Daring to Dare: Jennifer Yen on Building a Beauty Brand Her Way
The Grandmother's Remedy: Jennifer Yen's Journey to Creating Purlisse
Jennifer Yen has always lived a life of beauty, but it was a crisis that led her to her true calling. After a stint in acting, her skin rebelled under the constant assault of heavy makeup, LA pollution, and stress. She was left with sensitive skin, chronic breakouts, hives, and rosacea. “I tried and tested every product on the market,” she recalls, “and nothing worked.”
Frustrated and desperate for a solution, she turned to a trusted source: her grandmother's time-honored beauty rituals. “My grandmother always had beautiful skin and a simple approach to her beauty regimen,” Yen explains. “Growing up, she always drank White Tea infused with Blue Lotus and washed her face with soymilk.” This personal quest for relief blossomed into a mission, and Purlisse was born.
Today, her line—a perfect fusion of her grandmother's wisdom and modern French skincare technology—is sold at premier retailers like Henri Bendel and is a lifeline for those with sensitive, reactive skin.
We sat down with Yen to discuss her journey from customer to creator. When asked what was missing in the skincare market, her answer was direct: “I felt there was not a complete skincare line that helped my sensitive skin needs. I was searching for a skincare line that had the perfect balance between nature and science.” This philosophy is baked into the brand's very name. Purlisse is derived from the French words "pur" (pure) and "lisse" (smooth). It represents a commitment to pure, effective ingredients that deliver smooth, calm, and healthy skin.
What truly sets Purlisse apart in a crowded market of high-end products isn’t just its formulation—it’s its founder’s intimate involvement. “I didn’t have the luxury of hiring a big marketing or branding firm so I was extremely hands-on,” Yen states. “I worked very closely with my chemist, my designer, and wrote all the copy. I call all the buyers myself and go into the stores to educate customers.”
This grassroots approach is her superpower. “This gives me an advantage over other companies because I get to hear customers' feedback and their ideas, giving me the ability to create products they really want and need.”
Jennifer's Cannot-Live-Without Product & Skin Tips
For Jen Yen, one product stands above the rest: “I can’t live without the Purlisse Pur~Youth Preserve Age Delay Serum. This antioxidant-rich serum is amazing because it hydrates and soothes skin, calms inflammation, prevents premature aging, and looks great under makeup.”
Her skincare philosophy extends far beyond the bottle. She advocates for a holistic approach to beauty:
Use quality skincare like Purlisse.
Hydrate with water and White Tea.
Prioritize 7-8 hours of sleep.
Take daily walks.
Eat healthy.
Don’t stress and relax.
Always protect skin from the sun with SPF 30.
For sensitive skin, don’t over-exfoliate.
Laugh a lot and surround yourself with fun friends—"this is GREAT for your skin."
A Life of Inspiration
Jen Yen’s inspirations reflect her discerning taste. Her favorite online haunts include BBC News for unbiased reporting, Glam.com for lifestyle, and Skinstore.com & Beauty.com for their curated product selections and education. In New York, she frequents Henri Bendel and hunts for treasures at vintage stores like Sara Daha and Frock Vintage, and dines at spots like the original Nobu and John’s Pizza.
Her guiding principle is a powerful quote by Maya Angelou: “I believe the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity is daring to dare.”
It’s a mantra that perfectly captures Jennifer Yen’s journey: from actress to entrepreneur, from patient to pioneer, daring to create the solution she needed most.
