it is worth it.

Will you be wearing the mattes and/or sparkles this season? How do you feel about the reverse French?

Share
Read More