Inside Morgana Cryptoria! Take a look..if you dare!

Ello' Zombies!

I have bad news. My camera.is.dead.  :( I've been borrowing my in-laws camera, but they needed it for a trip they are going on this weekend. So, this leaves me SOL for the moment. This is really hard for me because..well, I've never been without a camera. Like, ever. And the camera on my Blackberry is crap. So, I guess we'll just wing it until I can get a new camera. SUCK!

Anyway,  I will stop rambling and get on with it. I took all of these pictures yesterday in preparation for this post.

 

During Black Friday in November, Morgana Cryptoria was having a major sale. If you added $50.00 worth of product to your cart, it would reset to $25.00. That was amazing. I was able to pick up full sizes of the eyeshadow I've been drooling over for some time now. Such as Broomstick and Ectoplasm. I also picked up some samples of the older stock such as Coraline and Druscilla's Sister. I also got two cult classic lippies Coraline's Kiss and Azalea Blue.



The eyeshadow from MC are not only unique but they are really smooth and easy to blend. Customer service is amazing and MC carries much more than just eyeshadow such as: Special Effects hair dye, cosmetic glitter, makeup brushes, her infamous lipstick, and even empty mineral jars! I personally like the darker website and it's come along way since I first visited when the company was still Morgana Minerals. It's much more user friendly now.

Below are the swatches of my haul. I didn't realize I was getting such vibrant colors and so many purples. I can't help it, I'm a sucker for purple.

(As always, click these bitches for maximum, goodness!)





I adore Broomstick and all of the purples, especially Aspbite! Aqua Stars is a black base with aqua sparkles and it reminds me a lot of Evil Shades "Glooming" so if you already have that, you don't need both. The formula on these are great and though pigmented, they don't stain and they are very easy to blend.

The two lipsticks I purchased are so gorgeous. I am in LOVE with Coraline's Kiss. I love them both, but Azalea Blue is more a night time color in my opinion. Coraline's Kiss can be worn at anytime. :D Azalea Blue was a little drying but it's because it LASTS FOREVER! A good lip balm under and a dab of gloss ontop should do the trick.






Just look at the blue shift in this lippie. OMG!

I am very happy with my order and I'm looking forward to future looks with all my new goodies!

While we're at it, I was able to take a few minutes of Melissa's time to ask her some questions about Morgana's Cryptoria and herself.

Melissa, tell me how Morgana Cryptoria came about?

I wanted to expand & get away from the "mineral makeup company" classification since my shop offers other things such as hair dye. I also have plans to expand into many other areas.

How long as Morgana Cryptoria been in business?   
I started Morgana Minerals in Nov 2006. The idea for Cryptoria was born last spring.

What sets Morgana Cryptoria apart from other Indie mineral makeup companies out there?
I try to provide more personal service to everyone. I am always asking for opinions on new shades, products, packaging, etc. I try really hard to give my customers what they are looking for in a shadow or lipstick. I fulfill many product & custom shade requests.

What are your visions for the future of Morgana Cryptoria?
I want my shop to offer reasonably priced gothic clothing, decor, and jewelry. My goal since starting up has been to make my biz successful enough that I don't need a day job. I hope that by the end of 2011, I will meet that goal.

What is the turnaround time after placing an order? What's your shipping policy?
It depends on what is ordered. Most orders fall into the 3-10 business day time frame. During sales, up to 15 business days. The current shipping times are stated on the front page & at checkout. I ship to most countries. Samples ship First Class for $1 & US orders are $5 flat rate for Priority Mail. International shipping is $7 & I'll refund the difference if it's over $1. After adding the cost of package insurance, most international packages ship for $6-$7.

What is your favorite Morgana Cryptoria product? Color? Why? 
I adore so many of my shadows...Stonekeep is my fave.

What does Melissa do in her spare time?
I don't have much spare time. When I am at home, I am usually doing admin business stuff, making batches, or packing orders. I do take time to watch my favorite shows. I am also reading "The War for Late Night". I am a HUGE Conan O'Brien fan(not literally ;). During my mini break this month, I hope to catch up on some Nancy Drew games. I am also looking forward to playing "Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack The Ripper".

Tell me one thing about Melissa others would be surprised to know.
I was a real estate agent for 8 years. Also worked as an insurance agent specializing in term life insurance. On my geek side - I love to build computers & tinker with electronics.

Anything else exciting, or special you'd like to add?
A giveaway next month for Makeup Zombie's Blog!

You read that right! A giveaway coming in January. Keep you eyes peeled! And in the meantime, be sure to run on over to Morgana Cryptoria and get yourself some!

*everything above was purchased with my own money. Pictures used with Morgana Cryptoria permission. Everything swatched over Hi-Fi Cosmetics Shadow Fix. Suckonthat!*