Our Founder Story
After years of working as a nail technician, Jenny Duranski began to notice a change she couldn’t ignore—her health was declining. Daily exposure to harsh chemicals and toxins common in traditional salons had taken a toll. What once fueled her passion for beauty was now impacting her well-being. Determined to make a change, Jenny transformed her personal struggle into a mission—to create a space where beauty and wellness could thrive. In 2017, that vision became Lena Rose, Chicago’s first green beauty boutique and spa, offering clean, non-toxic products and personalized skincare services. Named after her daughter, Lena Rose is more than a name, it’s a promise to the next generation that beauty and health can coexist, and that a safer, cleaner beauty world begins with the choices we make today.
From the Ground Up
In 2019, our story unfolded on a quiet corner in Rockwell, where Lena Rose found its second home. What started as a dream rooted in sustainable beauty and self-care grew into a space filled with warmth, intention, and community.
Then the world shifted in 2020. Like so many others, we faced the challenges of a global pandemic—closed doors, uncertain days, and tough decisions. But amidst it all, our community showed up. That year redefined everything—and reminded us why we do what we do.
In 2021, we officially reopened our doors and embraced the opportunity to rebuild with greater clarity. We renovated our space with purpose—taking down walls, literally, to create a more open, welcoming, and safe environment for all. Loyal clients returned, new faces found us, and our community continued to grow stronger than ever.
As our Rockwell location continued to bloom, 2022 became a foundational year. We welcomed our first Spa Director and began shaping a strong leadership team to support our growing vision. Behind the scenes, we invested in systems and operations—laying down the roots needed to help Lena Rose thrive for years to come.
And then it happened, an unexpected opportunity blossomed into something beautiful. What began as a seed in Spring 2022 became a reality in 2023, when we opened our second Lena Rose location in Naperville. Despite uncertainty in the world, we followed our intuition and stepped into this next chapter with open hearts. The support was incredible, and our two teams grew not only in size, but in spirit—journeying together through Reiki Level 1 & 2 certification, deepening our connection and commitment to healing.
By 2024, the reality of running two locations fully set in. What once felt like an exciting leap had become a daily test of endurance. Opening two doors meant holding twice the weight—and some days, it felt heavier than we could carry. We were stretched thin, navigating more than we were truly ready for. In addition to that weight, we faced a devastating loss that shook us to our core. But through the strain and the sorrow, we kept showing up. We leaned on each other, found strength in our teams, and remembered why we started. What could have broken us instead refined us—and we emerged more aligned, more resilient, and more committed than ever.
Our Houseline
When Jenny first opened Lena Rose, having our own houseline felt like a distant dream. In those early days, the focus was simply on creating a safe, non-toxic space when options were limited—long before producing our own products felt possible. But everything shifted in 2020. With the unexpected stillness of the COVID era, Jenny finally had the time to experiment, collaborate with chemists, and refine the formulas she had always envisioned. The inspiration for creating our houseline has always been deeply personal. Jenny has long struggled with being unable to use many conventional beauty products, which pushed her to begin crafting gentle, plant-based alternatives for herself and her clients. Those early, house-made blends quickly became staples in our treatment rooms, earning enthusiastic feedback and constant inquiries from guests who wanted to take them home. That outpouring of love is what sparked the evolution—from small batches mixed behind the scenes to the collection you now find on our shelves and in your daily rituals. Our houseline is more than just a product—it’s the heart of our philosophy, created with intention, care, and a commitment to clean beauty that began long before it had a name.