More Comparable Colors

I posted the other day in regards to GlitterSniffer Cosmetics previous practice of repackaging. Again, I am not going to debate the ethics of this practice nor am I stating unequivocally that it is still taking place, but I would like to present additional comparisons to GlitterSniffer Cosmetics recent, current, and soon to be offered products. This post is for informational and comparative purposes only and should not be construed as an endorsement of any company linked herein.

In terms of repackaging the company has stated that it was a practice in the past but that it now blends its own pigments. Information showing what appears to be past repackaging is as follows:

This photo shows sample mica bags in the top right, next to filled pots that appear to be the same color as the samples.

Here is an Etsy listing showing what appears to be sample bags of mica. The empty mixing bags are how GS states they mix their colors. If you compare the purple bag in the listing to the sample bag of Grape POP! in the repackaging post they seem to be the same. The listing also appears to show some of the neon pinks which have now been recalled as unsafe for eye use (when in fact they are not approved for cosmetic use at all). Though at the time of this sale these colors were not recalled, GlitterSniffer Cosmetics has always maintained they disclosed in all listings that the neons were for general cosmetic use only. This is disclosed nowhere in the listing and it is being sold specifically as 'cosmetic eye shadow'.

GlitterSniffer Cosmetics is currently selling their products as "100% pure pigment". As pointed out in the previous post their own ingredients list gives pause to that assertion, as it lists Magnesium Stearate among ingredients it "may contain". MS is a base additive and not a pigment, making these claims not entirely correct.

All that being said here is a list of GlitterSniffer Cosmetics products and their comparable micas or recipes (which are publicly available for anyone to use).

Delirious is comparable to Colorana Blue.
Saturday Night is comparable to 24 Karat Gold.
Seuss White is comparable to Silver Micro Fine Glitter and Fairy Dust 004.
Seuss Gold is comparable to Gold Micro Fine Glitter.
Rock Candy is comparable to Manganese Violet (Left most pigment in the picture).
Hangover is comparable to Dark Brown Oxide.
Rings of Saturn is comparable to Orange Oxide.
Tsunami is comparable to Blue Ice.
Jabberwocky is comparable to Antique Silver.
Illegal Presence is comparable to Brown #3.
Red Rum is comparable to Rouge Flambe Red.
Tear Drops is comparable to Colorana DARK Blue (with Holla Glow Glitter).
Zombie Girl is comparable to Lotsa Lime. 
Harajuku Collection Coral is comparable to True Coral.
The Unicorn Collection Blue, White, and Black are comparable to Soft Blue, Pearl White, and Soft Black.
The retired Christmas Lights Collection and the as yet unreleased Video Game Collection are comparable to most of the Trues Collection (all, except for Red/Orange, which is not eye approved).

This list is not comprehensive as I only researched the first page on Artfire and select colors and collections. Again, these are only comparable micas and recipes, and the only verified mica that was definitively used, as per an email with GlitterSniffer Cosmetics on January 10, 2011, is the coral in the Harajuku Collection.

Though the list is comparative and informational only it would appear to be quite easy to substitute other micas for what the company is selling, is planning on selling, and has sold in the past at a fraction of the cost.

2/13/11, ETA: Fixed the link for 24 Karat Gold.

2/14/11 ETA:
A member of the GS Complaints Facebook Page who also is a formulator states that Tear Drops may be closer in color to True Blue with Holla Glow Glitter. She also states that Seuss Gold may also contain Gold Sparks, in addition to the Gold Micro Fine Glitter.

Repackaging

GlitterSniffer Cosmetics has admitted in the past to "repackaging" their eye pigments.  The company states this only happened when they first began selling cosmetics.

 
Repackaging is when no color blending occurs and sometimes not even a base is added. Bases are important as they aid in slip and adhesion. If a base is not used chances are you are going to end up smearing a clumpy mess all over your lids and suffering from fallout.

Here are the ingredients lists from the official site and from GlitterSniffer Cosmetics current offerings:

Shown for illustrative purposes. All ingredients lists currently on Artfire are identical.

These ingredients lists do not match. It should be noted that the Artfire ingredients list Magnesium Stearate, which is a base additive used to aid in adhesion and slip.

There are many indie makeup sellers who repackage. Some don't admit it, others make it clear in their product listings. I am not going to debate the ethics of repackaging, but I will say that personally I prefer to spend my money on a unique color.

With that being said I would like to present to you a comparison of GlitterSniffer Cosmetics and some base micas. These micas are not finished products. They are ingredients used to make finished products. This is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an endorsement of any company listed here.

Here is my own pot of GlitterSniffer Cosmetics Sammy Jo compared to Grape POP!.

 

I apologize for the lack of swatches. I refuse to use any GS products on my person. Sammy Jo swatches and Grape POP! swatches my be found here, in addition to others.

Other colors sold by GlitterSniffer Cosmetics that are comparable to pure mica:
Radiation is comparable to Tuarus Orion.
The Heavy Metals Quad is comparable to The Metallic Collection.
Marva is comparable to Capricorn Sea.
Prism Fingerprints Collection is comparable to The Interference Collection (top row only).
Carnivore Pressure Sensitive is comparable to The Sparks! Collection (fourth item, top row).
Peacock is comparable to Blueberry POP!
Mobster is comparable to Indian Blue.
Candy Collection Blue is comparable to True Blue.
Pillow Talk is comparable to Ocean Green.
Unicorn is comparable to Vintage Blue.
Cotton Candy is comparable to Cosmic Carolyn.
Lower East Side is comparable to Brilliant Glitter Red.
Pam is comparable to Aztec Gold.
Sam is comparable to True Yellow.
Doll Face Rice Powder/Veil is comparable to Rice Powder.
Porcelain Face Dust Primer is comparable to Kaolin Clay.

Please note that not all of these ingredients are eye approved. You can click on the"More Details" link below the pictures to be sure. This information has always been readily available on the site and is also available via the FDA site as well.

At least one of the micas, Brilliant Glitter Red, which appears to have been sold as Lower East Side via the Official GlitterSniffer Cosmetics site contains carmine, a nonvegan ingredient. The company states they never sold a nonvegan pigment through the official site.

Most of the sample sizes listed here can be had for as little as $1.50. The comparison picture above of Sammy Jo and Grape POP! shows a sample size bag. For further examples of sample sizes see here.

While I did not go through Glittersniffer Cosmetics complete current listings Pillow Talk and Unicorn are still being sold as of today.

You can find a complete list of Matte Tones, Base Powders and Additives, and Micas at various places  online. Here are swatches of the 60 most repackaged colors for comparison.

Again, while I do not endorse any company in presenting this information it is easy to see that at least some of the pigments that can no longer be used from GlitterSniffer Cosmetics are replaceable with a minimum of effort at nearly 1/4 the cost.

If you are interested in GlitterSniffer Cosmetics newly announced product, a Nintendo video game controller soap scented with Mountain Dew, a comparable one can be found here, sold by its original inventors.

2/9/11 ETA:
Panties is comparable to Angel Wings. Angel Wings is not vegan as it contains carmine.
There are also many colors that appear to match the POP! micas.

I also added tags to the post as I had overlooked adding them earlier.

Same date, ETA:
I wanted to give a huge thank you to several people whose hard work went into this post. I was remiss in not mentioning this earlier. I did not do the research for most of this post, and had it not been for the help of several people who wish not to be identified the information would not have been posted. They have my sincerest gratitude and my utmost apology for not posting it sooner.

Same date, ETA:
Further comparisons to GlitterSniffer Cosmetics pigments and the POP! micas can be found here. A larger photo of the comparison is here.

Same date, ETA: Fixed the link for Vintage Blue.