Hypnos: God of Sleep is the latest offering of the Mythos series, and includes 12 eyeshadows, 4 cheek/face products and 4 lip products. Hypnos was the ancient Greek personification of sleep, and was the son of the Goddess Nyx.
In Greek myth, he is described as living in the underworld- in a dark, musty cave through which flowed the waters of Lethe, the river of forgetfulness. Hypnos lay on his soft couch, surrounded by his many sons (the Oneroi), who were the bringers of dreams. The entrance to his cave was said to be surrounded by various soporific plants and herbs, which he used to bring sleep.
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The theme of this lip balm collection is "The Language of Flowers"... released 11/23/22. With the dimming light and colder weather, I think flowers have a special way of bringing light back into our days, as we wait for real ones to bloom in spring.
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These balms have a pale tint, but it's for aesthetic reasons only- it won't produce any pigmentation on the lips.
My lip balm formula is rich and nourishing, with Pomegranate butter and Meadowsweet oils, as well as Shea, Cocoa Butter and Jojoba. Full ingredient list under variety descriptions.
Tip: Lip balms come shrink wrapped in a band. Remove just the portion of the band around the cap, at the perforations. This will keep your entire tube protected in the shrink band!
Violet, Melon & Cucumber: Delicate violet balanced with the sweetness of melon and cucumber.
Lavender & Honey: Old fashioned lavender and the sweetness of honey.
HIbiscus & Lime: Fruity hibiscus blossom paired with lime.
Jasmine & Tea: A traditional pairing, jasmine flowers and soft, creamy tea.
Passionflower & Rose: Sweet and floral, yet fruity. A divine pairing!
Fig & Lemon: Many think figs are a fruit, but they're actually an inverted flower! This balm combines the fragrance of fresh figs with crisp lemon.
Cherry Blossom & Vanilla: Delicate cherry and floral notes with vanilla.
Honeysuckle & Clementine: Honeysuckle smells like sunshine, and is perfectly paired with sweet citrus notes of clementines.
Rose & Blackberry: Tart blackberry paired with the floral sweetness of roses.
Chamomile & Pear: The distinctive floral scent of chamomile paired with fresh, juicy pear.
]]>25 years! I'm releasing this collection a little early, to coincide with the holiday shopping season. 2023 is actually my anniversary year!
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Six eyeshadows and lip products inspired by Pantone's color of the year, "Viva Magenta". These all commonly contain the same pigment that's a superb match for "Viva Magenta", but I've created an ensemble of wearable shades around this theme by combining it with other pigments, such as silver glimmer, gold glimmer, pewter, sparkling bronze, color traveling blue/violet, and a rich true red frost.
The result is this capsule collection, a way for everyone to pick up at least one shade that's based on the color of the year!
No matter what your skintone, you should be able to find a shadow that works for you, as some are warm, others cool and others neutral.
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October 10, 2022
I've instituted a new GIFT WITH PURCHASE program based on cart values of $15 and up, after discounts are applied. This program applies to newly placed orders since this program became active.
To see it in action, simply add some products to your cart and then use the quantity toggle to increase upward or downward. As the page refreshes, you'll see the gift in your CART change based on cart value, and have the opportunity to toggle the options (next to the gift box graphic) to select the type of gift you'd like to receive.
In all cases, it's your responsibility to type in the colors you'd like to receive of your gift category, in the "ORDER SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS" box on the CART page. If you make no indications, or if you choose gifts that don't match the dollar value of the gift you're eligible for, I will choose for you and match the gift as closely in value as I can.
I regret that programming in the ability to add specific individual shades and size options doesn't exist without a substantial cost in programming fees which is far out of my price range and is more geared towards large enterprise stores, not one person indie shops. In order to offer this program to you, I'm paying for a monthly service which provides this simple, yet flexible software to my store. All you have to do is meet me in the middle- decide what you'd like and type it in!
Free Gifts are available alongside of coupon codes, Reward codes, Gift Cards and other special offers.
** If you haven't already joined my REWARDS program, check it out here- you probably have money to spend sitting in it! My Rewards program is separate from this program, and gives you numerous ways to earn dollar amounts off future purchases!
Please note, that if you ask for your free gift to be an item that's already in your cart, you will end up with two of that item. The GWP program is based on cart value, and the items in your cart aren't eligible as a free gift because they create your gift tier dollar value. Your free gift is an additional item, which you indicate in the comments box based on what you're eligible for.
CART VALUE |
GIFT WITH PURCHASE OPTIONS |
Cart Value of $15 (after discounts are applied)
|
Two Eyeshadow Sample Baggies ($1.25 each - value $2.50) OR One Blush/Rouge/Highlighter Sample Baggie (value $2.00) |
Cart Value of $30 |
ONE Deluxe Eyeshadow Sample Jar (value $3.50) OR ONE rouge/blush/highlighter Sample Baggie and ONE Eyeshadow Sample Baggie (value $3.25) OR THREE Eyeshadow Sample Baggies (value $3.75) |
Cart Value of $45 |
ONE Deluxe Eyeshadow Sample Jar & ONE Eyeshadow Sample Baggie (value $4.75) OR TWO rouge/blush/highlighter Sample baggies (value $4.00) |
Cart Value of $60 |
ONE Deluxe Eyeshadow Sample Jar & TWO Eyeshadow Sample Baggies (Value $6.00) OR THREE rouge/blush/highlighter Sample baggies (value $6.00) |
Cart Value of $75 |
ONE Full Sized Eyeshadow (Value $7.25) OR ONE Mini Jar (Value $7) of Rouge/Blush/Highlighter/Contour Powder |
Cart Value of $90 |
ONE Full Sized Eyeshadow & TWO Eyeshadow Sample Baggies (Value $9.50) OR ONE Mini Jar AND ONE Sample Baggie of Rouge/Blush/Highlighter/Contour Powder (Value $9) OR ONE Mini Jar of Rouge/Blush/Highlighter/Contour Powder & TWO Eyeshadow Sample Baggies (Value $9.50) |
Cart Value of $105 |
ONE Full Size Eyeshadow & ONE Deluxe Sample Jar Eyeshadow (Value $10.75) OR ONE Mini Jar & TWO Sample Baggies of Rouge/Blush/Highlighter/Contour Powder (Value $11) OR ONE Full Size Eyeshadow & THREE Sample Baggies of Eyeshadow (Value $11) |
Cart Value of $135+ |
TWO Full Size Eyeshadows (Value $14.50) OR TWO Mini Jar of Rouge/Blush/Highlighter/Contour Powder (Value $14) OR ONE Full Size Jar of Rouge/Blush/Highlighter/Contour Powder (Value $14) OR ONE Full Size Eyeshadow (Value $7.25) and ONE Mini Jar of Rouge/Blush/Highlighter/Contour Powder (Value $7) |
So, what are indie cosmetics? What's an "indie" product? That depends on who you talk to. I've been an indie maker/crafter/artisan since around 1994, and have been witness to many changes in the indie community. I feel confidently qualified to answer the question based on my personal experience over the past 25+ years.
It's only in the last five+ years that other types of cosmetics products have started to be marketed (and accepted) as "indie". Where once handcrafting was seemingly a requirement, now the definition of indie is solely seen as any business not owned by a parent company/conglomerate. As you can guess, this has resulted in a massive expansion of products being marketed as #indiecosmetics, but it has also muddied the waters and created a whole host of issues for those businesses that are truly handcrafting. Many well-known indie cosmetic makers have sadly, shuttered their doors in the last five years.
As a long-time indie maker, I'm a purist. To me, indie products will always be:
There's many other types of cosmetics available in the marketplace, and while many of these are marketed as "indie", because it is a hot buzzword right now, very few of these companies are truly "indie" in spirit and under the original understanding of the word.
Repackaged Cosmetics:
This involves purchasing finished cosmetics in bulk, and repackaging into one's own jars and branding. This historically was found in the mid-aughts, with mineral makeup companies. Many consumers became suspicious when they'd find the same exact colors available in many different shops, especially the "pops", a series of bright rainbow loose powders sold as eyeshadows. This continues today, but is less prevalent due to customers becoming aware of it and making clear across the community that this practice wasn't acceptable to them. Nevertheless, one can still purchase bulk powders, and bulk colored lip products to package into tubes. Some private label cosmetics companies also offer bulk, which leads us to the next category...
Private Label Cosmetics:
This involves purchasing pre-packaged/mass manufactured cosmetics from a private label brand. They typically have set packaging and you simply select the colors you want to order. Why is this called "private label"? Because it's privately produced, and sold wholesale to private businesses. These type of products were very popular in some salons and spas, especially in the early 2000's. Some of you who have been customers for a long time might remember the "third party" products that I offered, such as the gel eyeliners and indelible lip and eye liners. These were third party products, i.e. "private label". I was transparent in my sale of these, always specifying that they weren't my formulation or manufacturing. If you google "indelible gel eyeliner", you'll come up with many results of companies selling this product, at all different price points and often with the same photographs. This is an example of a mass-manufactured private label product. Are these good products? In many cases- yes! Are they indie and handcrafted? No.
Custom Manufactured:
This is the pinnacle of manufacturing and involves an indie formulator's own personal recipe being manufactured in larger quantities. Many large cosmetic companies and/or conglomerates also utilize custom manufacturing and have their own cosmetic formulators on staff, doing research and development.
I experimented with customs on a small scale in the mid-2000's, with my bullet lipsticks, pump color washes, and pen lip glosses. Most custom manufacturers are scaled for much larger companies, but occasionally you can find one that will work on a small scale, as I did. Ultimately, around the same time I decided that custom manufacturing wasn't for me, the company I used increased their minimums per color from 144 to 720, which was impossible for me as a small company to meet and still maintain shelf life.
Once an indie handcrafter takes their formulations to the custom manufacturing level, I feel that they've moved into "boutique brand" territory. A perfect example of this is Burt's Bees- a brand that started as a small-scale indie handcrafter in 1984. They scaled up their manufacturing with their own factory, and then became a boutique brand. Now, you can find their products just about everywhere!
I chose to not take Aromaleigh to boutique brand level, because it was not only complicated and costly- but it would have completely altered my company as I knew it, and changed my creative process. I chose to stay small.
Contract Manufactured Cosmetics:
This involves contract manufacturers that offer a vast range of products, and you simply choose the ones that you wish to carry, and they are then branded for you. Can contract labs do custom work? Yes, and most do, creating small differences in formulas from brand to brand that they formulate for.
Most boutique/celebrity/smaller but still mainstream cosmetic lines are contract manufactured. If you see slick-looking brands that have professional, glossy and press-printed palettes, tubes, pencil liners, bullet lipsticks- all available in volume-- these likely come from one of the many contract manufacturers. Most contract manufacturers also offer custom box printing and palette printing with your branding and design (and designers on staff, if you need them).
Utilization of contract manufactured cosmetics is considered a "boutique" brand, not indie or handcrafted.
Imported Mass Manufactured Cosmetics - AliExpress
This category has risen meteorically in the last five years to encompass a massive percentage of "indie" cosmetics being marketed on Instagram/TikTok- in particular, the multichrome products. These have become incredibly popular, but so little of what's being offered is handcrafted. Much of it is repackaged, and you can tell as you start to see the same exact colors and the same exact tubes/packaging available from all different businesses marketing them as indie and even handcrafted, similar to how the "Pop" eyeshadows were so prevalent on Etsy in the mid 2000's. Much of it is offered with the option to custom label with customer's brand logo, as well.
There's also pressed manufactured chrome powders that are imprinted with fish, lion's heads, peacocks, gemstones, ornate patterns and all sorts of fanciful designs- again, these aren't indie or handmade, but are mass manufactured in Chinese factories and sold on AliExpress. They're very common on Instagram and Etsy, sold as handmade.
Are these manufactured products fun, fanciful and colorful? Yes! Are they indie? No.
Can the multichrome pigments as raw ingredients be handcrafted into unique, custom products by an indie shop? Yes! Of course they can. I did this back in 2015 with my Fatalis line of eyeshadows, and I continue to offer some multichromes in my shop. There are other indies that are clearly handcrafters that do as well- but we are in a small minority these days, for sure.
So after reading this, you're probably wondering- why doesn't Aromaleigh offer pressed products? That's a whole other post that I have planned- the benefits and beauty of loose powder cosmetics. Stay tuned!
Check out the entire line of vegan brown faux brushes! These are the same popular brushes that were carried in the last several years of Aromaleigh v.1 from 2007-2010.
Not all synthetic brushes are created equal! Each one of these very special Brown Faux brushes is designed to work with both creams and powders. They pick up color well and deliver a smooth application. They are the softest brushes ever to touch your face. With matte black handles and black ferrules, these brushes not only feel fantastic and work well but they look amazing! Synthetic bristles are hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive skin. Odor and dye-free when washed, they have minimal shedding (if any). They clean & dry quickly making them ideal and safe for sensitive skin.
(above left)
The beloved pink flocked sponge is back! This listing is for the sponge and clear plastic sleeve to store it in. Jar of mineral makeup is not included, shown in photo for scale.
This soft, velvety, non-latex sponge works so well to apply loose powder foundation in medium to heavy coverage. It's ideal for those with very sensitive skin that are unable to use a kabuki brush to buff their foundation in.
Just tap the corner of your sponge into the powder, and then dab onto your face in various spots, then use a larger portion of the sponge to smooth and blend it all into a perfect finish.
The flocked sponge is washable (gentle soap recommended), and will last you a long time before requiring replacement.
(above right)
You’ll get beautiful full coverage with this kabuki. The fully packed, dense head will buff on Minerals to airbrushed perfection, while feeling like pure silk against your skin. It is a must have for those with sensitive skin – the ultra soft synthetic bristles simply cannot irritate your skin no matter how much you buff! And you over-buffers out there know what we’re talking about!
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Pantone describes Very Peri, AKA 17-3938, as "a dynamic periwinkle blue hue with a vivifying violet-red undertone." In other words: blurple. But there truly is something special about the newly created shade. Pantone, which always waxes poetic about its Color of the Year, and this year, it says the "inquisitive and intriguing" color displays "a care-free confidence and a daring curiosity that animates our creative spirit." Furthermore, Pantone says in a press statement that Very Peri "helps us to embrace this altered landscape of possibilities, opening us up to a new vision as we rewrite our lives," referring to the worldwide changes of the last two years. "Rekindling gratitude for some of the qualities that blue represents complemented by a new perspective that resonates today, Pantone 17-3938 Very Peri places the future ahead in a new light."
Here's one of Pantone's official color palettes, for their 2022 color of the year. This one is called "BALANCED", and it's the one that spoke to me. The colors are soft, and soothing, which is why I gravitated towards pairing them up with mattes. :)
Fine art color stories feature some of my favorite paintings, as well as customer requests. As a creative artist and an MFA, I'm continually influenced and inspired by art in my color formulations.
These color stories feature shades from Aromaleigh's vast formulary, brought to new life within the context of famous fine artworks.
The bundles are available in three sizes- sample baggies, deluxe sample/mini jar and full sizes.
I'll be adding new color stories weekly. SHOP
Welcome to the "Fable of Arachne", released 10/24/21
This is a concept collection based on the Greek myth about Arachne and Athena's weaving contest, and Arachne's subsequent damnation to life as a spider.
Diverging themes course through this myth, as much as the opposition of the immortal Goddess Athena vs. the foolish mythical weaver, Arachne. So don't expect this collection to appear as a cohesive whole! At it's heart, it's divided between the fire and spirit of it's two main characters.
Athena was a Goddess of handicrafts of all types, and that included weaving. She spun her loom with divine fibers and colors, while Arachne worked her sensational talent with the threads and colors of the earth, untouched by the divine.
In competition, the two women spun sensational tapestries full of color and metallic threads, telling stories of the Gods and Goddesses.
Through this vast collection, I invite you to express your own creativity, if you like! The shades are crafted to pair and layer with one another, whether in harmony or juxtaposition. Mattes paired with metallics and chromatic overlays can yield a wide range of unique, custom shades.
The mini and full size jars feature derivative artwork inspired by a turn of the century illustration by French artist Joseph Apoux, from his Drama Reveries Fantastiques.
The collection contains the following:
Multichromatic Toppers:
Silvery metallics:
Vivid Metallics:
]]>This change will take place over the coming weeks, so at that point they'll be removed from the CLEARANCE section and new sizing will be added as they become a part of the regular catalog again. If you'd like to enjoy the discounted price, purchase now.
Two lip glosses will also be brought back and made permanent in the Fatalis collection, with new names. Those cult favorite shades are "Dragon's Kiss" and "De Profundis". Stay tuned for updates on their new names and availability!
SHOP the Fatalis collection!
The DOLCI lip balm collection is inspired by popular Italian desserts, candies and drinks. Originally released in 2016, back in 2021 with two new varieties- Gianduja and Limoncello.
My lip balm formula is rich and nourishing, with Pomegranate butter and Meadowsweet oils, as well as Shea, Cocoa Butter and Jojoba.
> SHOP <
BACI: Baci is a type of candy made by famous Italian choclatier Perugina. My favorite Baci is the chocolate covered cherry variety. Perugina is located in Perugia, Umbria.
BISCOTTI: Biscotti, known also as cantuccini, are Italian biscuits that originated in the city of Prato. My favorite are the anise variety, with bits of dried fruit and nuts.
CANNOLI: Cannoli hail from Palermo, Sicily and are a tube of fried dough filled with sweet cream or ricotta mixture and garnished with pistachios or chocolate. For this balm, I opted for Pistachio!
CASSATA: Cassata consists of round sponge cake moistened with fruit juices or liqueur and layered with ricotta cheese, candied peel, and a chocolate or vanilla filling similar to cannoli cream. It is covered with a shell of marzipan, pink and green pastel colored icing, and decorative designs.
FONDENTE: Fondente dell’arancio is a delectable dark chocolate gelato with orange flavoring.
PANNA COTTA: Sweetened, cooked cream. Panna Cotta is usually molded into a simple round shape and served with a medley of berries. It hails from the Piemonte region of Italy.
PIZELLE: Traditional thin Italian waffle cookies, from the Abruzzo region. My favorite are made with lemon zest, but anise is also popular.
TIRAMISU: A popular layered Italian dessert made with ladyfingers soaked in espresso and layered with sweetened marscapone cheese, cream and cocoa. It’s origin is believed to be the Veneto or Friuli regions.
GIANDUJA: A sweet chocolate spread containing hazelnut paste, invented in Turin during Napoleon's regency. It's found in all sorts of sweets in Italy.
LIMONCELLO: Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur mainly produced in Southern Italy, especially in the region around the Gulf of Naples, the Sorrentine Peninsula and the coast of Amalfi,
This formula is nourishing, with Pomegranate butter and Meadowfoam oil.
.15 oz in a clear balm tube with custom label art and shrink wrapping.
2021 shade range expansion update!
Pink and Pink Linen, and 4L have been added to the Gossamer formula mineral foundation!
Changes are up on the site for all four product sizes: https://www.aromaleighcosmetics.com/collections/foundation
These changes will be added to Dewdrop next, then Pashmina.
Additional deep/dark shade range expansion will occur throughout 2021. I'd planned to start this project after my son shipped off to basic training, but I've moved it up in my schedule due to necessity. This is a large project, which I'll complete in small steps towards my greater goal of having all three foundation shade ranges expanded to meet a wider range of customer needs than ever before.
Mineral foundation was my flagship product, and is one of the items I handcraft, which is an item that customers return for again, and again- a lightweight, natural-looking finish with simple ingredients, and environmentally aware, simple packaging. It's "Your skin, but better".
Once all shades have been expanded, I'll be updating the product photography for all mineral foundations!
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Lady Latimer (eyeshadow) - Rich amber frost with some metallic silver shimmer.
Knower of Secrets (highlighter/multipurpose) - A pinkish/buff satin base reveals a strong green shift on application. Use of a base intensifies shift. Vegan. Lip, cheek and eye safe.
Most Clever (rouge) - Warm coppery rose with a reddish iridescence. Looks brownish/copper in jar, application opens up the pink and reddish tones! Vegan. Lip, cheek and eye safe.
Sympathetic (eyeshadow) - Warm green with subtle blue highlight.
To be Useful in All I Do (color creme for lips) - A wearable warm rosy brown with peachy undertones.
Prayers or Meditations (eyeshadow) - Warm brown with blue iridescence and strong copper metallic reflect. A complex neutral.
Crowns & Scepters (eyeshadow) - A pale warm cream with pink/copper iridescence. Note: This shade was formerly in the Anne Boleyn collection and was previously called "Coronation".
Sixth and Last (eyeshadow) - Dark tarragon green with metallic gold highlight shimmer.
SHOP: www.aromaleighcosmetics.com/collections/the-six-wives-of-henry-viii
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