The Peanut Gallery: Virus Insanity Eyeshadow

photo from VIE's facebook page and taken by Caiti Schuler

Virus Insanity Eyeshadow

The Breakdown:

Linkage: VIE on Facebook

Available Products: Eye shadows (loose in 5g jars), Primer, Blush

Products I am reviewing: Eyeshadows

Price:

• Very reasonable, especially if you order one of the __ for $__ deals (idk what to call them) or when they are having a sale, and the sales are pretty frequent
• Eyeshadow Primer $10
• 1 blush for $8 or 2 for $15
• 1 5g pot w/ sifter for $5
• 6 for $20
• 10 for $30
• 20 for $55

Shopping Experience:

• The Shop:
• VIE uses a Facebook Shop Now store. I am not a fan of facebook shops in general. I don't like how Facebook shop is laid out and I find it to be a pain in the butt.
• Does not have individual colors listed right now. She used to but for some reason no longer does. Instead she has a 1 for $5 choice and then you would tell her what color you would like (same with her 6 for $20 etc.) The problem I have with that is now that they are not listed they can not be sorted by color. (see fourth bullet point under Organized?)
• I heard from a friend that VIE is no longer on etsy due to the fees etc, which I can understand, but I know a number of people who recently learned of VIE and would love to order but do not want to use the Facebook shop.
• Personally I really hope sometime in the near future VIE either reappears on etsy or makes their own website because I really really really love VIE and the Facebook Shop isn't doing VIE justice.
•  Organized? To see the colors you have to go to her photos.
• + you can find many of the colors used in various looks that she has done on herself or other people or ones other people have posted
• + Each collection has its own photo album
• Individual colors are in a few Individual Colors albums scattered throughout. It would be nice if they were all in the same album.
• Also, if you are looking for a certain color, for example I am currently in search of a nice orange,most of the individual pigments are not sorted by color in the photos (which I understand) or in the shop, which makes finding an orange or whatever color you would like kind of a royal pain.
• User Friendly?
• You order either 1 for $5 (or more than one 1 for $5) or one of the bundles (or whatever you want to call them), pay for it, then (unless things have changed since I ordered in January) comment/post on the wall saying which pigments you would like.
• Once you have figured out what colors you would like to order it's pretty simple. The only downer is, as mentioned that finding your colors isn't the easiest.

Communication/Customer Service:

• When I was going to make my order I had a few questions about how to order due to having never used Facebook shop.  She answered all my questions very quickly and was very helpful.

Shipping:

• Speed: Very fast
• Did it arrive safely?: Yes. Packaged very safely, delivered in a bubble mailer, the pots were in baggies to prevent them from getting shaken around. Pots were taped shut and had sifter seals.

Product Packaging: 

• Clear 5 gram jars with sifter (arrived with sifter seals) all very full
• Each labeled with the name of the brand and name of the pigment, which is a bonus. Some pigments I have don't have the brand name and then I can't remember where I got them which is frustrating >.< and names are always a good idea.

• Mine did not have a label with ingredients however in the time that has passed since I ordered she has started including labels on all pigments listing ingredients. Ingredients are also posted online

Product: 

• Quality: As I've said I'm not an expert but as far as I can tell these are of excellent quality
• Application: tip- if you are applying this eyeshadow with a damp brush just make sure you don't get too much on your brush at once or it may clump up a little, but that might just be me having issues lol. If I take my time and don't get too much on my brush I don't have any problems.
• Color: One word AMAZING I LOVE LOVE LOVE these colors
• Swatches: (these are as true to color as I could get them. Explode is a little more yellow-orange versus true orange in person) 

• VIE in action: you can see VIE in action in many of my looks but here is an example using only VIE pigments

Overall:   I love love love VIE and it has become one of my favorite cosmetics companies <3 The slight hassle with the shopping process is well worth it.

Do I plan to order from them again?: Most Definitely!

Would I recommend VIE?: Most Definitely. VIE is excellent. Whether you are new to Indie cosmetics  companies or already lovin em you should definitely consider given this company a try :) 

UPDATE: Jennifer, the owner of VIE took the time to read this blog and told me that she is currently working on individually re-swatching and photographing each color so that she can organize them better and make it easier for people to find the right colors. She also told me that she is working on/hoping to get her own website set up.

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