Ana Allen September 28, 2026

Community Highlights: Meet Ana Allen of ApprovedbyAna

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ana Allen.

Ana, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started my career in the beauty industry, working in sales, education and artistry with brands like Chanel, Dior and Clarins. Over the years, I went on to build my own beauty school, launch beauty brands, work in product development and consulting, and eventually create a career around helping brands tell their stories and connect with consumers.

In 2021, when the beauty industry began coming back to life after the pandemic, I travelled to Los Angeles for my first industry show back and connected with MakeUp in Los Angeles. That experience opened an entirely new chapter for me. I continued working closely with the MakeUp in team and eventually became an Ambassador for MakeUp in Los Angeles, allowing me to connect with founders, manufacturers and innovators from around the world and become even more immersed in the business side of beauty.

My path has never been completely linear. I’ve built businesses, exited businesses, worked behind the scenes developing products, hosted events and live shopping experiences, and created content along the way. Each chapter taught me something different about entrepreneurship, resilience and the importance of evolving as your life changes.

More recently, becoming a first-time mom in my 40s completely shifted my perspective. After a long journey to motherhood, welcoming my daughter Rose made me rethink what success looks like and how I want to spend my time. Today, my work blends beauty, motherhood, lifestyle and entrepreneurship. I’m focused on creating meaningful content, building community, sharing products I genuinely love, and working with brands in a way that feels authentic to this new chapter of my life.

I feel like I’m still evolving and that’s probably the most important part of my story.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
t definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. One of my biggest challenges has been learning how to reinvent myself through different seasons of life and business.

I’ve built brands, stepped away from brands, changed directions, navigated the uncertainty of entrepreneurship, and had to learn not to tie my identity to one title or one version of success. There were times when things looked successful from the outside, but behind the scenes I was questioning what I actually wanted next.

The pandemic was another major turning point. Like so many people in the beauty industry, I had to rethink how I worked and where I wanted to take my career. When events started returning, going back to Los Angeles and reconnecting with the industry ultimately opened new doors for me, but it also required starting again in a different way.

At the same time, I was going through a very long and emotional journey to motherhood. That experience changed my priorities tremendously. Becoming a mom in my 40s has taught me that success doesn’t always mean doing more sometimes it means being willing to slow down, evolve, and build a life and career that actually fit who you are now.

The biggest lesson for me has been that starting over isn’t failure. Some of the best chapters of my life have come from being willing to change direction.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about ApprovedbyAna?
Approved by Ana is my personal platform focused on beauty, motherhood, lifestyle and shopping. I also run Approved to Shop, my live-selling channel, where I create and host shoppable experiences for brands.

Through Ana Allen Consulting, I work in beauty product development and brand strategy, helping founders bring ideas from concept to market. I also produce Beauty Concierge pop-ups, creating curated, in-person beauty discovery experiences.

Everything I do comes back to the same thing: connecting people with great products in a way that feels personal, trusted and engaging.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
For me, networking has always worked best when it feels genuine. I don’t approach people thinking, “What can they do for me?” I try to build real relationships, stay curious, show up consistently, and look for ways I can add value too.

Some of the most important opportunities in my career came from simply attending industry events, introducing myself, following up, and staying connected over time. That’s also how mentorship has happened for me — often organically, through people I respected and continued learning from.

My advice is to put yourself in the rooms where the people you admire are, ask thoughtful questions, follow up, and nurture the relationship. A mentor doesn’t always have to be someone with an official title sometimes they’re simply the person a few steps ahead who is willing to share what they’ve learned.

Pricing:

Brand collaborations & content creation: Custom packages available
Live shopping / Approved to Shop: Custom pricing based on scope, host and production needs
Beauty product development & consulting: Project-based pricing
Beauty Concierge pop-ups & events: Custom event packages
Long-term partnerships: Retainers and ongoing collaboration packages available Inquiries: contact@anaallen.com

Contact Info:

Website: https://approvedbyana.ca/
Instagram: Approvedbyana.ca
Facebook: Ana allen
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/approvedbyana
Youtube: Approvedbyana.-
Other: https://Approvedtoshop.com

Portrait of a smiling woman with long wavy hair wearing a light-colored blazer and necklace, against a plain background.

Woman in light-colored coat taking a selfie outdoors near stairs and a railing.

Woman and baby sitting on a bed, smiling, woman holding the baby's hand, baby wearing a bonnet and dress, light-colored room

Two women talking and smiling in a store with shelves of beauty products and pink flowers behind them.

Two women smiling and talking with a microphone in a conference room with a large screen and ceiling lights.

Woman sitting on a white chair with a camera, in front of a green wall with a neon sign, on a wooden floor.

Two women in evening dresses holding an award plaque, standing on a red carpet in front of a black backdrop with logos.

Two women standing behind a table with pink bottles, in a modern room with white walls and wooden floor.

Two women stand behind a white table with various items, in front of a wall with a sign reading 'APPROVED BY NANA'.

Person holding a newspaper in front of a white curtain, partially obscuring their face, with a red bag on their side.

Two women stand in front of a pink backdrop with black palm tree silhouettes and text, one in a black outfit, the other in a maroon outfit.

Two women standing together, one holding a magazine, in a modern indoor setting with white and black decor.

Two women standing indoors, holding boxes, smiling, with a patterned backdrop and a table with a sign.

Woman in black blazer and skirt standing in a store with makeup displays and a large eye image on a screen.

Two women engaging in a conversation, one with short curly hair and the other with long straight hair, in an indoor setting.

Person sitting on a red chair in front of a Hollywood sign backdrop, holding a phone, with a sunset sky background.

Woman in blue shirt and black skirt standing in airport terminal, holding a phone, with people and glass windows in background.

Two women are standing and talking in a room with a TV screen showing a woman. One woman has long dark hair, the other has blonde hair.

Two women standing in front of a red and white backdrop with text, holding signs about makeup and beauty, smiling.

Suggest a Story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.