Nixed

The companies listed below are companies that I refuse to shop at for various reasons. Mostly it’s due to bad customer service, but some are for questionable business practices or ethics, or products that don’t meet my standards.

FaceFront (I had to open a Paypal claim to get what I paid for. I was repeatedly lied to by the company. I sent several e-mails that were ignored and phone calls that were never returned. I’ve been harassed ever since I posted my first negative review in February 2009 by people from this company or connected to the company, and continue to get abusive comments from them or a person connected to the company as recently as February 2011. They tried to advertise on my blog via Project Wonderful, and as recently as Feb.  17, 2011 they spammed my email.)

Orglamix (I didn’t like the product.  To me it didn’t appear to be unique and when compared to TKB micas they looked extremely similar in many cases.  They didn’t seem to have a base or be a finished eye shadow product. They didn’t work for me, and I said so. I received a cease & desist from the company because they didn’t like me telling people that I didn’t like the product. They have since contacted me with a request to “kiss & make up” in Sept. 2010, and most recently in Feb. 2011 contacted me wanting to do a giveaway or review.  Additionally, it appears that this company may be following in Glittersniffer’s footprints with allegedly unsafe eye pigments. Updated to add: Seems like the company stopped selling online.)

GlitterSniffer Cosmetics (I didn’t like the product. I felt like it wasn’t unique, and when compared to my TKB micas they looked extremely similar in many cases. I was later contacted by the company to give them a second chance and declined in July 2010. This was after I found out they were selling soap dyes as eye shadows.  With the recent drama, there’s now evidence of charity fraud and other sordid things. Here is Aijuswhanakno‘s experience and this is Rebecca’s experience. Also, Ana put together an awesome post about them. There’s also a Complaints blog and a Scam blog. When not one, but two websites exist entirely to discuss the numerous ways in which you have wronged or ripped people off, maybe you should start to consider that there was something in all those negative reviews you got.)

Everyday Minerals They had questionable customer service and issues with changing the ingredients in products and not updating the labels. When I tried their products I was not impressed.

Lime Crime (here is my friend Ana’s experience with Lime Crime and here is my friend Saila’s experience with them, and here is my friend Lillian’s. Here is an update from Ana about Lime Crime.)

Archetype Cosmetics (I sent several e-mails and never received a response. I had to open a Paypal claim to get back the money I paid. I then received the product.  Because I received the product, I closed the PayPal dispute. The company never responded or contacted me in any way. There was a complete lack of any service whatsoever. In case you didn’t know, you need to open a PayPal Dispute and then escalate the claim if you’re in a situation where you haven’t gotten what you paid for, and you haven’t gotten a response back from the merchant. It sucks, but no customer service sucks, too.  Ultimately, I’d rather spend my money elsewhere.)

Pure Luxe Cosmetics (The products seemed to be nothing special, reminiscent of Orglamix. Also, here’s the comment that they left at the Mineral Makeup Mutiny.)

Madd Style (I liked the products that I tried but not the personal attacks made on my blog by fans. Making threats to people and their families is awful.)

Vicious Cosmetics – (I liked the products that I tried but emails from multiple readers with screenshots and concerns about how personal information was handled made me uncomfortable.)

Stars Makeup Haven (I like the products but their customer service is awful. Read my experiences and others here. If you want to purchase them, go through All Cosmetics Wholesale.)
Calypso Minerals
Taylor Made Minerals
Sweet Libertine Mineral Cosmetics
High Voltage Cosmetics
Stardust Cosmetics