Jenny Patinkin Explains How Her Coined Term “Lazy Perfection” Inspired Her to Start a Beauty Line

Jenny Patinkin believes that beauty is supposed to be fun, aging shouldn’t be intimidating and your routine should fit in with your lifestyle. She calls it “lazy perfection,” and she even created a luxe line of eco-friendly beauty tools to make her motto attainable and affordable. With everything from a rose quartz dermaroller that she says helps increase product absorption to non-toxic beauty sponges that you can feel good about using, Jenny Patinkin has mastered the art of getting your skin to look great without really trying. Ahead, we chatted with Patinkin about everything from her career as an on-air expert and the inspiration for her line to the craziness of landing a book deal and her everyday beauty routine. 

Tell me a little about how you got your start in the beauty world. 

I was a late bloomer. I didn't get into the beauty business until I was 40, after having been a stay-at-home mom for ten years. I got signed by a big international agency three weeks after I finished my makeup artistry training and worked on commercial, editorial and celebrity shoots. I started to teach private clients how to apply their makeup, then developed my first collection of beauty tools, which led me to working as an on-camera beauty expert.  From there, I got a book deal, spent a lot of time promoting the book, doing national TV appearances, speaking and leading seminars. Now, I've expanded my collection of eco-luxe beauty tools that are sold in over 200 stores across the country.

When I decided to start my brand, it was really in an effort to spread my own philosophy and aesthetic that I call “lazy perfection.” As I started to notice age-related changes in my skin, I wanted tools that would help me achieve a simple, fresh and natural beauty look without being too technical or having to work too hard. Makeup brushes and beauty tools are not intuitive for most people, so it was really important to me that I design brushes and tools that are both luxurious and functional. I don't see the point in having one without the other. I build little user-friendly elements into all my products.

I'm grateful to be an older woman in the beauty industry (I'm about to turn 52). So many people are stressed out about the idea of getting older and seeing changes to their faces, but it's been empowering and gratifying for me. I hate the term anti-aging! Aging isn't a condition that needs to be cured — it's liberating.

Throughout your line, you carry through this message of lazy perfection. You even have a book about it! How did this philosophy come to be? 

“Lazy Perfection” is about giving yourself a break from the I'm supposed tos and the I shoulds and all the pressure we put on ourselves to look perfect. Instead, I just want people to figure out what beauty routine is the best fit for them. You can't just factor in your bone structure and coloring when you're looking at makeup. You have to think about your personal style, your lifestyle, your technical abilities and how much time you're willing to spend on your makeup. “Lazy Perfection” is a system for figuring out how to put all the pieces together so that you can streamline your beauty routine.

Your collection has a little bit of everything, from beauty sponges to dermarollers. How did you decide what would go into it? 

Everything you see in my collection comes from personal need and what I felt was missing in my own kit. I wanted a concealer brush that wouldn't tug on the delicate skin under my eyes, so I figured out how to make that. I wanted to limit waste and stop using so many disposable cotton rounds, so I made Organic Bamboo Reusable Rounds that you just throw in the laundry. And I badly wanted to get away from using makeup sponges that were covered in horrible chemicals like flame retardants (which most people don't realize they are), so I made non-toxic luxury sponges. I find that the most compelling thing I can do is speak from a very personal place, and all of my product development starts there. Plus, I appreciate luxury, so my whole collection is made to my standards and specifications of what qualifies as luxurious.

What’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned through this process? 

Accepting the help of other people hasn't always been easy. My business is such an intimate reflection of who I am — I've definitely done my share of micro-managing. But once I did seek help, it was a game-changer. I don't know what took me so long!

What’s been your biggest pinch-me moment? 

Getting a book deal was pretty crazy. I had a literary agent who went with me as we pitched a bunch of big publishing houses, we got some offers, there was a bidding war, and then I got a deal! It was all so thrilling and fun. Sitting down to actually write the book was not quite as fun … writing a book is hard!

What’s next for the brand? 

I have some new beauty tools in the works and a top secret product in development that I think will change the way we approach skin care. Unfortunately, I can't tell you any more, but it's something that everyone should be using.

What does your everyday beauty routine look like? 

I'm actually pretty simple on a day-to-day basis. I use my Bamboo Rounds damp to wipe away the vestiges of last night's skin care, take my Rose on Rose Face Roller out for a quick spin to de-puff and get my circulation revved up. Then, I’ll apply my skin care. I use concealer down the center of my face to even out discoloration and smooth over enlarged pores, curl my lashes, apply mascara, tight line under my upper lash line, fill in my brows, pop on a little cream blush and use a little lip balm. But I'll definitely step it up if I am going to be on-camera or have to see people.

Fill in the blanks. 

A beauty trend I regret trying is: 

The Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge. I did it with my daughter and wound up popping a blood vessel over my lip. It was not pretty.

My first memory of beauty is: 

Watching my mom take off her makeup at night with Pond's Cold Cream. 

Best part of being my own boss is: 

My husband often travels with me on my business trips, so I get to mix a little work and a little play.

What keeps me motivated is: 

Connecting with my clients and showing them that beauty doesn't have to be so complicated. They're always surprised when they see how little it takes to get a beautiful look. 

A fun fact about me is: 

I broke my nose when I was 13, the night before my Bat Mitzvah, by running full speed into a sliding glass door. Yikes.

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