In CafeMom’s monthly series, Work It, Mama, powerful moms detail how they navigate their professions and home life.
Former actress Jennifer Yen, who made her screen debut as a villainess on the iconic early aughts television show Power Rangers, likely never imagined the career path she would end up on some 20 years later. Now mom to an 8-year-old daughter, Jennifer is a veritable beauty mogul with two successful brands under her belt.
During her career as an actress, Jennifer dealt with the side effects of wearing heavy makeup under bright lights during long days on set, but it wasn’t until a decade later — after she had given birth to her daughter — that her skin care journey began in earnest. In part due to the many hormonal changes women face during pregnancy, Jennifer found herself dealing with a slew of issues from adult acne to eczema and rosacea.
Like so many of us, she ended up turning to her mother for advice. She recommended Jennifer commit to the 2,000-year-old ancient Chinese postpartum practice of “Sitting the Month,” or “Zuo Zue Zi.” According to Chinese medicine, women who have given birth should spend the next 30 days at home, resting and recovering, and nourishing their bodies with superfoods to aid in the healing process.
Well, it worked! At the end of the month, Jennifer felt energized, despite having a newborn, and her skin woes had subsided. First she launched Purlisse, which offers everything from cleansers and moisturizers to makeup and masks, all infused with Asian botanicals, and more recently, she launched YENSA Beauty, which focuses on superfood-infused, clean beauty products inspired by Asian rituals.
Growing up as Chinese American in small-town Alabama, Jennifer didn’t always appreciate the cultural practices that made her feel different, but after becoming a mom, they are the very things that not only helped her prioritize postpartum self-care but also have actually shaped her career.
Here, Jennifer dishes on cultural appreciation, figuring out the perfect skin care routine, and prioritizing self-care as a busy, working mom.
Why do you think skin care ended up becoming your professional passion?
“Women in my family are obsessed with their skin and I was taught from a young age to take care of my skin. This led me to start Purlisse Skincare and YENSA, the superfood cosmetic,” Jennifer tells CafeMom. She adds that dealing with all of her own skin care issues while working as an actress and then again postpartum were the impetus for getting her brands off the ground.
What is the one step in your skin care routine that you would never skip?
At this point, Jennifer is a skin care pro. Her complexion is absolutely flawless, so we had to ask.
“Washing my face at night! It’s important to wash off makeup and built-up dirt and pollution from the day,” Jennifer tells us. “This creates a clean canvas to put on night time serums and moisturizers while skin is being repaired while sleeping.”
So even when her days get chaotic as a businesswoman and mom, she makes sure to wash everything off before she finally collapses into bed at night.
What does an average day look like for you from wake-up until bedtime?
“I drink a glass of water and take supplements before my must-have coffee. Then I do a quick 25-minute workout at home. I get my daughter ready for school, take her to the bus, and head to the office,” Jennifer says.
“On Tuesdays, we have our team meeting to go over priorities for the week and do a check-in with our sales/analytics to make sure we are on track. I am usually at the office around 6 and if I’m lucky, my parents are around to pick up my daughter from school and take her to her afternoon activities. And they cook for us. But when they don’t, I usually cook,” she explains.
“After dinner, I help my daughter with her homework, make sure she’s showered and in bed. Then I shower, then I do my beauty ritual with Purlisse and YENSA products. Before sleeping, I usually read for 20 minutes, which helps me fall asleep!”
And what about self-care? What's your routine?
Although self-care is something that many of us moms tend to let slip when life gets busy and everyone else’s need to be met, here at CafeMom, we believe that if we don’t take the time to pour into ourselves, we won’t have enough in the tank to be our best selves. The super-successful mamas we chat with tend to agree.
“I always say that if I’m not doing well, no one around me will do. As a mom, if you are not healthy, how can you care for everyone around you? Prioritizing self-care is a must!” Jennifer says.
“I make time to do things that help give me confidence and make me happy: working out helps me feel strong, taking care of my skin, cooking, and eating healthy,” she continues.
“I like to take baths as they relax me and help me fall asleep. I enjoy learning so I like to read and listen to podcasts — news, short articles, business books, and listening to entrepreneurs’ journeys. I play tennis and I’m taking piano lessons,” she says. “That’s right; self-care doesn’t always mean long naps and lazy days with face mask on!
“I like to lay in bed and watch interesting documentaries. I believe self-care is not just one thing but can be a plethora of interests,” Jennifer explains.
Why is it important to you to promote your culture through your business?
Jennifer’s products are unique because they are rooted in authenticity: Her culture has informed her process and her passion.
“I grew up as the only Asian American in a small town in Alabama and I was always trying to fit it. I diminished my culture for the fear of kids making fun of me for being different,” Jennifer explains.
“As I got older, I realized how important it is to be proud of who you are, and I want to set an example for my daughter. I love infusing my culture into YENSA products and giving them a modern touch so everyone can enjoy them. What’s better than 5,000 years of time-tested Asian beauty rituals and superfood traditions?”
Do you think becoming a mom changed your career track or how you see yourself as a career woman?
“Yes! Becoming a mom has made me more focused, a better manager of my time, and a more patient person,” Jennifer shares.
But of course, there are some challenges.
“Like all working moms — I wish I had more time. I like to be involved in my daughter’s life, so this means being involved with her school. Between this, work, and being a mom, it’s hard to find time for myself. But I always prioritize my health as I know it’s hard for me to keep up with everything if I’m not at my best,” she says.
“Now that I’m in it, I know that women can have both — be a mom and have a career.”
What keeps you motivated to continue doing it all every day as a mother and businesswoman?
“First I have a deep passion for my job,” Jennifer shares. “I have a great team who I enjoy leading, and I want to set a good example for my daughter.”
“I remember someone telling me one time that ‘You can’t be what you can’t see.’ I want my daughter to see me working, creating and building. And I want her to know that she can do it too.”
But Jennifer also wants other moms to know that they are capable of living out their passions and dreams.
“My mission is to inspire women to believe in their beauty and face the world with confidence at any stage or age in their life,” she explains.
“If you have an idea and you have been thinking about it for some time, just go for it. You can start out small. Remember, some of the most iconic companies started from somewhere and started out small. Solid, steady and sustainable businesses always win the race.”
So, go … and swipe some YENSA Beauty concealer under those tired eyes, Mama. There are so many opportunities to chase, and you might just find all the inspiration you need right in front of you — just like mom boss Jennifer Yen.
