Life & Work with Jen Winning of Beverly Hills

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Winning.

Hi Jen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It all started with a deep desire to build a life that didn’t fit inside the traditional 9–5. I’ve always been drawn to beauty — not just the aesthetics, but the way it transforms someone’s energy and confidence. I just didn’t know at the time that it could be a fruitful career choice. A friend in Utah encouraged me to explore it professionally. I think they saw the little spark of curiosity. So I took a chance on something new — and that chance ended up changing everything for me.

Once I stepped into the beauty world, everything clicked. I discovered a space where creativity, collaboration, and skill come together, and where I could truly be the master of my own universe.

Moving to LA was my way of betting on myself. I came here to work as a makeup artist for fashion and beauty brands, and like any creative journey, it came with its two-steps-forward-one-step-back moments. Along the way, I was introduced to lash lifts — and something in me lit up. It became my new obsession. Lash lifts allowed me to combine precision, artistry, problem-solving, and the part I love most: connecting 1:1 with people.

Even though it’s not makeup, it feels like another branch of my artistry. My makeup background shapes how I approach every lash lift — I think about the full picture: a model’s portfolio, a bride’s wedding look, or someone’s everyday routine. I tailor the results to who they are and how they want to feel.

Today, I get to live and work on my own terms, balancing freelance makeup work and my Korean lash lift clients. Whether I’m on set creating beautiful images with a team or in the studio enhancing someone’s natural features, I’m doing work that brings me joy. More importantly, I’m helping people feel beautiful, confident, and seen — and that’s the part I’ve always been most passionate about.

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?
I was so green when I moved from Utah to LA. I didn’t know anyone — no connections, no network — just a quiet belief that somehow it would work out. Eventually, it did, but not without the scrappiness that LA demands.

I remember quitting a long-term assistant job and having about $400 to my name. The very next day, my car window got smashed and the repair cost nearly everything I had. Moving back home wasn’t an option I allowed myself, so I did what I had to do. There was a short period where I was buying groceries at the dollar store just to stretch every dollar. Those moments taught me that being stubborn and resourceful can actually be superpowers.

This industry comes with a lot of rejection and uncertainty. Clients ghost, emails go unanswered, and cold pitching only lands about 10% of the time. Sometimes you work with a client for years and suddenly they’re working with someone new. It stings — I won’t pretend it doesn’t — but I remind myself: people evolve, their needs shift, and the only thing I truly own is my skillset.

I think a little struggle is necessary. Without it, the success wouldn’t feel as meaningful. The challenges shaped me just as much as the wins. When I look back at everything that has happened to where I am now, I feel proud of myself for trusting my gut and believing in myself.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
There’s a duality in my work as both a Korean lash lift specialist and a freelance makeup artist. With lash lifts, I’m known for my precision, gentle touch, and my commitment to maintaining lash health above all else. With makeup, I’ve built a reputation for creating flawless, refined complexions that still feel like you — familiar, elevated, but never heavy.

What I’m most proud of is the trust I’ve built with my lash clients. A Korean lash lift requires a lot of vulnerability. You’re lying down for an hour with your eyes closed while someone works millimeters away from them. I take that responsibility seriously. I’ve worked hard to make the entire experience comfortable, calming, and safe — because if someone doesn’t feel that, why would they return?

My favorite moment is always the reveal. There’s this little gasp people do when they see their lashes for the first time. It’s always followed by, “Those are my lashes?” or “I didn’t know they could look like that!” I think about those reactions all the time. It means I get to shift how someone sees themselves, even in a small way. That’s powerful. And helping streamline their beauty routine at the same time is such a bonus.

With makeup, I’m proud that I’ve always stayed true to my philosophy: enhancing, not masking. I want people to feel like the best version of themselves, not like a stranger in the mirror. Also, makeup opens up such a fun and human way to connect — whether we’re bonding over products, sharing techniques, or gifting/recommending someone something we know they’ll love. Makeup has always been a beautiful connector for me.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
My version of success used to look like being too busy to spend time with my people, constantly thinking/pitching for my next job, and being stuck in a feast or famine mentality. And I did reach that at one point — but once I got there, I realized that version didn’t actually give me what I was really searching for when I entered the beauty world: autonomy.

What I’ve learned is that my true definition of success is having full control over my career and my life. Being able to choose the work I take on, create my own schedule, and build a business that feels aligned with who I am — that’s what makes me feel genuinely successful.

A packed calendar, travel, and great pay are still part of my vision — but now they’re just supporting elements, not the measure of my worth or the foundation of my success.

And honestly? The fact that I’m no longer having nightmares or panic attacks about what I’m doing with my career feels like a huge win in itself, haha.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jen-nguyen.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lashlifts.byjenwinning/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lashlifts.byjenwinning?_r=1&_t=ZT-91jI8UedBZ9