Check out this amazing-- er "fan" art by Purrtle Ote, a disgruntled long-time Lime Crime customer who scrimped and saved on a student budget to splash out on Lime Crime, only to be bitterly disappointed.
So, this whole Lime Crime thing really exploded, eh? Who would've thunk it. Honestly, when I took the plunge and bought my own Lime Crime stuff, I was really excited about it. Like many of you have commented, I thought I'd be getting something unique, something bright, something worth blogging about.
I suppose I did get the latter, although it certainly wasn't what I expected. There's been a lot of criticism from Lime Crime's die-hard fans, and to these people I say: Who cares? Really, I'm not slandering the company, I'm not hampering your ability to enjoy their products, and I'm not suggesting you should stop buying from them.
If, after learning that Lime Crime's eyeshadows appear identical (to my eye) to repackaged micas from generic wholesalers, and have the same ingredients listed, you still want to pay $164 an ounce more than you have to for something which looks like the same product, you are more than welcome to. In fact, I've got a bridge you might be interested in.
They're Onto Us - Quick, Wheel Out The Lipsticks!
Obviously, what we all want to know is whether these are repackaged or not. I recall some blog post of hers recently talking about how she makes them, the negative comments on it allegedly being removed - as is their habit - and a photograph of her swatching unhygenically on the back of her hand in a "lab" in front of a machine which doesn't appear to be plugged in. Well, I'm convinced.
The fact of the matter is that I don't know whether they're repackaged or not, and I don't want to speculate. I really hope they're not. I hope all the "OMGLOOKOVERTHERESHINYLIPSTICK" tactics Lime Crime have been employing actually do support something which is a genuinely good product - but I have no idea. Some have suggested that these are repackaged Stargazer lipsticks. Again, I don't know. However, blogger friend o'mine Grey got her hands on a bunch of Stargazer and Lime Crime lipsticks for comparison.
I believe she's still waiting for the Lime Crime ones to arrive, so we're all anxiously awaiting the results. Either way, Stargazer make pretty awesome lipsticks, so you should definitely check that out.
[UPDATE: Grey posted an exhaustive review of her Lime Crime lipsticks and was reportedly threatened by legal action from Lime Crime into removing it. It has been reposted by another blogger, you can read about it here.]
Dupes, You Say?
Pink Poodle- TKB cloissone red
Snow Queen- TKB Sparkle Turquoise
Elf- TKB apple green pop
Pompadour- TKB Colorona dark blue
Princess Caraboo- TKB Emerald
Primadonna- TKB Strawberry POP
Empress- TKB Grape POP
Nymph- TKB Hi-lite gold
Siren- TKB Hot Mama
Medusa- TKB Blackstar Blue
Circus Girl- TKB lemon drop POP
Fairy Wings- TKB Hi-lite violet
Enchant-TKB Blackstar Green
Shoe Addict- TKB Blueberry POP
Twilight- TKB Ballad Blue
Mermaid- TKB Coral Reef Blue
Duchess- TKB Indian Blue
Mirror Mirror- TKB Antique Silver
Dragon Scales- TKB Chameleon Glitter
Lime Criminal - Actually a blend! 50/50 TKB Lemon POP and TKB Green Apple POP
Glorious Capitalism.
A lot of people have said that buying an allegedly identical product and paying more for it is not a foreign concept in business, and they're right. The issue being that Lime Crime claimed that their products were unique, created by their owner, Xenia/Doe Deere, and brighter than anything else on the market. There's no problem at all with buying the same thing, but branded, provided you know that's what you're doing, and the company isn't purposefully misleading you.E-mail them for yourself and ask them outright if their eyeshadows are created by them or simply repackaged, and you'll get a reply which may express disappointment that you'd believe something like that, and a vague implication that everyone else in the world copied them, and that's why things look 'similar'. What you will not get, dear readers, is a firm yes or no.
If, after the e-mail, you're still doubtful, google "Lime Crime". Note all the glowing reviews and mentions. Now, google "Lime Crime repackage". That's the power of PR and google bombing for you.
Hell, if Lime Crime want to send me a sample of one of their original "Magic Dusts", and I can't find an identical dupe for it, cheaper, from a wholesaler, I'll give them a fucking public apology. Who's betting they'll take me up on it?
I Predict A Riot.
This aside, there's another reason why people need to give a crap about repackaged mineral make-up. It's not just that it gives all mineral make-up companies a bad name - although that's a factor - but it's about value. If you willingly spend over 40x more on a product you're buying from someone who's ripping you off, you're devaluing your money, your time and effort that went into making it, and yourself.
We should all, as consumers, value ourselves and what we earn higher than putting up with this crap. Mineral make-up should be fun, safe, and we should be able to enjoy the cosy "small business" feel of dealing with individuals and still getting great products. We shouldn't be supporting repackaged, generic products, PR spin and censorship.
It isn't just Lime Crime in the cross hairs and it isn't just consumers speaking out. It's everyone who sells repackaged products and the industry is turning. Beauty From The Earth, mineral make-up company who started by selling repackaged products and went on to create over a hundred of their own, beautiful unique shades, are now discontinuing all their repackaged colours. Mineral make-up guru Phyrra has an ever-growing list of companies who make their own stuff, and more and more companies are turning over a new leaf and being added to it.
Hey, if you're the person running the Mutiny's wordpress, get in touch.
It's time to recognise that individuals have power, consumers have rights and that we should all think a hell of a lot more of ourselves and not be taken for a ride. It's change or die - you can't beat us, so you should join us. Support the mineral make-up mutiny and stand up for your value.
119 comments:
All I can say is wow.
25 October 2009 07:18Lol, Tala, wow at what in particular? XD It's not like it's news.
25 October 2009 07:19What do we want?!
25 October 2009 08:01For small independant mineral make-up companies to create unique and innovative products and to stop passing off generic products manufactured by wholesalers as their own!
When do we want it?!
Now!
Yes, exactly. Rofl.
25 October 2009 08:02Wow. Well that's an essay that deserves an A+ in my book.
25 October 2009 09:01That was worth waiting a bit for you to be back :-)
'Wow' is so vague! Arrrghh. Anyway, I can't believe anyone is supporting Lime Crime still, even after they've been found out, who wants to thrw their money in the toilet? I don't get it...Oh I know maybe it's all the same person or a random computer matrix set up to defend themselves lol I think it's fine and dandy to repackage if like, you said, they make it known or be truthful when they are confronted, but isn't what they're doing illegal? How could anyone feel okay about ripping people off? Boggles the mind!
25 October 2009 09:02To be honest Ana, I'm just saying wow at the whole situation. Sometimes people still flabbergast me and I really don't know why because very few things shock me...it's just I still can't believe people still do certain things.
25 October 2009 09:03Aha, thank you Muse <3 Well, you know what I'm like when I rant.
25 October 2009 09:05So much hype and stuff has been thrown up by the whole issue I felt like rather than hundreds of comments, I should just cover everything in one go.
I know, right, Aleksis? Surely by now their fanbase consists of the aforementioned bridge-buyers and then people who simply don't google hard enough.
25 October 2009 09:06This is why I hope that their lipsticks really are worth focusing their attention on, but tbh I'd have a lot more respect if they came out and admitted it and just got on with making real make-up.
Ahh, yeah. My brother said it was rather overly dramatic, rofl.
25 October 2009 09:07The whole thing is mad, it all kind've exploded out and I've actually gotten complaints from die-hard fans. Like I'm damaging their belief system or something <_<;
Amazing post...really well thought out and put together...thanks for flagging it up - was just about to feature Lime Crime on my blog...thinking twice now. XX
25 October 2009 11:54Lol that fan art is awesome. Never bought from Lime Crime and don't intend to now. Thanks for these posts, best to know the TRUTH! x
25 October 2009 12:29Thanks, britishbeautyblogger. It's always nice to be appreciated. Sometimes I ramble on and have to remind myself to stop and make sure I'm coherent.
25 October 2009 13:02If you're interested in digging out the truth, give "lime crime repackages" a google and see what comes up.
Isn't it just Lu? It's like anti-fan art. Better than my lime-in-jail anyway.
25 October 2009 13:03Absolutely, save your money x.x
I've seen the comment "this is what business is about" quite a few times related to the whole limecrime hoopla. Well if that is how business works then it is time for the people who actually keep companies in business, the CUSTOMERS, to stand up for their rights.
25 October 2009 13:20To be honest I sometimes find myself doubting whether or not the whole LC repackaging (and all of the other scams Xenia has been involved in according to several sources) is true, because in my mind it is so despicable to toy around with people like that, that I can't really get my head around it. I dan't understand how someone can sleep decently at night, knowing that they're knowingly ripping people off!
oopsie, now I'm ranting. In any case I'm happy that you're doing follow-ups on this whole thing. I think it's good to stick by the subject to figure out what's really going on so no one can accuse you of just gossiping.
I can understand the skepticism, especially around stuff like the charity and all that - I don't know about that, but I know what I bought from them and the dodgy replies they've given people via e-mail, refusing to give a straight yes or no, and I've seen people's comments deleted repeatedly whenever they ask publicly about it. I've no doubt she'd delete my blog if she could ._.
25 October 2009 13:27I don't want to blog about LC continually, but with all the controversy going around I figured it was better to address it, and praise companies like BFTE and Aromaleigh for doing it right.
I was a little unsure about the repackaging until I read your post; with the swatches and most of all by their response to your e-mail that just wasn't here nor there, just some PR babble without a clear answer.
25 October 2009 14:09I find it all very interesting, I'm rather new to the mineral make-up thing, and I love the fact that you and other consumers stand up for yourselves and demand qualitative (and honest)products. All make-up consumers, including newbies like me, benefit from it!
I think people still buy not knowing the truth yet, or doing enough research. I found it all by complete accident, I don't remember what I was looking up. I'm glad I did. I was never going to pay $12 for something I can't test and now know where to get the real thing.
25 October 2009 18:48The people who do know the rest of the story and still want to waste their paycheques on the pretty unicorns obviously just do it for the packaging.
I saw on another blog (can't remember right now it was in a comments section) That LC Pompadour is TKB Sapphire (on the list it says sapphire is sapphire)
I'm trying to get the comments out on youtube so people know. Everyone should spread the word on this fraud! She's disgracing the unicorn! :D
so, she's going to some big makeup thing huh? I wonder if we should tell these makeup people what shes really up to, or do you think theyll see through her ruse?
25 October 2009 19:25I really like that picture!!
25 October 2009 20:12Also, someone told me this morning "The unicorns are crying, Xenia. Can you hear them?"
Great post!
25 October 2009 20:30I think this discussion is upsetting to die-hard LC fans because they want to escape their grey lives to the incredible world of unicorns where Xenia is the fairy queen. People WANT to believe but in Lime Crime's case I think the probability that their products are original and handcrafted by Xenia is that there's a pot of gold and a leprechaun waiting for you at the end of a rainbow. It's just not happening.
I'm so beating myself up on being so blind and so stupid for far too long. I'm not going to pay $12 for something that I can buy for a lot less. And this is not a case of replacing a designer item with a copy of the same item: it's about paying a designer item price for a copy. If someone wants to do that then fine. But there still won't be unicorns running around on your front lawn.
Like Recessionista who commented on my blog said, I also think that Xenia's philosophy is that there's a sucker born every minute.
25 October 2009 21:20I don't think she gives a damn about people. I think she enjoys lying to people. She probably thinks she's better than everyone.
No one should beat themselves up over being duped by Xenia. She has lied about everything from the start.
I'm glad there are stores we can trust....
25 October 2009 22:07I'm looking foward to buy from OCC and Aromaleigh, for I've seen their products and loved them - and they are not telling lies.
I do believe Xenia is doing the lipstick line by herself. - Or at least I want to, 'cause I've spent money on them before finding out about the whole repackaging thing...
Still, I'll not buy eyeshadows from her ever again.
I like her make-up tutorials and I'll still read them, still, looking at her blog hurts me a little, 'cause she might be fooling people around and that's wrong.
I miss the days her blog was full of tutorials, no brand name, no fancy photoshoots....
I think fame took over her head? Dunno...
I've been wary of this for a while but the cat's really out of the bag now, isn't it? Haha. Well, I'm happy for that.. as a result, I think I'm a much more selective shopper now..
26 October 2009 04:10I'm right there with Cacau. =/
26 October 2009 06:26For a little bit, I'll admit, I was really taken in by the entire fairy princess charm. I needed a wake up slap of realism. Good-bye Doe Deere (I've always wondered why on earth someone would use such a redundant name) Blogazine; hello Lipsticks & Lightsabers!
Mmm. I'm feeling the old, familiar comfort of reality enveloping me. Welcome back to my skull clear-thinking mind.
I'm so glad there are bloggers like you, Phyrra, and Grey. You ladies are truly amazing for un-covering this. Please don't stop pulling the wool off of our eyes and showing us other companies that do this.
26 October 2009 07:58<3
Pixie and Nymph
That picture is awesome!
26 October 2009 11:41I'm surprised that are people that still support Lime Crime, although most of the people that still buy from her probably don't know the truth yet.
And I'm tired of the "this is common practice in business" comment. I know there are lots of companies that sell the same products at a higher price but that doesn't make it right. We, the consumers, work hard to earn our money, and we have the right to know what we are buying and not being lied to. If you know that you're buying a repackaged product and don't care paying a lot more for the packaging and brand image then fine, but I'd rather buy from companies with good ethics that make their own products.
I really hope that she is making her own lipstick line but it will take a lot more than a picture of her in a lab to convince me. She has lied too many times before.
Got my lipsticks today.
26 October 2009 21:04The colors are darker than the swatches, though that may be them not truly being opaque. My lips are very pigmented. They go on poorly, and you can forget trying to apply them over a lip balm. I'm reminded of little children play lipsticks, and that isn't a good thing.
I ordered the blue one and the light pink one, hoping to use the blue for Halloween and pink for everyday stuff. Doubt I'll get much use out of either.
I posted previously that I had compared LC's Empress to Grape Pop from TKB trading. I wanted to post the swatches since you asked if anybody had them. =) I think they are pretty similar.
27 October 2009 00:02The left is Empress and the right is Grape Pop
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f181/pinksky86/AirplaneEthelandmakeup020.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f181/pinksky86/AirplaneEthelandmakeup021.jpg
Empress on the right and Grape Pop on the left in my own container.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f181/pinksky86/AirplaneEthelandmakeup022-1.jpg
PS. I love that little cartoon...soooo funny. =)
This whole things with lime crime is just sad... I used to follow her blogazine pretty religiously and I was getting ready to purchase some of her "magic dusts" and pre-order some of her new lipsticks before this whole thing broke.
27 October 2009 02:17But now I think this is making me really paranoid:
https://angelspit.net/hairsurgeon/Store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=170
I have the same brush set she advertises for $23 except I got mine off ebay for $6 (thats including shipping) and mine say Kiyale one the handles. Also her gel liners "manufactured by: Miss X Aesthetic Laboratories" look VERY familiar as do some of her other products.
Hey Mello Pumpkin, I checked out those gel liners of miss x, and they look identical to the ones over at coastal scents.
27 October 2009 03:01http://www.coastalscents.com/cfwebstore/index.cfm/category/127/gel-liners.cfm
It wouldn't be hard to slap a sticker on the top and put in in a different box.
yeah I found the link to the brushes again:
27 October 2009 03:52http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350136376360#ht_1106wt_941
aaannnnd for$28:
http://www.angelspit.net/~angelspi/hairsurgeon/Store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=170_174&products_id=1258
I figured her gel liners were the ones coastal scents and morgana minerals sold, but neither of these companies claim to manufacture them in their "labs" unless she by manufactured she means put sticker on cap :/
Her pigment jars look really similar to limecrimes old ones and it makes me think they may also be repackaged TKB
I've found a few TKB colors which are close, not exact matches, to colors from MMU companies I buy from and enjoy. The reason I keep buying them? These companies have already put in the time and effort to refined the TKB--esque colors into real makeup. They've added dimension, improved adhesion, and improved the color. Are they TKB colors that they worked on, or just colors that are similar (which is bound to happen)? I don't know, and I don't mind paying a few dollars a jar versus hours of time and a lot more to buy all the raw ingredients to refine my own. TKB micas can be worn as eye shadows, and they work great with glosses and polishes, but I prefer them mixed with the TKB Matte powder, and even then I don't think they compare to a professional quality product. Just my opinion, but if the company is taking those wholesale micas as a bouncing board to greater things, then I don't mind. What I do mind are those bland LC colors I saw swatches that made me decided not to buy them. When I want lime green I want a green so lime the people at Sonic want to use my eyelids in mixed drinks.
27 October 2009 06:18Long comment is loooooong. :)
Thanks Lou, we certainly do stand up for ourselves! You should check out the Mutiny I linked to, it has a forum where people can name & shame companies for repackaging, etc, as well as promote the companies which make their own stuff.
27 October 2009 10:48I agree, AxS, but the more people who spread the word on this, the more likely it is that Xenia might decide to try mixing her yellow with her orange and --gasp-- actually make something.
27 October 2009 10:51Until then, hopefully people can be redirected to companies that DO make their own stuff. I took advantage of a SheSpace sale the other day, and have a nice Aromaleigh Sonic Rocks! order lined up to get when I have time =D
Bhevarri, I don't follow her news anymore - now I know the company isn't worth bothering with. I'm sure they'll go for as much positive PR and events as they can, but this kind of thing really demonstrates the power of individuals, thanks to the internet people who might be silenced anywhere LC can make it happen can find other channels, and the word gets out there.
27 October 2009 11:06Cat's out of the bag, now, and anyone in the business who works with her in future ought to do their research.
Lmao, Grey! I think I might do my own bit of artwork now with that line.
27 October 2009 11:06It's great though, isn't it? With the ridiculous unicorn horn, rofl.
Saila, you win an internet for having my favourite comment here.
27 October 2009 11:09"There still won't be unicorns prancing around your front lawn"-- I actually spurted Pepsi out my nose. (Totally uncomfortable, thanks >:[ )
I'm all for escapism, but not self-delusion. If they want to believe in the sparkly candyfuture universe, they can do so without the hero-worship and without spending 4000% more on a product from a shady merchant.
I guess I'll just stick to blowing stuff up on Champions Online (I'm totally the most powerful mage there ever was) for my fantasy life.
Good point, Courtney. She's lied about pretty much everything, to everyone, and has no qualms about deleting and writing off everyone's outraged complaints without the courtesy of an explanation.
27 October 2009 11:10Definitely not worth being upset over. Don't get mad, get even, and so on.
Cacau, I'm still SO TORN on the lipsticks, arrrgh. I might buy one just to review it. I don't mind spending the money, but I'd rather throw $16 in a fire than give it to her.
27 October 2009 11:14Whether they're repackaged or not, someone posted in a later comment that they're not that great at all, which I would've suspected considering the "swatches" were just photoshopped pictures of lips.
It's always disappointing to see people doing what she's doing, especially when she's so high profile and so many girls are personally invested in the fandom. It's all coming out, though, so maybe it's just a matter of time and perhaps she'll decide to try and live up to her reputation.
Me too, Kim. I saw someone comment on Phyrra's list that they were afraid to buy stuff online now, ugh!
27 October 2009 11:18I've probably been put off MMU companies in general, which is unfair to them - but shows you what repackaging companies are doing to the industry. I think there's benefit to getting gorgeous, unique shades from GOOD companies (like the ones on her list) and also trying out the original micas from wholesalers, which are less refined but still workable.
Check out the forum on the Makeup Mutiny site, you'll see a ton of companies posted by everyone supporting the mutiny of good companies to try out.
Haha, Lo! I'm thought of as reality, hmm.
27 October 2009 11:21I spend half my day in fantasyland! I was in town yesterday, saw this banner that said "Abacus Build" on the side of some scaffolding, and thought "Huh, why would anyone use a build based on archaic mathematics?"
Which won't make any sense if you're not an RPG nerd, rofl. We all need a bit of fantasy, but it's probably worth being concerned if it ends up costing you money.
Pixie & Nymph - you can bet we will! I hesitated to post more about LC, 'cause I don't want this to be some tirade or anything, but hell, she just keeps on doing stupid shit.
27 October 2009 11:23Still, this will be a reality-sandwich! Something bad about a company, and something good about the ones who're doing the right thing.
Props to BFTE for getting rid of their repackaged stuff and marking whatever they keep as repackaged.
I agree entirely, Gio. I think most of us are just tired of her crap, by this point.
27 October 2009 11:25I'd like to get my hands on a Lime Crime lipstick to try it out, but I can't get past the desire not to give her money, now. I'd rather just throw $16 away instead.
It's coming out, and the more people who talk about it, the more people find out before they part with their cash, etc, and hopefully will find the great MMU companies that really DO support innovation instead of exploitation.
That's interesting to hear, Lo. I would've been suspicious because of the photoshopped swatches, about how good the formula is.
27 October 2009 11:26If you do a proper review (or if you don't have a blog or don't want to do it on yours, you're welcome to do a guest review here) pleaaaseee link me so I can let people know. I just can't bring myself to buy anything else from her!
Thank you so much for the photos, Renee! I've got a post coming up with a crapton of swatches in, so if it's all right with you I'll re-post them and credit you on it.
27 October 2009 11:28It's good for continuity, certainly, to get comparative swatches from everyone with Lime Crime products. If I get enough I can do one big post on it!
I checked her out, too, Pumpkin. I was disturbed by the similar format she has going on to Lime Crime's blogazine - the same content/sections, signing off each post with a signature, the pen-name, etc. It felt eeriely familiar - like Lime Crime, but goth.
27 October 2009 11:29That's not to say I didn't love the swatches, but when I took a look at the store, my immediate reaction was that the liners looked like Coastal Scents ones, and the brush sets seemed very familiar.
Ash - don't worry hun, I can delete duplicate comments XD
27 October 2009 11:30I think Miss X may well be next on my hitlist, now.
Pumpkin - After I get my next CS/TKB order I'm going to try Miss X out and see for sure. As I said, the similarities between her format and Lime Crime's disturb me.
27 October 2009 11:31Once again, the squid posts truth.
27 October 2009 11:34God, this has been a long comment-responding-marathon, but I'm delighted to see you at the bottom, squiddie. There's merit to both getting 'finished' eyeshadow products from companies who genuinely make their own for sure, you end up with a product which is the benefit of their experience, you get the perfect formula, and the shade you want, et cetera.
And there's also something to be said for trying out the basic micas from cheap places like TKB, if you know enough to use them with primer or foil them to get good results. But yeah, LC are just selling ingredients as a finished, unique product, and ugh.
I'm just amazed at this. I've been going to the Lime Crime site often, making lists of all the bright colors that I want. I saw that Vee, of Glamor Doll Eyes, had posted a link in her most recent YouTube videos, I clicked it and through a series of clicks, ended up here. I'm glad I did. And now, looking through the list of the LC/TKB color comparisons, I am left to wonder about another company's colors. I've recently bought several Jesse's Girl eye dusts and I can't help but notice a few similarities in this list. I saw 'Blackstar Blue' and 'Cloisonne Red' in the list and instantly recognized those as names to two JG eye dust colors that I have. I went to the TKB website to check and sure enough, the colors look to be exactly the same! I'll have to do more research, but it seems that JG may be doing the same thing!
27 October 2009 14:46Thanks so much for all of your valuable information!
A lot of companies do, Greenie. It's great to get a heads up on potential repackagers - if I were you, I'd post the info on the Mutiny forums here: http://makeupmutiny.websitetoolbox.com/
27 October 2009 14:51And see if anyone else has confirmed it. If you order from TKB at all, we'd love comparative swatches, too!
Oh man, the worst part about that brush set from miss x is the fact that it's a travel size, and the hair is synthetic! So um...what exactly are you paying for? cheap, mass manufactured made-in-china wholesale brushes with pretty stickers on them. haha. Wow, we're like mineral makeup superheros here to save the poplulation from getting ripped off!
27 October 2009 20:22I think we should warn as much people as we can about all the repackaging going on.
27 October 2009 21:08Let's find ways of contacting this people before they get fooled!
Anastasia, if you like, after I get some swatches done I can send you my two lipsticks. I was planning on giving them away anyway; I have no use for them. Even the pink is completely unflattering on me, and the formula makes my sensitive lips very unhappy.
28 October 2009 04:15When I said reality I meant with the money part of my brain. ^.^ I get ready in the morning with "Do You Wanna Date my Avatar" in the background. Fantasy is great, and everyone lives partially in it (or should,) but when it dupes you into paying money for something like repackaged mica... It can't be a very good fantasy at all, can it? I'll stick to my God of War obsession; Kratos never does me wrong!
My email is lc dot rawr at gmail dot com, if you're interested in the lipsticks. (I'll clean them off, ick!)
"Kratos never does me wrong!"
28 October 2009 05:52I think we might be soul mates 0_o
My boyfriend and I have been slamming God of War 2 into the ground lately, stressful jobs make you appreciate being a super powerful badass so much more.
Doe Deere's blog and makeup line is one huge masturbatory fest. I'm amazed that she still has such a huge following. Imagine what would've happened if she actually got into the Henry Bindel trunk show.
28 October 2009 23:02It appears that the name links on all the comments on Xenia's site have been disabled. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say it's so people following the repackaging scandal can't get in contact with other girls fawning over the products?
28 October 2009 23:03Someone sent me a link enlightening me of all this stuff... shame it didn't all come to light before I bought some LC shadows, but at least I got them on sale...
Xenia's word is that it's "technical difficulties", but if she's been getting more and more complaints, I'd still wonder.
28 October 2009 23:08I've been hearing a lot lately about bigger companies using generic stuff from China and so forth and slapping their label on it -- so maybe that's next on the chopping block, Ash.
28 October 2009 23:10Thanks for bringing it to my attention <3
Oh, my face.
28 October 2009 23:16Are you keeping up with the comments on The Examiner article?
Wow, Cacau, I'm impressed! I should've thought of doing that. Judging by some of the comments here you've proactively saved some people a lot of money!
28 October 2009 23:19Oh, looks like the comment thing is just on the latest post. My bad? *shifty eyes*
28 October 2009 23:20Wow, Lo, that's really sweet of you. I'll have to send you something in return, but I'd definitely take you up on that, I reeeaaaally want to review them! xD I could get some Stargazer/Barry M etc for comparison, too.
28 October 2009 23:21I'll shoot you an e-mail and perhaps we can do a swap for 'em?
Aha, I've got "Do You Want To Date My Avatar" on my desktop. It's so true, too. Playing Champions Online earlier and had a disturbing number of people hitting on my character - including one in a hockey mask. Erk!
I feel totally lame for not playing God of War now, Squid :/ I better go get it before they revoke my geek-card.
28 October 2009 23:22Kaylin, you made me rofl. I agree entirely, it's all so fucking self-congratulatory.
28 October 2009 23:24Also, I feel the need to say again how damn fortunate I am to have some of the wittiest commentors in the world x]
Another chime in to the Lime Crime Lippies. Did anybody see that the lip liquid color on TBK is very close to My Beautiful Rocket?
28 October 2009 23:28Seems pretty likely to me, Hendrix, I wouldn't put it past them. Cacau has been spreading the word, bless her.
28 October 2009 23:31I don't buy the technical difficulties crap for a second. At least if you have some LC shades already, if you feel so inclined you can pick up the TKB versions and compare them for yourself? I have a small 5% off discount code for blog readers for them which I'll be posting up tomorrow.
I haven't been, Grey, I guess I should be? I'll go check.
28 October 2009 23:32Hm, Hendrix, I'm still not convinced. <_< It seems like strange timing, doesn't it?
28 October 2009 23:32I haven't checked those out, Kaylin, but I think I'll run it past some of the other MMU company owners who're involved in the mutiny. Since they have experience making lipsticks from dyes, etc, they might be able to shed a little light.
28 October 2009 23:47Well...the brands name says it all, doesn't it? I haven't tried Lime Crime, probably never will...but I do like her website, the tutorials are always fun to look at, even if she didn't really use this or that, or if she retouched them or whatev. I know that the world is never going to achieve peace, though I'd love it to, but knowing that people like this exist, really turns a happy world into a utopia.
29 October 2009 02:29Hi there-I write and maintain A Brown Girl's Beauty Blog, a little blog about beauty products for women of darker skin. I came across your review of Lime Crime and want to thank you for your honesty and hard work in exposing something very unkosher. I had provided a positive review of LC on my blog but upon more research, particularly through you and Gothique, I re-posted and decided to give my readers the choice.
29 October 2009 04:14I am also very proud to read the blog of somebody who speaks intelligently about make up. So often beauty blogs are nothing but product reviews. The internet can be a medium for renegades, and in the blogosphere we have the unique ability to speak honestly and openly in a way that you rarely do in print journalism. Way to be punk rock :)
Marce, I'm not sure I entirely get what you're getting at. Lime Crime existing makes the world better?
29 October 2009 13:43I agree that her tutorials and blog posts etc have merit, but I don't think more scam artists is a good thing.
Thank you, browngrrrl! That's definitely a lovely thing to hear.
29 October 2009 13:50Honestly, I don't think I'm leading some noble tirade or anything; I'm a consumer who got ripped off and doesn't stand for it. I don't think other people should, either.
I'm glad to hear you did your own research on Lime Crime and offer that up to your readers, we definitely need more of that kind of blogger. Yours is rather intelligently written, yourself! I don't go in for that 'bubblegum and ponies and yay' kind of beauty blogging. Just because I like make-up doesn't mean I'm a vapid airhead.
And, surprisingly, my readers aren't, either. I've somehow stumbled upon a treasure trove of smart, capable women who like cosmetics, various forms of geekery and are all people I'd love to play a round of Halo with.
Huh, I guess I never actually posted the comment. Ever think of doing something and then your brain becomes convinced you did do it?
29 October 2009 14:06Anyway! Go ahead and shoot me an email.
I'm hoping no one e-mailed Xenia telling they received comments about repackaging and stuff...
29 October 2009 18:47'cause if they did, that explains the lack of links on her comments page...
Yeah, Cacau, Hendrix up there^ was suggesting that's what might've happened.
29 October 2009 19:27I wouldn't put it past her.
Constantly, Lo. If I could convince others I did it, I'd never need to work.
29 October 2009 19:30*Realises she thought she sent that e-mail and didn't.*
Hm, I've been commenting a lot, but I'm afraid I might offend some bloggers out there, you know?
29 October 2009 19:34I've posted the links I have read and that shocked me and made me think and do more research....
I hope no one will feel offended x.x'
I think that's something I know a bit about, Cacau =P I guess when it's my own blog, I don't tend to worry about offending people, I just roll with it.
29 October 2009 19:44When it comes to commenting on other people's, though, it's best to try and be polite. If you're just offering up a new avenue for that to consider, that's fine. Just don't go accusing someone who wrote a positive review of being bribed, or something like that. Most people, I think, are glad to learn the truth.
Oh how I wish I had a Twitter account so I could respond to this completely pathetic Tweet she just posted:
29 October 2009 19:57"I'm the target of a lot of criticism lately, I suppose it comes with exposure. It's alright, I'm ready for it. Much <3 to all my supporters!"
But since I know she follows your blog, I'll say it here: Babe it's not because you're famous, it's because you're RIPPING PEOPLE OFF AND LYING ABOUT IT!
Not surprisingly, all her fans are responding that people are just jealous. Of course.
Oh, yes. I'm incredibly jealous of Xenia. If only I had the talent, the creativity, the innovation, to decant eyeshadow ingredients from a bag into a jar and label them.
29 October 2009 20:01If only. Still, I can dream.
I started clicking on the links of some of her'fans' and leaving comments linking back to the repackaging articles as well as telling them to google limecrime repackaged.. now all of the sudden you can't click on anyone's links and shes saying its because of technical difficulties.
29 October 2009 20:42Oh Xenia, if she ever read this...!
29 October 2009 20:44I'm not jealous. I'm disappointed. I followed her blog for a long time and then found out she was lying to everyone.
That hurts. She should know.
Oh yes. NO ONE is making the amazing colors she is.
29 October 2009 21:42http://i33.tinypic.com/21opkm1.jpg
Oh lord, Xenia's fans are bombarding her with the ass-kissing reactions she was fishing for:
29 October 2009 22:03http://twitter.com/#search?q=limecrime
"I can't think of one bad thing anyone could say about you???It def is a sign of attention of jealousy..."
"Awwwwww. Why? Who wouldn't be enamored by your charm?"
"Don't listen to them, they're just jealous and cruel. You're style and products are as amazing as you are"
Does ANYONE here have a Twitter account they want to use to reply to her fans and explain why Doh is a fraud?!
LMAO, Grey! Wow that's scary similar.
29 October 2009 22:11Yeah, Lime Crime's many smart, discerning fans. Check out their stellar spelling/grammar.
29 October 2009 22:11Strip_My_Mind @limecrime Your amazing and don't ever stop beleiving that! You make my days happy with your posts and wonderfull bright personality!
baaarooke @limecrime your doing something different & people are afraid of that. You've brightened my world & I'll alway be thankful for that!
TrixieMV @limecrime Don't listen to them, they're just jealous and cruel. You're style and products are as amazing as you are
I'm totally jealous of her illiterate fanbase, too.
I have a twitter (it was just to wish Jimmy Urine of MSI happy bday but anywhosies, my comment was "limes crimes secret ingredient Glee = bullshit" Or something along those lines
30 October 2009 00:59Me thinks I need to update now :D
I twittered that I hope she gets gored by her unicorn.
30 October 2009 01:10Oh rofl, Axs. You guys crack me up, seriously.
30 October 2009 02:23It might interest you to know that Xenia has been selling Mineral Pigments, Glitters and Eyeshadows LONG before she Launched LimeCrime Makeup. This is back in like 2005-2006 while she was doing her clothing thing. back then they were clearly repackaged pigments, in the crappy little jars (the exact same pigments in the same packaging i got from the dollar store). She sold them on her ebay and limecrime.net website and stated nothing about developing them herself.... and yet they're the same product she claims to develop now??? She has a fair bit of ebay feedback for this makeup, have a look.
30 October 2009 04:12Xenia is playing victim now:
30 October 2009 04:49http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20VR3gqqsJk
"To all the haters - I really wish you wouldn't say these mean things about my company. I poured my heart and soul into my line. You can go ahead and order from Stargazer, maybe after you see how different my lipsticks are in color, pigmentation AND formula, you'll shut up."
Doesn't surprise me, Catherine, I heard about the clothing thing. I know that TKB have been in business since 1994 - long before Lime Crime. She probably wants people to forget about all that, and just focus on the new brand image.
30 October 2009 04:57I read a quotation from her somewhere about how much she loved marketing. Aha, I can tell, love.
Purplecutie, I don't know if they're Stargazer, I think they're private label.
30 October 2009 05:00If you check the box the lipstick comes in, it says made in Los Angeles, distributed by Lime Crime. Not made by Lime Crime.
Clear enough.
I believe now that they're not Stargazers. I saw Gothique's comparison photo where the shapes are slightly different. I was merely pointing out how hilarious her comment is. She ripped off so many people, said a lot of nasty things, disrespected TKB, and now she's playing victim and whining that everyone is being mean to her company. Bullshit!
30 October 2009 05:13She reminds me of a kid who steals someone else's art, posts it as her own and then gets her jollies when people compliment her on it.
30 October 2009 05:17It's not your work, you silly bint. Grow up. I'd wager anything and everything she is is just marketing, anyway. She and her wildly, hugely successful business (who use a distribution centre that describe themselves as servicing "three very small companies") are being picked on by tiny, insignificant bloggers.
Boo fucking hoo.
They might well be different from Stargazer lipsticks. The price is certainly different!
30 October 2009 07:22If she'd just come out and SAY one way or another whether she mixes her own or resells, that would tie everything up real quick.
30 October 2009 07:30The fact that she hasn't (and she CLEARLY knows what people are saying) makes me even more suspicious. :/
I agree, Hackette. I think they're just generic, private label, given what it says on the box.
30 October 2009 07:35She can't, Hendrix. If she admits to it, she loses the reputation all her marketing and branding has gotten her.
30 October 2009 07:36If she denies it, she's lying, committing fraud, and breaking the law. You will never get a straight answer.
from examiner.com:
30 October 2009 10:23Doe says:
You guys need to quit coming after me. Because seriously, it was YOUR fault that you idiots were stupid enough to spend $16 for a gram of product..
But...how can I blame you? My products are second to none in quality. Beautiful, whimsical colors in designer packaging.
If you're too poor to buy my products, then go elsewhere and spend less and get a low quality product. You don't deserve to use Limecrime. I'm actually thinking of making the LC Shop account registration invite/friends only because I DON'T NEED YOUR MONEY.
If you wanna keep spending your money on low quality, mass produced pigments from M.A.C, go right ahead. It's no skin off my nose. I'll still be making more cash than most of you imbeciles.
That's all I'm going to say. I'm not checking this post again. If you have anything else to say, too bad because I'm screening my comments, as I have no time for trolls. I have a LIFE.
October 30, 5:33 AM
i think this speaks stronger than any of the blog posts written. ksenia vorotova is a delusional jerk, and anyone who is still one of her fans after reading that needs a serious clue tip.
http://i34.tinypic.com/jpe7g6.png
30 October 2009 10:30screencapped her comment so she can't have it deleted and act like it never happened :)
She's basically admitting that anyone who buys her product is a stupid idiot then! lol.
30 October 2009 15:05Who's the idiot now for saying that?
I HOPE she makes an invite only shop, so her blinded little fans will be the only ones buying her fake crap and not some kid who had to work hoursand hours to save up, only to stumble on her saccharin sickness.
Hi Tea or Ana,
30 October 2009 15:06Will you make a blog posting with that screen shot and the text below it? I think it deserves its own blog entry. Wow.
At this Point I don't care if Doe repacked her eye shadows and lipsticks. Or if she made them her self with crushed unicorn horns. She is very rude and unprofessional and i cant imagine buying from her no matter what she is selling.
30 October 2009 15:17Zoe
The shape of the lipsticks are different, but the colors are DEAD ON.
30 October 2009 16:17It does sound like someone impersonating her. Someone in marketing would probably realize just how bad a public tantrum like this would be - she'd just quietly make her site "invitation only", like she quietly switched the focus away from the eyecolors to the lipsticks.
30 October 2009 16:31I do feel sorry for the folks who buy her product, paying that much money and thinking that they're getting something original. At least when I bought from a repackager on Ebay, it was pretty inexpensive so at least I wasn't hemmorhaging money.
Man, she is worst then I expected!
30 October 2009 16:39I expected at this point she'd come up with a fantastic explanation that YES she is repackaging the eyeshadows but she says she does it herself 'cause of x, y, or z.
I just hoped she'd admit it, you know?
But she is worse then I ever thought she'd be.
I'm really glad I decided to be a psychologist. I'd hate being a money-sucker like her. I'd rather help people in a very honest way and live in a small apartment then live in a huge house and fool people around!
(I'm hoping the lipsticks are good, though... I spent money on it. It's unfortunate that I feel I can't hope on it...)
Oops, sorry, it's difficult to express myself when I'm angry! Na, I just meant that with people like her around, it's difficult to make the world a better place. Cheesy, yah.
31 October 2009 01:07The thing that REALLY gets me is that..if you go to the site, and look at the reviews on the individual products they ALL have 5 stars! Or sometimes, 4. THAT, to me, is suspicious. And I don't know if anyone has mentioned this before..but I'd be surprised if not!
7 November 2009 04:22Hi Julissa,
7 November 2009 04:53It is a widely known fact that Xenia only allows 4 and 5 star reviews on her site. If you look up Youtube comments from when her line first came out last year, there was a lot of drama from people who were disappointed by the size/quality of the products and tried to leave reviews. Anything less than 4 stars never makes it to the site. One girl bought a foundation primer and an eye dust. She gave the eye dust 5 stars but tried to give the face primer only 3 stars saying that it felt greasy. The 5 star review for the eye dust was posted but not the 3 star review for the primer.
What do you think about this video she made?
18 November 2009 09:40http://www.doedeereblogazine.com/articles/making-of-lime-crime-twilight
My instinct is to call shenanigans because after reading up, I don't really trust anything she does...but I know nothing of making or mixing mineral makeup so I thought I'd see what others have to say. It does seem like what she mixes up comes out more pigmented than what she is trying to duplicate.
Ghoulina-
18 November 2009 11:25That isn't how professionals make eyeshadow. She isn't wearing gloves, or a mask, she uses the same brush to swatch both colours. If it's her own colour she should KNOW the formula, she should have created it and have it written down. You CANNOT make new batches of a permanent line by eye, they can vary dramatically and then you get pissed off repeat customers. In my opinion, it's all total bollocks.
You can hear quite a few well-informed opinions on this matter in the comments section over on this post: http://www.lipsticksandlightsabers.com/2009/11/quick-one.html
Catherine - I remember that! I specifically remember her using "her" products in every makeup tutorial she posted, and it was constantly "Using this, this, and this, which you can buy from me here!" The glitter use really stands out in my memory, because they were bigger glitters, definately not meant to be used around the eyes, and there she was, covering her lids with them every week and then linking people to the sale page.
24 November 2009 05:41This whole "I needed to create the brightest colors ever!" thing is all bull. Her old makeup tutorials were bright as hell, and used to use Kryolan; every single tutorial was based on a Kryolan shade.
I'm not sure what you initially saw for her glitter, I know the latest stuff is eye safe because BFTE has the same glitter. I'm one of the suckers that bought some (from crime of the lime). Colour match on my blogo.
24 November 2009 06:00http://pa1nt3d-pr1nc3ss.blogspot.com/2009/11/lime-crime-my-fyi_18.html
still it's pretty stupidly priced considering you can get the same thing on another site for half price, but I guess people really want the stupid jar.
Lately I've only started reading in to this Lime Crime scandal, having defended the company to begin with and now I'm angry at the fact that for the past few months as a "Team Candyfuturette" member I've been promoting the company and how someone I seen as a role model (I'm only young haha) is childish when it comes to peoples opinions on her products. I'd rather have left this comment anonymous since I'm still a Futurette member, but after this I highly doubt I'll continue promoting Lime Crime.
23 December 2009 22:48Interestingly enough, GG, I took a look at the Team page, and was a bit disappointed (although not completely surprised) to find it was a full-out application. Not that I've been on any street teams, but I have never come across one that was so...picky.
28 December 2009 11:46I've been keeping one eye on Xenia for a long, long time (since Sky Salt days). her makeup tutorials were cool, I'll give her that. But her "public" attitude is such a contrived persona, and she is so fake (watch her anti-hater video, and tell me the super-blinky pretending to hold back tears is genuine) that I'm just confused as to why so many people, for lack of better terms, fall, for her act.
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