Weekly Win It! Kristen's Cosmetics...

This weeks Weekly Win It Etsy artist is Kristen's Cosmetics. Kristen's shop is filled with fabulous personal care products which include lip balms, luxurious bath products and wonderful fragrances including perfumes and body mists (just to name a few!).


I had the opportunity to interview Kristen about her products and find out where she got the idea to start a cosmetics company. Believe me, this is one smart and talented lady (this stuff probably involves like math and chemistry or something!). I don't even want to guess how she does it so let's let her explain:

Your products are great! What was your inspiration, where did you get the idea to start this business? Thank you! I’ve been an entrepreneur since I was a little girl and have always loved lip balms since a young age, as well! After doing much research and tapping into my savings, I was able to start my business last year. I’ve been having a blast, ever since!

Cotton Candy Silky Shea Soap

Where did you learn how to make these products? Where do you produce them? I used to be a Biological Sciences major before I transferred to Business Marketing/Management so it comes natural to mix lots of things together to make my products! Some products are made from high-quality bases and additional oils, butters, etc. are added for a more customized product. Others, such as my Bubble Bath Bars, Bath Bombs, Bath Salts, Lip Balms, etc are made from scratch. I make everything in really small batches to ensure product freshness and to give my customers the option of customizing their product’s scent! I have done a lot of research for recipes, tested lots of ingredients and played around with ingredients (a lot!) until I develop products that I like. I’m currently working on a high-shine lip gloss tint that is made with really moisturizing organic oils and a really soft lip balm/gloss that you can squeeze out of a tube…it’s a lot of fun!

Until I have the resources to upgrade to a more efficient facility, I am currently producing my products at home, in the kitchen. Great precautions are taken for product quality/safety. Safety measures include latex-free gloves, disposable masks and pipettes, shrink wrapping of final lip products, etc. All of my final products are tested/used by myself, friends and family and are NEVER tested on animals!

How do you come up with the many different scents you carry? I use high quality fragrance and essential oils/essential oil blends to scent my products. I love creating new scents by mixing different notes together! I only carry fragrances that I would personally want to use. Something that everyone should know is that all my fragrances are phthalate free. Phthalates are chemicals commonly used in cosmetics that can cause great irritations and headaches to certain individuals. I can be very sensitive to scents and know that there are others out there who are just like me!

Wisteria Lane-Bath and Shower Meringue

Have you ever created a scent that you absolutely hated? If so, what was it? I once combined several essential oils that I thought would blend fantastically together; I was all excited because I thought I was on to something. Oh, how I was wrong! One sniff and I was completely disgusted. I’ll never forget the look on my mother’s face when I asked her to smell it…totally priceless. She wanted to be supportive, but it was impossible! I was trying to create a scent form my Lavender Rosemary Foot Scrub and it took a while to develop one that I like. I really enjoy the fragrance of the scrub now, but the original one was just plain awful!

Do you use your own products? What is your favorite product? Scent? Of course; that has to be the best part about my business! I always say that if something doesn’t sell or if heaven forbid, sales came to a complete halt tomorrow…it wouldn’t be the end of the world; I’d just have a lifetime’s supply of bath and beauty products! I use every single item that I create and haven’t bought any comparable products since I started making my own. I have tons of my products in different scents floating around the house/car and in my purse at all times!

Choosing a favorite scent and product is a near-impossible task for me. I think I’ll go with my lip balm as being my favorite product, because I’m constantly using it! Lip balm was really the inspiration for me to start my own cosmetics company; I wanted a lip balm that came in a cute tin/labeling and most importantly, worked wonders on my lips! As for scents, it is near impossible for me to choose just one. The scent that I’ve been wearing quite frequently (one of my roll-on perfumes) is “Sweet Sophistication” which is an unbelievable blend that starts with green apple as the main scent and also includes notes of jasmine, lily and peaches!

Sweet Sophistication Roll on Perfume

Do you create your own packaging? Yes and I really enjoy it! Sometimes I get carried away when packaging up items to be shipped, but I just really love tying little bows and coordinating package colors, etc. I really enjoy graphic design and I design and print all my own labels onto high quality vinyl waterproof labels that are extremely durable. It takes a lot of extra time to make my own labels, but at this point it is the best route to go. I can customize everything and change my designs anytime I feel like it!

What is your best selling item? Sales seem to go in trends! When I first started off on Etsy, Bath Salts were the biggest sellers. For a while Lip Balms seemed to be the most popular, and now it seems like everything is selling in even quantities!

Wow, thank you Kristen for letting us get a peek into your world and how you create your line of bath and beauty products!! Now for the moment you've all been waiting for, Kristen is offering one lucky JLC Studio reader a set of Banana Bunches Flip Lip Balm and a 4 oz container of Whipped Body Mousse (winner to choose the scent on the body mousse from scents list).

If the winner is in the U.S. , there will be free shipping. International winners will have to pay a small shipping fee (per shop profile). Kristen is also offering the winner (either U.S. or international) free shipping on any additional items purchased from her shop (to be shipped along with the prize).

Leave a comment on this post to Win It! For more info on the contest rules, please click here!