FAQs
First of all: Why is your website mostly in black and white?
Because the eyeshadows are the heroes. Everything else (the layout, the words, the background) exists to let them speak. We keep things ultra simple so nothing distracts from the products itself: color, story, and emotion. Beauty doesn’t need noise to be powerful.
Are your products actually made by real people?
Yes. Every pigment color is thoughtfully selected. Every shade is born from human hands, tested, pressed, adjusted, and loved. Not mass-generated by a machine. Each pigment has a story behind it and a reason it exists.
What sets you apart?
Three things, mostly.
We're handmade in Boston by Eva, our founder, in small batches — no bulk manufacturing, no fillers, no shortcuts. Every shade starts with a story: a real person living with a health condition, whose experience shaped the color, the name, and the symbolism. And $1 from every eyeshadow sold goes to an NGO or research effort tied to that condition.
The packaging is built around the same idea: magnetic stackable cases that let you carry exactly what you love, nothing you don't. Free QR audio stickers read each shade name aloud for visually impaired customers because accessibility shouldn't be an afterthought.
We're not trying to be the loudest brand in beauty. Just one of the most meaningful. Read the full story →
What is your mission and vision?
Our mission is to create beautiful and timeless products that understand you. Products that live with you and become your go-to staples over time.
We see a future where beauty finally slows down.
Where you buy less, choose better, and feel more at home in your own skin.
… and where imperfection is the whole point.
Our vision is to give luxury its soul back.
Luxury that fits into real life and feels human. The messy mornings, honest moments and everything in between.
Where every product is a small act of craftsmanship, made to bring you back to yourself.
Who do you create for?
Anyone who’s tired of being perfect all the time. Our customers are makeup artists, surgeons, veterans, parents, students, creators, dreamers.
Are The Imperfectionist eyeshadows vegan and cruelty-free?
Always cruelty-free, and vegan whenever possible (unless a specific shade uses ethically sourced pigments that can’t be replaced synthetically).
Transparency first. Always.
Why are your cases transparent?
Because we believe in literal and emotional transparency. You can see exactly what’s inside. No hidden layers, no guessing. Just honest, true beauty.
Are your product photos and swatches AI-generated?
Not a chance. Every photo on this site is shot with real light, real products, and real skin. We don't use AI to alter faces, smooth textures, or change how our shades actually look. The swatch you see is exactly what arrives at your door. If AI is ever used for something like a mood board or background texture, we'll say so explicitly. That's the kind of transparency we're built on. In a beauty world full of digitally perfected images, our eyeshadows are real enough not to need it. The Imperfectionist keeps things honest, human, and real.
What’s with the magnets in the case?
They’re small but mighty. Each case has magnets in every corner that click into place, so you can create your own palette by stacking them on top of each other.
Picture a little tower of colors, your favorite singles living side by side like moments you don’t want to lose.
And the best part? You can stack either the full cases or just the bottoms with the shadows inside on top of each other.
What are QR audio stickers?
QR audio stickers are a small addition to our eyeshadow (optional) that you can add to your cart for free. They read your eyeshadow name and color tone out loud when scanned. We designed these for both people who are visually challenged or who just love tech that talks back :)
How are your ingredients different from others on the market?
Most beauty brands create every shade using the same bulk base, a one-formula-fits-all mixture where fillers are added to increase volume, reduce costs, and standardize manufacturing. Our eyeshadows are made differently. Each shade starts with the high quality pigments chosen specifically for that color, and the formula is built around those pigments to ensure great performance and long lasting wear. We do not use unnecessary fillers, only the essential ingredients that support adhesion, slip, blendability, long lasting wear, and texture.
Do you ship internationally? How long does shipping take?
We ship across the US with standard delivery in 5–7 business days and expedited options available. International shipping is available to the Czech Republic - rates calculated at checkout.
Is The Imperfectionist available in stores?
Currently The Imperfectionist is available exclusively online at imperfectionist.beauty. Shopping directly with us means your purchase goes directly to supporting the brand and the NGO donation tied to your shade.
Are your eyeshadows travel-friendly?
That's actually what the magnetic case was built around. Each pan is 26mm diameter, small enough to sit in the palm of your hand, and every case has magnets in all four corners so your shades click together into one neat stack. Two shades for a weekend. All six for a longer trip. They fit in any makeup pouch, personal bag, or carry-on pocket without the bulk.
Compare that to a palette: the space of a small book, half the shades you'll never use, one bad drop away from a cracked pan. We're built on a different idea: bring exactly what you love, nothing you don't. Pressed powder means no liquid restrictions, so they clear security without a second thought. Your suitcase will thank you.
Why “The Imperfectionist”?
Perfection is exhausting and overrated. The Imperfectionist celebrates people who show up as they are. We believe in beauty that doesn’t erase who you are but amplifies it.
Do I need to have a health condition to wear The Imperfectionist?
Not at all. And this is one of the most common misconceptions about the brand, so it's worth saying clearly: The Imperfectionist is designed for everyone. Our shades are inspired by the experiences of people living with various health conditions, but that inspiration lives in the name, the story, and the symbolism of each color, not in who the product is for. You don't need epilepsy to wear Unpredictable Brush, or hearing loss to wear Read My Lips. You just need to love the color, feel something when you read the story, or want beauty that actually means something. We exist to honor those human experiences and make them visible for anyone willing to look.
What do you mean by “beauty that has meaning”?
Each color symbolizes a real human experience whether it’s a health condition, a feeling, or a journey. It connects and resonates with the customer on the deepest level.
Where do your ingredients come from?
We source from small, trusted U.S. suppliers, including veteran-owned businesses, and develop our eyeshadow cases in the Czech Republic.
What about safety and quality of your ingredients?
All our ingredients meet FDA cosmetic safety standards. We make and hand-press each shadow under strict sterile conditions.
Are your materials eco-friendly?
Our cases are 3D-printed locally in the Czech Republic using recyclable materials. We design for longevity, products that last, not landfill filler.
What is so special about your packaging?
It was inspired by wagashi - the Japanese art of making sweets that are as beautiful to look at as they are to eat. Quiet, intentional, one piece at a time. That's how we wanted our cases to feel.
Each is a transparent 26mm square with magnets in every corner. You can see your shade through the case and click it onto any other case you own. Two together for a weekend. Six for a longer trip. Your whole collection for the days you can't decide. Build your own palette. Exactly the colors you love, never the ones you don't.
The cases are 3D printed in the Czech Republic, the country Eva calls home, using recyclable materials. Holding one feels less like opening a beauty product and more like opening something that was made on purpose. See the full design →
Why make accessibility part of beauty?
Because accessibility shouldn’t be a buzzword or marketing tactic to get more customers. Also, Eva, our founder has 99% hearing loss and epilepsy, so accessibility is deeply rooted in our origin story.
Is your eyeshadow really waterproof?
Absolutely! Try it yourself. Swatch it on your arm, hold it under running water, and watch. Still flawless. No primer needed. Made to handle anything from sweaty barre or yoga workouts to steamy showers. Each single is simply designed for real life.
Why single eyeshadows and not palettes?
Because no one lives the same story every day. Palettes decide for you. They give you six shades you’ll never touch and two you’ll actually love. Singles give you freedom. You build your own collection, your own vibe, your own mood. No fillers, no wasted colors, no “this one is pretty but I’ll never use it.” Just the shades that feel like you.
Are your eyeshadows safe for sensitive eyes or contact lens wearers?
Our eyeshadows meet FDA cosmetic safety standards and are made under strict sterile conditions. As with any eye-area product, we recommend patch testing if you have sensitive skin, and avoiding direct application to the inner eye. If irritation occurs, discontinue use. Contact lens wearers should apply before inserting lenses.
I’ve seen another brand called Imperfectionist Beauty in Australia. Are you the same company?
No, we're a separate brand, though it's a lovely coincidence to share a name with another team out there.
The Imperfectionist® is a registered trademark in the United States, handmade in Boston, Massachusetts by Eva, our founder. Our shades, story, and mission are entirely our own. If you came here looking for the Australian brand, no worries - they're easy to find with a quick search. If you're here for handmade, high-pigment, cruelty-free single eyeshadows inspired by people living with health conditions, then you're exactly where you're meant to be.
Does every eyeshadow purchase include a donation?
Absolutely! $1 from every eyeshadow sold online is donated to NGOs, institutions, or medical research focused on the health condition that inspired that shade. When you buy Resilient Motion, for example, $1 goes toward mobility research. Beauty with a purpose.