We are really pleased to let you collegiettes know that Ferro Cosmetics has offered a discount code to all of our amazing Her Campus Princeton readers. The code is HCPrinceton!
Now what is Ferro Cosmetics? Here is the cosmetic brand’s information as told by founder (and CEO) Krissy Ferro.
I’m the kind of person that many people may call a “say it like it is” kinda gal, and I definitely love this kind of expression returned when I’m working with women, because I get a chance to really hear what women like you care about, what they want out of their look, and their lifestyle. Let’s just say we like to strip away the company mumbo-jumbo, and really hear what our clients’ needs are, and show them how to achieve it. I feel it’s the best way to be, and it’s this kind of honesty that we all cherish at Ferro Cosmetics.
Since this is kind of engrained into my personal DNA, when I began the Ferro Cosmetics journey, I was fueled by all the women I worked with over the 14+ years of being in the beauty industry as a professional Stylist and Makeup Artist. Every complaint of a product, every praise from a look, every “I wish I had smoothing that…” or “I love the way this does that”, and especially all the “I just want a color or product that does….”. The real demands and real wishes women really wanted from their makeup, including myself, was the driving force that created the products in our line of mineral makeup.
As far as actually making the products….that’s a whole other story. And one I get asked all the time. I usually have reserved this question for conversations, and never have actually published it, but when I tell it the reaction is pretty cool-it’s a great story! And since we’re going with the “say it how it is” theme here…. I’ve decided to share it here too.
I created every single product and color in our mineral makeup line, and I attribute it all to what we call “Divine Inspiration”. I’m not a chemist, I’m definitely not a science geek, and I never really considered myself overly book smart. But I loved color and I loved learning how things worked. When I learned about all the chemicals in the products I was using, products I used on my own babies, and even my “I can’t live without these” products, I actually got really angry (to put it nicely). Animal urine in my foundation- really? And certain companies making an entirely different formula for their European market, keeping the toxic formulation for their own American consumer (this is a company that specializes in baby products!)- why? No wonder half my clients couldn’t wear makeup, or certain colors on their eyes, or even so many more with Cancer. I could go on and on, but needless to say it angered me enough that I became obsessed in learning ingredients.
My search really started so I could really understand ingredients enough to find brands that were truly pure AND performed excellently, so I could use and recommend those products. Something inside me took over, and I studied for thousands of hours ingredients in everything, what they did, why they were in certain products, and what was actually good. I had no idea what I was looking for, and certainly no intention on studying how to create my own product, but I did come across a few “do-it-yourself” mineral makeup recipes as well as a small few that actually sold the ingredients…….so I ordered some ingredients.
This is where the Divine Inspiration kicked in.
To make a long story short, all the comments from my clients played in my head while all the research I did guided me into choosing what ingredients I did NOT want- anything un-natural. So I figured if it was only all natural, no one would complain of irritation, allergies, or breakouts. If this mineral made it stay on the face longer, and that mineral made the color more natural, then I used it. I didn’t understand why the other mineral makeup brands on the market only used a few ingredients while there were so many more natural minerals that were good for the skin AND made the makeup better, but I figured the more the merrier. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics had a data base where you can enter ingredients and check their safety, so I checked every ingredient through Skin Deep (EWG.org) just to make sure it was safe and good. I really did not have a plan, but I turned my garage into a lab, and immersed myself there for about 8 months of trial and error. I knew we had a hit with our first foundation when my cousins and sister tried it (who were perfect candidates due to their sensitive skin, acne, and constant makeup issues), and not only loved the way it looked, but also noticed their skin clearing up. It covered completely, but still looked natural- and we never found anything that could do that before. We now call this foundation Ultimate Foundation. It has 13 natural mineral ingredients- over 3 times more than the rest- and it’s all good stuff!
So my Divine Inspiration continued with then a blush, and eye shadows, and another foundation (since not every client I had wanted full coverage) now called Radiance Foundation, and every other product we have. All different kinds of products and finishes than what you can buy anywhere, with a different twist on even the standard popular colors, and all inspired by what women really wanted, and all tested on my family and my kids chubby cheeks.
And that Divine Inspiration? That, my friend, was, and is, totally God.
Now we have a company around these fabulous products that includes most of my family, and I can most definitely write a book about that story. We thought we’d sell these fabulous products via a website only and go on our merry way making these great products. I’ve owned businesses my entire adult life, but never a company. Needless to say- bigger things (and many heartbreaking hurdles) were in the plan, and we’re all happy to roll with the demand!
Today, we recently launched our 5th website, added lots of new colors, and continuously work on bringing into our line whatever it is that women want. We’re still learning and still growing, but our intentions and our goals always will revolve around products and looks real women want. Of course I usually push the envelope with wearing more makeup than what most of our clients like to wear, but I’ve always loved makeup and wanted to make sure our products and colors were diverse enough for the wild and creative, fashion forward diva, the busy mom, single mom, working girl, grandma, and every skin color, style, and age in between.
Being recently widowed and raising 2 boys, I understand the time constraints involved in all the little things in life, especially when it comes to taking care of you. We’ve removed one major worry for women by bringing to the market a one of a kind makeup line that was made just for you, that’s totally safe, long wearing, and of course, totally Glam. I encourage you to try our products, enjoy the free samples, and know that you CAN look really and truly fabulous in very little time while supporting a woman owned and operated US Company.
As always, I encourage you to share your feedback, thoughts, and ideas with me at anytime! It’s how we started, and how we plan to keep going!
Enjoy looking fabulous….and just make sure your ready for all the compliments you’ll be getting! That’s one comment we hear all the time!
God Bless-
Krissy Ferro