Hey friends! I have another wonderful giveaway for you today, but first I want to introduce you to the amazing Chrissy of Parlo Cosmetics. She makes such beautifully pigmented eye shadows and lip balms!
How did Parlo Cosmetics Get Started?
In 2009 I started a small candle business when my oldest son was born. I quickly fell in love with the Etsy community while running that business. Knowing that so many were burning my candles in their homes, that my custom blends were making their homes smell soooo delicious, it was sort of addicting.
Fast forward to 2010, I had my second son and I needed a girly outlet. It was a necessity at this point. That's when Parlo Cosmetics was born. It took about two years of behind the scenes formulating before I officially opened shop. I've learned a lot in these past 3 years about what my customers want, what is currently "trendy" and what I personally love to make. It's been a fun ride, and I love the steady increase in traffic and loyal costumers. Every time I get a new "feedback" notification my heart skips a beat and I'm wearing a smile all day. This company is about the people who are wearing my line, and when it's so well received it makes my whole day.
Do you have help or are you the sole proprietor?
I have three boys and a very large Weimaraner, so I wouldn't say they are help, per se. It's all me. My husband sometimes mans shipping, and by that I mean he takes my packages to the post office so they aren't sitting in the hot Florida sun.
I honestly think that I would be kind of sad if I weren't the one grinding minerals and packaging orders.
What gets you into the creative process with your shop?
I love listening to Podcasts! I also put Youtube videos on in the background. When I'm working and my kids are in the office, we are usually watching music videos, my 4 year old is obsessed with Sam Smith. Which I'm totally okay with.
Currently my favorite podcasts are Being Boss, The Marketing Lifestyle Show and I can't wait for Start Up to resume next month.
My favorite things to watch on Youtube are others being creative, I watch soaping videos, hand lettering videos, sewing channels. Just anything where others are creating.
Where do you come up with inspiration for your products?
A lot of what I do is spur of the moment. I will be lying in bed and thinking of a mica colorant and say to myself, "OH! I should totally see what happens when I mix those." Take Astro-Not, one of my best sellers for instance, if you were to see what colors actually comprised this color you would never believe the final product. It's fun, really fun.
And of course I follow what's on trend, upcoming trends. So I gather a lot of inspiration from fashion magazines and blogs.
What is your creative space like?
My office is always littered with plastic dinosaurs and play food. There's no way around it. I stay at home and work with my boys, so I can't avoid it. So I'm constantly stopping to have a play sandwich or a bowl of soup on the floor. I wouldn't have it any other way, and I know I will miss these days when I have two in school this Fall.
That being said, I'm very, very fortunate to have a designated work space. I recently "traded" rooms with my youngest so right now it's sort of a mess while I find new homes for everything. Otherwise I would love to share a picture!
I get to work surrounded by a wall of mica, beautiful rainbows of colors at my disposal to play with.
What is your favorite thing about makeup?
My absolute favorite thing about makeup is how it allows the wearer to choose who they want to be that day. I'm sure many of your readers can relate to this. :) Some days I'm a boho hippie Mom with flowy tops and loose messy hair. Other days I'm a beach babe with bright, bold patterns and short little cut offs. I can rock a Mod inspired emerald dress with heels, then the next day dress like a badass in my skinny jeans and leather boots85. Makeup allows me to play into this.
My absolute favorite thing about MY makeup is that it allows my skin to breathe, I don't feel guilty about wearing it everyday, that it's clogging my pores or smothering me. I'm mainly a "natural" girl but I have problem areas that I like to hide from years and years of teen acne, I want to look fresh and flawless without looking like I have a ton of makeup on, or causing more break outs.
What is one of your favorite listings currently in your shop?
I have two. My all time favorite lip tint Sweet Lips and my go-to shadow Forever.
Like I said before, I wear makeup almost everyday, and these colors allow me to do so without feeling like I got a little too dolled up for the parent pick-up line... though I have totally rocked a cat-eye for no reason.
What do you do in your free time when you're not creating for Parlo Cosmetics?
I sew. I read. I play board games with my kids. We go to the beach. I love baking. I'm a very typical stay at home Mom. I'm also a pretty laid back person. I love having a few cups of coffee on the weekends to read a few blogs. I'm also really into graphic design, and I love designing branding packages. I've changed my logo and package design so many times it's almost embarrassing.
Just look at some of these beauties. Click on the photo to go to the listing:
Use code ILOVECHAOS for 40% your order at Parlo Cosmetics! WOW!
Chrissy is giving one lucky winner a $25 credit to her shop! It's open worldwide and ends at 12AM on 4/8/15.
