Lela Warren Announces GlitterSniffer Cosmetics Imminent Closure

Lela Warren has announced her intention to close GlitterSniffer Cosmetics.

I've been very MIA lately & I'm sure many of you have noticed. I've made a very huge decision in my life about my cosmetics manufacturing career & where I'd like to take it. I'm making some huge decisions & possible sacrifices to get to another level in my career that will keep me doing what I love- full time. For this reason, Glittersniffer Cosmetics! will be soon shut down, possibly indefinitely. I will be leaving the fan page & website open until I've cleared out all remaining stock I have, which is quite a bit. I will most likely be putting together big boxes of product & selling them at cost price until everything is gone. This is a bittersweet moment for me, however- as I'm closing the doors to my GS baby of nearly 7 years, another is opening. Owning & operating GS has been one of the best things I've ever done for myself, while causing a LOT of pain & self discovery at the same time. I've realized many things about myself, life, people, & many other things that I wouldn't have ever otherwise learned. This isn't good-bye, it's see ya later...because if you know me, then you know I've already got something even better up my sleeve & ready to unleash on the world. If you'd like to be notified when "going out of business" boxes go up for sale (at cost price), leave a comment & I'll message you when they're ready. I will post more later about this still sensitive subject as soon as my thoughts & feelings are a bit more clear to me

♥

There has been no date yet announced for the closure. Meanwhile, former customers still await their refunds.

FDA Freedom of Information Act Request Reports-Overview

Last week I received via email a response to my Freedom of Information Act Request to FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services. Contained in the email are several pages of documents regarding FDAs investigation into GlitterSniffer Cosmetics and the recall.

It has been a bit of  a struggle in determining how to post this information as the sheer volume of it is a bit overwhelming. In an effort to make this a bit easier to parse I will be separating the posts into the three different reports, divided by section. There will then be a final, separate post with scans of the reports in their entirety, save for what FDA has redacted and one minor redaction I myself made in order to ensure that a former associate of GS is protected as per their request.

A quick note about my FOIA Request: I have been informed I may still receive other documents from other government agencies in addition to what I have already received, which currently stands at 13 documents. There is generally a fee involved in receiving an FOIA request, based on a sliding scale starting at $23.00 for the first hour of research, with copies of the reports priced individually per sheet. I requested a fee waiver from FDA and HHS for this FOIA request on the grounds that this information was in the public interest and readily identified myself as the author of this blog. I was not charged for the research time or copies sent to me for this portion of the request. I publish them now just as I informed FDA and HHS I would, in the public interest.

Post One: Establishment Inspection Report dated 1/10/11 and 2/7/11

Post Two: Memorandum from the Department of Health and Human Services dated 2/8/11

Post Three:  Memorandum from the Department of Health and Human Services dated 7/20/11

Post Four: Scanned copies of the records

Fair warning, if you thought the Michigan Attorney General post was long then you’re in for more of the same with these upcoming posts, which I will be working on in the coming days. I appreciate your patience and will have them up as quickly as possible.

GlitterSniffer Complaints: One Year Later

As of yesterday it has been one year since I first posted to this blog. In that time I have posted about all thing GlitterSniffer Cosmetics, as well as other issues surrounding safety in indie cosmetics. I thought for a long time about what this post should say. I could go on ad naseum, but instead I give you this:

Today I received a response from my Freedom of Information Act Request from FDA and The Department of Health and Human Services. I will be receiving the documents on the GS investigation soon, though I currently have no ETA.

I want to thank you all for your patience as I know this will be another long post once these documents have been received. Until then, I am working on several other posts.

One year later and the grand total of refunds issued by GlitterSniffer Cosmetics for the recall (mine was not recall related) still stands at $0.00.

Michigan Attorney General-Scanned Copy

This is the scanned copy of the email response from GlitterSniffer Cosmetics to the Michigan Attorney General. It has been edited only to remove personally identifying information (my old address, case numbers, a medical diagnosis for one of Lela Warren's family members) and includes the cover letter that was sent along with the letter. The reddish marks are a nail polish mishap.

My case was closed as I received a refund so I will not be following up with the AG for matters as they relate to my refund.

GlitterSniffer Cosmetics Closing?

A couple of hours ago GlitterSniffer Cosmetics Proprietor Lela Warren posted to her personal  Facebook page that as of the first of the year GS would be closing its doors. There has not been an official announcement as yet and absolutely no reference to refunds.



It remains to be seen if Lela Warren will actually move forward with this plan or not. To be sure, there has never been an intimation of this sort from GS, even when the business disappeared for months.

As for refunds Lela has made it quite clear in the past that they were contingent upon the successful relaunch of GS. I know that she herself is unsure at this point how much money is even in the refund account as she has not checked it in some time.

Whatever comes of this latest development it is still my fervent hope that everyone due a refund will receive one as promised.

More information as it becomes available.

Break

Long time, no update. I apologize for the impromptu break. Life, as it does, happened. Though it may seem that Lela Warren's public release of my Personally Identifying Information and threats of further retaliation against me and my living family members had something to do with it I can tell you unequivocally it did not. It was coincidental timing as I was busy with other matters, some pertaining to GS. You can read more about the PII situation over at Lipsticks & Lightsabers. There was also a followup status update where Lela Warren stated she would like to visit family in my home state of Oklahoma, which can be seen below.

Lela demanded this blog and its Facebook page be taken down. That has not happened and will not happen. Even if everyone due a refund receives one it will remain. What Lela fails to see is that the main purpose of the blog and page is to chronicle GlitterSniffer Cosmetics business practices, and as long as GS is in business it is relevant information for consumers to know in order to make an informed decision. One would think a proprietor who had asked for assistance in getting the new refund process out to as many people as possible by way of a post here would understand that the blog goes out of its way to post as much information as possible and that the tenor of the posts rest directly on GS behavior as a company.  There have been other posts relevant to indie cosmetics safety unrelated to GS as well and I believe that it would be a disservice to consumers to take them down as in some cases the information is not available anywhere else. So it will stay, regardless of any threats that may arise.

And what of those threats? Well, I cannot comment on the actions I am taking at this point, except to say that there are things that have been and are being set in motion to ensure mine and my family's well being.

In terms of GS there is the matter of the AG letter that was received by many a couple of months ago.  Expect a post on that shortly, as well as other GS and non GS related posts. I have had the AG post in the works for some time, though it has been slow going as I only had the text and not a scanned copy. In the letter Lela reveals many private family details by way of reasons/excuses for the recall, as has been her custom. I have always been hands off most of the private issues as they had nothing to do with GS business. My stance on that has not changed, however the private family information is being used to explain GS' issues past and present and could be considered relevant. I will be removing PII and a medical diagnosis for Lela's son but otherwise the letter will remain intact. It should be noted I am not altogether comfortable with everything that will be published but in the interests of full disclosure I feel that all aspects should be posted, especially as it serves as Lela's statement about how this all came to be.

I am still awaiting word on the FOIA request I filed for the outcome of FDAs GS investigation. It does appear there were no sanctions, which means GS has been brought into compliance. This is an interesting development, as if GS is to continue in business as they state they intend on doing everything needs to be compliant with all rules and regulations. It should be noted, however, that GS announced they had been FDA approved. FDA does not approve companies, nor finished cosmetics. They approve and regulate ingredients. It's a minor, but important distinction, and one GS should be well aware of as they have been working with FDA for months. Making an FDA approval claim on labeling or in advertisements is considered false and misleading and could result in further FDA notice of GS. As this following statement was made on the GS Facebook Fan page, which is the company's main resource for advertising, it is easy to see how the statement might be construed as an advertisement.

Emphasis mine

Is it permitted to label cosmetics "FDA Approved"?

No. As part of the prohibition against false or misleading information, no cosmetic may be labeled or advertised with statements suggesting that FDA has approved the product. This applies even if the establishment is registered or the product is on file with FDA's Voluntary Cosmetic Registration Program⁶ (VCRP) (see 21 CFR 710.8 and 720.9, which prohibit the use of participation in the VCRP to suggest official approval). False or misleading statements on labeling make a cosmetic misbranded [FD&C Act, sec. 602; 21 U.S.C. 362].

As for me I am now happily ensconced at a new job. The majority of my last few months was taken up in that transition. I was also one of the co founders of The Team Pink Eye Project along with Rebecca Storevik, which I am humbled to report raised $1,459.95 for Susan G Komen Passionately Pink for the Cure for breast cancer awareness. We had some wonderful bloggers and indie shops participate and not only met, but exceeded our goal. It was an absolutely wonderful experience and I am happy to report that 100% of the donations went directly to Komen, an outcome I wish I could post for the other charities I've previously blogged about here. There are still more donations coming in and a possible company match from my new company so if you're of a mind check out the TPE blog. Also, take a few moments monthly to do your self exams please.

Be well.

GlitterSniffer Cosmetics Exciting New Release!!!

GlitterSniffer Cosmetics President Lela Warren had an exciting new release today. Posted to her personal Facebook page (and quickly deleted) was my name, address, and phone number.

As far as I can determine this all began on August 25, 2011. At that time Lela posted about contacting people to get the "fukkin monkey's (sic)" off her back.

I was contacted a few hours ago and given the following screenshots. The screenshots in their unedited form show my name, address and telephone number, as well as Lela's intention to release where I work and the identities of my living family members. From the screenshots (as near as I can surmise from them as Lela has not bothered to contact me, even to keep me abreast of the refund situation as she promised upon reopening) she would like the blog and page to be taken down or she will continue to release information about me and my family.

This was her status update immediately after deleting the post of my personal information:

I spoke with the Dearborn Heights Police Department regarding the issue and was referred back to my local municipality. Any investigation will need to be started locally and then extended to the DHPD. I have an appointrment with a detective tomorrow to discuss my options.

I have for some time had the services of an attorney as well. Some months ago Lela Warren asked for the names and addresses of myself and the Complaints Admins in order to send Cease and Desist Orders as well as file Defamation Suits. After informing Lela Warren of statutes which cover the blog and the page (as well as her own culpability in the matter for giving me permission to publish in an email from January) I freely offered her my information in order to pursue it. She never responded. I will be contacting my attorney tomorrow to research my civil options.

It should be noted that I asked Lela Warren months ago to comply with my request not to be contacted at any place other than the Complaints email after she used my personally identifying information to email me at my job. After this request was made Lela sent a friend request to my personal Facebook. I had not, up to this point, pursued that issue though I was well within my rights to do so. That is now back on the table, and coupled with this new development, will be pursued as vigorously as possible.

The blog and the page will remain as is. I will continue to publish about GlitterSniffer Cosmetics business practices (as well as those of other companies i.e. The Conservatorie, Coastal Scents, and Pure Luxe) and the now seemingly futile quest for refunds. I apologize, but there will be no posts regarding Lela's bathroom activities unless they directly affect GS as a business.

And make no mistake, this post, while having to do with a personal issue for me, very much pertains to GS as a business entity. Despite the assertion in an email from January that the company is "all for free speech" the company is now actively trying to quash that same freedom they have claimed to support. This blog has always published all aspects of the situation, including the new refund information (published at the request of the company itself). It exists because there is a need for it to exist. Remove the cause, remove the effect. If GS wants the blog and the page to be removed then the proper steps (issuing refunds, paying the charities) need to be taken. That responsibility lies with the company itself, and no amount of personal information or veiled threats will change that.

It is still my fervent hope that one day I can post that all that are due refunds have them, and that the charities have been paid back the thousands of dollars owed them. Until that day I will continue to keep posting about the situation, as well as other matters as they pertain to safety in indie cosmetics, in hopes that it comes to a swift and fair resolution for everyone involved. 

GlitterSniffer Cosmetics Throws Stones From Glass Houses

Recently it was announced that GlitterSniffer Csometics President Lela Warren had been chosen to write for a 'quite popular' magazine.

Though no formal announcement was made as to the magazine name a post later on the same day featured a 'two page spread' from Glam Rock Magazine for GS. This 'spread' was actually a paid advertisement run in the Fall of 20101 as can be seen here (Issue with the two models on the cover entitled "Official Hot Mess"). As far as can be determined the only other mention of GS in the issue is a set of pigments hidden in a 'Can You Spot It' photo. It should also be noted that this magazine is published by Chelsea Tavis of Tragic Glamour, GS' web designer and current model. The position is unpaid.

Lela Warren has also taken to commenting regarding the use of her ideas by other formulators. Though I will not speculate as to who she is speaking of it has been posted previously on this blog that Issanna, former VP of GS, is using the names she herself had branded during her unpaid time at GS for her own company. It has been shown in the past that Lela does not have a compunction against doing this herself, from soap to names to collections thought up by fans, GS clearly has a history of co opting ideas.



Recently GlitterSniffer Cosmetics has been asking for collaborators for all manner of merchandise, including 3-D Artificial Nail Art.



On June 12, 2011 a user named 'PigmentGirl' joined Etsy. PigmentGirl appeared around the same time as the PigmentChick profiles began appearing around the web. Among PigmentGirl's favorites are several soap sellers and LynnsBoutique, which specializes in 3-D Artificial Nail Art.

I had initially held off posting about PigmentGirl as there was no way to confirm that the account was tied to GS. That confirmation came last week. Several convos were sent from PigmentGirl's seemingly TOS violating Etsy account to MMU sellers offering a write up in Glam Rock magazine. The convos clearly identified the person sending them as Lela of GlitterSniffer Cosmetics.

Etsy TOS are very clear on this point. A user who has been suspended either temporarily or indefinitely may not make use of the service. Though this is not a seller account it is still possible that it is not within TOS. Lela Warren, by her own admission in an email to the GS Complaints blog, was 'kicked off Etsy' and therefore, per Etsy TOS,  may not have another account unless given permission by Etsy.

Since the email asking for a retraction in which I was castigated for posting I have not heard from GlitterSniffer Cosmetics or Lela Warren, despite asking for supporting evidence that a retraction was needed and the company's promise to keep up to date regarding the refund process. My last email, on July 31,  went unanswered. I'll be happy to acquiesce that it is quite possible that Etsy allowed Lela Warren to open yet another Etsy after, in her own words, 'numerous complaints'. Should verifiable information of that sort become available I'd be more than happy to post it.

The point here is not just the possibly TOS violating second Etsy account, but the assertion, once again, that GS 'original' ideas are being used while Lela scours Etsy for unique creations from other Artisans to sell as GS products. It's pronouncements like these that are disingenuous at best, hypocritical at worst and speak to the 'do as I say, not as I do' mentality that got GlitterSniffer Cosmetics into the situation they are currently trying to recover from.

These new developments, from the release of customer information to the casting aspersions on other formulators, only serve to show that the sea change once hoped for from GS may be becoming a slippery slope instead.

You've Got Glittermail...And Another Customers Address

I posted recently about the store credit packages for GlitterSniffer Cosmetics. There have been some new developments with the glittermail that has been received.

In at least three cases those that received store credit packages got packages that had postage due. One of the customers who received one of these packages noticed that there appeared to be two labels on her package, one on top of the other. After removing the top label she found another label with a different customer name and address. Two other packages also had the same issue, though one was peeled back to reveal the customers own address on the second label.

The double labels could explain the postage due as it appears the label was paid and printed out for one customer, but then covered with another name and address and shipped. It is speculation at this point as to why this occurred, but it does, once again, put customer information into hands in which it does not belong. Below are pictures of two of the double labels, edited to remove personally identifying information. I am leaving in a portion of the zip code or the first letter of the city name so that it is clear these are indeed two different customer addresses.

For the first package the only issue was the postage due. The products arrived as discussed.

The second package was posted in the initial post about the store credit packages and had numerous issues aside from the double labels, including a melted soap and two of the same pigment that had striking variances in color.

You'll recall that less than a month ago GS posted pictures with customers names and addresses clearly visible on their Facebook Fan Page for a period of approximately 12 hours, an issue the company has refused to acknowledge, other than to remove the photo after a post to this blog. I previously contacted the FTC regarding other privacy issues as well. The company has now shown repeatedly that they release customer information without thought or care of repercussion or even alerting their customers that their personally identifying information has been released. While this latest privacy issue may have been a simple oversight or a case of bad judgment it gives pause to the notion that GS is doing everything in their power to do things correctly.

You've Got Glittermail!

I posted the other day that the store credit packages from GlitterSniffer Cosmetics had been given Delivery Confirmation numbers. Those packages began arriving yesterday. In all I have almost 150 pictures of packages. It would be overwhelming to post them all so I'll post a select few here.
All of the packages that I have seen arrived well packaged with only one leak. They were bagged together according to product type: Pigment or Soap. Included in each was a sheet which listed ingredients for all products. This sheet also had a manufacturers/distributor statement, but no listing of net weight or uses. There were individual labels on some, but not all, the products. Most pigments came unlabeled individually, with no indication of the names.

It is important to note that since the products were all packaged in plastic bags together by product type that the sheet included appears to meet FDA requirements for labeling, as long as everything that needs to be on a label is present. The missing net weight information and, especially, the uses are troubling as these items are required for labels. Since GS uses ingredients such as Ferric Ferrocyanide and Chromium Oxide Green in some of their pigments it is important that it be noted these shades are not approved for lip use in the US. This was not indicated on the sheet, in the packages, nor is this information available on the site.

The store credit packages were given for those that either asked for the credit in lieu of a refund, were only eligible for store credit, or, in one case, as a gesture of good faith. Those with store credit sent their requests, with color families and preferred products, though as far as can be determined no one was able to make specific requests.

What follows are photos of the packages. They will be separated according to package and, when the information is available to me, how much the store credit was for. In all I have been sent photos of four packages and I am publishing photos from each.

Package 1,  around $50.00 in store credit. There were no issues with this package. None of the colors were named.

Package 2,  $40.00 in store credit. The package came with $.85 postage due, there is what appears to be hair embedded in one of the soaps, an unidentified 'toothpicklike' foreign object packaged in another, unidentified black spots on another. This customer had requested no soap be included in her package.

Something resembling a hair embedded in the soap

'Toothpicklike' object in the packaging

Black spots

Black spots

Postage Due

Package 3, around $30.00 in store credit. There were no names on any of the pigments, something had leaked in the bag containing the perfume items, the massage bar arrived melted, and the solid perfume had no discernible scent except wax.

 

A Leak

A Leak

Melted Massage Bar

Solid Perfume with No Scent

Package 4. This package arrived with $3.28 postage due, a melted massage bar with a brown lump in it, a half full glitter vial, and both a fullsize and sample of the pigment Rings of Saturn. Rings of Saturn was swatched for comparison purposes. After opening and swatching the pigment the customers eyes became irritated and puffy. Previous to this the customer had never had a reaction to any GS pigments.

Melted Massage Bar

Unidentified Brown 'Lump" in the Melted Massage Bar

Unidentified Brown 'Lump" in the Melted Massage Bar

This Collection was originally released in February

Rings of Saturn. Swatched dry on bare skin, 2 swipes each. Left swatch is the sample, right is the fullsize.

I want to thank everyone for sharing.

**8/5/11 ETA** Moved a photo from Package 1 to Package 3 as it uploaded incorrectly.