Independent Spotlight – Shiro Cosmetics Interview
Note – I no longer support Shiro Cosmetics. Not every product or every company is right for every person. You may not be bothered by the same things that bother me, such as bullying, harassment or transphobia. These are my opinions. Please draw your own conclusions.
This month’s Independent Spotlight is with the charming Caitlin of Shiro Cosmetics.
How long have you loved Makeup?
About 2 years, give or take? That’s about how long it’s been since my skin stopped being terrible. When it was bad, makeup was nothing more than a mask for me. Now that I have a clean canvas to work with, I can have fun with the entire process. 🙂
I know that Ana of Lipsticks and Lightsabers was your inspiration for creating your own brand. How long did it take you to decide to start your own business?
After I found Ana’s blog, it probably took me no more than one week to be like, “I AM SO TOTALLY DOING THIS.” Actually planning and ordering and designing took much longer, of course!
How many hours a day do you work? Days a week? How do you balance work with school and motherhood?
Oh gosh. Well, are you talking business-related, or just “work” in general? I probably devote between 6-8 hours a day, 7 days a week, to business-related things. With my son and my schoolwork and business combined, I work for… around 14-16 hours a day, 7 days a week. Every other Sunday night I take about 4 hours off to spend with my friends, but that’s dependent on whether or not I can get everything for Monday done.
I pull off this balancing act with a lot of support from my family and not a lot of sleep. ^_^;
What are your favorite colors to wear?
Clothes-wise, I love wearing red – I really like the contrast with my dark hair and eyes and pale skin. Makeup-wise, neutrals and jewel-toned purples are by far my favorites.
What are your top 10 favorite colors you’ve created?
Oooh, this is a tough one. Um… Veran, Meowth, SS Anne, Gengar, Temple of Time, Deku, Epona, Midna, Steelix, Majora’s Mask. Not in that order. 😉
What are your favorite lip colors?
I tend to like natural tones for lips, particularly on myself – I always grab colorless balm, or else a very sheer red/pink/berry color. I can’t resist buying new lip things, though, so I have a fairly large collection of lip colors which I’m not brave enough to wear. XD
Do you have a favorite beauty trend?
Clean, super-pale skin, with neutral but well-defined eyes and red lips – classic and, IMO, completely gorgeous when done well.
Do you have a trademark look or trademark colors?
My “trademark” look is probably… um, normal/lazy. On a regular basis I’ll just wear fitted jeans with printed t-shirts or sweatshirts, or sweaters in solid colors, and no accessories. Sometimes I’ll go a little rocker-chic if I get up early enough to bother with eye makeup. I am very much the antithesis of fashion inspiration. XD
Do you have a favorite seasonal trend?
Nothing’s really coming to mind, sorry! ^_^; I like the jewel/earth tones frequently associated with autumn, but I’m not sure if that’s what you’re asking.
Where do you look for inspiration when you’re in the mood to create something new?
Geekery, naturally. 😀 I haven’t had to really search for inspiration since I opened, since there’s so much geekery just begging to be tapped. Really, my problem is narrowing down the enormous number of options I have!
How many collections do you already have planned out?
Two new collections are “officially” planned, as in, I have all the names and color descriptions already decided. There are three other collections that will definitely happen, but I haven’t gone through and planned them out yet.
I know you take custom requests. What are your favorite custom requests that you’ve created?
I haven’t had very many custom requests, actually – only three. Ralts, Milotic, and Espeon. Of those, I believe I like Espeon best. 🙂
Have you ever dyed your hair crazy colors?
Maybe not “crazy,” but I have dyed my hair. Its natural color is a very dark brown (most people would call it black) and it has a lot of copper tone to it, particularly in sunlight. I’ve dyed it a super-dark red-based purple, which faded to auburn; a coppery red with a blonde streak; and true black. Right now, it’s just my natural color.
I’ve done more exciting things with the length of my hair – I’ve had it everywhere from a pixie-cut to butt-length. It comes just to my shoulders right now, which I plan on keeping for a while.
What’s your skincare routine?
I wash it twice a day with Clean’n’Clear Blackhead Removal Scrub, and follow-up with one of my holy grails: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream. It’s this completely amazing moisturizer that’s lightweight enough for the face and heavy-duty enough for the feet. A+ stuff IMO.
What are your favorite authors or books to read, when you’re not busy studying?
I absolutely loved the Song of Ice and Fire, and I’m waiting anxiously for A Dance with Dragons to come out – I’m gonna be so angry if Martin dies before he finishes the series. x_x Orson Scott Card is also incredible.
Do you have any favorite tv shows?
I haven’t had time to watch TV in forever. Um… I really like Iron Chef! I’d want to be a chef if I wasn’t a cosmetics-maker. 😀
What’s on your iPod?
I don’t know, I lost it. ._. I can tell you about my Pandora station, though! It’s seeded on some gorgeous instrumental pieces (To Zanarkand from FFX, and Wind Forest from My Neighbor Totoro), some J-Rock that makes me want to dance (Ready Steady Go from Fullmetal Alchemist), and assorted video game themes.
Do you have any piercings or tattoos?
Earlobes are my only piercings, and I have no tattoos. I’m scared of needles, you see. Even just getting my earlobes pierced was super-scary, since I didn’t have it done until I was 14. XD
What’s your favorite way to accessorize?
On the rare occasions I bother accessorizing, I usually just put on some earrings. My son pulls on necklaces and puts them in his mouth, and rings and bracelets get in the way when I type. ^_^;
Do you have any pets?
My family has a pair of German shepherds, but I don’t own any pets unless you count a few plants. I’ve entertained the ideas of having a corgi, an African Grey parrot, an anteater, and a miniature goat, but ultimately I’m sure none of this will ever happen because I will never have time. 😛
What colors do you like to decorate with?
Hmm… Interior decorating isn’t really my forte. If I had a lot of money and a lot of time, I’d probably put together a look with mostly cream colors, accented with mid-toned gray and a subdued shade of aqua? I dunno, haha.
What color is your bedroom?
Cream, the same color it was when I moved in. Too lazy to change it. 😛
What color is your office?
I would tell you, except I don’t have one. 😛
What do you do to relax?
I quit working and go to sleep. ._.
How do you pamper yourself?
The only pampering I have time for nowadays is basic hygiene. x_x Hot showers with Haus of Gloi’s Imp sugar scrub are really nice, though, so I can’t complain!
Do you have a favorite chocolate?
I like milk chocolate. My dark-chocolate-loving sister calls me a heretic and a wussy, but I don’t like when chocolate is so strong as to be bitter. White chocolate is good (although it shouldn’t be classified as “chocolate”) but it’s absolutely terrible for my skin.
I know this month is your birthday! What are you planning on doing to celebrate?
I’m gonna take a little time off! I’ll be on winter break from school, and I’m going to be visiting family in another state for a week or so, so I won’t be able to fill orders. I’ll still have my son, of course, and I’m also gonna be working on making the website functional, and catching up on my graphics work for other people, and… I’m not gonna have a break, am I. XD Ah well. I guess at least the time off from school will recharge me a bit before I dive right back in. I’m taking 5 classes next semester because I want to graduate early.
Can you tell me something about yourself that would surprise your fans?
I’m actually a dinosaur! Maybe that’s not so surprising. ._.
I just want to say I love your Indie Spotlight feature. Love. It.
Thank you so much Ana! I really appreciate hearing that!
She seems so sweet !
I really envy everyone who manage to handle so many stuff at once! I wanna be able to do that!!! 😀 😀
I haven’t purchased anything from Shiro Cosmetics but they are on my list called ‘stuff I MUST buy’! 😀
:*
I know, I’m totally impressed with her ability to handle it all!
Two Words: ;-;
?
Videogame themed makeup? *DIES*
I have just placed an order through etsy, gotta love Blog Lovin’ – I wouldn’t have known about Shiro Cosmetics otherwise!
The colours are just beautiful and I’ve read so many great reviews. Thanks for this interview Phyrra, it was lovely. Nice to hear about the person behind the product. Caitlin is amazing to juggle all of those things!
I would kill for a Skies of Arcadia themed collection, that would be my Nirvana.
LOVE!
Yay! I’m glad you find my blog and this interview via Blog Lovin’!
I wanna order the kawaii set I think. I have never seen such bright pastels. And it would also fund that cute little baby :3 …Thanks for doing the interview, it was sweet .
The Kawaii set is really adorable 🙂
OMGosh, she’s so cute (as is that little bundle of baby love). I guess it’s bad that that makes me want to order. LOL Thanks Phyrra for another great introduction. 🙂
You’re quite welcome Katrina!
@Everybody other than Andrew: Thanks for the lovely comments! <3 Phyrra's a great interviewer, isn't she?
@Iantru: I completely agree! Actually, that's one of the ones I already have planned out. 😀 It'll probably be released in spring or early summer, 'cause I have a couple of collections I need to finish first.
@thecandiedmango: Oh goodness no! He's not sanitary enough for that kind of thing. 😛 Sometimes if I have orders out on the table he'll try to snatch them. Can't say I blame him, the colors in the jars are so shiny and bright that *I* almost want to put them in my mouth. XD
@July: It's so silly! I wonder if it'll ever darken up?
@Annamax: Hi there internet soulmate! >
@Andrew: I’M SO SORRY PLEASE DON’T HATE ME I WILL BE A NICE VELOCIRAPTOR I PROMISE T_T
@Mika: Maaaaaybe. Don’t forget you can always order custom shadows, too! ^_^
@Caitlin
*FAINTS* I’m dying to see it!! A Red Wedding shade is a must!! Hahahahaha, way macabre!!
LOLOLOLOL! Love your responses!
WHERE’S MY PERSONAL REPLY, HUH? What’s this about internet soul mates? Stayawayfromhershe’smine.
OH ANA YOU KNOW YOU’RE MY FAVORITE EVER DON’T BE JEALOUS PLX BECAUSE I LOVE YOU MOST <333333
*chants* neopets! neopetS! neopeTS! neopETS! neoPETS! neOPETS! nEOPETS! NEOPETS!!
Um….can you tell what I want a collection of? lol
Hehe!
I’m still voting for Monster Rancher! Suezo, Pixie, Dragon, Henger…
I… I don’t know what to say. She’s been lying to me this whole time. SHE SAID SHE WASN’T A VELOCIRAPTOR EVEN WHEN I DIRECTLY ASKED IF SHE WAS.
I don’t know who you are anymore, Caitlin.
I don’t know who *I* am anymore.
LOL!
If the superman is Dr Manhattan, the superwoman is Caitlin. Only she’s not naked and blue, as far as we know.
Wonderful interview xD you’re so funny together.
ROFL!
Thank you *hug*
She’s so nice and that photo of her and her son is so cute :3 I don’t know how she manages to juggle so much, I die just balancing work and uni!
They are so adorable!
I love these spotlights! Yay for Shiro!
I’m glad you like them 🙂
I knew she was a Velociraptor….
Wonderful interview & so nice to get to know the brains behind such a great set of shadows. I don’t know how she manages to keep up the pace but she does a great job!
I’m so glad you like it Marcey!
She’s so extra pretty, and her eyeshadows are to die for. Pokemon was my life for a long time, so they speak deeply to my soul. When I’m not so poor, I’m gonna give her all my monies and get me some. 😀
But I can’t help but be worried about her, even though I don’t know her. So much on her plate. .__.
She seems to handle it with grace!
LoL Caitlin if you read this, I loved your “I’m actually a dinosaur!” Made me chuckle 🙂 Great interview Phyrra! It’s always nice to see another side of the business person 🙂
I’m glad you liked the interview Nic!
If I didn’t already think Caitlin was my internets soul-mate, I do now. And I agree with everyone else – people like her are the reason why I love buying from indie companies. 🙂
I agree! I love these interviews that you do, Phyrra – it’s always great to see the faces behind the makeup companies. Knowing we are supporting a wonderful lady makes me want to buy more Shrio!!
I agree!
Catilin is just so adorable! This is another reason to love indie makeup – how can you not want to give her all your spare money for well made, sparkly shadows?
I KNOW!
It’s so awesome that she was inspired by Lipsticks & Lightsabers! That was one of the first beauty blogs I bookmarked and started reading regularly. Her blog, Musings, yours and Grey’s all popped my beauty blog cherry and I’ve been obsessed since.Also, I adore your indie spotlights! & I’m glad she seems to nice. I can’t wait to place my first order from Shiro ;D
Aww that’s awesome! I’m so glad you like them 🙂 I hope you love your first order.
I just ordered my first little batch of Shiro & I couldn’t be more excited! Kudos to Caitlyn for setting her mind to something & being strong and devoted enough to balance it with being a mother and student! Oh, and thumbs up on the OSC- he rocks!!!
Yay! What did you pick out?
Good morning
hey i am happy to see an asian with a blond baby, i am half asian and i have a blond daughter, and always people think i am the nanny…
anyway congrats with your business and keep on is always good a woman who works, is creative, have time for being a mom.
My high school friend is half Thai, and her son is basically daddy in miniature (blond hair blue eyes). Genetics are so crazy!
I’m sorry that people think you’re the nanny! That’s crazy!
Caitlin, your son is adorable. Does he ever try to help you mix colors?
OMG!! We need a Song of Ice and Fire makeup collection!! At least I do!! OMG, I am drooling just thinking about the names of the products and the amazing shade range that would come out of it!! Oh Caitlin, please pretty please with sugar on it?? Lol…
I loved the interview!! Caitlin seems so nice, modest and down to earth…
That’s an amazing idea! I hope she does a Song of Ice and Fire collection too!
Oh, those books made me cry.
Glad you liked the interview 🙂
She is REALLY nice.
The world needs that collection!
Ooh, I believe there could be more than one collection, a lot more 😀 .
She’s really pretty. And serious respect for juggling uni with a son and a business. She’s superwoman.
*salutes*
I know! I was in shock when I found out she had a son in addition to school. She does such a great job!