Down the Indie Rabbit Hole

[msambrosia]

Thanks for all the advice, ladies! I just ordered a grab bag of sample jars from GDE. If left to my own devices, I'd have a cart full of gold glitter shadows, so I thought it might be best to let someone else pick for me. I love a good surprise! I think I'm also going to get some of the clearanced samples from Aromaleigh. That's a super cheap way to try a variety of colors and help me start to figure out what I like (besides gold and glittery). I can pick up the organizer @@lovepink mentioned next time I go to Joann's. Hopefully I get it before my samples arrive and I can move them straight into jars. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[trekkersangel]

Glad I could help!  I love having mine easily contained and accessible.

And ok I am new to this thread so I was paging through it to come up with a list of indies to bookmark.  Shiro cosmetics has both a Game of Thrones and Hunger Games collection?  How did I exist not knowing this information?  I want to place all the orders for all the things at every site I have visited.

This thread is worse than the enablers thread! /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

You have no idea.  It's bad because indies are SO MUCH CHEAPER than mainstream products so I think "hmmm. . . $2.50 here & $1.00 there can't possibly hurt. . . until you are doing bills & realize you've spent well over $60 in a couple weeks on these little $2.50 or $1.00 orders.  ha ha ha.  This is the enablers thread x10.  But I wouldn't have it any other way.  Keep up the good work ladies.  I haven't ordered anything in 3 whole days . . . enable me.

wait. . . I lied I ordered something from pretty & polished this morning $20 bucks worth. ha ha ha.  See?  I'm bad. . . no. . . I'm fantastic & glittery & I smell fabulous!

 

[Amber McCarley]

@@msambrosia Another option if you are interested is some kind of storage device.  I picked up the one below from Joann's.  It was $7.99 or $9.99 and I used a 40% off coupon.  I dumped by GDE baggies in there and her stickers pull off easy so I affixed them to the bottom!  I can pull out individual jars or take the whole tray into my make up area.

http://www.joann.com/jewelry-bead-organizer-9-1-2inx6-3-8inx1-1-8in/8234916.html#start=9

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I buy a similar one from Michaels that is 30 jars in a container. (Joans sells one too but I cant find it on the website) They are a bit smaller though.  http://www.michaels.com/darice-bead-organizer-with-storage-containers/10164848.html



I have a few.... *used full sized jars for scale*

 

[chibimorph]

Came back to my apartment after a long day and found that my Shiro order has been delivered! /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

And I seriously think Caitlin chooses samples based on your order... when I ordered  in June (Plausible Walrus, Chinchillin', and samples of the Avengers collection), my two free samples were Destiny's Princess and Smell Ya Later (which are somewhat similar to Plausible Walrus and Smell Ya Later). The order I received today had Lavender Town (red/purple-toned brown) and Nightfury (dark purple) and my two free samples were Smashing Pots (brown) and Shinigami (dark purple).  

I have a busy week so I can't play with them yet, but it was a very pleasant surprise in my mailbox! /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[meaganola]

Heads up on GCC:  They're going to be discontinuing a few sets at the end of the month.  There should be a list of affected shades/collections up on Facebook at the end of the week.  I'll post it here if someone doesn't beat me to it!

And in NM VC news, from Facebook an hour or so ago:

Just a quick shipping update. The first batch of VCs were packed today for shipping, the second and final batch will be packed tomorrow. Those include combined orders that were asked to be held. Friday starts shipping for the rest of the orders from the 8th to the 11th.

 

[MIKAGlam]

I buy a similar one from Michaels that is 30 jars in a container. (Joans sells one too but I cant find it on the website) They are a bit smaller though.  http://www.michaels.com/darice-bead-organizer-with-storage-containers/10164848.html

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I have a few.... *used full sized jars for scale*

IMG_27091.JPG

Ohhh I am an art student and I am always at Michaels, I am definitely picking one of those up next time I am there! That's exactly what I was looking for to put my samples in, and keep them together.

 

[mandithomas89]

I would love to know as well when the NM subs are shipping. 

I never ordered from them before, but I did place a beauty blogger order, an mini eyeshadow haul order (that was before I got the NM sub) and then I did another little haul last week when I found about their discount and the firefly theme :wub:   

I hope she is shipping out this weekend for the subs, as I will be going on vacation in two weeks /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

I also found out that Haus of Gloi was off from the 15th until the 21st, so I am hoping that my order will ship out this weekend too.

On the NM facebook page, they posted last week that the subs would be shipped early this week so hopefully they'll go out soon. I've been getting really excited about the new release this Friday, but I think I may wait until I receive something before I place a third order (not counting that sub)

I've been following this thread for a couple for a couple of weeks now, but I'll admit to being a little lost! I always stayed away from loose stuff because I thought it would be super messy. Well, my summerswap buddy sent me some stuff from Glamour Doll Eyes and I'm in love. I want to try more indie stuff, but I'm kind of at a loss about where to start. There's so much stuff! Any advice on the best place to start? I was thinking the Aromaleigh clearance sale might be a good place to dip my feet in the water.  

Hi @@msambrosia! I only jumped on the indie train a few weeks ago, but now I'm obsessed. Not sure if anyone's said this, but one of the main things I was confused about at first was what a company's TAT is. It's just the turnaround time from them getting your order out to you after you place it. 

If you have any fandoms, that can be a great starting point. I know I had to get Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Avengers, Pokemon... all that fun stuff. Other than that, I mostly looked for who was having sales and who made sample sizes, whether it was sample jars or sample baggies. I also recommend joining the facebook groups for companies you like because you'll get to see sneak peeks and sometimes there are secret promotions. I'm in the ones for Glamour Doll Eyes and Notoriously Morbid and they're awesome.

So far, GDE is probably my favorite that I've ordered from. I placed two Wednesday orders and got each of them by the weekend. But since you've tried them, here are some others I've purchased from:

Kiss My Sass - My other favorite, nice owner that gives gifts with purchase/samples, quick TAT, sample sizes available, currently has some decent sale prices on certain items, shipping seems expensive (I think it came out to around $10) but then she refunded me anything that wasn't part of her shipping cost which was nice

Shiro - great for fandom stuff, quick TAT, sample sizes available and includes sample baggies

Victorian Disco - My first purchase during a 50% off sale, have a longer TAT so I'm still waiting on that one

Fyrinnae - Show a longer TAT on their site but my order got to me in about a week, sample sizes available, included a free sample jar

Notoriously Morbid -Have placed 2 orders which I'm still waiting on so they have a little bit longer TAT, they also have a monthly sub called the Vanishing Cabinet

innocent + twisted alchemy - have a monthly sub that comes in either sample clamshell or full size and usually includes samples from other indies, owner Linda is really nice I missed the subs going on sale by a day and messaged her on Facebook and she helped me get a spot, just placed my first regular order with her over the weekend

Scaredy Cat Cosmetics - packaging for full sizes looks super cute and the sample sizes oome in little vials that are 5 for $5, just ordered one of those sets Monday and it was $3 shipping and went out the next day

Haus of Gloi - perfume oils, scrubs, pumpkin butters and other body stuff with pretty unique scents, decent TAT and really nice people to deal with, have a fall collection coming out in a few days that sounds sooo good!

eta Oh and some of these places have grab bags or lucky packs or whatever and they're a great way to try out some new colors if you have no idea where to begin!

 

[mandithomas89]

I buy a similar one from Michaels that is 30 jars in a container. (Joans sells one too but I cant find it on the website) They are a bit smaller though.  http://www.michaels.com/darice-bead-organizer-with-storage-containers/10164848.html

IMG_27141.JPG

I have a few.... *used full sized jars for scale*

IMG_27091.JPG

I got that same one after you recommended it! Definitely a great deal. 

I also got some from Coastal Scents and used the ipsy 25% off discount (blush25off.) If your order is under $50, the shipping is expensive - mine was around $10, about half of my total, but I ordered it late Friday night and it arrived Monday morning in the mail so it was fast. 

Heads up on GCC:  They're going to be discontinuing a few sets at the end of the month.  There should be a list of affected shades/collections up on Facebook at the end of the week.  I'll post it here if someone doesn't beat me to it!

And in NM VC news, from Facebook an hour or so ago:

Yay!! Thanks for the update!

 

[CurlyTails]

Thanks for all the advice, ladies! I just ordered a grab bag of sample jars from GDE. If left to my own devices, I'd have a cart full of gold glitter shadows, so I thought it might be best to let someone else pick for me. I love a good surprise! I think I'm also going to get some of the clearanced samples from Aromaleigh. That's a super cheap way to try a variety of colors and help me start to figure out what I like (besides gold and glittery). I can pick up the organizer @@lovepink mentioned next time I go to Joann's. Hopefully I get it before my samples arrive and I can move them straight into jars. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

I started with a GDE grab bag, and I think it's a great way to start!

 

[kawaiisofoxy]

I know I'm coming in late with the Haus of Gloi squeee but

PUMPKIN QUEEN SHALL BE MINE.  And probably Pumpkin Eater.  mmmmmm pumpkin

 

[meaganola]

My intro-to-indies order was the GDE Super Shadows set!  My inner eight-year-old is a comic book movie fanatic who *had* to have it for last summer's releases.  (She loved _Iron Man 3_ but wasn't crazy about _Man of Steel_.  I couldn't figure out why until Greg Rucka -- a former DC Comics writer who worked on Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman in the 2000s, so he's a little bit familiar with them -- pointed out a few things that were changed up to make Superman darker for the franchise but that were major betrayals of his character.  Superman *does not do* a very particular thing, and when you have him do that, he's not Superman anymore.)

ETA:  Well, intro to indie *shadows*.  I've been ordering BPAL since 2007.

 

[lovepink]

I did it!  I was standing at the edge staring down the rabbit hole, wondering how deep it went, when I decided to jump in!  (Ok not really like many others, I too, started my indie shadow journey with a sample baggie pack from GDE).  I ordered the samples from Shiro in The Complete Tributes and the Seven Kingdoms.

I did it a) cause I love makeup and b.(hate that I cannot put a b with a parentheses with out it making the smiley with sunglasses!) cause I has the sads.

WARNING SHOE CARNAGE UNDER SPOILER!

Spoiler

This now makes 5 pairs of shoes lost in a week due to some creature (yet to be determined if it is canine or rodent, I went ALL CSI in my closet lat weekend) and a bag. Not only did I buy makeup to console myself but I emotionally ate. As punishment I am going to make myself go to the gym. And for the endorphin boost!

 

[meaganola]

I HAVE VANISHING CABINET SHIPPING!  Ahem.  I feel this is something caps-worthy!

 

[kawaiisofoxy]

I HAVE VANISHING CABINET SHIPPING!  Ahem.  I feel this is something caps-worthy!

ME TOO!!!!   :w00t:

 

[msambrosia]

@ I have a feeling the fandom stuff is going to take all of my money. I was looking at Geek Chic earlier and I pretty much have resigned myself to needing almost everything, but especially "Stay in the House, Carl." The colors weren't really my style, but I wanted the Ninja Turtles collection just because.  I think it was Shiro that had the fantastic Hunger Games collection I was eyeing. Anything dorky makes me happy. 

Thanks for all the info on the different companies. Sometimes I get confused by the abbreviations in the thread because I don't know some of the companies. It seemed like it took forever for me to figure out what i+ta was a few days ago! 
 
I've already started trying to infect my sister-in-law with my excitement. She's severely allergic to carmine and has given up wearing purples. I was frantically sending her messages earlier. "Vegan eyeshadows don't have carmine! You need to buy them all!!"

 

[chelsealynn]

Heads up on GCC: They're going to be discontinuing a few sets at the end of the month. There should be a list of affected shades/collections up on Facebook at the end of the week. I'll post it here if someone doesn't beat me to it!

And in NM VC news, from Facebook an hour or so ago:

Ahh. I want to cut back on buying but at the same time have a cart full of $50 worth of stuff at GCC. I'm curious as to what they will be discontinuing. Now I will probably just make my order if it has some of the discontinued items in it. Honestly, I'm kind of excited now that I will probably order sooner /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[Amber McCarley]

I've been following this thread for a couple for a couple of weeks now, but I'll admit to being a little lost! I always stayed away from loose stuff because I thought it would be super messy. Well, my summerswap buddy sent me some stuff from Glamour Doll Eyes and I'm in love. I want to try more indie stuff, but I'm kind of at a loss about where to start. There's so much stuff! Any advice on the best place to start? I was thinking the Aromaleigh clearance sale might be a good place to dip my feet in the water.  

Since I am still pretty new to Indies myself (kinda dived into the deep end on an impulse and haven't regretted it at all) let me share my experiences with you the past month or two. TAT= seller processing time between you ordering and them shipping the items

Geek Chic Cosmetics: My first order because of their Fellowship and Storybook Love collections. I ordered sample sizes and the turn around time was nearly a month. Longer than I expected, but worth it. Their samples come in clamshells though and they can be messy to open if you aren't careful. I re pot my samples so this was not an issue. No extra samples with my order though.

Shiro: My second order was for Shiro's Hobbit collection. I ordered the full sample collection and LOVED it. TAT was a couple weeks. Her samples seemed on the heavy side too which I LOVED! 2 extra samples AND candy!

Aromaleigh: Someone on here mentioned their 50% off sale and their Ancient Magick collection was on a 50% Monday flash sale so I bought the full sample collection plus about 13 various 50 cent discontinued colors. TAT was SUPER quick (as In I had shipping notice within 3 days of my order) Samples were on the light side compared to Shiro but that's cause Shiro spoiled me. 2 extra samples (1 discontinued, 1 active).

My Pretty Zombie: OMG....I bought 2 full sized blushes and 6 samples because I LOVED the names and theme of the company. I did not use a sale and fell in absolute LOVE with their amazing duochromes and blushes. Seriously, wow. Also on the heavier sample size (more akin to Shiro) and had ADORABLE GORY packaging. 2 extra samples and a severed finger. TAT was also very fast. I got ship notice within 3 days of ordering and the package arrived 2 days earlier than expected.

Victorian Disco: I ordered a LOT of things about mid last month when she had a 50% off sale. I knew her company was going through a lot of stress. moving and changes and she estimated a 6-8 week TAT. I have been trying to forget about this order and be surprised when it finally shows up. I purchased knowing it would likely be a 2 month TAT so no worries.

Glamour Doll Eyes: I only discovered via this thread. (I know it was the intro to most of you guys but It never made my radar until Vee personally was responding to comments a couple weeks ago on here) Her personal attention to this thread and to the MUT forum girls prompted me to pull the trigger on my first order to let her know I appreciate her buisness practice. I was NOT disappointed. I ordered the Circus and Pick Your Poison Sample collections. Lighting fast TAT (as in within 24 hrs) and the item was in my mail box within 5 days. Sample size was pretty average between Shiro/My Pretty Zombie sizes and Aromaleigh. (GDE and GCC have about the same size I've noticed) 2 extra samples AND she threw in a free full sized eyeshadow for me!

-------------------------------

This week alone I have put in a second order with GDE, Shiro, and two orders with Aromaleigh. I also plan on making my first Notoriously Morbid purchase on Friday. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

Buying small sample purchases has given me a lot of perspective on each of these companies and I have formed some pretty solid opinions on which companies are better for me vs others. Good luck girl and if you have any questions I know there are many girls on this forum that are willing to help ya out!!

 

[mandithomas89]

@ I have a feeling the fandom stuff is going to take all of my money. I was looking at Geek Chic earlier and I pretty much have resigned myself to needing almost everything, but especially "Stay in the House, Carl." The colors weren't really my style, but I wanted the Ninja Turtles collection just because.  I think it was Shiro that had the fantastic Hunger Games collection I was eyeing. Anything dorky makes me happy. 

Thanks for all the info on the different companies. Sometimes I get confused by the abbreviations in the thread because I don't know some of the companies. It seemed like it took forever for me to figure out what i+ta was a few days ago! 
 
I've already started trying to infect my sister-in-law with my excitement. She's severely allergic to carmine and has given up wearing purples. I was frantically sending her messages earlier. "Vegan eyeshadows don't have carmine! You need to buy them all!!"

You're welcome! It's kind of overwhelming but really, really fun. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

I felt the exact same way about that Geek Chic Ninja Turtle collection. Don't even necessarily want the colors, and yet I feel like I need the collection. I need to get some more of Shiro's Hunger Games collection. So far I just have Baker's Boy and Girl on Fire. 

That's awesome there's an alternative your sister-in-law can still wear! 

Ahh. I want to cut back on buying but at the same time have a cart full of $50 worth of stuff at GCC. I'm curious as to what they will be discontinuing. Now I will probably just make my order if it has some of the discontinued items in it. Honestly, I'm kind of excited now that I will probably order sooner /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

I have a full cart waiting at GCC too. I've been dying to get the Witchcraft & Wizardry set but I have yet to. I was thinking the same thing about the discontinuing maybe finally helping me to pull the trigger on this order.

 

[Anne Questra Sutkoff]

Reading Haus of Gloi scent descriptions makes me hungry!  If they ever do a Key Lime Pie type scent I will go happy-crazy.  I want all of that fall collection, and I want some candy corn /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />  Though after the shopping binge I just had I really should go on no-buy for awhile...  We'll see how I feel once all my orders come in.  I also ordered a bunch of new clothes that should show up on Friday, so I'm busy figuring out places I can go to show off new dresses and new fancy sparkly indy makeup looks!

 

[crazycatlady82]

You have no idea. It's bad because indies are SO MUCH CHEAPER than mainstream products so I think "hmmm. . . $2.50 here & $1.00 there can't possibly hurt. . . until you are doing bills & realize you've spent well over $60 in a couple weeks on these little $2.50 or $1.00 orders. ha ha ha. This is the enablers thread x10. But I wouldn't have it any other way. Keep up the good work ladies. I haven't ordered anything in 3 whole days . . . enable me.

wait. . . I lied I ordered something from pretty & polished this morning $20 bucks worth. ha ha ha. See? I'm bad. . . no. . . I'm fantastic & glittery & I smell fabulous!

Actually, the blogger from brightest bulb in the box did a price comparison with indie shadows and depending on the brand, they may not be cheaper.

( hopefully it's ok to post the name of the blog...I'm not the blogger! Just very interesting scientific research that made me think !)