Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month - LYNN SIMPSON, Celebrity Make-Up Artist and Founder of Preface Cosmetics
It’s a treat to celebrate Lynn Simpson today because she JUST LAUNCHED her 2nd make-up line and friends, it is SOOO GOOD!
But before we get there, let’s get to know Lynn a little bit more, about her upbringing, and how she got to where she is today. She is a gem of a human being, and an incredibly talented artist that has worked in all aspects of makeup and pivoted to during quarantine offering online makeup classes and consultations. She is great at what she does, and has an incredible track record doing it. She has a calmness about her that can make you breathe and feel like your best self. Lynn, you are such a rockstar for being this constant supporter for so many of us.
I first met Lynn many moons ago as she my eyelash extension artist when I was living that solo life before I met my husband back in 2009. We were fast friends and over the years have been through many seasons of life together. She is a talented makeup artist that I’ve referred everyone to and have loved her hiring her many a times.
Lynn was my go to make up artist on site when I used to offer mini sessions outdoors and she has the most calm personality of anyone I know. Truly.
And as she was growing her business and as I started Avenue Mama and coaching, she eventually became a coaching client of mine. I have loved supporting Lynn in all of her efforts in branching out with her social media strategy to creating new ways to optimize her business and so it is especially fun to spotlight her.
Throwing it back to 2014 with Lynn Simpson as my onsite makeup artist for mini sessions in Huntington Beach, CA
Here’s my interview with Lynn!
Q: What part of Asia does your family descend from and let us know your lineage (ex: immigrant, 1st generation, 2nd generation etc..)?
LYNN: Vietnam, I am 1st generation- my mom was a refugee
Q: Tell us about your upbringing, were your parents very strict for instance? Were you pressured to study what they wanted or did you feel you had freedom to do what you wanted?
LYNN: I grew up in a multi-cultural household. My mom is a refugee/immigrant from Vietnam, my dad is 2nd or 3rd generation Ashkenazi Jew. So I didn’t have the stereotypical strict Asian parents. My mom was very Americanized as I would hear others describe her. She and my “Ngoai “ grandmother), and uncle would speak Vietnamese to us growing up, but that turned to English mostly when my Ngoai passed away around age 8 for me. I’ve always been a creative person, I love dance and art. My parents allowed me to follow my passions, although doing well in school was very important as well. I love learning and school as a kid was fairly easy for me. I knew I wanted to become a Make-Up Artist in high school. My parents allowed me to follow my passion as long as I finished college. That was a goal of mine as well. So I didn’t feel pressure doing something that I didn’t want to do. I ended up majoring in Sociology, which I loved, but looking back I wish I would’ve majored in business. I think that would’ve helped me create and grow my business now. At the time I wanted to find an interesting major that I loved. I don’t think anything in college would help me as a Make-Up Artist at the time.
Q: Tell us all about PREFACE Cosmetic, and congrats!!!
LYNN: I just launched my own beauty brand called Preface Cosmetics! I love helping my clients look effortlessly flawless. When they look good they feel good. I get so much satisfaction knowing that I helped them feel more confident and beautiful. With my new line, I want clients to be able to achieve quick, easy and lasting results at home. My first products do just that. I’ve created Wink Ink™️ A eyeliner and lash adhesive all in one. You just line your lid as you would regular eyeliner, but the secret is the lab adhesive is build in. So you can attach any lash to the liner, and you’re done. No messy glue or fussing. It’s really that simple! I also have 4 styles of Wink Ink™️ lashes.
Q: Tell us how you got started!
LYNN:I became a makeup artist because I grew up a dancer and loved theatre and fashion and makeup and found out about makeup school. I pursued that during a break from college and realized this was my passion, and this is what I wanted to do. I went to work for MAC and Chanel and finished college and got to tour with Ashlee Simpson in 2006 and ever since then I have been working as a freelance artist exclusively. I’ve worked in the entertainment, wedding, and commercial industry. I’ve always wanted to have my own product line and have something for my clients to do their own glam at home to make it effortless and easy. That’s why I love my lashes —they are so easy! Even my 74 year old mom can do it! I gave my mom my products and she was texting me all night how easy it was to do her own lashes and telling all her friends at her singing parties. Everyone was ordering and buying and that made me so happy. If my mom can do it, anyone can. My next product is my relaunch of my body bronzer that my clients loved, which will come out this summer.
Q: What advice do you have today for your peers who are looking to do what you are doing now?
LYNN: If someone is looking to become a Make-Up Artist I would say, experience is key. Work on as many types of people as you can to know skin tones and texture, eye shapes, etc. I worked for Chanel and MAC and that was such a great hands-on expletive for me. It really helped me build my confidence working on all l types of clients.
Q: A lot of people have a "why" they do what they do, if you have a "why" please share it with us ;)
LYNN: I love helping women look and feel amazing. I get so much joy when I know they love how they look and love themselves more in the process.
Q: If you're like me, you were taught to be very humble. This is NOT the time to be humble, please share sis!! Tell us all the things that make you feel really proud!
LYNN: You know me so well?! Humble should be my middle name haha. I know you know this ;) I’m proud to be a mom of 2 and female entrepreneur. It’s been quite a journey getting to this point. I have so much more to learn and grow but I’m so proud of getting to this point of actually launching. As a Make-Up Artist I work with Jessica and Ashlee Simpson. I’ve also worked with Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian and Brooke Shields. I’ve traveled the world doing makeup and I still can’t believe the amazing opportunities I’ve had.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT LYNN!
Shop Preface Cosmetics website just launched with 2 bundles: 2 eyeliners for $50 (normally $32 each) and Buy a Liner, 2 lashes and get 1 lash free (save $15) Always free shipping on my site, no minimum purchase.
Follow on Instagram: Lynn Simpson Makeup and Preface Cosmetics. Subscribe to Preface Cosmetics newsletter
Lynn Simpson has been a coaching client for multiple sessions , feel free to reach out to her if you’re curious on our coaching options. Here are some options for you!