Vivia Horn, the founder of Lipspeak (ERIC WONG)

"It starts with a kiss."

That's the idea behind New York designer and cosmetics entrepreneur Vivia Horn's newest endeavor—Lipspeak.

Horn is the founder and president of VNY, a design and marketing firm with clients such as Avon, Estée Lauder, Nexxus Salon Hair Care, Revlon, The Body Shop, Clarins, and Aramis. The Taiwanese native specializes in brand development and has helped international companies launch new fragrances and products. Now, she has turned her efforts toward developing her own line of lip care and cosmetics called Lipspeak, along with spreading her beauty philosophies and a series of art and sculpture works called "Beauty Pop Art."

Lipspeak is designed to offer premium products at accessible prices for every woman, from teenagers to high-powered executives, Horn says. Cosmetics are a little like brand development, she says, taking a good product and giving it vision and presenting it at its best.

"In China many women don't like to wear make-up, and sometimes I just wish they would put a little blush and improve with a little glow. I would love to do Lipspeak in China because I think the market is finally mature. It would be a perfect line for there because in China they still resist a very colorful face—except for the young generation. Even though they like subtlety they always like skincare and lipstick," she says.

Lipspeak products are also smartly designed, with mix-and-match palettes to create the perfect shade, brushes that fold neatly away and lightweight cases that make it easy to touch-up on the go. It's part of how Horn sees the world—full of opportunities for improvement.

Horn has made a career in cosmetics. After starting at Estée Lauder, where she stayed for five years, Horn worked for Avon Products—learning the business and making contacts. Then, needing to spend more time with family, she resigned to launch her own freelance consulting business.

"That opened another wonderful door because I was able to work with all different kinds of companies like Revlon, Clairins, Nu Skin, Nexxus and the one thing I loved the most was combining all that quality and quantity. I was able to work on new product launches and that's the category that every company is most willing to spend money on. So we are really at the crème de la crème," Horn says. "It's so fulfilling."

Through helping other companies launch products, Horn said she developed the idea to create her own line. Life had other plans, however, and Horn said she had to put her dreams on hold to care for her ailing mother. Through it all she never feared that her detour would stop her from achieving her dreams. A trait she picked up from her mother.

"I have wonderful parents. My mother was a doctor and my father was a lawyer. When my mother was 40 years old her marriage fell apart and she only had a medical diploma. She went back to the hospital and started as an intern. Our parents really let us be who we wanted to be," Horn said. "I have five siblings and we're all doing what we love to do. I really treasure that."

Handmade ceramic magnets (COURTESY OF LIPSPEAKSTORE.COM)	Handmade flower art vase named "I Love You" (COURTESY OF LIPSPEAKSTORE.COM)

Life is like a "600-piece puzzle", Horn says. As the pieces come together, you know where you want to go and what you want to do. "Do your best every day, to place one piece at a time until you see the whole picture," Horn encouraged.

Now that she has the time to devote her efforts to Lipspeak, Horn envisions a range of applications, including Internet tutorials, a blog and a self-help empire to help women to increase their self-confidence and "live beautifully."

"Somebody once asked Sophia Loren what's her beauty secret was and she said 'inner peace' and slowly I'm beginning to get that. When you have inner peace—like my mother, she was more beautiful when she was old than when she was young—there is a type of glow and tranquility that you have," Horn said. "Every morning I wake up and try to be in touch with myself, and what I want and don't want out of life."

Part of that living beautifully is choosing the right path in life, and trying to do the "right thing" from the start. You have to learn to love yourself, Horn said, a concept that seemed selfish to her at first. Gradually she learned what she calls the "American way" of loving yourself—self-esteem and believing that you deserve good things in life.

"You have to follow your instincts and pick the right project and work with the right team. You get the right help and that's half the battle. When you work, give 130 percent and make yourself valuable," she noted.

Young people should also endeavor to save one-third of their salaries once they land a good job, Horn advises. If you aren't working at a job that you're excited about and that supports you and appreciates you, save your money and plan your exit, she says.

"Save like hell, and build a foundation so that if you have a job you don't like you can quit. Or, if you have a bad boss you can quit. You have power and freedom. I have done that since day one," she said. "I stash away money and don't live beyond my means."

Empathy, generosity, appreciation and moderation are all qualities of a beautiful life, Horn says. Surround yourself with positive people and good things will happen.

"Love life and be truthful. The secret formula is so simple," she said.

The author is a contributing writer to Beijing Review, living in New York City