A controversial cosmetics company that got an FDA warning is in danger of losing its customers

Lime Crime, a controversial independent makeup company known for its bright hues, might be in trouble.

A recent expose by Racked's Arabelle Sicardi, outlines some of the company's problems - from the FDA warning to threats of a class-action lawsuit over a data breach to allegations that it repackages wholesale pigments and marks up the price.

The brand was founded by Doe Deere (whose real name is Xenia Vorotov), and at one time was owned by Sephora.

Deere reportedly has threatened to sue bloggers who wrote negative reviews of her makeup, according to Racked.

But now, many customers are boycotting the brand after the FDA issued a warning about its products in July. 

A petition even emerged to boycott Lime Crime at makeup conference IMATS NYC.

The FDA notice accuses the brand of utilizing ferric ferrocyanide and ultramarines in the Velvetines lip stain; those ingredients violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

FDA Press officer Megan McSeveney told Refinery29 the FDA did not test for the products, but "they were listed as ingredients in product labeling. If they do not contain these ingredients, the products are misbranded and therefore also prohibited in interstate commerce."

McSeveney told Refinery29 that the FDA began investigating the product after receiving not one - but six - complaints in a two-month period.

Are these ingredients all that bad? Not necessarily. Racked's Sicardi says a cosmetic expert told her they weren't bad for you - they just simply didn't have the FDA's green light.

Additionally, Refinery29 reported the ingredients have been approved to be used externally in the US (ie: on your face and on your eyelids), just not on your lips. This, however, is not the case in Europe and Japan, where the ingredients are fine to use.

But in Reddit community Makeup Addiction, makeup addicts - including bloggers - have said they avoid Lime Crime on purpose.

"For me, I do avoid Lime Crime like others. A few years ago I bought a lip product from a different retailer, but I haven't and will not buy anything else in light of new controversy," one user wrote.

 

 

Twitter has no shortage of people who refuse to shop there - particularly in light of the recent FDA controversy.

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Lime Crime has posted a response to the controversy on its website, stating these ingredients were not in the makeup, and that the company was working with the FDA to resolve the claims.

We've reached out to Lime Crime for comment and will update if we hear back.