ETA: Due to the drama this post has created, I’d like to remind everyone that my reviews will always be my honest opinion and reflect my experiences with a product or company. I will not be pressured into being dishonest for any reason.
Recently I had the opportunity to try Madd Style Cosmetics. They’re a vegan indie cosmetic company on Etsy.
I received 6 eye shadows, 3 lip balms and 1 lip gloss to try out.
Shade & Scent Descriptions:
Time Warp – a rich black with a lot of aqua glitter
Glitter & Doom – deep and mysterious purple with rainbow shimmer and green glitter
Illuminati – a silvery purple with green iridescence and blue glitter
Final Fantasy – a soft grey with a heavy gold duo chrome. This is truley a unique color that changes from grey to gold to green depending on the light
Kick Ass – a deeper vegan red with tons of bright red glitter.
Cloud 9 – a stormy grey with lots of blue and purple glitter
Knock Off – smells like Carmel Strawberry Cheesecake and is an AMAZING pinky color with a blue DUO CHROME!!! And if that wasn’t BALLER enough, we added lots of blue and silver glitter!!!
Hard Core Lip Bombs
Carnie – scented like your favorite carnival treat, caramel apples!! Perfect if you love shimmer and have a sweet tooth!
Skittles – is scented like one of your favorite childhood treats! Now you (and your mate) can “taste the rainbow”!
Cherry Bomb – an *explosion* of cherry scent and is inspired by the ever talented, uber adorable Cherry West who runs Sweets N Stuff
Personally, I don’t care for all the crazy ‘Baller’ text, but I can look past it to check out the products. I’m guessing the ‘baller’ phrase is a regional thing and I’m just not familiar with it. ‘Ballerness… for your face’ makes me think of, well, balls in your face. Not what I want when I’m looking at makeup.
The Etsy store states that everything is vegan. I find all the ingredient listings helpful for the items.
Example Listings:
Eye Shadow Ingredients: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide, Magnesium Myristate, Cosmetic Grade Micro Glitter
Eye Shadow Ingredients: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide, Magnesium Myristate, FD&C Red No. 40, Cosmetic Grade Micro Glitter
Lip Balm Ingredients: shea butter, cocoa butter, walnut oil, rice bran oil, safflower oil, flax seed oil, vitamin E, aloe, soy wax.
***allergy alert: do not use if you have a nut allergy!
I really like the allergy alert, as it’s helpful for people who are sensitive. I’ve not seen a lot of companies doing this, so I can really appreciate it when it’s out there.
Additionally, I LOVE that they say, ‘still unsure about what these ingredients mean? Check them out on the FDA website!’ and that they link to the FDA’s website: http://tinyurl.com/fdacoloradditives
While I’m sure not everyone will click the link, at least they’re making an effort to inform their customers. I like!
Pricing:
$5 full size eye shadow (in a 5 gram jar)
$2.75 lip balm
$6.00 for gloss
$2 shipping for first item, .50 cents for each additional item
Madd Style’s sample program is being revamped. They will be offering 10 samples for $5. The samples will be chosen by the buyer and will come in clamshells.
Glitter & Doom was used in the crease and outer v for this look, on top of MAC greasepaint stick in B.
I found the eye shadows to be really pretty. The pigmentation is good and the application was smooth. The lip balms have a good texture (though I now prefer pistachio butter in my lippies) and the scents really do fit with the way they’re described. Cherry Bomb is amazing if you love cherries, which I do.
I HATED the smell of Knock off, mostly because I hate cheesecake. However, the color is beautiful. I love pinks with blue duochrome and sparkle and this color is no exception. It’s really pretty.
Would I purchase from Madd Style?
No. While I like the products I tried, I did not like the rabid flaming on my blog from fans of the company. I do not appreciate personal attacks of any sort.
Have you tried Madd Style? If so, what did you think?
Products sent for consideration. All opinions are my own.
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I haven’t but the packaging got my attention. Anything with skulls. I agree about baller…It is a common phrase around here. I don’t use it and that sounds gross…I will check this out…..colors look really nice….
It’s such an odd phrase to me.
Kick Ass and Time Warp have some crazy glitter action going on – beautiful!
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They are pretty!
I’ve been completely put off this brand after Greys awful experience. Still not sure I’d buy off them but it’s nice to know that they’re not always rubbish! But what on earth does ‘Baller’ mean? It just sounds like something you’d call someone who plays with balls
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My thought is that they took her criticism and tried to improve.
I’m not sure exactly what baller means.
(N)
1. One who exhibits a consistent proficency at-, or exuberant love for the game of basketball.
2. One whose person has been fully and successfully established in numerous social circles (esp. one who is extremely popular with both the male and female members of any given social group)
3. One whose status in society has been earned by one’s possession of “game” (that is, proficiency at the game of life)
Thank you, Urban Dictionary…lol
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Thank you! Odd expession
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I hope that’s true
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All I think of when I see “MADD” is Mothers Against Drunk Driving O_o
I love the names of the shadows and the colors look really good, but all that ‘madd baller’ stuff totally turns me off.
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I think Madd comes from the Cheshire Cat, ‘We’re All Mad Here’
Interesting that you had such a different experience with them than Grey did. I wonder if it’s because they solicited a review, or if it’s because they’ve actually made changes for the better? Let’s hope it’s the latter. The colors you got *do* look nice.
I also agree with Scrangie about what seeing “MADD” makes me think of. Drunk driving really pisses those mothers off.
My thought is that Mo took Grey’s criticisms and improved.
I’m kinda over the sugar skull motif, actually. A) It’s for a specific holiday; I’d think it odd if someone used Easter eggs all over their packaging, too. B) Everyone’s been using it lately, to the point where it’s lost all impact for me.
I honestly don’t know if I’d try them or not. What bothered me most about Grey’s review was the landslide of comments recounting similar experiences. While your products look nice & clean, they were specifically sent to a well-known blogger, so who knows if they were just trying to put their best foot forward?
I also find the owner’s online persona a bit grating. I guess the people who follow her on YouTube/Facebook/blog will like her products no matter what, but the cult-of-personality marketing tactic can backfire pretty easily (plus it’s a pet peeve of mine).
On the other hand, it’s also entirely possible that she’s doing her best to improve over a shaky beginning and that the products are objectively good enough to overlook the style. At this point though, I’m not willing to put up the cash to find out. Maybe someday.
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I think that she’s trying to do her best to improve over her beginning.
What’s really sad here is that people have confused Madd Style’s “shaky beginnings” with Glittersniffer Cosmetics’ recent customer service/fraudulent business practices/FDA violations nightmare. Most of what Grey posted was either opinion (which is valid), speculation (like the fingerprints in the pots – most companies do that to one for photos only which is not resold), or was something that GLITTERSNIFFER COSMETICS did. These two companies were never affiliated. It is true that as an individual, Mo and many others, myself included, promoted Lela’s company until we learned about the fraud and FDA violations. Many of us came out and are continuing to work with authorities to bring GS to justice however, what Lela Warren does with her company has no reflection on what Mo does with hers.
It makes me sad to see a woman who works so hard to do everything above board be blamed for the fraudulent and dangerous behavior of someone else entirely. Insert sad face here.
I should add that any company which encourages their customers to do objective research instead of blindly trusting them has my respect.
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Yeah, I honestly found that really cool!
I sent her a message asking about the charity fraud. Waiting for a response.
I commented on Grey’s blog about this as well. I ordered 2 mystery charity products and only got 1 which was not labeled or sealed (sad face). A friend of mine who was at the time a new blogger was doing a giveaway to attract readers, and this company offered products to donate for the prize. The products she got were sort of…”off” i guess. They weren’t sealed, the labels were different and faded, and it seemed like she was sent some failed or “oops” products, which is really no way to attract business!
I am hoping things have improved. I can’t speak for her pigments, but I guess it would be nice to hear from the seller about some of these issues to know she was taking steps to change these things.
After all, there has been soooo much controversy lately with companies like GlitterSniffer that make people uneasy with buying from indie companies. Now sellers really need to step up their customer service, and really listen to what people need to feel safe.
lol, baller is a word I have not heard since high school! I didn’t know it was even used anymore & the way she’s using it there doesnt quite fit the way I heard it in school. Back in high school baller was like ghetto slang. For example if you had a decent amount of cash you were “ballin.” Madd Style was on my to try list but after I noticed Grey’s review I have become quite hesitant despite the temptation of that duo-gloss….I’ll probably cave in one of these days & try her stuff out but idk if it will be anytime soon….
I remembered Grey’s review and her experience was awful.
However, it seems like Madd Style has worked to improve since then, so I didn’t think there would be any harm in me trying them out and reviewing them.
I’m kinda confused, I was told this company used to work closely with Glittersniffer Cosmetics. Also a lot of their stuff is supposedly repacks and the majority of it is not FDA approved.. can you clear this up?
Also, a lot of highschool kids that think they’re hardcore/thugs use the term “baller,” here, lol.
Yes, I asked the owner about that before deciding to review. She used to work with Lela and help promote Lela’s company. However, after seeing some of the horrible things that Lela did, she stopped associating with her.
The colors I received did not appear to be repackaged colors to me. The ingredients are listed for each of the different shadows in their listings (I gave 2 shadow ingredients listings above as examples), and for the ones I was sent, they met FDA regulations as far as I could see.
Thank you for clearing that up! I’m probably mistaken now, but I thought she was one of the companies on etsy that sold neons as eyeshadows. Her lipglosses do look gorgeous!
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I don’t think she has any neons listed, and none of the colors sent to me were neons. She may have in the past, but I’m not sure.
I hope she really is trying to Grey’s constructive criticism and work to make improvements.
I checked out the site and the whole “baller” thing kinda turns me off too. It was ghetto slang when I was younger (and I lived in the ghetto). To me, make up is about making yourself feel special, glamorous, etc and ghetto slang just doesn’t convey that message to me…but that’s just me
I did, however, really like the look you put together with the products that were sent to you!
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Like I mentioned up above, baller makes me think of balls in the face, totally not what I want when I’m doing makeup
I like the packaging and the E/S look really pigmented!
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The eye shadows do have good pigmentation.
OMG! what happened here? O.o
i am not from the states but i believe the word baller is a slang for someone who is filthy rich or excels in whatever he does, hence a successful person.
i feel really bad that you have to go through all of this phyrra when all you did is share your honest opinion.
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I don’t think I would ever purchase from this company. Any company that has to be told to be hygienic by their own customers… gives me the heebie jeebies.
Also, (and maybe this is just a personal thing) I don’t care for the fact that a lot of the product names are copyrighted, trademarked names or movie quotes. Someone else did the hard work of being creative and all she had to do was scan her living room or kitchen when coming up with a name.
I have to admit, I’m a sucker for named related to geeky things, so seeing names like that tends to make me happy.
Final Fantasy looks so cool!
I like their packaging design.
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The design is pretty nice!
I can honestly say I’m taken back by the colours showing (and I just smile at that skull logo, very cool). I really like time warp, glitter and doom and Illuminati.
The price and shipping seem very reasonable as well. I look forward to placing an order when I can – another to add to the list !!! Thanks for the review
You’re welcome! I definitely feel the prices are reasonable.
Hi, I can tell you that I’ve had nothing but good experiences with MSC. The pigments have always had sifter seals that were sealed tightly. I’ve never had any leaked product.
The lip products have always been heat-sealed in plastic.
I know that Mo has repeatedly stated that the fingerprints are in the pots of pigments from HER OWN PERSONAL collection, not products she packages for retail.
I know everyone has different experiences and I can appreciate that, but I truly do enjoy my MSC.
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Hi Everyone! I’m Mo, I run Madd Style Cosmetics. First, a big thank you for doing this review, it was greatly appreciated. Also, I just want to clear some things up as I see there is some misinformation within the comments.
Grey, I quite honestly think you have me confused with Lela from Glittersniffer Cosmetics. While I was at one point a model for said company, I an in no way affiliated with their business or practice.
THEY are currently undergoing investigation for a charity fraud, however I have nothing to do with that. Not only are my ethics and moral in check, but so is my common sense.
On the subject of cleanliness, I can assure you that I take every proper step possible to insure a safe and clean product. I am fda serv-safe certified and don’t take this topic lightly. I’ve never been told to be hygenic by my customers (although we did say that to gs). While you can believe what you want to believe, spreading rumors as fact that you recieved “used” and unclean product is not only mean, but just childish in general. I would hope that is anyone seriously has a problem about my product, that they contact me immediately to get it sorted out.
I’ve also always sealed my products, and yes, whilie I do put fingerprints in the pots to take pictures of them this in no way is any indication that I am “dirty”. Those are in fact my personal pigments, I believe I should be able to do whatever I would like with them.
Baller. It’s an adjective. It’s the same as saying awesome. If an adjective or my personality turn you off from buying my product, then my apologies. I pretty easy going and super nice, I would like to think someones blind prejudices wouldn’t impede them from purchasing quality products.
If anyone has anymore legitimate concerns, I’m here!
Just back reading:
I’ve NEVER sold neons, nor have I sent any items out for review for new blogges. I just recently started doing press packets.
I am fully aware that a bunch of cosmetics companies just seemed to pop out of nowhere lately, and while it can be confusing to keep them all seperated in mind, I honestly feel you all should do more research on which company does what.
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I’ve been lurking Mo’s products and have been purchasing for quite some time and have never run into issues when ordering. My pots are always filled all the way with pigment, I’ve never had a lid unscrew during shipment (even if they do in the future, the sifter seals are applied fittingly), and have always received my orders in a timely manner.
My understanding from the “2 Dolla Holla” was that the more you spent, the more you got. Not where you would get a set of something for each one you purchased.
The thing I really appreciate about Maddstyle is that they consistently look for ways to improve their business and customer experience. While the vocabulary in listings is not your run of the mill professionalism, Madd Style is about having fun and looking good while doing it
Thanks for doing a review!
I have been ordering from Mo since before she sold the pigments. She did not used to heat seal her lip bombs, but she does now. Mo is VERY hygenic, seeing as how she is certified by the state Safe-Serv. CERTIFIED! I don’t know any other sellers that have that certification, do you Grey? If so, I would like to know who they are.
I own almost the whole collection, and will continue to buy more and more. I have to say I enjoyed this review, but the comments are off-putting. Are you just out to stir drama Grey?
I’ve been ordering from Mo, for almost a year now. It started with the lip bombz, and has no progressed into pigments.
I have kids, who love to playi n my makeup, so cleanliness/hygein is of the upmost importance to me when purchasing a product.
All of my products have been clean, detailed, and all look amazing. They come packaged well, they are shipped within a reasonable time (I believe every Wednesday she ships) and anytime I have a question, I get a response back from Mo in no time at all.
Can’t help but wondering why Grey is trying to start issues. Most of the things she has said, are things Glittersniffer cosmetics is in trouble for.
Grey is confusing Madd Style Cosmetics with another unaffiliated company.
Glittersniffer Cosmetics, which is in no way affiliated with MSC, is under investigation by PayPal and the FBI for not delivering products ordered and for accepting money for fake “charity” drives in addition to a few other things. Also, the FDA has been alerted that Glittersniffer was knowingly selling soap dyes as cosmetics and is investigating her as well.
Additionally, it would appear that Grey has a personal vendetta against Madd Style and one can only hope that it is because of the confusion with GS. For example, it is incorrect to say a product “was used” when she had no way of knowing that as a fact and is truly only able to state her opinion: that it appeared that way to her. While Grey and everyone else have valid opinions about various products and marketing – that is, it’s OK if they don’t like something. Everyone isn’t going to like everything. However, the invention of false facts based on emotional reactions and assumptions is pretty cruel in addition to being flat out incorrect.
I am a repeat Madd Style customer. I’ve ordered lip balms and pigments. Everything I’ve gotten has been on the up-and-up, and I’m pleased to say, well packaged and of great quality. I was nervous at first because of the GS flustercluck, but Mo has restored my faith in indie cosmetics, and I’m not one of her FB friends, so it’s definitely not a cult of personality thing.
As an aside, baller is a bit outside my speech patterns, but I love the geeky names, a lot.
Glitter & Doom and Final Fantasy both look great, might need to try them out at some point
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p.s. Baller – was originally slang for anyone (usually coming from humble beginnings) who made it “big” as a ball player. After a while, it grew in usage to include anyone who was exceptionally proficient in something and now, through common usage, has a meaning equivalent to “gnarly, rad, the shit, cool, bad-ass (none of which have the same literal and slang meanings)
I have purchased from Madd Styles 3 times since December. I would do it more often, but cash flow has been low. However, I have bought a LOT of items when I do. Not a single item was unsealed, opened, used or problematic. After using glittersniffer items, I’ve had constant eye problems. Almost everything aggravates them and burns. Madd Style makeup is one of the very few things I can still use without a single problem, so I love it! The colors are very vibrant and every pot has come stuffed full
I’m also an obsessive chapstick user. I’d put it on about 10 times a day or more. Since I started using her sugar scrub & lip balms I only need to apply after eating, so I’m a big fan 
I think making cruddy remarks regarding how she decides to describe her things or act as a person is rather childish and immature. If you don’t like it, don’t look at it. It’s really that simple. And she should not be help responsible for things her fans say, seeing as that is not something she can control. Lastly, yes sugar skulls originated from a specific holiday. But they have since worked their way into a sub culture group of people and are embraced for their aesthetic appeal. My daughter recently picked out a pair of sheets that had them on it, so they have definitely crossed over into other areas
I’m a repeat customer of MSC, and have nothing but good things to say.
My lippies have *always* come heat-sealed in plastic wrap where you have to tear the plastic down the middle and then peal off, so they are securely wrapped and I love that– that is a main reason I keep coming back to her.
My pigments I order are bright, apply flawlessly and always come with a sifter, a black lid and sealed *tight*. I have not had a spillage to date within my three plus orders.
I will continue to order from MSC because of her great customer service, dedication to seeing my packages are well packaged and shipped as soon as she can. I absolutely *love* the geeky names, I’m a geek myself and that’s what also turned me onto this company. I don’t typically use the word “ballerness” so I have to look past that for the overall product description and I believe that Mo describes her products perfectly in color, texture and photos.
I also was nervous at first because of all that went on with Glittersniffer Cosmetics– and I believe Grey has MSC confused with this company which produced un-safe eye neons, multiple spillages in and lost packages, etc. I was very happy that Mo doesn’t produce any of this– her products are eye AND lip safe, she lists ingredients and allergy warnings, etc.
While I’m a facebook friend, I’m also a customer on a neutral front posting about her satisfying purchasing experiences. Would I buy from Mo again? A resounding, “Yes!”
I placed my first order about a month ago, after I placed the order I read Grey’s blog and got a little scared as I was one of the people caught up in the Glittersniffer debacle. I was thinking “oh no, not again”, but when I received my items, I was delighted. Everything was professionally sealed, her pigments had sifters and sifter stickers and the colours were beautiful! I also ordered a lip bomb and a solid perfume and I love them both. I would recommend Madd Style without hesitation
PS: Nana’s Tea Party and Outlaw Star were both in my order, they are gorgeous <3
lol @ people freaking out about the term, ‘baller’.
glitter and doom looks AMAZING and i’d totally buy it! I also have to say.. it’s sad when a company has a rough start and makes mistakes, but then does their best to overcome them and do better… but pissed customers from the past can’t let it go. i’m not saying anything about anyone posting here, but i’ve seen this happen quite a bit.
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I also just want to add one more thing before I head off to work. I’ve only deleted ONE youtube video and that was because I was so annoyingly GUSHING about how much I loved Lela of Glittersniffer Cosmetics. After I walked away from the company for such ridiculous and harmful business practices, I didn’t think it was necessary to keep said video up bc my views on her and gs had changed. I will be putting disclaimers in all of my videos that I no longer support gs, however I will never delete them (i think they are entertaining). I would also like to point out the “cleanliness” I was “called out on” was me drinking a glass of water on camera.
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Just to add my bit-
I have ordered from MSC… COUNTLESS times. Probably a dozen or so orders. I have many pigments, lip bombs, lip gloss, and awesome sauce. I have not had a SINGLE issue.
I received every item, every item has been sealed, nothing has ever spilled, I get them in a very timely fashion, and the products are amazing in quality. I wear MSC almost every day.
I am not friends with Mo personally on facebook so there is no cult-like behavior- that’s a different company!
P.S. Phyrra, I highly recommend Nana’s Tea Party. It’s my favorite blue, and has actually become one of my “go to” looks! =)
Grey, Phyrra and I often review the same companies and share a lot of readers, but we are different people and our opinions and experiences will not necessarily be similar – if they always were, there’d be little point in us having three blogs and we might as well merge into one ubermegazord-blog.
Personally, I opt not to try Madd Style because I detest their product copy. Since copywriting is my aspiration, seeing a style I intensely dislike is enough to make me shop elsewhere. It’s also why I don’t shop with Brazen or Very Strange Women or a bunch of other companies.
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Everybody who’s trying to pound on Grey, great strategy! Since she’s one of my (and just about everyone elses) favorite / most respected bloggers, talking shit about her while proclaiming how GREAT Madd Style is really makes me want to shop at Madd Style! OBVIOUSLY she is getting Glittersniffer and Madd Style confused, since she hasn’t done very many reviews and never researches the companies at all!
SHAKING MY DAMN HEAD.
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Sorry Phyrra for adding to the drama but I wanted to say my piece :/ totally understand if you want to take it down later.
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I like Final Fantasy! Looks like an interesting company, I do like the funky visuals! I don’t think I could get away with using ‘baller’ in a sentence. It does make me think of balls in the face :S
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Essentially – everyone chill out. Phyrra isn’t in the wrong by reviewing them positively and Grey isn’t in the wrong by reviewing them negatively. They both had different experiences and they’re different people.
Neither should feel pressured to be dishonest just to agree with their friend. It’s also worth pointing out that you don’t have to agree with the blogger’s opinion in order to enjoy their blog.
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*raises hand* I for one have never had issues with Mo, or Madd Style. And I have been working with her as a seller since before she did cosmetics, when she did jewelry and sewing. I was chatting with her when she mentioned starting cosmetics and that she has/had been doing extensive research. She also works in the food industry and I know is more than prudent with her safety and sanitation practices.
I as well, thing that Grey is confusing MSC with Glittersniffer. Totally not the same thing at all.
Plus, Mo lists her ingredients, and CHALLENGES you to look them up and even gives you a link… need more be said?