It’s a family affair for young Caymanian entrepreneur Tori Miller, who hand-makes natural beauty products. Tori is joined in the business by her sister Gianna Martinez, mother Jennifer Martinez and grandmother Lloys Watler.
“I am a 27-year-old who is extremely passionate about beauty, creativity, giving back and empowering others,” she says. “I’ve always loved beauty products, and I believe nothing is better than natural ingredients for selfcare. I wanted to create a brand that not only reflected my passion for beauty, but also served as a way to express my love for Cayman, blending inspiration with quality.”
The business, launched in late 2023, is called Caymanera Cosmetics, which is a combination of the words Cayman and era.
“It represents a new era of beauty inspired by the natural charm and culture of the Cayman Islands,” explains Tori. The products, which are made in a home-laboratory (a renovated guest bedroom) in Tori’s apartment, launched with an initial 200 lip glosses in just four shades.
“Since then, we’ve grown significantly, selling over 3,000 glosses across 10 shades in less than a year,” she says.
FAMILY ROLES
Tori, who co-owns the business with sister Gianna, is in charge of product development, as well as social media content, design and branding.
Gianna, meanwhile, serves as the quality control guru, ensuring every product meets high standards before it goes on sale.
Mother Jennifer is their ‘momager’, handling everything from making sure the girls stay on track, to reminding them that it’s time to eat.
Grandma Lloys, who owns the North Side gift store Treasures of Cayman, has inspired the Caymanera Cosmetics brand with her coconut tree, which provides the coconut oil used in the glosses.
“It’s incredibly empowering to build something together as a family,” says Tori. “We all bring unique strengths to the business, and it’s so special to share this journey with the women who inspire me the most.”
NATURAL INGREDIENTS
As many natural ingredients as possible are sourced locally, while ensuring that specialty oils and fragrance components are high-quality and ethically sourced.
“The skin is the body’s largest organ, and it’s essential to be mindful of the ingredients we apply to it,” says Tori. “I chose to create holistic products using natural, nourishing ingredients to promote healthier beauty routines while avoiding unnecessary chemicals.”
Tori taught herself to make the beauty products through extensive research, experimentation, and hands-on practise.
“I spent countless hours perfecting formulas, testing ingredients, and ensuring high-quality results before officially launching,” she reveals. “My passion for natural beauty products and the desire to create something unique inspired me to learn and grow in this craft.”
SIDE-HUSTLE
Tori describes Caymanera Cosmetics as her ‘sidehustle’, as she works full-time with the captive services team at Aon Cayman insurance company.
But the two roles seem to sit well together as she has already had a cross-company collaboration, creating Aon Red, a limited-edition gloss for an Aon client appreciation-event take-away gift.
“It was a unique opportunity to bring my two worlds together, and it was well-received by attendees,” says Tori.
CAYMAN CONTEXT
The names of the lip glosses are Cayman-themed with shades such as Brac Belle, Duppy, Swanky, and Call Your Bluff.
There are also limited editions such as Tyler’s North Sound Blue in honour of her cousin who died in 2023; blue was his favourite colour. Eighty percent of proceeds go to Clifton Hunter High School, where he was a student.
Similarly, the fragrance Brac Angel gives a nod to its Cayman context, recently joined by a new men’s beard and body spray.
“Caymanera Cosmetics is more than just a beauty brand – it’s a reflection of our culture, family, and love for the Cayman Islands,” says Tori. “We’re excited to keep growing and sharing a bit of Cayman with the world.”
Caymanera Cosmetics products are available at Studio 54 West in Galleria Plaza, Seven Mile Beach; Treasures of Cayman in Hillsboro Plaza, North Side; Seahorse Boutique on Little Cayman; and at popup events on Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands.
This article originally appeared in Compass Media’s 2025 issue of CayWoman.
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