What is Pritty Kitty? How/why did you start?
Pritty Kitty is a cosmetics line catering to high quality affordable products, consisting of unique and hard to find colors. As a self professed beauty product junkie, I never understood why product pricing, packaging, variety and quality were not equal to each other. For instance, I really love the glamorous makeup of the 1950’s- a million different shades of reds and pinks which are impossible to find nowadays. Or the fact that all the bright and highly pigmented color options for eyes seemed to either be limited editions of something uber expensive or else some really cheesy brand with horrible ingredients and texture sold only during Halloween. This frustration sent me into a frenzy, and I figured I really had nothing to loose if I found the right manufacturers to work with. As it turns out, I wasn't the only one out there who felt this way.
Are you a large company? Who are you?
Pritty Kitty is a family owned business built by my brother and I, we do not have a huge slew of emplyees. So no, we are definitely not a large company. As for who we are… well, we are two pretty crazy individuals-serious by day and party animals at night. I am a single mom running two businesses and the online beauty mag Luxe Beaute while dealing with the insanity of graduate school; my brother is a corporate mogul by day in the tech industry and guitarist by night with the band Mystic Knights of the Cobra. If you’re from the east bay, chances are you have seen us together being really obnoxious at a bar or show someplace, at one time or another.
Who designs your cute labels, product names, etc?
Again, that would be me and only me! Once I come up with a name for a product, I start the label design process. Once perfect, I print them all and apply to the products and packaging- its tedious but worth every minute.
Are Pritty Kitty products mineral/botanical/organic?
No, no and no. These are pro products and often used for print and runway work and as such, colors need to be sharp, vibrant and true with ultimate staying power. Unfortunately, these things cannot be achieved using mineral products and the like (think of the difference between henna and permanent hair dye, as its the same premise). We do not use any harsh chemicals known to cause irritation or harm, and our products are completely safe... In a perfect (cosmetic) world, it would be wonderful to go that route, and I do wish we could go botanical for recycling and natures sake! But in order to achieve high definition color (as our products are , we make use of cutting edge lab ingredients (itto for our high tech skin treatments). However, PK is nature inclined, that is to say we incorporate vitamins into our products, and offer discounts via our ricycling program. Likewise, Bombshell, our bath and body company, offers all natural certified organic (mostly vegan) lotions, body scrubs, facial and hair products.
Do you use your own products?
Holy HOLY, why yes I do! Like I said, I am a beauty product junkie. Now, with the exception of a handful of products by other companies, I am a slave to my own stuff, especially lip silks (cream lipsticks), Velvets (frost shadows) and Pro Paints. My favorites? Hands down, Va Va Voom Gel Eyeliners; these colors are amazing, for daily use I love Rapture ( purple which actually is incredibly subtle and makes brown eyes pop) and for evenings out I use Vanity and Misanthrope (although I do use all of them, but these are my absolute faves). I even experament with PK products in which I do not typically wear- for example, I don't wear blush, but my Rush Blush colors are so amazing I use them as eye shadows. Likewise, I do not usually do heavy smokey eyes but love the vibrancy of our cream shadows, so I actually use these as eyeliners. As far as correcting products go, I cannot live without PK shadow base. Believe me when I tell you I have used every base available, from $ to $$$, and nothing works like ours.
I LOVE your Pro Paint line, but there is a lot of controversy lately over the safety of pigments for eye use. Nobody ever says what the problem is or what it will do to someone wearing it, and its freaking me out! How do I know yours are safe?
AMEN! I am so very glad you all are doing your homework!! And yes, our Pritty Kitty Pro Paints are completely and 150% safe for eye use... Here's the deal on the controversy and issues, in layman's terms (being that I am not a chemist but am pretty well schooled in this issue)... As far as bright pigmented shadows and safety goes, sometimes its just a simple matter of the product being heavy or thick, or it may have some glitter type additive into it; if and when that is the case, obviously there can be some sensitivity for some bc it may weigh heavy (you rub it and it bugs you) or there's a chance you can get some glitter in your eyes. For example, an artist may use these on models to get an excellent print or runway effect, but its not on all day or night as some folks may use them, so possible irritation is minimal while for one using it often four hours on end, that irritation possibility factor is increased. So with this type on the eyes, its not a matter of eye damage or anything; its no different than say a makeup artist applying a lipstick as blush (a product not specifically made for eye area) or around eyes for creativities sake, or say when I was a 15 yr old Goth and used red lip liner as eyeliner. Now at the other end of the spectrum, there's a different type of issue with a more serious ?. While I don't feel comfortable busting anyone out here, there are lot of companies, big and small, who are taking huge risks in selling some high pigmented products as eye shadows. These risks are to their reputation and longevity, as well as (and more importantly IMO) customer safety, and it's a real head scratcher for me as to why they do this, or why do it without a protective (for themselves) and informative (for customer) disclaimer. These types of "shadows" are problematic because (long story short and put simply sans technical details) in order for a shadow to BE a shadow, there must be safe additives as barriers for safeties sake. And these have none. Essentially, they are no different than putting oil based paint onto your eye lids, and think about the risk involved to such a delicate area of the face. I bet you are imagining all sorts of things, right? Well yes, they are all possible via using this second type of (often undisclosed) "shadow". In a perfect world, a company would disclose precisely what the risks or potential problems could be if using one of their highly pigmented products; IE be it the first type I listed above with a simple disclosure that its got glitter or what have you, OR the second I mention, stating absolutely not sold for eye use/at customers own risk. But its not a perfect world and most don't, sigh. Luckily for consumers, there are two ways to insure protection and safety in this arena. First of all, if no disclaimer exists, contact the company and ask if safe for eyes PLEASE. Keep that email tucked away safely just in case of a major problem or discovery (as stated next). Secondly, and most important, upon arrival, test it at home: Remove a bit of the product, add it to a clear cup of water, and mix it. If the "shadow" completely dissolves in the water (in the way say food coloring or water color paint would), run! From here you have obviously incurred the 2nd type of problematic pigment shadow I mentioned (totally unsafe for eyes), and were lied to just to make a buck. From here, do what you wish, be it a nasty letter to the company demanding a refund or disclaimer, or sue the hell out of them- whatever path you take, I do not blame you one bit. In closing, of course no company can guarantee or deem a product is going to workout for all clients; some people are more sensitive than others, or may have unknown allergies. But knowingly putting a customer at risk to make the rent? Shameful. This is not something in which our small business would ever morally subscribe to. Our Pro Paints are tested and FDA approved for eye use.
What are your Color Icon Limited Edition Palettes coming in 2013?
Color Icon LEP's (limited edition palettes) are actually pretty fun work! I have a lot of friends and such which are sort of "cult iconic" in the realm of creative musicians, modeling, fashion forwardness and the like, known for their keen and unique cosmetic style. LEP's are my way of honoring them, and their way of giving back to their fans who appreciate their style by way of making it accesable and affordable. While I am tempted to say in advance who we will be working with this year, I need to keep it under wraps for now. I will say that if you are familiar with PK fans, friends, social circles, events and unique color palettes, our choices for these Color Icon LEP's will come as no surprise!
How do custom orders work?
We are unique in that we are a small company and therefore can offer customization of packaging; customers have a choice of receiving their products in black, silver or gold containers. Container customization can also be mixed in an order; for example, you can specify as to which products you want in what. We also offer 4, 5 and 8 palettes which the customer can choose to have filled and forgo carrying around a ton of potted individual shadows.
What is the 4 for $40 offer that I have heard about? Can items be mixed?
The 4 for $40 offer is a discount on products which retail at $12.50 on orders where 4 are chosen-yes any product of the same price can be mixed. If a customer orders 4 of these items, they are discounted appropriately/by $10.00. The offer was started because women tend to purchase on average a minimum of 3 items (typically two shadow shades and a lipstick), and by offering such a price deal customers get to try more, appreciate the discount, and return for more. And this is why we try to keep all products at the $12.50 price as opposed to say, charging $8.50 for a gloss and $14 for a lipstick. This discount is only applicable directly through us and is not available through retailers which carry our products- in order to redeem the offer, customers must email us with their order and we will send a paypal billing invoice reflecting the total. When paying through Paypal, customers are fully protected, can use any major credit card, receive tracking and shipping notifications etc. Although sending an order may be an extra step (as opposed to clicking away in our shopping cart), its the only way it can be done; by us cutting out the middle man who takes a % of sales we are in a position to offer better discounts to you.
How does your recycling program work?
If you contact us via email and send back 4 empty containers, you will receive a free eye shadow or lipstick.
Where else can I purchase Pritty Kitty products?
Select Pritty Kitty Products are available for purchase at Infectious Threads, Redemption Clothing, Bombshell Bath & Body, Etsy, Zibbet, Dewanda, Coriandr, and our Ebay store. We also sell throughout all of California in person, at parties, conventions and vending events. The majority of our business is through word of mouth and personal sales. We also set up meetings with individuals prospective customers, get to know their likes and dislikes, and preferences. We prefer to sell this way because it's intimate and personalized; guests get to try products before buying, ask questions and we all get to know each other. This way we can properly evaluate the needs of customers, almost like having your own personal shopper.
How do I place an order for something in your catalog which I can't find at a store or is out of stock online?
That's easy! Just shoot us an email and we will complete your order via email and send you a Paypal invoice total for your full order. You can also order any of our products at the Bombshell Bath and Body store. If you're local/Northern California, fell free to make an appointment with us in person.
For more questions and answers, see Girly Q & A page
Pritty Kitty is a cosmetics line catering to high quality affordable products, consisting of unique and hard to find colors. As a self professed beauty product junkie, I never understood why product pricing, packaging, variety and quality were not equal to each other. For instance, I really love the glamorous makeup of the 1950’s- a million different shades of reds and pinks which are impossible to find nowadays. Or the fact that all the bright and highly pigmented color options for eyes seemed to either be limited editions of something uber expensive or else some really cheesy brand with horrible ingredients and texture sold only during Halloween. This frustration sent me into a frenzy, and I figured I really had nothing to loose if I found the right manufacturers to work with. As it turns out, I wasn't the only one out there who felt this way.
Are you a large company? Who are you?
Pritty Kitty is a family owned business built by my brother and I, we do not have a huge slew of emplyees. So no, we are definitely not a large company. As for who we are… well, we are two pretty crazy individuals-serious by day and party animals at night. I am a single mom running two businesses and the online beauty mag Luxe Beaute while dealing with the insanity of graduate school; my brother is a corporate mogul by day in the tech industry and guitarist by night with the band Mystic Knights of the Cobra. If you’re from the east bay, chances are you have seen us together being really obnoxious at a bar or show someplace, at one time or another.
Who designs your cute labels, product names, etc?
Again, that would be me and only me! Once I come up with a name for a product, I start the label design process. Once perfect, I print them all and apply to the products and packaging- its tedious but worth every minute.
Are Pritty Kitty products mineral/botanical/organic?
No, no and no. These are pro products and often used for print and runway work and as such, colors need to be sharp, vibrant and true with ultimate staying power. Unfortunately, these things cannot be achieved using mineral products and the like (think of the difference between henna and permanent hair dye, as its the same premise). We do not use any harsh chemicals known to cause irritation or harm, and our products are completely safe... In a perfect (cosmetic) world, it would be wonderful to go that route, and I do wish we could go botanical for recycling and natures sake! But in order to achieve high definition color (as our products are , we make use of cutting edge lab ingredients (itto for our high tech skin treatments). However, PK is nature inclined, that is to say we incorporate vitamins into our products, and offer discounts via our ricycling program. Likewise, Bombshell, our bath and body company, offers all natural certified organic (mostly vegan) lotions, body scrubs, facial and hair products.
Do you use your own products?
Holy HOLY, why yes I do! Like I said, I am a beauty product junkie. Now, with the exception of a handful of products by other companies, I am a slave to my own stuff, especially lip silks (cream lipsticks), Velvets (frost shadows) and Pro Paints. My favorites? Hands down, Va Va Voom Gel Eyeliners; these colors are amazing, for daily use I love Rapture ( purple which actually is incredibly subtle and makes brown eyes pop) and for evenings out I use Vanity and Misanthrope (although I do use all of them, but these are my absolute faves). I even experament with PK products in which I do not typically wear- for example, I don't wear blush, but my Rush Blush colors are so amazing I use them as eye shadows. Likewise, I do not usually do heavy smokey eyes but love the vibrancy of our cream shadows, so I actually use these as eyeliners. As far as correcting products go, I cannot live without PK shadow base. Believe me when I tell you I have used every base available, from $ to $$$, and nothing works like ours.
I LOVE your Pro Paint line, but there is a lot of controversy lately over the safety of pigments for eye use. Nobody ever says what the problem is or what it will do to someone wearing it, and its freaking me out! How do I know yours are safe?
AMEN! I am so very glad you all are doing your homework!! And yes, our Pritty Kitty Pro Paints are completely and 150% safe for eye use... Here's the deal on the controversy and issues, in layman's terms (being that I am not a chemist but am pretty well schooled in this issue)... As far as bright pigmented shadows and safety goes, sometimes its just a simple matter of the product being heavy or thick, or it may have some glitter type additive into it; if and when that is the case, obviously there can be some sensitivity for some bc it may weigh heavy (you rub it and it bugs you) or there's a chance you can get some glitter in your eyes. For example, an artist may use these on models to get an excellent print or runway effect, but its not on all day or night as some folks may use them, so possible irritation is minimal while for one using it often four hours on end, that irritation possibility factor is increased. So with this type on the eyes, its not a matter of eye damage or anything; its no different than say a makeup artist applying a lipstick as blush (a product not specifically made for eye area) or around eyes for creativities sake, or say when I was a 15 yr old Goth and used red lip liner as eyeliner. Now at the other end of the spectrum, there's a different type of issue with a more serious ?. While I don't feel comfortable busting anyone out here, there are lot of companies, big and small, who are taking huge risks in selling some high pigmented products as eye shadows. These risks are to their reputation and longevity, as well as (and more importantly IMO) customer safety, and it's a real head scratcher for me as to why they do this, or why do it without a protective (for themselves) and informative (for customer) disclaimer. These types of "shadows" are problematic because (long story short and put simply sans technical details) in order for a shadow to BE a shadow, there must be safe additives as barriers for safeties sake. And these have none. Essentially, they are no different than putting oil based paint onto your eye lids, and think about the risk involved to such a delicate area of the face. I bet you are imagining all sorts of things, right? Well yes, they are all possible via using this second type of (often undisclosed) "shadow". In a perfect world, a company would disclose precisely what the risks or potential problems could be if using one of their highly pigmented products; IE be it the first type I listed above with a simple disclosure that its got glitter or what have you, OR the second I mention, stating absolutely not sold for eye use/at customers own risk. But its not a perfect world and most don't, sigh. Luckily for consumers, there are two ways to insure protection and safety in this arena. First of all, if no disclaimer exists, contact the company and ask if safe for eyes PLEASE. Keep that email tucked away safely just in case of a major problem or discovery (as stated next). Secondly, and most important, upon arrival, test it at home: Remove a bit of the product, add it to a clear cup of water, and mix it. If the "shadow" completely dissolves in the water (in the way say food coloring or water color paint would), run! From here you have obviously incurred the 2nd type of problematic pigment shadow I mentioned (totally unsafe for eyes), and were lied to just to make a buck. From here, do what you wish, be it a nasty letter to the company demanding a refund or disclaimer, or sue the hell out of them- whatever path you take, I do not blame you one bit. In closing, of course no company can guarantee or deem a product is going to workout for all clients; some people are more sensitive than others, or may have unknown allergies. But knowingly putting a customer at risk to make the rent? Shameful. This is not something in which our small business would ever morally subscribe to. Our Pro Paints are tested and FDA approved for eye use.
What are your Color Icon Limited Edition Palettes coming in 2013?
Color Icon LEP's (limited edition palettes) are actually pretty fun work! I have a lot of friends and such which are sort of "cult iconic" in the realm of creative musicians, modeling, fashion forwardness and the like, known for their keen and unique cosmetic style. LEP's are my way of honoring them, and their way of giving back to their fans who appreciate their style by way of making it accesable and affordable. While I am tempted to say in advance who we will be working with this year, I need to keep it under wraps for now. I will say that if you are familiar with PK fans, friends, social circles, events and unique color palettes, our choices for these Color Icon LEP's will come as no surprise!
How do custom orders work?
We are unique in that we are a small company and therefore can offer customization of packaging; customers have a choice of receiving their products in black, silver or gold containers. Container customization can also be mixed in an order; for example, you can specify as to which products you want in what. We also offer 4, 5 and 8 palettes which the customer can choose to have filled and forgo carrying around a ton of potted individual shadows.
What is the 4 for $40 offer that I have heard about? Can items be mixed?
The 4 for $40 offer is a discount on products which retail at $12.50 on orders where 4 are chosen-yes any product of the same price can be mixed. If a customer orders 4 of these items, they are discounted appropriately/by $10.00. The offer was started because women tend to purchase on average a minimum of 3 items (typically two shadow shades and a lipstick), and by offering such a price deal customers get to try more, appreciate the discount, and return for more. And this is why we try to keep all products at the $12.50 price as opposed to say, charging $8.50 for a gloss and $14 for a lipstick. This discount is only applicable directly through us and is not available through retailers which carry our products- in order to redeem the offer, customers must email us with their order and we will send a paypal billing invoice reflecting the total. When paying through Paypal, customers are fully protected, can use any major credit card, receive tracking and shipping notifications etc. Although sending an order may be an extra step (as opposed to clicking away in our shopping cart), its the only way it can be done; by us cutting out the middle man who takes a % of sales we are in a position to offer better discounts to you.
How does your recycling program work?
If you contact us via email and send back 4 empty containers, you will receive a free eye shadow or lipstick.
Where else can I purchase Pritty Kitty products?
Select Pritty Kitty Products are available for purchase at Infectious Threads, Redemption Clothing, Bombshell Bath & Body, Etsy, Zibbet, Dewanda, Coriandr, and our Ebay store. We also sell throughout all of California in person, at parties, conventions and vending events. The majority of our business is through word of mouth and personal sales. We also set up meetings with individuals prospective customers, get to know their likes and dislikes, and preferences. We prefer to sell this way because it's intimate and personalized; guests get to try products before buying, ask questions and we all get to know each other. This way we can properly evaluate the needs of customers, almost like having your own personal shopper.
How do I place an order for something in your catalog which I can't find at a store or is out of stock online?
That's easy! Just shoot us an email and we will complete your order via email and send you a Paypal invoice total for your full order. You can also order any of our products at the Bombshell Bath and Body store. If you're local/Northern California, fell free to make an appointment with us in person.
For more questions and answers, see Girly Q & A page