Interview: Xenia of Lime Crime Makeup

The lovely Xenia, tour de force behind Doe Deere, Doe Deere Blogazine, and the recently launched Lime Crime Makeup: So bright, it’s illegal! has taken a few minutes to talk about her new makeup line, her inspirations, and her future plans for world domination.

♥ You were very active with online make-up tutorials for years (that’s how I became such a fan of yours!) and you took a long hiatus from it. What prompted your return not only to the world of make-up tutorials, but also to expand it in to a freelance make-up artist job and to launch your own make-up company?
I posted my first tutorial in 2006. No one else was doing it at the time and it was a huge hit. I was producing one look per week and had many requests for more rolling in. But truth be told, I wasn’t sure what my next step should be. It sort of withered on the vine when I started recording the Doe Deere album. I took almost two years off. When I returned to the makeup scene in 2008, I found it to be quite different. Many new makeup artists were posting their tutorials - and not just with pictures, but also on YouTube! It was incredible how the idea of an online make up tutorial has evolved.

This time I knew exactly what I was going to do with it, however. I was going to launch my own makeup company. I was hoping it would be well-received since emails sort of never stopped. Even after 2 years of inactivity, I was still receiving several messages a day asking when I’ll start posting again. It was incredible, and encouraged me to make the jump.

♥ Without giving away too many secrets, what can you tell us about developing a make-up line? What sort of process did you have to go through, from conception to final product? What did you find the most challenging aspect of developing your own make-up line?
It all starts with the product, of course. Without a quality product, no matter how well-advertised, a brand will not go far. I researched companies who make similar stuff - Urban Decay, Too Faced, MAC - and decided that everything I produce must be of equal quality or a step above. I also did some research to determine my market. My customer is a late teens-early 30s female, usually artistically inclined, with a love for all things unorthodox. She loves bright colors and expresses herself fearlessly.

I designed the Lime Crime logo myself. Lime green against purple stripes - my favorite colors - became my signature palette. In the whole process, finding the right packaging was the hardest part; I’m still perfecting it. I want it to be functional, as well look good and represent my brand right.

♥ Who or what has been your biggest inspiration in developing Lime Crime products?
The fact that I couldn’t find any eyeshadow that was vibrant enough! Or long-lasting enough! Or easy enough to blend. I’ve always been attracted to colors that are super-saturated, but unfortunately (fortunately?) they were impossible to find. Being a makeup lover helped me find my niche tremendously, and continues helping me find more!

♥ What tips would you have for the young woman who loves make-up? Who wants to be a make-up artist? Who wants to develop her own line of make-up?
It’s the same advice for all three: just do it!

A young woman who is already into makeup doesn’t need my advice, which is: do what you love. Someone who wants to be a makeup artist should practice on everyone they know; but if they truly want to do this, chances are they are already doing it and don’t need me telling them to. A young enterpreneur should always do their research, observe how other companies do it and decipher why they are successful/unsuccessful.

♥ If you only had three of your Lime Crime products to last you the rest of your life, which three would it be?
Haha, good question! It would have to be my Foundation Primer, Lime Criminal eyeshadow and Finishing Pixie Dust!

♥ Will you write a short story, poem, or song about the type of person you’ve designed Lime Crime for?
I already did. I write short stories for pretty much every color in my collection, and this one’s a LIMErick for the Lime Criminal shadow:

A colorful girl from the city
Who wished to be ever so pretty
Wore her makeup so bright,
Lock her up you just might,
That colorful girl from the city!

♥ If you could create a custom make-up design for anyone in the world, who would it be? What would the look consist of?
I would love to do a Dior runway. I would go crazy with glitter, some kind of shimmery powder, and maybe glue a couple non-makeup things to their face.

♥ What are your plans for Lime Crime Makeup in 2009? What about your other projects (such as Doe Deere music and Doe Deere blogazine)? Do you have new plans for world domination in the works?
My plan is to grow Lime Crime Makeup as big as it will grow. Get it into some brick & mortar locations around the country and abroad. Invading the Russian market is also in the plans.

As for Doe Deere, I am taking a breather from that right now. I will always do music for fun, but at the moment my makeup line has taken the lead. It’s ok though, I’m very happy with the way it’s happened!

Thank you so much, Xenia, for the fantastic interview! To all my chers out there, are there any questions about Lime Crime makeup that you have for Xenia? Perhaps we can get a follow-up interview from this dashing gal!

And stay tuned– soon I’ll have a review of Lime Crime make-up and perhaps a tutorial of my own!

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