We love all of the amazing independent designers out there. In order to find out more about just what makes all of these creative types tick, we present to you an ongoing segment called Indie Designer Interviews.

Today we'd like you to meet Jessica Lynne Miller, the creator and owner of J.Lynne Cosmetics, a line of handcrafted mineral makeup. Sick of regular makeup irritating her sensitive skin, Jessica decided to take matters into her own hands and she came up with this line of all natural cosmetics.

Tell us a little about yourself and your company. J.Lynne Cosmetics is a young, vibrant indie beauty company specializing in all-natural mineral makeup products. Since 2005, it's been our desire to bring beauty back to nature with high-quality, yet affordable, handcrafted cosmetics that are completely free from chemicals, synthetics, fragrances, and unnecessary ingredients. Our products are cruelty-free and all of our loose powder minerals are vegan-friendly. The complete J.Lynne Cosmetics line includes everything from mineral foundations to blushes, eye shadows, natural lipsticks/glosses, and more!

How did you get started running your own cosmetics company? My inspiration to create cosmetics was "skin deep" in the beginning, as I had been struggling for years with sensitive, acne-prone skin that just didn't work well with traditional cosmetics. Factor in my very pale, Irish complexion and the only choices I had were bare skin (yikes!) or chemical-laden foundations that created more problems than they covered – not to mention being the wrong color for my skintone. So I began researching natural alternatives and was fascinated with the idea of mineral-based makeup. Being the crafty gal I am, I purchased some basic ingredients and after lots of trial and error, I created my first foundation, and the idea for J.Lynne Cosmetics blossomed from there!

Any advice you would give to aspiring entrepreneurs? Having passion for what you do is essential, but finding a way to stand out from the crowd is the quality that will really help your business be a success. Dedicating time and effort to things like the way you interact with customers, having an appealing website, product packaging, and the overall "feel" of your business will work wonders for making your company memorable!

What inspires your work? The evolution of my product line owes a lot to my wonderful and diverse customer base. They are always eager to share ideas, suggestions and feedback – and it's so exciting to create products that address specific customer needs and desires! Last year I created a set of eye shadows called the Japanese Garden Collection, with colors inspired by and dedicated to our customers in Japan. I am continuously surprised and amazed at how collaborative this business has become, and I truly enjoy having such close customer interactions!

Who are your favorite designers? I live in Phoenix, so dressing for comfort with our 9 months of summer-like weather is key! I love the graphic tees from Old Navy, and I'm a nudge over 6' tall so Alloy is my go-to place for jeans with super long inseams. And as far as dresses go, Rami Kashou (from Project Runway) can drape me in one of his designs any day!

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? My skin has improved immeasurably since switching to mineral makeup exclusively four years ago, but I think a really great skincare regime is essential. I love St. Ives Apricot Exfoliating Scrub and Neutrogena's acne-fighting products. Olay Regenerist Serum is my must-have moisturizer, and Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Dry Touch sunscreens are perfect all year long. And of course, drinking LOTS of water does wonders for your skin!

Where can people find your work? Our products are sold exclusively through our website at www.jlynne.com.

Anything else? Visiting our blog and signing up for our email newsletter is a great way to keep up-to-date on what's new at J.Lynne Cosmetics. We run limited-time sales and specials every week, and we also offer free gifts with purchase, gift certificate giveaways for customer birthdays, a referral program, and more!