I’m based in the UK and I just joined Cheap Slap, it has been very interesting to find the cosmetics suppliers both in the UK and US. However I have come across quite a lot of wholesale makeup job lots (200+ items) of big name brand cosmetics on eBay which on the face of it look like bargains but I know the old adage of “if it’s too cheap to be true then it usually is” so what are the thing to look out for, like asking about if they are in date, designated for overseas markets with foreign writing etc., but how do you know if they are illegal copies or substandard items, seconds etc. before laying out the cash?.

If they are genuine then where are the sources of these as it would seem there is a lot of overstock, bankrupt stock around at the moment.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Wholesale Makeup on eBay Scams

In a nutshell, eBay is very dodgy these days. Loads of fakes. You can’t tell till you get the stuff because they can easily display pics of the real thing and post you something else. A lot of fakes are very good, but on eBay it’s likely to be quite noticeable once you get the goods – spelling mistakes on packaging, and often they are selling things that MAC don’t even make. Feedback is not a always a good barometer either, as a lot of people don’t care if something is fake as long as it has the logo. Others may just not recognise that the item is fake anyway.

Genuine Wholesale Makeup Examples

But even being nice and assuming a lot of the deals are genuine, the danger of big mixed deals is that you will get a lot of junk thrown in – mostly damaged or missing packaging, tatty GWP items, and out of date stock (sweaty lipsticks, dried up mascaras etc). You could find a lot of it unsaleable.

But of course there is still the overstock/liquidation market which is genuine – this used to go directly to the clearance merchants, now you see a lot of it in discount stores like TK Maxx and TJ Hughes, and the designer discount websites, but also the clearance houses themselves are selling direct on eBay.

So really the deals could be any of the above possibilities. The answer is you don’t know unless you can get the information from the supplier and somehow are able to verify if they are a bone fide clearance agent.

The wholesale makeup overstock from the US sellers you will find on Cheap Slap  is mainly clearance from big department stores, Macys etc, but again it’s always worth asking their sources and building a good supplier relationship once you find a wholesale cosmetics seller you trust.

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Discounting is nothing new, but it used to be done a lot more discreetly by big brands who didn’t want to hurt their reputation with last season’s stock popping up in bargain buckets in TK Maxx or online at Brand Alley. In the current penny pinching climate, even richies declare their bargains with pride and discount hunting has become a national sport.

No More Rack is a US daily deals site that has 8 daily deals and a charity deal, with regular discounts of up to 75% off the rack price of the featured items. The site has achieved massive exposure across the US and was the subject of suspicions that it was a scam. From what I can discover these rumours appear to have been unfounded. The reasons behind some of the problems initially experienced by No More Rack are explained here:
http://www.theneatthingsinlife.com/2011/12/the-nomorerack-controversy/

When I checked the No More Rack deals today, there is a Bare Escentuals flawless finish makeup application brush on offer at only $5 (regular price $15). Now that’s the sort of deal I like. The products are guaranteed to be 100% authentic and always new.

There are many advantages for consumers using discount sites like No More Rack, but for goodness sake don’t get carried away. I have bought a few Groupon offers and not even used them, so far from being a bargain they were a great big waste of money. Discounts sometimes go to people’s heads, and you can end up buying things that you neither need or would normally even consider at full price.

Before you buy, always ask yourself if you really need it, and whether you can afford it. Sticking a special discount offer deal on your credit card is just a fool’s paradise.

One thing is for sure though, people are getting used to discounts and are becoming ever more reluctant to pay full price for anything.

It will be interesting to see what sort of a knock-on effect this type of excessive discounting has for major brands when the economy recovers. Whether it affects their overall ability to maintain high price levels for their headline products remains to be seen. But hey that’s not our problem!! hehe

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Like Facebook, you can’t see anything until you register, but when you log on it looks like a trendy fashion magazine type website. StyledOn’s mission statement is to provide all the latest fashion highlights and news about clothing, accessories and home decor styling. There are also gift guides, top ten editors’ picks, culture features, and that sort of thing. Featured fashion blogs are highlighted and get “blog love” and include interviews with the fashion bloggers and wait for it, a shopping list of what the cool bloggers are wearing and where you can buy it.

I haven’t had a chance to look through everything properly yet, but at first glance StyledOn is something that is too posey and try hard for me. If you are a fash pack groupie, a fashion blogger, want to hang out online with the fashion community, or just get some fashion tips and ideas, then definitely check it out.

I admit that if there was an equivalent beauty blogging type social network I would probably feel more at home at StyledOn. As it is, I spend enough time online already, and my family tell me that I don’t need another distraction from the real world!

I will probably pass on StyledOn.com, and take my chances at wearing what I like and hoping I look okay. I would rather spend hours on my beauty routines than my wardrobe, but that’s just moi.

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My friend was over and we were having coffee last week. We got on the subject of celebrity marriages somehow and she wanted me to get on the get.wildblue.com/ to look up the most recent celebrity to wed. All that came up were stories about celebrities breaking up. She said that it really did not surprise her that so many of the marriages and relationships in the spotlight do not bode well. I agreed with her at the time, but part of me feels very bad for these people. I wonder if you were to compare the number of failed celebrity marriages to the number of average Joe marriages that fail what the difference would be. It got me to thinking that there might not be a huge difference between the two other than more people pay attention to celebrities. In our town, it is very obvious when couples have broken up. It happens more than it used to, but the whole town definitely figures things out quickly. Either way, I feel bad for the people that have to go through that sort of thing. It is a truly tough change.

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Taking time out to relax, meditate, or even just clear the head can sometimes seem like too much effort. Although we know it will make us feel better, the adrenalin junkie in us too often wins the day.

Cue to an interesting little website I came across recently called The Baoli.

In a nutshell, The Baoli is an inspirational online guide to all things holistic in beauty and health. It’s full of ideas, and features inspirational ethical brands and products, organic food, natural cosmetics and has a nice source of gift ideas too. There is also advice from holistic experts, and recommendations for wellbeing workshops and holidays (in gorgeous locations, of course)!

If you are in any way interested in wellbeing, ethical fashion and beauty, and inspirational books and media etc., this is worth a look.

The Baoli also gives back to the community, partnering with non-profit organizations whose work supports their commitment to wellbeing.

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Kalis Skincare – Kalis is an Italian pharmacy brand which recently launched in the UK. Offering fresh, natural and affordable skincare, Kalis is backed up by science but with a traditional apothecary look and feel. Read my Kalis Skincare review.

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The Baby Quasar is a hand held device that you can use yourself to treat your skin using the same light therapy technology that is used in leading salon treatments. In case you are wondering about its exact purpose and effects, light therapy has been proven to improve skin that has damaged or scarred by acne, pigmentation or sun damage. Light therapy also works to help firm skin tone, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

I definitely welcome the way that the same science used in high tech equipment is now being adopted in affordable mainstream electronic products. In my opinion, home treatments like these are the way forward. The initial investment is more than recouped when you compare it to the cost of a course of light therapy treatments in a salon environment. People are getting wise to the fact that you can achieve the same results at home, without paying for the soothing music and candles you get at the salon! You can easily recreate an equally pampering environment in the comfort of your own home.

If the cost of the Baby Quasar is beyond your budget, why not see if a couple of friends are interested in sharing the expense with you. You can take it in turns to use it when required, or get together for pamper parties. Hygiene should not be an issue as there are no brushes or anything that touches your skin.

These type of light therapy devices are not complicated and do not need any training to use them. Provided that you follow the instructions and use as directed, they should be totally safe. If you try the Baby Quasar and decide that it’s not for you, there is a no quibble 60 days money back guarantee. What’s not to like?

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My house is coming down with beauty freebies, but my family are wise that, and they won’t be palmed off with just any old smellies. So even I have to spend a little time thinking about the perfect gift for auntie Nellie etc. There are lots of holiday beauty gift sets around, some of which are fantastic value. Helpfully, at this time of year most magazines compile gift guides that can give you a few ideas. Here are my top picks from the InStyle Beauty Gift Guide just published:

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb set

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb eau de parfum 50ml gift set, £76, available from Selfridges

For the girlie girl this stunning House of Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb gift set is just the thing! With a 50ml bottle of the original scent, the super cute set comes with body lotion and shower gel – perfect for layering up the scent to make it last longer and is packaged in a beautiful coffret house. This one is perfect for a best friend.

Clarins Skin Care Travel Case

Skin Care Travel Case, £44, available from Clarins stockists

Get all of Clarins’ top beauty classics in one handy set. Find your favourites including Beauty Flash Balm, Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, Moisture-Rich Body Lotion, One-Step Exfoliating Cleanser, Foot Beauty Treatment Cream and HydraQuench Cream all packed into a classic vanity case. Need we say more! My mum will love this.

Kiehl’s Creme De Corps set

Ultimate Creme De Corps gift set, £38.50, from Kiehl’s

Get Kiehl’s iconic Creme De Corps collection in one handy set. This luxe gift box includes Creme de Corps Soy Milk and Honey Body Polish, Creme de Corps plus other complimentary treats from Kiehl’s. I’d like this for me – added to wish list (hint hint!)

MAC brush kit

MAC Make It Perfect Brush Kit special edition, £39.50, available from MAC

You can’t go wrong with this special edition collection Perfect Brush Kit from MAC with each brush featuring a glittery, icy handle. Cool! There’s simply no self-respecting female that wouldn’t totally love this in her stocking.

Liz Earle Superskin set

Liz Earle Superskin Face and Body Essentials, £56.70, available from Liz Earle

When it comes to giving skin a real treat for the winter months look no further than Liz Earle’s Superskin collection. This fab pack includes all the daily essentials plus extra goodies to smooth, soothe and rejuvenate complexions. Again, a sure fire winner for whoever is lucky enough to receive this.

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So when I saw a Groupon deal recently for a local photographer who was offering a makeover, hair restyle and photoshoot for way below the normal price, I snapped it up in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, it turned out that the deal is only available on Sundays and it is booked up for like a zillion years, by which time I might not be on FB any more and the book that I am writing will be out of print. So I am still waiting for another opportunity to get this done.

It turns out that there are quite a few providers for this sort of photograpy makeover service. I was looking at Glamour Shots reviews and some of the transformations on their website are amazing. Maybe you’re just vain like me and want to look your best on Facebook. Or maybe you have a family photo, a high school graduation or another special event coming up which will be captured on film forever? If so, why not get everyone in the studio and have a stunning makeover at the same time. Grandma will love it. The truth is that everyone else is doing it, so a normal photo just won’t cut it any more.

I want to be airbrushed, photoshopped, you name it – the full works please. Cheaper than a face lift and a lot more fun!

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Luminaze works to remove the appearance of dark spots on the skin that have been caused by the sun and aging. Luminaze is currently available exclusively in Nordstrom in the US and The Bay in Canada, and costs $120.

The key ingredient of Luminaze is a natural enzyme that works to break down the skin’s melanin, and the pigmentation that has been caused by age and UV damage. Luminaze is safe and gentle and can be used on the face on a daily basis.

I am actually a big fan of enzyme based beauty treatments so I would love to try this. If anyone has tested Luminaze already please leave a comment below and let me know!

Dark spot removal does seem to be quite the buzz word for new products this year – you can’t have failed to spot the huge campaign run by Clinique for its Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector. Red magazine sent me a couple of testers of the Clinique product to review before they were released. I did try it and I found it so so – but I am not a major Clinique fan and I not have major dark spot issues either. To be honest I used it a few times and then I gave it to my mum.

Dark spots can also be removed by facial laser treatments and the Philips Reaura is targeting this market too. But the Reaura is a seriously expensive piece of kit. I think trying a topical based solution like Luminaze may be a wise first step for anyone who needs to tackle their dark spot problems, rather than going straight for the zapper!

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